Spotify Not Downloading Songs? Your Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide (Plus a Permanent Solution!)

If you are a music lover, I am sure you must be on Spotify. Imagine a situation where you find Spotify not downloading songs all of a sudden. Picture yourself finding a perfect playlist for your flight, creating a killer workout mix, or simply wanting to save precious mobile data.

But you find Spotify songs not downloading for some strange reason. This can happen with Apple Watch, iPhone, or any other device. When you find your Spotify songs not downloading, it can be due to multiple reasons. Before you can fix the issues, it is quite practical to understand what can cause this issue.

Why are my songs on Spotify not downloading?

Subscription & Authorization

Remember that you need a premium subscription if you want to download Spotify tracks. If you find that your Spotify does not download songs, this should be the first thing you need to check.

Not that we are doubting your intelligence. But, it is possible that your subscription has expired, and you might not have noticed it. If your Premium subscription is active, another reason can be that your device authorisation may be an issue across your devices.

Verify your Spotify subscription.

You can do this by going into your Spotify settings. Click on your profile, and then go to Settings and Privacy. Scroll down to Account and then look for your subscription type.

In place of the Free Plan above, you will find the Premium plan that you are on, if you are on a premium subscription.

Device authorisation limits

Spotify limits downloads to 10,000 songs on up to 5 different devices per Premium account. If you exceed this limit, your downloads will not work. If you have authorised multiple devices, you can remove the ones that you no longer use.

However, there is no option to manage the offline devices directly on the app or web portal anymore. It was present before, but it has been removed now. You will have to get in touch with the customer support, and they will help you remove the devices.

However, you can use the option to Sign Out everywhere to sign out from all your devices. You will have to re-login from each of the devices once again. But you cannot log out from a particular device.

Internet connectivity

Of course, you are downloading the tracks from Spotify for listening to them without the need for the internet. But you need a stable internet connection to help download the songs. Any unstable internet connection can disrupt your downloads.

Fluctuating Wi-Fi signals, weak mobile data signals, or network congestion can cause issues with your Spotify downloads. Another culprit that can disrupt the downloads includes the antivirus or Firewall settings. Even the security settings on your phone can play a spoilsport. Check your security settings or disable them for a while and check if your downloads work properly.

Storage issues

Larger media files or regular Spotify downloads can make your device stop downloading the content from the streaming service.

Follow the steps below

• iOS (iPhone/iPad): Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This screen shows how much space each app uses and your total available space.
• Android: Go to Settings > Storage. The exact path might vary by phone model, but you'll find a breakdown of storage usage here.

• Desktop (Windows/Mac): Check your drive's properties (right-click on the drive) or use system tools to see free space.

App and device glitches

Sometimes, a few simple solutions can help you fix the seemingly difficult issues. Temporary glitches on your phone and other devices can cause malfunctioning downloads. You can simply fix these issues by restarting your device, updating your app, or updating your device.

You can also consider clearing the cache for your app or device. Another good fix is to log out of your Spotify account and log back in.

If everything else fails, you can consider reinstalling your Spotify app. This can help you get rid of any app-based temporary issues and glitches.

Specific device-related issues – Apple Watch and iPhones

Well, what we discussed above is all about the general troubleshooting. But what if you are looking to fix Spotify songs not downloading to the Apple Watch? Or perhaps grappling with issues of Spotify songs not downloading iPhone?

Of course, you can check out the fixes that we have covered above. If they fail, you can try out the following device-specific fixes.

For iPhones

You can check out the following fixes:

Background app refresh

Ensure 'Background App Refresh' is enabled for Spotify in your iPhone's settings. You can check this out by following the path Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

The feature is not just about the downloads, or something specifically about the downloads. But it can improve the overall functionality of your Spotify app. This will help you process your process the background apps more efficiently.

Low power mode interruption

If your iPhone is in Low Power Mode, it might restrict background activities, including large downloads. Temporarily disable it (Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode) while attempting downloads.

For Apple Watch

Spotify songs not downloading to Apple Watch is a notoriously common issue, often due to the Watch's unique connectivity and power requirements for large transfers. It may be noted that Apple limits downloaded audio files to approximately 25% of the total storage on the Apple Watch. This can also be a factor worth considering.

Here are a few fixes that can be practical and helpful.

Proximity & Power

The Apple Watch needs to be on its charger and ideally close to your iPhone during downloads for best results. This ensures stable power and a strong connection for data transfer. You can check if the Apple Watch is getting good connectivity for a complete and effective download efficiency.

WiFi connection

Ensure both your Apple Watch and your iPhone are connected to the same stable Wi-Fi network. Apple Watch Spotify downloads primarily rely on Wi-Fi directly to the watch, not Bluetooth from the phone.

Keep Spotify open on the watch

Sometimes, keeping the Spotify app actively open on the Apple Watch during the download process can improve success rates, as background downloads can be less reliable or paused by the Watch's power management. But, in today’s robust operating systems, this may not be necessary as the devices can effectively handle background processes.

Unpair and then pair your watch

For stubborn Apple Watch download issues, unpairing your Watch from your iPhone and then re-pairing it can often resolve deeper communication glitches. Remember that this should be your last resort. It will require a significant setup process.

Spotify Not Downloading All Songs in Playlist: A Partial Problem

This can be a very frustrating issue. Downloads work on some songs, while they fail on many others. The complex nature of the issue would make it rather difficult to work with.

Let us explore a few fixes that should work for you when you find Spotify Not Downloading All Songs in a Playlist:

Individual song availability

Sometimes, specific tracks within a playlist might become unavailable in your region due to licensing changes, artist removal, or other factors. These songs will be greyed out or unplayable even when online, and thus, won't download.

Check if the songs play when you play them online. If you cannot stream them, they are not available. Remove them from your playlist.

Corrupted playlists

In very rare cases, the playlist's metadata itself might be corrupted, preventing a full download. This is less common but can happen. In such a case, the entire playlist or a few songs from the playlist stop working.

Create a new playlist and add all the songs from your playlist, and check if it works again. Now, try downloading this new playlist.

Play and pause your downloads.

If the download progress bar for a playlist seems stuck, try pausing the download for that playlist and then resuming it. This can sometimes 'kickstart' the process.

The Ultimate Fix: No More Download Headaches with MusicFab Spotify Converter

Well, you have tried all those steps and are still facing the downloading issues. The fixes here may address the issue, but you may come across download problems quite often. You may be simply tired of constantly battling Spotify's unpredictable download system, asking yourself, "Why are my songs on Spotify not downloading?" over and over again.

This is where MusicFab Spotify Converter comes in. The downloader tool addresses the basic core problem of your downloads – DRM protection on Spotify. MusicFab Spotify Converter positions itself as the solution that bypasses this DRM.

Here are a few features that make the downloader stand out:

• Universal Compatibility Across All Devices: You can convert your Spotify tracks into file formats that offer universal compatibility. You can play your downloaded tracks on any device you prefer.
• Faster downloads: Get your downloads faster. It offers you a download speed of up to 20 times compared to the other tools in its genre.
• Retention of metadata: All the details of your downloaded tracks are retained. This helps you organise your downloaded files seamlessly.
• Batch downloads: Download multiple tracks in one go. That should be an excellent way to help you save time and effort.
• High-quality downloads: Get studio-quality audio performance and clear sounds. You can be assured of the downloads in resolutions as high as 320 kbps.

How to use MusicFab to download Spotify tracks with ease?

Step 1. Install MusicFab on your device

Download your MusicFab Converter from the official website. You can choose from among the Mac and Windows versions depending on your device.

Step 2. Choose Spotify

From among the music streaming services supported on the tool, choose Spotify. Sign in to your Spotify account or create a new account if you do not have an account already.

Step 3. Choose your track to download

Search for the track that you want to download. This will bring up the download parameters options. These would include download resolution, file formats and other relevant settings.

Step 4. Download the tracks

Click on Download Now or click on the download icon to download the track.

Conclusion

The frustration of hitting 'download' on Spotify only to be met with errors is a common pain point for many users. From ensuring your Premium status is active and your internet connection is robust, to clearing pesky caches and managing device storage, we've armed you with a comprehensive knowledge base to tackle those stubborn "Spotify not downloading songs" problems across your iPhone, Apple Watch, and other devices.

Don't let download errors dictate your listening habits. Whether you choose to troubleshoot diligently with the tips provided or embrace the comprehensive, liberating solution offered by MusicFab Spotify Converter, the ultimate goal remains the same: uninterrupted access to your favourite tunes, offline and on your terms!