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How to Download Spotify Music on Your Computer

Spotify Premium users can download playlists in the desktop app for offline playback. Here’s how the process works on Windows and Mac, plus what to do if a download fails.
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You can download Spotify music on a Windows PC or Mac through Spotify’s desktop app if you have Premium: while online, open a playlist and click the Download button. Spotify downloads are for offline playback inside Spotify, not ordinary audio files you can export. Free accounts can download podcasts, but not music.

What you need before downloading

  • Spotify’s desktop app: Spotify’s supported computer workflow uses the app.
  • Premium for music: Spotify says music downloads are a Premium benefit; free accounts can download podcasts only. See Spotify’s Premium benefits and its Listen offline help page.
  • An internet connection: You must be online to start the download.
  • A playlist: Spotify does not offer a way to download a single song by itself. Add the song to a playlist, then download that playlist.

Download a playlist on a PC or Mac

  1. Open the Spotify desktop app and connect to the internet.
  2. Open the playlist you want to save for offline listening.
  3. Click the playlist’s Download button. Spotify will download its available tracks to the app.

To save just one song, first add it to a playlist, then download that playlist. Spotify describes this playlist-based method in its offline listening instructions and Premium benefits.

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Use Offline Mode when you want only downloaded music

Spotify can start playing downloaded content when your computer loses its internet connection. If you want to prevent the app from trying to play anything that was not downloaded, switch on Offline Mode. Content that is not downloaded will appear grayed out and will not play in this mode.

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On Mac

In the Apple menu bar, open the Spotify menu and choose Offline Mode.

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On Windows

In Spotify, open the three-dot menu, choose File, then select Offline Mode. Spotify’s offline troubleshooting and settings page describes the desktop controls.

How Spotify downloads work—and their limits

Downloaded music is available for playback inside Spotify; it is not provided as a folder of standard music files. Spotify says downloads are available on up to five devices, with a limit of 10,000 tracks on each device. You need to connect each device to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep its downloads. If you reinstall Spotify, you need to download your music again. These limits are stated on Spotify’s current Premium benefits and Listen offline pages, which do not display publication dates.

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Spotify downloads versus Local Files

Feature Spotify playlist download Local Files
Audio source Music in Spotify’s catalog Audio files already stored on your computer
Premium needed? Yes, for music downloads Local Files is a way to show eligible files you already have; it is separate from catalog downloads
What you get Offline playback inside Spotify Access to selected local audio files in the Spotify app

To show local audio, enable Show Local Files in Spotify’s Settings and choose the folders or sources to include. This does not download Spotify catalog tracks as ordinary files. See Spotify’s Local Files instructions.

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Troubleshoot a Spotify download that will not start

  • Check your connection: Start the download while connected to the internet.
  • Check storage: Spotify recommends having at least 1 GB of free memory. This is Spotify’s recommendation, not a universal computer requirement.
  • Check the device limit: Spotify allows downloads on up to five devices. If you have reached that limit, review the devices associated with your account.
  • Disable cleanup or power-saving apps temporarily: Cache-clearing or battery-saving apps can interfere with downloads.
  • Restart Spotify: Close and reopen the desktop app, then try again.

These checks come from Spotify’s Listen offline troubleshooting guidance.

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