A smartphone displaying the Spotify app with a download icon, surrounded by musical notes and headphones.

How to Download Music on Spotify for Offline Listening

2 min read
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Summary

To download music on Spotify for offline listening, ensure you have a Spotify Premium subscription, the app installed, enough storage, and a stable internet connection. Follow steps to download on mobile or desktop. Manage storage by adjusting quality settings. Use Smart Downloads for automatic updates. Keep the app updated and troubleshoot issues by checking subscription, storage, and connectivity.

Prerequisites for Offline Listening

Before downloading music on Spotify, ensure you have:

  • An active Spotify Premium subscription
  • The Spotify app installed on your device
  • Sufficient storage space
  • A stable internet connection for initial downloads

You can sign up for Spotify Premium to access offline listening and other premium features.

Downloading Music on Mobile Devices

Steps for Android and iOS

  1. Launch the Spotify app
  2. Find the content you want to download
  3. Look for the "Download" toggle switch at the top
  4. Tap the switch to begin downloading (it will turn green)

Pro Tip: Premium subscribers can download up to 10,000 songs on up to 5 different devices.

Desktop Download Instructions

  1. Open the Spotify desktop application
  2. Navigate to your desired playlist or album
  3. Click the three dots menu
  4. Select "Download" to start the process
  5. Wait for the download to complete

Managing Storage and Downloads

Storage Requirements

  • High quality: ~150MB per hour of music
  • Normal quality: ~75MB per hour of music
  • Low quality: ~25MB per hour of music

Storage Settings

  1. Go to Settings in the Spotify app
  2. Scroll to Storage
  3. Choose between internal storage or SD card (if supported)
  4. Adjust download quality under Music Quality

Smart Downloads Feature

Spotify's Smart Downloads automatically:

  • Updates your Liked Songs playlist
  • Refreshes frequently played content
  • Removes rarely played tracks to save space

To enable Smart Downloads:

  1. Access Settings
  2. Locate "Smart Downloads"
  3. Toggle the feature on

Tips for Offline Listening

  • Keep Your App Updated: Maintain the latest version to avoid issues
  • Use Wi-Fi: Download music over Wi-Fi to save mobile data
  • Stay Connected: Go online at least once every 30 days to verify your subscription
  • Monitor Storage: Regularly clean up downloads to maintain device performance

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If experiencing download problems:

  • Verify your Premium subscription status
  • Check available storage space
  • Ensure internet connectivity
  • Try logging out and back in
  • Update the Spotify app

For additional support and information, visit the Spotify Help Center.

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