Local Files Not Playing On Spotify: How To Fix [6 Methods]

Written By Robert Fabry Last updated: January 9, 2024

Spotify, despite being the music streaming behemoth that it is, is still marred with performance and playback issues that are too random. Have you experienced several issues when using its app like local files not playing on Spotify?

Why can't you play local files on Spotify? It can be annoying, but solutions are always available for you. We will look at how to fix the issue of Spotify local files not syncing/showing/playing using several methods and ensure a smooth listening experience with the files across desktop and mobile devices in this article.

Contents Guide Part 1. 5 Solutions to Fix Spotify Local Files Not Playing/ShowingPart 2. Best Solution to Play Spotify Local FilesPart 3. Conclusion

Part 1. 5 Solutions to Fix Spotify Local Files Not Playing/Showing

Here are some solutions for you when Spotify can’t play local files. These are all easy and you can try to fix this issue.

Solution 1. Allow Spotify App Through Firewall Services

Why can't you play local files on Spotify on Windows/Mac? The Firewall settings on your Mac and Windows may cause this issue. Once the Firewall blocks the Spotify app, you can't play local files on Spotify. To fix local files not playing on Spotify on Mac and Windows, you should whitelist Spotify on the Firewall settings to give Spotify unrestricted access to your computer.

Change Firewall Settings on Windows:

  1. Open the Control Panel of your device and choose the Firewall settings option
  2. From the left-hand menu, select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
  3. In the Allowed Apps window, click Change settings.
  4. Find spotify.exe and check the Private and Public options.
  5. To fix Spotify local files not showing on Windows, click OK to save the new firewall settings.

Allow Spotify App Through Firewall Services

Change Firewall Settings on Mac:

  1. On your Mac, click the Apple menu > System Preferences.
  2. Navigate to Security & Privacy, and click on the Firewall tab.
  3. Click the lock icon at the bottom of the window to make changes to your Firewall settings. Type in your admin username and password in the dialog box then hit Enter. Click Firewall Options.
  4. To fix local files not playing on Spotify, click + (plus) icon to add Spotify application and then launch Spotify app again.
  5. Check whether Spotify is listed and enabled in the Security and Privacy settings. Select Apple Menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy >Files & Folders on the left pane, and check if Spotify is listed and enabled.

Click Firewall Options

Solution 2. Clear Spotify Cache

Like any other application, Spotify keeps all the temporary files in an offline format to enhance quick playback functions. These are among the Spotify caches. For some reason, they might be faulty and can cause issues like local files not playing on Spotify. Therefore, you need to remove all the cache as one of the options to resolve the problem. See What Is Cache On Spotify And How To Clear Spotify Cache >>

Clear The Spotify Cache

At this point the issue should be able to be fixed, confirm if this is true, if not we go to yet another option.

Solution 3. Update the Spotify App

Why don't my local files play on Spotify? You may be using an old version of Spotify on your Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android devices. Old app versions often have issues that are patched in newer versions. In this case, you can resolve your local files issue by updating your Spotify app to the latest version.

Solution 4. Change the Location of Your Spotify Local File

Why won't my local file play on Spotify? Sometimes, the current location of the files may be the issue behind the local files not playing on Spotify. Therefore, it’s also wise to love the files to a different location and return them to the same location for the device to register it as a fresh file and be able to play with minimal hassle. From the guide Find And Change Your Spotify File Location, choose a new file folder to save music to the new location. That’s it, all done!

Change The Location

Solution 5. Check the Local File Format

One of the troubleshooting processes is to ensure that make sure the file is in a supported format if Spotify local files not playing on your device. Spotify supports streaming local music files in MP3, MP4, and M4P formats, when your files are encoded in other ones, Spotify hides them and doesn’t show them to you. Hence, before uploading any local audio file to Spotify, you are recommended to double-check whether the format extension of the files is in .mp3, .m4p, or mp4. If not, you should convert them to Spotify’s compatible formats first or the Spotify local files not playing error will occur.

Part 2. Best Solution to Play Spotify Local Files

If all the methods above can't fix the issue of local files not playing on Spotify, then you have no option but to uninstall and reinstall Spotify. However, you may encounter more issues when using the Spotify app, including Spotify playing songs that are not on your playlist, Spotify Error Code 17, Spotify using too much CPU, and more. How to avoid these problems forever? The better way is to download music from Spotify and keep them on other media players for offline listening. That is the time you need a digital solution like AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter.

While Spotify streaming files are all encoded into DRM and limited to Spotify's platform, AmusicSoft Spotify Music Converter can make them yours. Added with the DRM-removal function, AmusicSoft Spotify Music Converter is the best third-party tool that can convert Spotify content into 6 formats - MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AAC, and FLAC. AMusicSoft is a great help especially to all free users since they will be able to save their favorites as well, and they can play the Spotify music offline.

To enjoy Spotify for free, make sure to follow the procedure below.

  • On your device, download the AmusicSoft Spotify Music Converter.

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  • Install the application and launch it after. Then proceed with adding the Spotify tracks by copying and pasting the link of your selected tracks. You can also do the drag-and-drop method if that is easier for you.

Upload The Tracks

  • Select the output format from the available ones and then create an end folder as well. Adjusting and modifying the settings of conversion can also be done to obtain the results that you want at the end.

Choose Output Format

  • Click the “Convert” button to start the conversion process until you can see the status of the files.

Click Convert All To Start Downloading

Part 3. Conclusion

Are you now convinces that you can solve the local files not playing on Spotify using these methods? If you try any of these and still the problem persists then you have to run other diagnostic procedures to get to the root cause of the problem and further the solution. AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter is a good assistant, and we highly recommend you to have a try. Hoping that this passage can be of some help to you!

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