Spotify is a popular music streaming service that provides millions of songs to its users. Although it offers the option to download playlists, albums, and podcasts for offline playback, the downloaded files are locked in the app and cannot be accessed outside of it. As a result, it becomes difficult for users to transfer the downloaded music to other devices or play them on a media player.
In this blog post, we present some methods to download music from Spotify to files that can be stored on your device or transferred to other devices for playback.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To download music from Spotify to files, you will need the following:
- A Spotify Premium account
- A PC or Mac
- A software that can record system audio
- An Android phone with an SD card (optional)
What requires your attention is…?
Before proceeding with any of the methods, it’s important to note that downloading music from Spotify violates its terms of service. However, for personal use, it’s usually not an issue. Additionally, keep in mind that the quality of the downloaded music may not be as good as the original due to the recording process. Also, the downloaded files may not have proper ID3 tags and may require editing.
Method 1: Using Audacity
Audacity is a free and open-source software that can record system audio. Follow the steps below to download music from Spotify to files using Audacity:
1. Download and install Audacity from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/.
2. Launch Audacity and click the "Edit" tab in the menu bar.
3. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
4. In the preferences window, click on the "Devices" tab.
5. Under the "Recording" section, select "Windows WASAPI" from the dropdown menu next to "Audio Host".
6. Under "Recording Device", select "Speakers" or "Headphones" depending on your setup.
7. Click "OK" to save the changes.
Now you’re ready to record the system audio.
8. Play the song you want to download on Spotify.
9. In Audacity, click the red "Record" button to start recording.
10. Let the song play until it finishes or until you have recorded the parts you need.
11. Click the yellow "Stop" button to stop recording.
Now you can save the recording as an MP3 file.
12. Click "File" in the menu bar and select "Export" from the dropdown menu.
13. Choose a location to save the audio file and enter a name for it.
14. Select "MP3 Files" from the "Format" dropdown menu and click "Save".
15. In the "Edit Metadata" window, enter the artist and song information and click "OK".
The downloaded music is now saved as an MP3 file.
Method 2: Using AllToMP3
AllToMP3 is a free, cross-platform software that can download music from Spotify as MP3, FLAC, or WAV files. Follow the steps below to download music using AllToMP3:
1. Download and install AllToMP3 from https://alltomp3.org/.
2. Launch AllToMP3 and drag and drop a song or playlist from Spotify to the AllToMP3 window.
3. AllToMP3 will start downloading the songs automatically.
4. Once the downloading is complete, the downloaded files will be saved in the default location (usually the "Downloads" folder).
The downloaded music is now saved as MP3, FLAC or WAV files.
Method 3: Using Android phone
This method is recommended for users who have an Android phone with an SD card. Follow the steps below to download music from Spotify to files using an Android phone:
1. Download and install Spotify on your Android phone.
2. Open Spotify and go to the playlist, album or podcast you want to download.
3. Tap on the download button to start downloading.
4. Once the downloading is complete, go to your phone’s file manager and navigate to "Android -> data -> com.spotify.music -> files -> Spotify -> Music".
5. Copy the downloaded files to the SD card or any other location on your phone.
The downloaded music is now saved as OGG Vorbis files.
Why Can’t I download music from Spotify?
There are several reasons why you may not be able to download music from Spotify. Some common reasons are:
1. You don’t have a Spotify Premium account: downloading music from Spotify is only available for Premium subscribers.
2. You have reached the download limit: Spotify allows users to download up to 10,000 songs per device. If you have reached this limit, you won’t be able to download more music.
3. Downloading is not available in your region: in some regions, downloading music from Spotify is not available due to licensing restrictions.
To fix these issues, make sure you have a Premium account, delete some of the previously downloaded music, or try using a VPN to download music from Spotify if it’s not available in your region.
Implications and Recommendations
Downloading music from Spotify can have legal implications as it violates its terms of service. However, for personal use, it’s usually not an issue. Additionally, the downloaded files may not have proper ID3 tags and may require editing. Therefore, it’s recommended to use these methods for personal use only and edit the metadata of the downloaded files to avoid any conflict.
FAQs
Q: Can I download music from Spotify without a Premium account?
A: No, downloading music from Spotify is only available for Premium subscribers.
Q: Can I download music from Spotify on my iPhone?
A: No, downloading music from Spotify on an iPhone is currently not possible. However, you can download music on an Android phone and transfer it to your iPhone using iTunes or other media players.
Q: Can I download music from Spotify as FLAC files?
A: Yes, using AllToMP3, you can download music from Spotify as FLAC, MP3 or WAV files.
Q: Can I transfer the downloaded music to other devices?
A: Yes, you can transfer the downloaded music to other devices or even burn them on a CD for personal use.
Q: Is it legal to download music from Spotify?
A: Downloading music from Spotify violates its terms of service. However, for personal use, it’s usually not an issue.