Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms worldwide, with over 356 million active users. It lets users access a broad range of music genres, playlists, albums, and other media content. However, you must have an internet connection to listen to your favorite tunes and playlists on Spotify. This can be a problem when there’s no Wi-Fi or internet connection available. Fortunately, there is a way to solve this issue. In this article, we’ll teach you how to download Spotify songs to listen offline.
Video Tutorial:
If you’re about to embark on a trip where there will be no internet connection, then downloading Spotify songs might be your best bet. We all have a friend or family member who loves to stay connected, even when others advise against it. Having your playlist ready in case of emergency can go a long way in making your journey by plane, car, or boat much more enjoyable than without one. With new updates in Spotify, it is becoming easier and easier to select and download the songs you want to listen to.
The Challenge of Downloading Spotify Songs Offline
Downloading Spotify songs for offline use requires Spotify Premium, a paid subscription service that offers more features and benefits than the free version. This subscription costs $9.99 per month and is charged on a monthly basis. If you don’t subscribe to Spotify Premium, you won’t be able to download songs for offline listening.
Another potential issue with downloading Spotify songs offline is the file size. Spotify allows you to choose the quality of the downloaded song. Higher quality means more data and a larger file size. In other words, downloading higher-quality audio tracks takes up more storage space. So, you must ensure that you have an adequate storage space on your device before downloading any songs.
Things You Should Prepare for Downloading Spotify Songs
Before downloading Spotify songs, there are a few things you should prepare to ensure that the process goes smoothly. Here are some essentials:
1. A Spotify Premium Account
As mentioned earlier, downloading songs for offline listening requires a Spotify Premium account. Make sure you sign up for this service and pay for it before attempting to download any songs.
2. Sufficient Storage Space
Ensure that there is enough storage capacity on your mobile device or computer before beginning the download process. A single song can take up anywhere from 3MB to 10MB of storage space, depending on the song quality. So make sure you have enough free space on your device to accommodate the songs you plan to download.
3. A Stable Internet Connection
Before you start downloading the songs, ensure that your internet connection is stable. Any interruption during the download process can result in incomplete downloads, and you’ll have to start the process again.
4. The Spotify App
To download songs for offline listening, you’ll need the Spotify app.
Methods for Downloading Spotify Songs
There are several ways to download Spotify songs to listen offline. Here are three methods:
Method 1: Downloading Songs Using Spotify Premium (Mobile Devices)
For Android and iOS devices, Spotify has made it easy to download songs for offline listening. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open your Spotify app and navigate to the playlist you want to download
Step 2: Find the ‘Download’ toggle switch located on the top right of the playlist, and click it to enable downloading for all songs on the playlist.
Step 3: Your selected songs will start downloading automatically.
- Easy and convenient to use
- No third-party software is required
- Large file sizes can take up a lot of storage space on mobile devices
- You’ll need a stable internet connection to download the songs, and any interruptions can result in incomplete downloads
Method 2: Using the Spotify Web Player
Spotify’s web player allows you to listen to music, create playlists, and save music offline using your desktop computer. Spotify does not require you to install any software on your device to use this method. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open your browser and go to the Spotify web player.
Step 2: Log in to your Spotify Premium account.
Step 3: Find the playlist you want to download and click the ‘Download’ button located on the right side of the playlist header.
- No installation needed since it is a web player
- Easy and straightforward process for downloading playlists
- Requires a stable internet connection to fully download all songs
- Downloading large playlists might take a significant amount of time
Method 3: Exploiting the Recording Feature of your Desktop Device
You can use a program like Audacity to record your desktop audio while songs play on Spotify. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch the Audacity application on your computer.
Step 2: Click on the recording option and then select "Windows WASAPI" (or select "PCM default" for Mac users) from the microphone dropdown menu located at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Play the Spotify song you want to record and click the record button in audacity.
- You can save a file in various formats like Ogg or mp3
- The quality of the recorded song may be less than the original song quality
- Some people consider this method to be illegal or immoral since it’s less than honest way
Why Can’t I Download Spotify Songs to Listen Offline?
Several reasons may prevent you from downloading Spotify songs for offline listening. Here are some common issues:
1. Free Spotify Account: As mentioned earlier, only Spotify Premium subscribers have access to the download feature for offline listening.
2. Insufficient Storage: If there’s not enough space on your device, you won’t be able to download songs to listen offline.
3. Unstable Internet Connection: Downloading songs requires an uninterrupted internet connection. Any signal interruption can lead to incomplete downloads.
4. Device Compatibility: Spotify songs may not be available for download on all devices. For example, older smartphones may not be compatible with some Spotify updates.
To solve these issues:
1. Upgrade to Spotify Premium: To download songs for offline listening, you need a Spotify Premium account.
2. Free up some storage space: Delete any unwanted files or apps that are taking up storage space on your device to free up space for your downloaded music.
3. Use a different device or internet connection: Move to a place with a more reliable internet connection or switch to another device to download your Spotify songs.
Additional Tips
Before you start downloading songs for offline listening with Spotify, keep these tips in mind:
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection before starting the download process.
- Download only the songs you will listen to offline to conserve storage space.
- The highest quality setting will use up more storage space compared to lower quality settings.
- You can set songs for download at night while you sleep, or when you are not busy with the device.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I play Spotify songs without an internet connection?
A1: Yes, you can listen to songs you have downloaded from Spotify offline.
Q2: Does Spotify Premium include Family Plan?
A2: Yes, Spotify offers a family plan for up to six people.
Q3: Can I download Spotify songs to an SD Card?
A3: Yes, you can choose the location of your downloaded songs. Saving them to an external SD card can be helpful if you’re running out of disk space on your phone.
Q4: Can I download a playlist from Spotify for offline use?
A4: Yes, you can download a complete playlist or individual songs for offline listening on the Spotify app.
Q5: Can I still listen to downloaded Spotify songs if my subscription expires?
A5: No, you need an active Spotify Premium subscription to listen to downloaded songs offline. Cancelling or not renewing your subscription will result in the songs becoming inaccessible.
In Conclusion
Downloading Spotify songs for offline listening is an excellent option when there’s no internet connection available. Use the methods outlined in this article to start downloading and enjoy your favorite tunes without the need for internet access. Make sure to have a Spotify Premium subscription, sufficient storage space, and a stable internet connection before you begin the download process.