How to Link Spotify to Last.Fm

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Last.Fm is one of the most popular music tracking and social networking platforms on the web. By scrobbling (logging) the songs you listen to on various streaming services, Last.Fm lets you track your listening habits, discover new music, and connect with other music lovers. When it comes to listening to music, Spotify is one of the most widely used streaming services. Unfortunately, Spotify and Last.Fm do not automatically integrate with each other, leaving a lot of Last.Fm users wanting to know how to link Spotify to Last.Fm.

If you are wondering how to link Spotify to Last.Fm, you have come to the right place. In this blog post, we will walk you through several methods to do so, listing the pros and cons of each method and why you might run into issues. By the end of this post, you will be able to connect your Spotify and Last.Fm accounts with ease.

Video Tutorial:

What’s Needed

Before getting started, you will need the following items:

  • A Spotify account
  • A Last.Fm account
  • A device with internet connectivity

What requires your focus?

Before you begin connecting your Spotify and Last.Fm accounts, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Firstly, some of the methods require you to use third-party tools or services, which can come with privacy and security risks. Secondly, linking your Spotify and Last.Fm accounts can result in inaccurate scrobbling, so it’s a good idea to double-check your scrobble history if you notice any discrepancies. Finally, some methods require a bit of technical know-how, so make sure you understand each step before proceeding.

Methods to Link Spotify to Last.Fm

Method 1: Using Last.Fm Scrobbler

The easiest and most straightforward way to link your Spotify account to Last.Fm is by using Last.Fm Scrobbler.

Steps:

  1. Visit the Last.Fm Track My Music page.
  2. Scroll down until you see the "Connect accounts" section.
  3. Click on the "Spotify" button.
  4. Enter your Spotify credentials and click "Log In."
  5. Click "Agree" on the authorization screen to allow Last.Fm Scrobbler to access your Spotify account.
  6. Last.Fm Scrobbler will automatically begin tracking the songs you listen to on Spotify and scrobble them to your Last.Fm account.

Pros:

  • Easy to use.
  • No technical knowledge required.
  • Does not require any third-party tools or services.

Cons:

  • May not always accurately scrobble tracks.
  • Cannot scrobble songs you have listened to before connecting your accounts.

Method 2: Using IFTTT

IFTTT (If This Then That) is a web-based automation service that lets you create applets, which are simple programs that can automate tasks between two services.

Steps:

  1. Create an IFTTT account, if you haven’t already.
  2. Visit the Connect your Spotify account to Last.Fm applet.
  3. Click "Turn on."
  4. Enter your Last.Fm and Spotify account credentials and authorize IFTTT to access them.
  5. Click "Save" and then "Turn on."
  6. IFTTT will automatically begin scrobbling your Spotify tracks to Last.Fm.

Pros:

  • Does not require any technical knowledge.
  • No need to manually scrobble tracks.

Cons:

  • Requires creating an IFTTT account, which may not suit everyone.
  • May not work all the time, depending on IFTTT’s servers.

Method 3: Using a Third-Party Desktop Scrobbler

If you prefer to use a desktop app to scrobble your Spotify tracks to Last.Fm, there are several third-party tools you can use, such as Simple Last.Fm Scrobbler.

Steps:

  1. Download and install Simple Last.Fm Scrobbler.
  2. Open Spotify and play a song.
  3. Make sure Simple Last.Fm Scrobbler is running in the background.
  4. Simple Last.Fm Scrobbler will automatically scrobble the track to your Last.Fm account.

Pros:

  • Does not require an internet connection to scrobble tracks.
  • Offers more options and settings than other methods.

Cons:

  • Requires downloading and installing third-party software.
  • Might not work with some older versions of Spotify or operating systems.
  • Can be more difficult to set up than other methods.

Method 4: Using Lastify

If you use the Chrome browser, you can use Lastify, a Chrome extension that scrobbles your Spotify tracks to Last.Fm.

Steps:

  1. Download and install the Lastify extension from the Chrome Web Store.
  2. Open Spotify in Chrome.
  3. Click on the Lastify icon next to the address bar.
  4. Enter your Last.Fm credentials and click "Start Scrobbling."
  5. Lastify will automatically scrobble the tracks you listen to on Spotify.

Pros:

  • Easy to use.
  • No need to manually scrobble tracks.
  • Works with any operating system that can run Chrome.

Cons:

  • Requires using a specific browser (Chrome).
  • Might not work with some versions of Spotify.
  • May not accurately scrobble tracks.

Why Can’t I Link Spotify to Last.Fm?

If you are experiencing issues trying to link your Spotify account to Last.Fm, there could be several reasons why:

  • Your scrobble cache may be disabled. To enable it, go to your Last.Fm account settings and click on "Applications."
  • Your account may be linked to another service. If you have previously linked your Last.Fm account to another music service, you will need to unlink it before you can link Spotify.
  • You may have reached your maximum number of scrobbles. Last.Fm limits the number of scrobbles you can have per day, so you may need to wait until the next day to scrobble more tracks.

If you are unable to link your Spotify account to Last.Fm, here are a few things you can try:

  • Reset your Last.Fm cache.
  • Delete your Spotify listening history and start fresh.
  • Try using a different scrobbling method.

Implications and Recommendations

By linking your Spotify account to Last.Fm, you can gain valuable insights into your listening habits, discover new artists and songs, and connect with other music lovers. However, as with any online activity, it’s important to protect your privacy and security, especially when using third-party tools or services.

If you decide to use a third-party app or service to scrobble your Spotify tracks to Last.Fm, make sure you understand the risks involved, such as potential data breaches or account hijacking. Only use apps and services that are reputable and have positive user reviews. Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to protect your online privacy and encrypt your internet traffic.

Lastly, be sure to double-check your scrobble history regularly to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of your listening habits.

5 FAQs

Q1. How do I know if my tracks are scrobbling to Last.Fm?

A1. You can check your scrobble history on your Last.Fm account to see if your tracks are being logged. Alternatively, you can use a scrobbling tool or app that displays real-time scrobble information.

Q2. Can I scrobble tracks I have already listened to on Spotify?

A2. Unfortunately, no. Last.Fm cannot retroactively scrobble tracks you have already listened to.

Q3. How do I delete scrobbles on Last.Fm?

A3. To delete scrobbles on Last.Fm, go to your scrobble history and hover over the track you want to delete. Click on the "more" button and select "delete."

Q4. Can I unlink my Spotify account from Last.Fm?

A4. Yes. To unlink your Spotify account from Last.Fm, go to your Last.Fm account settings and click on "Applications." Find Spotify and click on "Revoke Access."

Q5. Can I scrobble tracks from other music services besides Spotify?

A5. Yes. Last.Fm supports scrobbling from a wide range of music services, including Apple Music, Tidal, and Google Play Music.

In Conclusion

Linking your Spotify account to Last.Fm is a great way to track your listening habits, discover new music, and connect with other music lovers. Whether you choose to use Last.Fm Scrobbler, IFTTT, a third-party desktop scrobbler, or the Lastify Chrome extension, the methods listed in this blog post will help you get started. Be sure to keep in mind the potential privacy and security risks, and double-check your scrobble history for accuracy. Happy scrobbling!