Is your Spotify constantly interrupting your music or podcasts? It’s a common frustration for many users when Spotify unexpectedly stops playing, whether you’re listening online or offline. Let’s explore why this might be happening and what you can do to fix it.
Spotify Stops During Offline Playback
If you’re experiencing interruptions while listening to downloaded content in offline mode, there are a couple of likely reasons. Spotify uses cached data to play music offline, and sometimes this cached information can become problematic.
One simple step is to ensure you are actually in “Listen offline” mode. This tells the Spotify app to prioritize your downloaded content. To activate it, navigate to Settings within the Spotify app and find the Offline mode toggle to switch it on. This forces the app to use the locally stored music files.
If switching to offline mode doesn’t solve the problem, the issue might be with corrupted or incomplete cached data. A more thorough solution is to perform a clean reinstall of the Spotify application. This process removes all Spotify data, including potentially corrupted cache files, ensuring a fresh installation.
A clean reinstall involves these steps:
- Uninstall Spotify: Completely remove the Spotify application from your device through your operating system’s application manager.
- Delete Spotify Folders: Manually delete any remaining Spotify folders. These are typically located in:
- Windows:
%appdata%\Spotifyand%localappdata%\Spotify - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Spotifyand~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client - Android/iOS: This step is usually not necessary for mobile, but clearing app data in settings can help.
- Windows:
- Reinstall Spotify: Download the latest version of Spotify from the official website or app store and reinstall it.
- Redownload Offline Content: After reinstalling, you will need to download your offline playlists and podcasts again.
While this may seem like a drastic measure, a clean reinstall often resolves issues related to corrupted cached data and can get your offline playback running smoothly again.
Spotify Stops During Online Playback
If your Spotify is stopping while streaming online, the reasons can be more varied. One possible cause, particularly on mobile devices, can be related to notification settings and how your device manages background apps.
Some users have reported that restrictive notification settings on iOS and Android devices can sometimes interfere with Spotify’s playback, especially when the app is running in the background. Check your device’s notification settings for Spotify and ensure that background activity and notifications are permitted. You can usually find these settings in your device’s main settings menu under “Notifications” or “Apps.”
Beyond notification settings, general online streaming issues can also cause interruptions. These include:
- Unstable Internet Connection: A weak or intermittent Wi-Fi or cellular data connection can cause Spotify to buffer or stop playback. Ensure you have a stable and strong internet connection.
- App Conflicts: Other applications running in the background might be competing for resources and causing Spotify to falter. Close unnecessary apps to free up system resources.
- Outdated App Version: Using an outdated version of the Spotify app can sometimes lead to bugs and performance issues. Make sure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version available in your app store.
As with offline playback issues, a clean reinstall can also be a helpful troubleshooting step for online playback problems, as it can resolve underlying software glitches within the application itself.
Conclusion
Experiencing Spotify stopping unexpectedly can disrupt your listening enjoyment. By systematically troubleshooting, starting with checking offline mode and notification settings, and progressing to a clean reinstall if needed, you can often resolve these frustrating interruptions and get back to enjoying your music and podcasts without interruption. If the problem persists, consider checking Spotify’s support resources or community forums for further assistance.
