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(7 Fixes) Spotify Not Working On PC [Updated 2023 Guide]

Spotify Not Working On PC

Is your Spotify app on PC not playing any song?

Or does it keep on crashing whenever you try to open it?

Regardless of which, troubleshooting it is fast and easy.

And no, you don’t have to be a tech expert to do it. 

Trust me, just…

Read on to know:

  • 11 ways to fix Spotify that isn’t working on PC.
  • How to clean boot the PC to fix application glitches.
  • Why you should disable “High-Quality Streaming” and how to do it.
  • And so much more…

Why is Spotify not working on pc?

Spotify isn’t working on PC because the app has glitches and software bugs. The PC might be malfunctioning due to system errors as well. It’ll also not play music if the Hardware Acceleration and High-Quality Streaming are enabled on the Spotify setting. The Firewall blocking Spotify is also likely.


Spotify not working on pc: 7 fixes


#1: Relaunch the Spotify app

Is your Spotify on PC freezing? Then, relaunch it.

The reason:

Your Spotify app can lag or crash upon opening when it launches incorrectly. And that can happen due to electronic glitches and software bugs.

Luckily, fixing these errors is easy. 

You just have to relaunch your app to resolve those minor errors.

So, if your Spotify on PC is lagging, follow these instructions:

Step 1: Hover the mouse cursor on the Spotify app icon. Look for it on the Taskbar, which is at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: When the Spotify preview appears, click the EXIT (X) button on it.

Step 3: Then, open the Spotify app again.

#2: Force-close Spotify from the Task Manager

“I’m trying to close the Spotify app. But I can’t even click the EXIT button.”

If that’s the case, force-close the app from the Task Manager.

Here’s how to do it: 

On a Windows PC

Step 1: Press the CTRL + SHIFT + ESC buttons on the keyboard simultaneously. Doing this opens the Task Manager page.

Step 2: On the Task Manager page, click “Spotify.”

Step 3: Then, press the “End Task” button on the bottom-right corner.

Alternatively, you can right-click on Spotify. Then, choose “End Task.”

On a Mac computer:

Step 1: Press the OPTION + COMMAND + ESC buttons on the keyboard simultaneously. 

Step 2: Select “Spotify” among the options.

Step 3: Click “Force Quit” on the bottom-right corner.

You might also like: Why won’t Alexa play Spotify?

#3: Turn off “Hardware Acceleration”

To improve your music streaming experience…

Spotify uses your computer hardware to run its functions better via “Hardware Acceleration.”

While this is a great feature, it can sometimes mess up with Spotify. Especially if your PC is several years old.

So, to fix the issue, disable “Hardware Acceleration” on your Spotify setting.

To do that:

Step 1: Log in to your Spotify desktop app.

Step 2: Tap your Spotify username on the top-right corner.

Step 3: Click “Settings.”

Step 4: Scroll down to the very bottom of the page.

Step 5: Find the Hardware Acceleration setting under the “Compatibility” section.

Step 6: Toggle off the Hardware Acceleration button.

Step 7: Then, relaunch your Spotify app for it to take effect.

#4: Disable “High-Quality Streaming”

Disable High-Quality Streaming

Spotify can sometimes not play songs if the “High-Quality Streaming” setting is enabled.

I know what you’re thinking….”What does it have to do with it?”

In normal scenarios, it doesn’t affect the app itself. 

But due to some bugs, certain settings on Spotify can cause the app not to function properly.

Note: This can happen more often if you’ve switched from Spotify Premium to Spotify Free. Since the free plan doesn’t offer high-quality music streaming.

Depending on your subscription, here’s how to fix the issue:

If you’re using Spotify Premium

Step 1: Log in to your Spotify account.

Step 2: Tap your username. Then, select “Settings.”

Step 3: Find Steaming Quality under the “Audio Quality” section.

Step 4: Tap the drop-down menu next to it.

Step 5: Choose “Automatic.” 

Step 6: Click the drop-down menu again.

Step 7: Select “High” or “Very High.”

If you’re using Spotify Free

Step 1: Log in to Spotify.

Step 2: Click your username on the top-right corner. Then, press “Settings.”

Step 3: Look for the Streaming Quality settings.

Step 4: Press the drop-down menu on its right.

Step 5: Then, select “Automatic.” 

Read also: 7 Steps To Use Alexa as a Speaker for a PC (No Bluetooth)

#5: Allow Spotify to run through the Firewall

A firewall is a great feature that protects your PC from viruses and malicious threats.

However, this can sometimes block an app or program from running. 

So, if you can’t launch your Spotify on PC…

Allow it to run through the Firewall.

Here’s how to do it:

On a Windows PC

Step 1: Tap the Windows Start icon.

Step 2: Enter “Security” on the search bar. Then, click “Windows Security.”

Step 3: Select “Firewall and network protection” on the left menu.

Step 4: Tap “Allow an app through the firewall.”

Step 5: Scroll down and search for  “Spotify.”

Step 6: Tick the boxes under the “Private” and “Public” columns.

Step 7: Then, press “OK” to save your settings.

On a Mac computer

Step 1: Go to the Apple menu. Then, select “System Preferences.”

Step 2: Click “Security & Privacy.”

Step 3: Go to the Firewall tab.

Step 4: Tap the lock icon on the bottom-left corner. 

Step 5: Enter your admin username and password.

Step 6: Press “Firewall Options.”

Step 7: Click the plus (+) icon.

Step 8: Search for “Spotify.” Then, click “Add.”

Step 9: Lastly, tap “OK” to save your settings.

#6: Perform a “Clean Reinstall”

Still didn’t work? This time, clean reinstall your Spotify desktop app.

Note: A clean reinstall ensures that all Spotify data on your PC are deleted. So that you can set up a fresh one without problems.

Here’s how to clean reinstall Spotify:

On a Windows PC

Step 1: Launch the Spotify app.

Step 2: Tap the three-dot icon at the top-left corner. Then, click File>Exit.

Step 3: Press the Windows Start icon. 

Step 4: Tap Settings>System>Apps & Features>Spotify>Unistall>Uninstall.

Step 5: Press the Windows Start icon again.

Step 6: Enter “%AppData%” on the search bar. This will lead you to the App\Roaming page.

Step 7: If there’s a Spotify folder on it, delete it.

Step 8: Check your local folders as well. And delete Spotify files, if there are any.

Step 9: Shut down the PC. And wait for about 5 minutes before restarting it.

Step 10: Then, download Spotify again.

You can also watch this video to learn an alternative method on how to clean reinstall Spotify:

On a Mac computer

Step 1: Close the Spotify app.

Step 2: Go to the Control Panel. Then, select Program and Features>Spotify>Uninstall.

Step 3: Click the Start icon.

Step 4: Type “%AppData%” on the search bar. Then, press ENTER.

Step 5: On the pop-up page, delete the Spotify folder, if there are any.

Step 6: Visit your local files and delete the remaining Spotily folders.

Step 7: Turn off your computer. Then, restart it after about 5 minutes.

Step 8: Lastly, reinstall the Spotify app.

#7: Clean boot the PC

If all things fail. clean boot your Windows PC.

This helps fix software errors on the app, which are causing your Spotify app not to work.

Warning: Doing this may cause further damage to your Windows PC. So do this only if you’re knowledgeable about Windows. Or with the help of a Microsoft support engineer.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Tap the Windows Start icon.

Step 2: Enter “msconfig” on the search bar. And click “System Configuration.”

Step 3: Go to the “Services” tab. 

Step 4: Tick the “Hide all Microsoft services” on the bottom-left corner.

Step 5: Press “Disable All” on the right side of the page.

Step 6: Go to the “Startup” tab.

Step 7: Click “Open Task Manager.” Then, tap the “Startup” tab on it.

Step 8: Look for and select “Spotify.” 

Step 9: Press “Disable” on the bottom-right corner. Then, close the page.

Step 10: Back on the System Configuration page. Go to the Startup tab and click “OK.”

Step 11: Restart your PC.

After that, reinstall the Spotify desktop app on your device.

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