Last updated: March 5, 2026
Spotify may sometimes fail to play songs, showing a greyed-out track or skipping songs without playing them. This is a common issue that can affect both free and premium users on mobile and desktop.
Poor internet connection: Spotify requires a stable connection to stream music.
Outdated app version: An older version of Spotify may have bugs that prevent playback.
Corrupted cache: Over time, cached data can become corrupted and cause playback issues.
Account issues: Your subscription may have expired, or there may be a region restriction.
Device storage full: If your device is low on storage, Spotify may not be able to cache songs for playback.
• Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• Try opening a website or another app to verify your connection works.
• If on Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data or vice versa.
• Close Spotify completely (don't just minimize it).
• On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Force Stop.
• On iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom and swipe Spotify away.
• Reopen the app and try playing a song.
• Open Spotify and go to Settings.
• Scroll down to "Storage" and tap "Clear Cache".
• This won't delete your downloaded songs but will free up corrupted temporary files.
• Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
• Search for Spotify and tap "Update" if available.
• On desktop, Spotify usually updates automatically, but you can check under Help > About Spotify.
• Go to Spotify Settings > Scroll to the bottom > Tap "Log Out".
• Close the app completely.
• Reopen and log back in with your credentials.
• If none of the above works, uninstall Spotify from your device.
• Restart your device.
• Reinstall Spotify from the App Store or Google Play Store.
If you've tried all the steps above and songs still won't play, contact Spotify Support at support.spotify.com. Provide details about your device, operating system, and the specific error you're seeing.
Q: Why are some songs greyed out on Spotify?
A: Greyed-out songs are usually unavailable in your region due to licensing restrictions, or they may have been removed from Spotify's catalog.
Q: Can I play songs offline without Premium?
A: No, offline playback is only available for Spotify Premium subscribers. Free users need an internet connection to stream.
Q: Why does Spotify keep pausing by itself?
A: This can happen if someone else is using your account on another device. Go to your account page at spotify.com and click "Sign Out Everywhere" to fix this.
Q: Will clearing cache delete my downloaded songs?
A: No, clearing the cache only removes temporary files. However, if you reinstall the app, you will need to re-download your offline songs.