Listen to Spotify Without an Internet Connection

One of Spotify Premium's most useful features is the ability to download songs, albums, and playlists for offline playback. Whether you're on a flight, commuting through a tunnel, or simply want to save mobile data, offline listening is a game-changer. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it.

What You Need Before You Start

  • An active Spotify Premium subscription (offline downloads are not available on the free tier)
  • The Spotify app installed on your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android)
  • Enough storage space on your device
  • An internet connection to initiate the downloads

How to Download a Playlist for Offline Use

  1. Open the Spotify app on your device and navigate to Your Library.
  2. Tap on any playlist, album, or podcast you want to download.
  3. Look for the download toggle (a downward arrow icon) near the top of the playlist or album view.
  4. Tap it to begin downloading. A green arrow will confirm the download is in progress.
  5. Once complete, you'll see a solid green arrow — the content is now available offline.

How to Download Individual Songs

Spotify does not allow downloading individual songs outside of a playlist or album in most regions. To download a specific song, first add it to one of your playlists, then download that entire playlist using the steps above.

Switching to Offline Mode

To force Spotify into offline mode (useful for testing or saving data on roaming):

  1. Tap the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of the Home screen.
  2. Scroll down to Playback.
  3. Toggle on Offline mode.

In offline mode, only your downloaded content will be accessible. Spotify will automatically re-sync when you turn offline mode off and reconnect to the internet.

Download Limits & Storage Tips

  • You can download up to 10,000 songs across up to 5 devices on a single Premium account.
  • Downloads expire if you haven't connected to the internet in 30 days — simply going online briefly refreshes them.
  • To save storage space, go to Settings → Storage and choose a lower audio quality for downloads.
  • You can store downloads on an SD card on supported Android devices.

Troubleshooting Common Download Issues

Downloads not working? Try these fixes:

  • Ensure your Premium subscription is active and not expired.
  • Check that you have sufficient device storage available.
  • Log out and log back in to refresh your account credentials.
  • Delete the app cache under Settings → Storage → Clear Cache.

Final Thoughts

Offline listening is one of the strongest arguments for upgrading to Spotify Premium. Once your playlists are downloaded, you'll enjoy uninterrupted music wherever you go — no Wi-Fi required.