How to Download Songs on Spotify to Listen Offline
How to download songs, albums and playlists on Spotify, what free and Premium allow, the 10,000-track and 30-day rules, offline mode, Offline Backup and fixes.
On Spotify Premium, you download music by tapping the download button on a playlist, album or podcast. Spotify doesn't download single songs on their own: "you can put them in a playlist and download the playlist," it says. Premium allows "as many as 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 different devices." On the free plan, "you can only download podcasts."
We read five Spotify Support articles on offline listening, Offline Backup, storage, offline mode and lossless on October 24, 2026.
About 60,500 people search "how to download songs on spotify" each month, and searches for "spotify offline mode" are up 31%.
What can free and Premium download?
| Free | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Download albums and playlists | No | Yes |
| Download podcasts | Yes | Yes |
| Download limit | Not stated | 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 devices |
| Offline Backup | No | Yes, on phones, Android Auto and CarPlay |
| Lossless downloads | No | Yes |
Spotify Support, "Listen offline," "Offline Backup" and "Lossless Audio Quality," read October 24, 2026.
Our Spotify Premium price guide covers what Premium costs.
How do you download songs on Spotify?
On a phone or tablet:
- While you're online, open the playlist, album or podcast you want.
- Tap the download button. It saves to Your Library.
- Check the status next to each song or episode as it finishes.
On a computer: go to the playlist while online and click its download button.
To download one song, add it to a playlist first, then download that playlist. Your Liked Songs playlist works for this too, since it's a playlist.
By default, Spotify only downloads over WiFi "to save mobile data usage." To allow mobile data, go to Settings and privacy, then Data-saving and offline, and switch on Downloads over cellular.
How long do Spotify downloads last?
As long as you check in. "You need to go online at least once every 30 days to keep your downloads," Spotify says. That's how it collects "play data to compensate artists." Go longer than that and you risk losing them.
Reinstalling the app wipes them, too. "You need to re-download any downloaded music and podcasts after reinstalling the app."
How do you turn on offline mode?
Downloads play on their own when you lose signal. Offline mode makes sure "only your downloads play," which helps on a plane or when you want to save data.
- On a phone or tablet: Settings and privacy, then Data-saving and offline, then switch on Offline mode.
- On a Mac: open the Spotify menu at the top of the screen.
- On Windows: open the File menu from the three dots at the top.
Anything you haven't downloaded turns gray. One catch: in offline mode "you can't log in with Facebook or Apple," so keep an email and password login handy.
What is Spotify Offline Backup?
A Premium feature for phones, Android Auto and CarPlay. Spotify says "Offline Backup is filled with music you can play offline. No downloads required." It appears when you're offline, as long as Offline listening is switched on.
You can filter it by mood or genre and sort it by title, artist, album, frequently played or recommended. In the car, it shows on the Spotify home screen of Android Auto and CarPlay when your phone is offline.
Why aren't my Spotify downloads working?
Spotify's help gives these checks:
- Is your internet working? Downloads start online.
- Do you have room? Spotify recommends "at least 1GB free memory." Clear the cache under Settings and privacy, then Data-saving and offline, then Storage.
- Did you hit the 5-device limit? Remove downloads from a device you don't use.
- Is a battery saver or cache cleaner deleting files? Turn it off for Spotify.
- Still stuck? Restart the app, then reinstall it as a last step.
On Android with an SD card, you can move downloads there under Storage. Spotify restarts once the transfer's done.
Can you download Spotify songs to keep?
Not as files. On iPhone, Spotify saves downloads "in an encrypted form," and its help says content "may only be accessed with the Spotify app, the web player website, or apps otherwise authorized by Spotify." Its download steps cover only the mobile, tablet and desktop apps, so use one of those for offline listening. Our web player guide covers the browser side.
Want the best quality offline? On Premium you can pick Lossless for downloads. Our Spotify lossless guide has the steps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download songs on Spotify?
On Premium, open a playlist, album or podcast while online and tap the download button. For a single song, add it to a playlist and download that.
Can you download songs on Spotify for free?
Only podcasts. Downloading albums and playlists needs Premium.
Can I download one song on Spotify?
Not by itself. Add it to a playlist, like Liked Songs, and download the playlist.
How many songs can I download on Spotify?
Up to 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 devices, on Premium.
Why did my Spotify downloads disappear?
You may have been offline for more than 30 days, reinstalled the app, or used a cleaner app that deleted them.
How do I turn on offline mode on Spotify?
On your phone, go to Settings and privacy, then Data-saving and offline, and switch on Offline mode.
Hclout sells Spotify plays, followers and monthly listeners on its Spotify page, so weigh our advice the way you'd weigh any seller's.
Sources
- Spotify Support, "Listen offline," "Offline Backup," "Spotify storage information" and "Spotify is offline," read October 24, 2026
- Spotify Support, "Lossless Audio Quality" and "Supported devices for Spotify," read October 24, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 24, 2026
Want the growth without the research?
Real accounts, 30-day refill, no password ever asked for.