Spotify Premium Not Working On PC? (8 Known Issues)

Spotify revolutionized how people can listen to music online. There are few other services that can compete with the vast array of features available to Spotify Premium subscribers now that it has established itself as one of the most popular music streaming platforms out there.

However, like many other services, there can be minor issues and malfunctions when using Spotify’s platform on a PC. If you are encountering any problems when you go to use Spotify on your PC, then you’re in the right place.

In this article, we will cover all the known issues with Spotify and PC and what you can do to solve them.

1. Errors Caused by Spotify Not Launching Properly on PC

Luckily, this is one of the most common and easiest known issues to PC owners that regularly tune in to listen on Spotify.

When the Spotify app fails to launch properly, you may encounter a range of problems when you go to navigate and play songs using the app.

These errors are nothing major to worry about, and all you have to do is simply close the app down by clicking the ‘x’ in the corner.

After which, you’ll need to wait a few moments to ensure Spotify has fully closed, and once complete, reopen it.

Hopefully, this resolves your problem, but if not, just take a look at the other solutions below.

2. Spotify is Malfunctioning because your PC Needs a Restart

Another incredibly straightforward solution when your Spotify app keeps crashing on your PC is to reboot it. This takes little time or effort and could be the solution you are looking for with this commonly known issue.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the taskbar and click on the windows logo.
2. Under the power icon, select ‘Restart’ or ‘Shut down’
3. Wait for your PC to reboot, or turn it back on after a few moments.

Once your PC is up and running again, try opening Spotify back up, and hopefully, you’ll find that your Spotify Premium features are there to enjoy. 

3. Spotify Premium has Frozen & you Need the Task Manager to Force Close it

Task Manager, or Windows Task Manager, is available on all Windows PCs.

As the folks at pcmag.com explain, Task Manager is:

“A utility program that reports the status of running programs. Task managers are used to review which applications and background processes are running, as well as to stop an app that is not responding.” 

So when you find Spotify Premium is frozen on your PC or is unresponsive, it may be time to get the Task Manager up and running to end Spotify’s processes.

Thankfully, it’s very simple to do. Just follow these steps:

1. Press and hold down the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys on your keyboard.
   • This is the designated shortcut to open your Task Manager.
2. Ensure the ‘Processes’ tab is highlighted.
3. Scroll down and right-click on ‘Spotify’
4. Select ‘End Task’

Once this is complete, you are safe to re-open Spotify and listen away.

4. Spotify Premium Glitching because Hardware Acceleration is Activated

Another known issue for PC users is a problem with a specific setting that’s commonly set as default in the Spotify app.

When users are listening to Spotify, and they have their hardware acceleration setting currently activated, the app can actually encounter errors such as unwanted pausing, skipping, or freezing.

Spotify uses hardware acceleration with an aim to improve their users’ listening experience, and that is why this issue is slightly less common than those mentioned above.

The folks at minitool.com explain the problems that Spotify’s users face whilst using hardware acceleration in more detail:

“(…) Spotify hardware acceleration also has disadvantages. For example, by using hardware acceleration, your hardware simply may not be up to the task. Many users using old and weak machines complain about tracks jumping or fast-forwarding.” 

So if you’re finding that the hardware acceleration feature on Spotify is causing you issues, check out the steps below to disable it:

1. Launch Spotify on your PC.
2. Open the ‘File’ menu or use the shortcut Alt+E on your keyboard.
3. Click on ‘View’
4. Uncheck ‘Hardware Acceleration’

5. Spotify is Unresponsive because a Firewall is Blocking it

We all know it’s wise to have firewalls and antivirus software installed on our PCs to help protect our devices from the threat of encountering a virus.

They are incredibly valuable pieces of software, but sometimes they can become a little too protective and will end up not being able to tell the difference between a malicious program and a program such as Spotify.

Most antivirus software has adjustment settings available so that if a safety program is being prevented from opening you can correct the issue and add the mentioned safe program to the list of allowed programs.

To learn how to make sure Spotify is allowed on your PC with Windows Defender, follow these steps:

1. Open the ‘Start’ menu by clicking the windows logo.
2. Search for ‘Windows security’
3. On the left, click on ‘Firewall’
4. Next, click ‘Network Protection’
5. Now select ‘Allow an app through the Firewall’
6. From the applications available, click on Spotify.
   • Spotify is now on the list of safe programs for your antivirus software.

When you have completed these steps, Spotify will be unblocked, and the program and your Premium features will function normally on your PC.

6. Spotify is Lagging Due to a Poor Internet Connection

Unless you are listening offline, Spotify needs a strong Wi-Fi connection in order to stream songs efficiently and smoothly.

If your songs keep pausing, skipping, or not playing at all when you go to listen to Spotify on your PC, then it’s worth double-checking your internet signal strength.

Simply navigate to your Wi-Fi settings in the bottom right of your screen. If the connection isn’t strong, try either restarting or moving nearer to your router; when you move a device nearer the router, the signal strength will always be improved.

You can also ensure a stable and consistent connection to the internet by plugging your PC directly into your router using a LAN cable. This removes the need to rely on a Wi-Fi connection and hopefully will reduce the chance that Spotify will lag whilst streaming.

If you find the connection is strong, but Spotify is still not playing, you need to disconnect from your network and wait a few moments before reconnecting again. This simple solution can solve multiple connection issues between Spotify and PCs.

Additionally, you can also try resetting your router. Resetting your router can solve connection bugs that may be preventing your PC from having a stable internet connection.

To reset your router, you’ll need to locate the reset button, which is commonly found at the back of the device. Failing that, you can always unplug the router from the power source, wait a minute or two, and then reconnect it.

Remember, Spotify Premium users can download tracks for offline playback, so if your internet connection is not what it should be, you can try downloading your personal library to avoid streaming in the future. 

7. Multiple Playback Issues mean Spotify Needs Reinstalling

A quick and simple solution when you can’t seem to find any other fix to your playback issues on Spotify Premium when listening on your PC is to uninstall the Spotify app and re-download it again.

You may have tried all the tips above, but they won’t work if there is actually a problem with the Spotify app or Web player itself. Sometimes apps can become corrupted if they were downloaded with intermittent Wi-Fi, and if this is the case, the only solution is to reinstall.

Here’s How to Uninstall Spotify on PC:

1. Open ‘Settings’ on your PC.
2. Click on the ‘Apps’ menu and choose ‘Apps & Features’
   • You will now see a list of all the apps installed on your computer.
3. Next to Spotify, click on ‘…’
4. Click on ‘Uninstall’.

Here’s How to Reinstall Spotify on PC:

1. Open the Microsoft Store application.
2. Using the search bar, type ‘Spotify’
3. Now click on ‘Get’ or ‘Install’.

The installation process will now begin, and once complete, you can sign in to your Spotify account and begin listening to your favorite music again.

8. Spotify is Not Working because the App is Out-of-Date

All apps need to remain updated to ensure their users enjoy all the newest features available, along with any new security updates. In general, updating an app improves the app’s overall performance.

If you haven’t updated Spotify Premium in a while, and it seems to be having issues, then it’s worth checking whether an update is available.

To update Spotify on your PC, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Spotify app.
2. Look at your Profile name in the top right and you will see a downward arrow.
3. A blue dot next to this arrow indicates an update is available.
4. Simply click this, and choose ‘Update available. Restart now’

Spotify will now close while the update installs and, if it doesn’t open automatically, all you have to do is wait a few minutes before reopening.

If you experience any errors during the update process, it’s worth uninstalling the entire Spotify app and reinstalling it to prevent any future problems.

General Pros & Cons of Spotify Premium on PC

Pros

Spotify Premium is fully compatible with PCs, and it allows users to access all of Spotify’s amazing features from their desktop.

The Spotify mobile app may allow for portability, but the Spotify app for desktop PC allows users to enjoy Spotify’s intuitive and stylish user interface in a deeper way. 

Another advantage of using the Web player, specifically, is that you can log in to this from any PC. This is particularly useful if you are traveling or at work.

Cons

• May have issues with Firewalls
• The app needs to be updated or reinstalled to ensure smooth performance
• Glitches and bugs may require users to force close the app or reboot their PC
• A stable internet connection is essential for streaming tracks

Sources

Task Manager

Full Review on Spotify Hardware Acceleration

Spotify not working on Windows 10: Here are 7 ways to Fix it