Spotify Problems on Android? 6 Known Issues (Solved)

Spotify, one of the most respected music streaming services, is used by countless happy listeners.

Thanks to Spotify’s fantastic compatibility, Android device owners get the same great Spotify experience as anybody else; however, that doesn’t mean that problems don’t also arise.

In this article, we take a look at the known issues that Android users experience whilst using Spotify, and better yet, we’ll show you how to solve them.

Playback on your Android Device has a Crackling Sound when Using Spotify

The Spotify app allows access to countless songs for users to experience and, when it comes to listening to music, we want to enjoy them in an audio quality that allows appreciation for the talent of the artist who created it.

If your playback quality is subpar, then it will quickly become difficult to truly relish the Spotify experience. Some Android users have complained that when they listen to their favorite tracks on Spotify, they are distracted by a crackling sound.

If you’ve run into this issue of crackling sounds whilst playing music on Spotify then try these tips:

• Check that your connection to the internet is stable.
• Ensure that your internet speed is up to the task of streaming by performing a speed test.
• Remember, streaming music from Spotify at good quality is reliant on your internet connection.
• Ascertain whether Spotify is set to ‘Data Saver’ mode

How to Deactivate Spotify’s Data Saver Mode:

Spotify’s ‘Data Saver’ feature helps users do exactly what the name suggests – saves the amount of cellular data that your device uses whilst running the Spotify app.

Spotify has created this option that restricts the app’s full features in favor of saving your mobile data. This can be crucial for people on restricted mobile data plans that do not allow for huge music streaming sessions.

When the ‘Data Saver’ feature is active, the number of images displayed in the app will be reduced, but moreover, the quality of audio playback will be reduced, too.

Deactivating this mode can improve audio playback quality on Android.

If you’ve had issues with Spotify’s sound quality on your Android device, and do not need to be saving data, then take these steps to switch the feature off:

1. Launch Spotify and ensure you are on the Home screen.
2. Tap the cog to open ‘Settings’
3. Tap ‘Data Saver’
4. Toggle ‘Data Saver’ to its off position.

It’s worth reiterating that it is essential to have your mobile data switched on if you are trying to stream music from Spotify on an Android device not connected to the Wi-Fi.

Here’s How to Check that Mobile Data is ON from your Android Device:

1. Open ‘Settings’ on your Android device.
2. Navigate to ‘Network & Internet’
3. Tap ‘Mobile Network’
4. Toggle ‘Mobile Data’ to its ON position.

Spotify is Not Functioning as it Should on your Android Device because you Need to Clear the Cache

Sluggish functionality when using the Spotify app can be frustrating for Android users who are trying to access the playlist they just need to hear.

Whether your struggling to make successful searches or an album has decided not to load, it can become quickly frustrating not to have a solution at hand. However, before you delete the Spotify app, there is something that you can try.

Clearing Spotify’s cached data has helped a huge number of Spotify users restore efficient response times for the Spotify app – and that’s true for all devices, not merely Android.

Cached data is meant to, and usually does, help aid the Spotify app to provide a smoother and faster experience. However, sometimes there really is too much of a good thing, and if the cache becomes too full of stored files, or if there are some corrupted data in the mix, the cache can work against you.

It’s recommended to clear the Spotify cache if you find yourself experiencing persistent issues whilst using the Spotify app. Take a look at our guide below to learn how to complete the procedure yourself.

Here’s How to Clear Spotify’s Cache on Android:

1. Open ‘Settings’ on your Android device.
2. Navigate to ‘Apps & Notifications’
3. Locate ‘Spotify’ in ‘See all apps’
4. Select ‘Storage & Cache’
5. Tap ‘Clear Cache’

Spotify is Not Downloading tracks on Android

One of the major perks of becoming a Spotify subscriber is the ability to download tracks for offline playback, allowing users to take their music wherever they go – irrespective of whether they can connect to the internet.

Spotify Premium members can download up to 10,000 tracks on up to 5 devices, but those users with a free account do not completely miss out on the action either. If you’re currently on a free plan, you may not be able to download music, but you’ll still have the option to download podcasts.

However, despite the fact that offline playback is a fundamental feature of the Spotify experience, some Android users have run into problems getting Spotify to download the content they want when they want it.

If you’ve been struggling to download Spotify content to your Android device, then it may be because you’ve run out of storage space.

Freeing up storage will ensure you can get back to downloading the songs or podcasts you need for that long journey where streaming the content is not an option.

Luckily, it’s easy to check via the Spotify app whether or not storage space is the issue.

Here’s How to Check if you Have Enough Space:

1. Launch the Spotify app.
2. Tap the gear icon to open ‘Settings’
3. Navigate to ‘Storage’
4. Observe the current consumption of your storage space.
   • Remember, Spotify advises that you keep at least 1GB free.

It’s worth pointing out that many Android devices allow you to store data on an external SD card. If you want to take advantage of using your SD card for Spotify download, follow these steps:

1. Open ‘Settings’ in the Spotify app.
2. Navigate to ‘Other’
3. Tap ‘Storage’
4. Change the download location to ‘SD card’

Removing media files on your Android device is one of the best ways to quickly free up space and make room for more Spotify downloads. However, if your device is full because of the content you have downloaded from Spotify, then it’s time to remove what you no longer listen to.

Here’s How to Remove Downloaded Content from Spotify:

1. Open the Spotify app on your Android device.
2. Tap ‘Library’
3. Locate the content you wish to remove from your device.
4. Tap the green downloaded icon (a downward arrow), and the content will be removed.

Spotify is Not Working on Android because you Need to Update your Device

Spotify requires Android users to be using OS 5.0 or above on their devices.

If your OS is not up-to-date on your Android device, it may prevent you from using the Spotify app altogether. Thankfully, updating your OS is simple.

Here’s How to Update your Android OS:

1. Open ‘Settings’ on your Android device.
2. Navigate to ‘System’
3. Tap ‘System update’
4. Select ‘Check for update’
5. Choose to update your OS if the option is available.

Spotify is Not Working on Android because the App Needs Updating

Developers of apps such as Spotify are always looking to improve and fix known bugs that are plaguing their user base.

To ensure that Spotify subscribers do not run into persistent problems, Spotify releases updates that should be installed to keep the app running smoothly.

Moreover, these updates can include brand-new features and settings that make your Spotify experience even better than before.

If you’ve been having issues using Spotify on your Android device, then it’s worth checking whether you are running the latest version of the app.

Use the steps below to ensure your Spotify app is up-to-date:

1. Launch the ‘Google Play Store’ from your Android device.
2. Select your profile – found in the top-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap ‘Manage Apps & Device’
4. Now tap ‘Updates Available’
5. Locate Spotify and tap ‘Update’
   • If there is no option to ‘Update’ then you’re running the latest version of Spotify.

Spotify’s Glitches & Crashes on Android (Simple Trick You Need to Try)

Unfortunately, even the best apps sometimes let us down. Spotify and Android usually work without any problems, but occasionally you may find that the Spotify app is unresponsive, slow, or glitchy.

Before you take on some of the troubleshooting advice found further up in this article, it’s always important to try the most basic of fixes.

Force quitting Spotify on your Android device may seem obvious to some, but forgetting to take this simple procedure is a rookie error.

Force quitting an app like Spotify can resolve many issues – fast. Remembering to force quit Spotify when you run into issues while using the app can save you time and should always be your first initial step in order to ascertain whether you have a more complex issue.

Here’s How to Force Quit Spotify on Android:

1. From your Home screen, swipe upwards from the bottom of your screen.
2. Hold for a moment and then release.
3. Now Swipe up on the Spotify app to force quit.

The simple tricks to fix common glitches on Spotify do not stop here. Another basic solution to resolve an unresponsive Spotify app on Android is to reset your device.

AndroidPolice.com concurs and explains that:

“Restarting the app and rebooting your device might seem like simple solutions, but they solve issues regarding the app’s sluggishness and overall slow performance.” 

To restart your Android device, simply hold down your power and volume up buttons and then tap ‘Restart’.

General Pros & Cons of Spotify on Android

Pros

Android users are able to download the Spotify app onto their devices and take advantage of all the incredible features that iPhone and desktop users enjoy.

Spotify is fully compatible with Android devices, so long as your OS meets the minimum requirements, and Android users can download content from Spotify’s ever-growing library.

The ‘Made For…’ section in your Spotify app’s home screen allows users to discover more music that they love. Additionally, Android users can build their own personal playlists to ensure they can create selections of songs that suit their given mood.

Cons

• Playback quality can be affected by the ‘data saver’ feature.
• Spotify’s cached data can interfere with functionality.
• Downloads can be problematic if your device is low on storage space.
• The Android OS needs to be up-to-date to ensure Spotify works correctly.
• The Spotify app needs to be updated to prevent bugs and glitches.
• Glitches and crashes can lead to having to ‘force quit’ the Spotify app.

Sources

The 8 most common Spotify problems with simple fixes

Spotify down or not working? Here are a few fixes you can try.

Why does my Spotify keep pausing? Do this to fix it