Spotify Cannot Play File – How to Fix It

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If Spotify is displaying the error message “Spotify cannot play this file”, it may be due to corrupted files, unsupported formats, or issues with the app itself. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to resolve the problem and restore playback.

Restart Spotify and Device

Restart the App
  1. Close Spotify completely.
  2. Reopen Spotify and try playing the file again.

Restart Your Device
  1. Restart your computer, phone, or tablet.
  2. Open Spotify and test playback.

Check Internet Connection

Ensure You Are Online
  • Open a browser and visit a website to confirm your internet is working.
  • If using WiFi, switch to mobile data or a different network.

Restart Your Router
  1. Turn off your WiFi router for 30 seconds.
  2. Turn it back on and check Spotify again.

Check File Format (For Local Files)

Ensure the File is in a Supported Format

Spotify supports MP3, MP4 (without video), and M4A.

  • If the file is in an unsupported format, convert it to MP3 using an online tool or audio converter.

Re-add the Local File to Spotify
  1. Open Spotify > Settings.
  2. Scroll to Local Files and toggle it on.
  3. Click Add a Source and re-add the folder where the file is stored.
  4. Restart Spotify and try playing the file.

Disable Hardware Acceleration (Desktop)
  1. Open Spotify on your computer.
  2. Click Profile > Settings.
  3. Scroll down to Advanced Settings.
  4. Toggle off Enable Hardware Acceleration.
  5. Restart Spotify and check if playback works.

Clear Spotify Cache

Clear Cache on Mobile
  1. Open Spotify > Settings.
  2. Tap Storage > Clear Cache.
  3. Restart the app and try playing the file.

Clear Cache on Desktop
  1. Open Spotify > Settings.
  2. Scroll to Storage and click Clear Cache.
  3. Restart Spotify.

Check for App Updates

Update Spotify on Mobile
  1. Open Google Play Store or App Store.
  2. Search for Spotify and tap Update if available.

Update Spotify on Desktop
  1. Open Spotify.
  2. Click Profile > Check for Updates.

Reinstall Spotify

Reinstall on Mobile
  1. Delete Spotify from your phone.
  2. Restart your phone.
  3. Reinstall Spotify from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Reinstall on Desktop
  1. Uninstall Spotify via Control Panel (Windows) or Applications (Mac).
  2. Delete the Spotify cache from: 
    %AppData%\Spotify (Windows)  
~/Library/Application Support/Spotify/ (Mac)
  3. Restart your computer and reinstall Spotify.

If Spotify still cannot play the file, contact Spotify Support for further assistance.