Spotify Cannot Select Songs – How to Fix It

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If Spotify is not allowing you to select songs, it may be due to account limitations, playback restrictions, or app-related issues. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to fix the problem and regain full control over song selection.

Check Your Spotify Subscription

Free vs. Premium Features
  • Spotify Free users can only play songs in shuffle mode and cannot select specific tracks in most playlists.
  • Spotify Premium users can select and play any song on demand.

Upgrade to Spotify Premium
  1. Go to Spotify Premium.
  2. Choose a subscription plan.
  3. Complete the payment and restart Spotify.

Check if Shuffle Mode is Enabled

Disable Shuffle Mode
  1. Open Spotify.
  2. Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom.
  3. Look for the Shuffle icon (two crossing arrows).
  4. If it’s green, tap it to disable shuffle mode.

Restart Spotify and Device

Restart the App
  1. Close Spotify completely.
  2. Reopen Spotify and try selecting a song.

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

Check for Restrictions in Specific Playlists

Check If the Playlist is a Spotify-Curated List
  • Some Spotify-made playlists (e.g., “Discover Weekly”) may have playback restrictions.
  • Try selecting a song from a personal playlist or library to see if the issue persists.

Clear Spotify Cache

Clear Cache on Mobile
  1. Open Spotify > Settings.
  2. Tap Storage > Clear Cache.
  3. Restart the app and try selecting a song.

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

Update Spotify

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

Update 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 does not allow song selection, contact Spotify Support for further assistance.