How to Fix Spotify Not Responding: Troubleshooting Guide

Fix 1. End and Reopen Spotify Process

If Spotify freezes or becomes unresponsive, it's often due to minor glitches or memory issues. Restarting the app can often resolve these problems. Here's how:

On Windows PC

Step 1. Press the "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" or 'Ctrl+Alt+Del' keyboard to open Task Manager on your Windows 7/8/10/11.

Step 2. On the opened Windows Task Manager, you will see a series of running apps on the "Processes" tab.

Step 3. Find and choose the Spotify process and then click "End task" to close it.

Step 4. Relaunch Spotify and check if the issue is resolved.

On Mac

Step 1. Press the hotkey "Command+Option+Escape" to open the Force Quit Applications window.

Step 2. From there, you can choose "Spotify" and click "Force Quit".

Step 3. Restart Spotify and see if it runs properly.

Fix 2. Restart Your Device

If force quitting Spotify didn’t solve the issue, the next simple yet effective step is to restart your device. A restart clears temporary system glitches, refreshes memory, and can often resolve app-related issues, including Spotify application is not responding.

On Windows & Mac

Step 1. Click on the Start menu (Windows) or the Apple menu (Mac).

Step 2. Select Restart and wait for your device to reboot completely.

Step 3. Once your computer has restarted, open Spotify and check if it’s working properly.

On Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)

Step 1. Hold down the Power button until the shutdown or restart option appears.

Step 2. Select Restart (or Power Off, then turn it back on manually).

Step 3. After your phone restarts, launch Spotify and see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 3. Add Spotify to Your Antivirus/Firewall White List

Sometimes, overprotective antivirus or firewall software can mistakenly identify Spotify as a threat and block its access to the internet or system resources. This can lead to various issues, including Spotify application not responding or failing to load. To resolve this, you need to add Spotify to your antivirus and firewall whitelists (also known as exceptions). Here's how:

Step 1. Open Windows Security: Go to the Start menu and search for "Windows Security."

Step 2. Access Firewall Settings: Select "Firewall & network protection" from the left sidebar.

Step 3. Allow an App: Click "Allow an app through firewall."

Step 4. Find Spotify: A list of apps will appear. Scroll down and find Spotify.

Step 5. Add to Allowed Apps: Check the boxes for both "Private" and "Public" networks to allow Spotify access on all networks.

Step 6. Apply Changes: Click "OK" to save the changes.

For third-party antivirus or firewall software, open the program's Settings, locate the Whitelist or Exceptions section, and add Spotify or its executable file (Spotify.exe). If the issue persists, try temporarily disabling your security software to see if it's the cause, but remember to enable it afterward to keep your system protected.

Fix 4. Reinstall Spotify App

If Spotify is still not responding after trying the previous fixes, reinstalling the app can help resolve underlying software issues, such as corrupted files or installation errors. A fresh installation ensures that you have the latest version of Spotify with no lingering glitches.

On PC

Step 1. Find and right-click on the 'Start' menu button on your computer. Then choose 'Apps and Features'.

Step 2. On the 'Apps and Features' window, locate the Spotify app. Then click on the 'three-dots' icon next to it and hit on 'Uninstall'.

Step 3. Touch 'OK' to confirm to uninstall the Spotify app.

Step 4. Restart your computer and head to Spotify Download page. Then follow the screen instruction to download and reinstall the Spotify app.

Step 5. Once installed, start it and log in to your account to see if it works properply.

On macOS

Step 1. Touch the 'Go' option from the top menu bar of your Apple system.

Step 2. Choose 'Applications' > 'Spotify' from the popup list.

Step 3. Right-click on the Spotify option and choose 'Move to Bin'. Then go to clear all the Spotify files on your Mac.

Step 4. Restart your Mac computer.

Step 5. Go to the Apple App Store program to search and reinstall the Spotify application.

On Android

Step 1. Hold on to the Spotify app icon on the screen of your phone. Then choose 'Uninstall'. Or, go to "Settings" > "Applications" > "Manage Applications" to uninstall Spotify.

Step 2. Restart your phone and open the Google Play Store app. Then search and reinstall the Spotify app.

On iOS

The uninstalling app process is the same for all iOS devices iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Step 1. Long press the Spotify app until it shakes, then press 'Delete' to remove it.

Step 2. Reinstall Spotify from the App Store.

Fix 5. Turn off Spotify Hardware Acceleration

Spotify's Hardware Acceleration is designed to improve performance by utilizing your device's hardware resources. However, on some systems, it can cause Spotify to freeze, crash, or become unresponsive. Disabling this feature may help resolve the issue.

On Windows

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on your PC.

Step 2. Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the Spotify app.

Step 3. Scroll down to the Compatibility section and toggle off "Enable hardware acceleration."

On Mac

Step 1. Start the Spotify app from your Mac computer.

Step 2. Touch the 'Spotify' option at the menu bar. Then hit on 'Hardware Acceleration'.

Fix 6. Clear Spotify Local File Cache

Over time, Spotify stores cache files to speed up loading times and improve performance. However, if the cache becomes corrupted or too large, it can cause Spotify to freeze, crash, or become unresponsive. Clearing the cache can help resolve these issues and free up storage space.

Step 1. Quit the running Spotify app on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Press the 'Windows + R' keyboard to launch the 'Run' window.

Step 3. Enter '%appdata%' and hit on 'OK'.

Step 4. Go to the 'Spotify' folder > 'Users' folder.

Step 5. In the Users folder, right-click on the 'local-files.bnk' file and choose 'Delete'.

Alternatively, you can clear Spotify’s cache directly from the app by going to Settings and clicking Clear Cache under the Storage section.

Other Solutions to Fix Spotify Not Responding

If the previous fixes haven’t resolved the issue, here are some additional troubleshooting steps that might help:

• Check for System Updates – Ensure your Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android operating system is up to date. An outdated system may cause compatibility issues with Spotify.
• Disable Background Apps – Other apps running in the background can consume system resources and interfere with Spotify. Close unnecessary programs to free up memory.
• Check Spotify Server Status – Sometimes, the issue is on Spotify’s end. Visit Spotify’s official status page to check if there are any ongoing outages.
• Log Out and Log Back In – Signing out and then logging back into your Spotify account can refresh session data and fix account-related glitches.
• Use Spotify Web Player – If the app isn’t working, try using Spotify Web Player in a browser as a temporary solution.
• Check Storage Space – If your device is running low on storage, it may affect app performance. Free up space by deleting unnecessary files.
• Try a Different Network – Some networks, especially public Wi-Fi or restricted networks, may block Spotify. Switching to a different Wi-Fi or mobile data connection might help.
• Disable VPN or Proxy – If you're using a VPN or proxy, try disabling it. Some VPNs can interfere with Spotify’s connectivity and cause performance issues.