topic Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app) in Desktop (Mac)

Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

amsc99 — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 03:15:47 GMT

Plan: Premium

Device: Macbook Pro M1 2020

Operating System: Big Sur 11.6

Issue: I looked up all the answers from previous people having the same issue as me but it's still unresolved. I went to enable my local files and add the source from the folder where my music is. I see my local files but it doesn't have anything. I logged out of spotify & restarted my laptop but there is nothing in my local files. I tried to test out another folder but same problem.

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

Jeremy — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:12:10 GMT

Hi there @amsc99,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community.

Just to confirm, did you follow the exact steps that's provided in this article?

Also, these are the ones that the feature is designed to work with:

.mp3
.m4p (unless it contains video)
.mp4 (if QuickTime is installed on your computer)
.m4a (unless it’s an Apple lossless file; ALAC or ALE)

We also suggest that you perform a clean reinstall of the app. This will make sure there's no old cache files causing this,

Keep us posted.

Take care!

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

hboom22 — Tue, 03 May 2022 22:31:19 GMT

I also followed these steps and the local files still aren't showing up on the spotify desktop app (and my files are .mp3)

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

Yordan — Thu, 05 May 2022 06:23:57 GMT

Hi @hboom22!

Here's something you can try out:

Set the app to Offline Mode by clicking on the three dots menu in the upper left corner > Spotify > Offline Mode and restart the app.
Now turn it back off and restart once again. This will force a resync of your library.

After the resync is complete, your local files should appear in a folder in Your Library.

Let us know how it goes. Cheers!

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

trappy1018 — Thu, 05 May 2022 20:35:21 GMT

did you find a fix?

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

Manuth15 — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 08:36:13 GMT

the only way to solve this issue is by downloading an mp4 file of the song.

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

vcobtn — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 11:53:45 GMT

This doesn't work -- is there any solution?

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

Dian — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:08:03 GMT

Hey there,

Thanks for the replies.

First we'd need to make sure, that the files aren't DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected. If you have iTunes, you can check for DRM protected tracks by following these steps.

Also make sure to follow the exact steps from this support article, as we recently did a little redesign of the Local Files feature. Now the files must be physically on the device you want to play them on and syncing local files between devices is no longer possible.

Keep us posted,

Cheers!

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

vcobtn — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:45:28 GMT

Thanks for following up. I have followed the instructions exactly (I did that right at the start). ITunes no longer exists so the article on checking DRM looks very out of date. I suspect the problem is the location of the files. In Spotify the Local Files are by default in "My Music" (where is that?) or "Downloads". I think if I put a file in my [user]/downloads folder, it becomes visible in Spotify. But if I "add a source" and choose the folder where all my music is saved, it doesn't work. I do not want all my music in my downloads folder, so the question is how to assign a place that Spotify will actually use.

It really, seriously, shouldn't be this difficult. And these problems have persisted for years and years and years. I know I have had local files working in the past but I guess Spotify updates have caused new problems.

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

patriciag48 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:31:14 GMT

So how exactly would I get an mp3 file I have on my laptop to play on Spotify on my phone now?

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

AndresM — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 16:33:06 GMT

Hey everyone,

@vcobtn, in this case, could you reinstall the app and try to set a folder once again? Also, we recommend checking if Filevault could prevent some apps from accessing to your data. In that scenario, Spotify won't be able to access your files or select a different folder.

@patriciag48, in order to play your files on your phone, we suggest that you follow these steps.

Let us know how it goes.

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

leicazetisky — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 04:59:50 GMT

This is a question for the developers of the Spotify Desktop app...why don't any of your solutions involve fixing this issue on the app side of things? If an issue has existed for years without anyone looking into potential bugs and figuring out a fix there's something very wrong with the way things are being done over at Spotify. Take some initiative and add it to your next sprint! I can't imagine it would be that time consuming to fix this.

Re: Local Files not showing songs ( Mac desktop or iphone app)

William241 — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:21:43 GMT

If your Spotify local files are not showing on your iPhone, you should go to Settings and scroll down to the Playback tab. Make sure that the 'hide unavailable songs' option is turned off. Now you should be able to see your local files as they sync

Hope this helps

spotify on mac air wont accept local mp3 music files

Erica888 — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:01:16 GMT

I've turned on local files in my app on my mac air. I've got lots of legally owned mp3 downloaded music files stored on my mac air.
when I try to add them to spotify by selecting 'add a source', the songs are either greyed out in my finder or spotify says can't accept mp3 files.
I use spotify on my mac air and on my google pixel.
I used an app called 'playlisty' to move my apple music to spotify and wonder if this is the issue?

Re: spotify on mac air wont accept local mp3 music files

Vasil — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:56:24 GMT

Hey @Erica888,

Thanks for reaching out!

We merged your post here, hope you don't mind 🙂

Take a look at the moderator posts in this thread, especially the reply from @Dian, they should help you out 🙌🏼
Another reply to take note of is the one from @vcobtn. See what they have said in regards to the location you import the local files from.

Hope this helps!

Can't play local files all of a sudden

jakopz — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 15:29:48 GMT

Plan

Premium

Country

USA

Device

MacBook Pro

Operating System

Sequoia

My Question or Issue

I have two local mp3 albums that I have been playing for a few years. Suddenly I am getting the error message "Spotify can't play this song right now" even though the files are in the same place. I can't even open them with Spotify (it's greyed out). Apple Music opens and plays them fine. Any idea?

Lokal files

LeaPrengel — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 20:42:07 GMT

I have enabled local files on spotify , i have used for years, now the songs I dowload and put in the correct folder do not appear in my local files (i have disenabled everything and i have downloaded Spotify again nothing is working)

Plan

Premium

Country
Germany

Device

Macbook

Operating System

Mac

My Question or Issue