App softlocks when skipping from local files to streamed songs (Android)

[broetchen_]

Spotify Version

9.0.54.518

Plan

Premium

Country

Gernmany

Device

Nothing Phone 2a

Operating System

Android 15

My Question or Issue

When playing a locally stored audio file (from “Show audio files from this device” in Settings), trying to skip to a regular streamed track causes the app to softlock. Music stops playing, and scrubbing or controls freeze. The issue persists after:

• Reinstalling Spotify

• Clearing app data

• Moving files to /Music/

• Re-encoding the files

What works:

• Scrubbing within a local file

• Skipping between local files

• Skipping between streamed songs

What doesn’t work:

• Skipping from a local file to a streamed song (manual or auto)

This behavior was not present prior to today (18th June 2025). The last Spotify update was on 16th June 2025. 

[Joan]

Hi there @broetchen_,

Thanks for reaching out and for the detailed info provided.

Can you please confirm what exactly you do with the playback to get this to happen? Is this when you have both local and streamed songs in one playlist or if you're manually switching between them? Also when you say you "re-encoded", does this refer to the files themselves, or did you try removing and re-adding them to your phone? Does the issue also occur with different internet connections and in offline mode?

Let us know how it goes.

[broetchen_]

Hi Joan,

The app softlocks when skipping from a local song to a streamed song in a playlist. (On rare occasions I can properly skip and the app only softlocks when skipping back or forward once more). For re-encoding, I tried both removing and re-adding the files, and re-encoding them to a different format. All of the files are MP3 files, I use MP3tag to tag them properly (Name, cover image, etc.) and MP3gain to get them all to the same volume. I tried converting a few of them to WAV files using FL Studio, which didn't change anything.

The issue still occurs with different internet connections, flight mode, and just going into offline mode while still being connected to the internet. 

[AlejaR]

Hey there @broetchen_,

Thanks for all the info you kindly shared.

Just to confirm, does this happen on a different account? You can ask for the account of a relative or a friend to open it on your device, sync the local files and check.
 

Additionally, have you noticed if this is happening while playing a specific playlist? Or does it happen on any playlist in which you put local files?

Lastly, please share a video recording of this behavior with us. You can attach the video to your next reply in mp4 format, or upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and make it public.

Keep us in the loop!

[broetchen_]

Hello AlejaR,

I turned local files off yesterday so my app doesn't randomly softlock every time I come across a local file while shuffling through my liked songs, which I do a lot. Now I turned them back on to record the issue, and all of a sudden everything seems to be working again (I don't know how I didn't think of recording the issue sooner). I honestly have no idea how an issue like this can appear out of nowhere one one day and then just vanish two days later.

If the issue appears again, I'll make sure to record it and send it to you guys. Still thanks for your help.

[AlejaR]

Hey @broetchen_,

Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

We're glad the app is working as expected again. We'd recommend keeping the app up-to-date and don't hesitate to reach out if you notice this issue coming back.

We'll be around 😄