Does the app need to be active in order to sync?

[Hagenlund]

Whenever I open Spotify on my Android phone, the notification bar at the top of the screen says "Downloading". If I keep the app open in the background and then go back to it later, the same message appears again. I would expect Spotify to sync if it's running in the background, but it doesn't appear to. Does this mean the app is only downloading / synchronizing when the app is "up front" and active? 

[MattSuda]

I think you need to keep the app open for it to continue syncing. Not sure, though because I use iOS. 

I use the iOS app and I usually have to plug in my phone to charge and turn the screen lock off so I can keep the app open for a few hours while it is syncing. 

[Daniel]

It will do so for a while, but Androi's pretty good at closing apps running in the backgroun. I suspect this is your issue; try changing yur display timeout so you can get all your files downloaded... then make sure to ut it back afterwards.