Syncing local files asking for premium.

[tomb20]

I have used Spotify to sync local files from my PC to android phone (currently Nexus 4) for a while now.

However when trying to sync a playlist full of local files today I get the 'Premium Required' popup, this is the same for all playlists that I try to sync.

Have Spotify stopped allowing you to sync local files without premium?

[Joe]

We seem to have two topics on this issue so I've merged them. I'm going to ask one of the staff to look in and post an update. Thanks for your patience guys.

[Richard]

Hey guys,

Sorry to leave you hanging here. We're still aware of the situation and working to see what can be done to improve things.

We'll be back in touch once we have more news - or if there's any further information we can get from you.

Thanks for your patience - we know how frustrating this can be.

[JensRöv]

It's really frustrating. The Spotify as a music player is the best one out there, but I like to buy the songs on Beatport for example and then sync them to my phone using spotify, but that doesn't work anymore.

[deags]

Is this by design? If so I have a feature to request. Playlist exporter. I only tollerate ads in my media player because of the wifi phone syncing.

[Echelpoel]

So any news? 

[John_Peterson]

# windows spotify automatically change from "manually choose playlists to sync" to "sync all music to this device" when checking a playlist

in android pressing "available offline" return the message "upgrade to download this playlist" (previously "listen offline with premium")

in windows checking a playlist in "manually choose playlists to sync" change the option to "sync all music to this device". (which i dont want because it use much space)

does this mean that syncing local files is removed from Spotify Free?

# bug

the bug is perhaps in the code that check if a playlist contain local files (and therefore can be synced with a free account)

# messages

the full messages are

>Listen offline with Premum
>Only Premium users can download music to listen offline. Upgrade now.
>Close
>Get Premium

>Upgrade to download this playlist.
>Subscribe to Premium to download the music you like.

this message is preceded by a message about expiration of the automatic 2 day trial when first using android spotify

>Spotify
>Your free trial has expired. To continue streaming music, you'll need Spotify Premium!
>Continue
>Get Premium

# device

my phone is

Samsung GT-S7560
Android 4.0.4 (phone default version, not rooted)

# subscription

my [subscription](https://www.spotify.com/us/account/overview) is

>You are currently using Spotify Free.

# workaround

use google play music instead spotify because its local file sync works (described in [Listen to music offline](https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1250232))

# reference

this problem is described at

http://community.spotify.com/t5/Help-Desktop-Linux-Mac-and/Cannot-manually-choose-playlists-Spotify-...

# file

my spotify files are in

* [program/spotify](https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2z5p162ovqtbn17/NabAQOpA7g/program/spotify)

# image

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/2z5p162ovqtbn17/PZRUFZRZiz/program/spotify/upgrade%20to%20downl...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/2z5p162ovqtbn17/PB2Z4xGHOk/program/spotify/sync.png?token_hash=...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/sh/2z5p162ovqtbn17/vxN9b21dTJ/program/spotify/trial.png?token_hash...

[andRiiw]

So now that Spotify is free and open, we can download again our local files playlists, but there's one thing I'm missing about, when Iog on the app, I got a pop-up saying "enjoy your 48 hours free trial". Free trial of what? I really don't get it...

One possible thing is that this 48H trial is about "premium" so there will be no ads, but as I only gonna use the local files playlists, so, there's no ads, what I wanna mean, is that maybe because of this free trial I'm able to download the local files, so hopefully within three days I can keep playing the downloaded local files playlist.

If anyone has got the same pop-up as me, please keep us updated!

[Peter__]

You get a free 48 hour free premium trial the first time you login on a mobile device. Don't worry you can continue to use Spotify free on your android device after that premium trial ends automatically. 

[andRiiw]

It was not the first time, but thanks for your answer! Just hoping that after the trial expires the option to sync the local files playlists is still available haha.

[RSprockett]

Have commented on this in another thread but also to mention it here, having this exact same issue - since the update to the free version my playlists (which are all made up of local files) can only be "streamed" i.e. on shuffle play with ads.

The desktop app claims that the playlist is synced to the phone (and copies all 5-6gb while it does it) then the phone just prompts me to get premium.

Was working fine until the update last week

[John_Peterson]

delete this post

[Joe]

Hi @John_Peterson What device and android version are you using? Can you paste what it shows under Subscription Status on this page please.

[John_Peterson]

delete this post

[Joe]

You need a premium subscription to be able to listen offline on a mobile device.

https://support.spotify.com/us/learn-more/guides/#!/article/spotify-free-on-your-mobile-phone

[John_Peterson]

>You need a premium subscription to be able to listen offline on a mobile device.

wrong, it's supposed to allow syncing the local files in the playlist in android (it's supposed to only show this message for Spotify Free if the playlist contain 0 local files)