[Desktop] Black screen when starting Spotify on Windows 11

[AlexHt]

Hello,

The new version of spotify is just a black screen. I have to reinstall it with the spotify offline installer. Tried these steps before :

-Installed it from the MS Store
-Installed it from the Spotify website
-Uninstalled it, deleted all the registry keys from spotify, reinstalled it
-Disable every app and lanuch spotify, same issue
-Launched spotify in windows safe mode, it works ! Back to windows "normal" mode, the black screen is back again !

Let me know if you need anything !

[AlexHt]

Hey folks!

Thank you for your patience with this 🙂
We've forwarded the info to the right teams and it's currently getting looked into.

In the time being, if you haven't already, please let us know the following details:

• Your device + OS version
• Your Spotify app version
• The troubleshooting steps you've already tried

Many thanks in advance; we'll keep you posted!

[Dian]

Hey @AlexHt,

Thanks for posting in the Community and all the troubleshooting tried so far.

Have you tested if the app behaves the same on a different device with the same operating system?

If it works in Safe Mode (Windows, right?), then it is most probably related yo your particular device. In that case you can try reinstalling the operating system.

Let us know how that went,

Cheers!

[seanv1]

I've been having this issue since yesterday as well. I've uninstalled, reinstalled from both MS store and Spotify download.

[AlexHt]

Spotify works perfectly on a different pc, same antivirus, except its on Windows 10. I'm on Windows 11. As I have the old version of Spotify working via the offline installer, and blocked auto updates, I don't want to reinstall Windows completly. So it's not a big deal for now, but I hope it will be fixed in the future, as I dont want to be on this outdated version for too long.

[AlejaR]

Hey folks,

Thanks for your replies and for the info shared.

@seanv1, would you mind sending the make/model and OS of the affected device along with the Spotify version you're running there?

On another note, ad mentioned by @Dian above, can you try running the app in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking to rule out any issues with your default Windows settings and basic device drivers? Give it a try and let us know how it goes.
 

@AlexHt, do you use a VPN? If yes, try switching it off. Is this happening if you change the internet connection you're using? Is this happening over WiFi? Ethernet? Both? If possible, you can create a hotspot from your phone and connect your computer to it, to see if you notice any difference. Give it a try and let us know if changing the connection makes any difference.
 

On another note, you might need to check for any local settings on your device that could be blocking the app. In case there's an antivirus software or such that could be restricting access to the app, try whitelisting Spotify. 
 

Keep us in the loop!

[seanv1]

It is a desktop, not prebuilt.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621 Build 22621

I won't have a chance to try safe mode for a few days.

[AlejaR]

Hey @seanv1,

Thanks for your reply.

You can take all the time you need to test the safe mode. Would you mind sending us the Spotify version you're running? 

Meanwhile, is this happening if you change the internet connection you're using? Is this happening over WiFi? Ethernet? Both? If possible, you can create a hotspot from your phone and connect your computer to it, to see if you notice any difference. Give it a try and let us know if changing the connection makes any difference.

Just to confirm, do you use a VPN on the affected computer? If yes, try switching it off.

Keep us in the loop!

[AlexHt]

So I tried updating the app with my phone connection, same happens. I suspect BitDefender to be the problem, even if I already tried to disable it. @seanv1 can you tell me which antivirus you are using ?

The version that works for me is the 1.2.5.1006 one.

edit : sorry for the delay, I don't receive any emails from this, even if the option to receive one after getting a reply is active...

[seanv1]

Just Windows defender

[seanv1]

My desktop is wired. I can test the phone tethering when I get back home.

No vpn running. I am running pihole on my network, I checked the logs there and didn’t see anything blocked.

[gunneh]

Plan

Premium

Device

PC

Operating System

Win11

My Question or Issue

Spotify is simply not working. Ive tried clean install, deleting temp files, reinstalling from both spotify website and windows store but everytime I start Spotify, its just a black screen

I cant close it except if I end the task in the Task Manager

However, the 3 dots menu still works...somewhat. If I press File > Exit it closes the window but still runs in my task manager

Its not an account issue since it works fine everywhere else 😞

[gunneh]

update: it seems to work fine in Safe Mode... not sure why

[seanv1]

I have tried the Microsoft Store version:

And the version from the website:

When I launch either version it shows like this:

I am able to resize the window from any edge, but cannot drag the window by the title bar. Trying to use the minimize, maximize, and close buttons does nothing except briefly changing the background color of the button to the active colors.

Right clicking the icon on the task bar and selecting close all windows makes the window disappear. Right clicking the icon in the system tray does nothing. I have to close the program from task manager.

[jetze]

+1 for this black screen issue. windows 11 pro, Tried all methods advised, re installation, clearing appdata cache, win store vs direct installer, disabling firewall, restarting modem/router. Issue present yesterday and today. The web based player is fine. Driving me insane.

[gunneh]

I rolled back to an older version of Spotify and its working now. Im using 1.0.25.127.0 from November 2022

[gunneh]

After a reboot I noticed it auto updates so I had to uninstall and reinstall the old version

To stop auto updating I followed these steps in the solution and it worked. Step 1 wasnt applicable to me since I didnt have an Update folder but the rest worked like a charm

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Stopping-Auto-update/td-p/4785101

[kaworu_bloodpaw]

Hey @gunneh

I'm glad you were able to figure out a solution, but I wouldn't recommend using an old version of the app.

You said a clean install didn't work. Did you follow the steps in this guide?

You could also try clearing your host files with the instructions provided here.

Also, were you using the download from the Spotify website, or the version from the MS store?

If my answer was useful, don't forget to give it a 'Like!' If my answer was the solution, don't forget to mark it as the solution! Thanks! 😇

If you need anything else, please reply and ask, or shoot me a Private Message! Feel free to follow my Spotify or Community profiles!  Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Spotify.

[AlejaR]

Hey folks,

Thanks for all the replies and for the info shared.

@seanv1, @AlexHt, in this case, while you try to use the app in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, we'd recommend that you delete your host files by following these steps:

1. Open Notepad as administrator (right click, open as administrator).
2. Go to the file: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
3. Select "All files" instead of "Text documents" next to the file name.
4. You will see several files. Select hosts and click open.
5. When the file is open, you will see a text block with a: # in front of each line. You will find entries like: 0.0.0.0.0 website.com127.0.0.0.1 website2.com
6. Check for entries with Spotify or fastly in the address. For example: 0.0.0.0.0 weblb-wg.gslb.spotify.com0.0.0.0.0
7. If you find entries with Spotify, you can delete them.
8. Save the changes and restart Spotify.

Give it a try and let us know if you notice any difference.

@gunneh, thanks for your comments in the matter. We understand you downgrade the Spotify version, but keep in mind all users should only download the app from our official website, this way we can advise adequate alternatives for the inconveniences. 

Keep us in the loop!

[AlexHt]

I just tried while using the new version of Spotify in safe mode, the file "hosts" is empty.

[elizesdad]

I have the same issue.

Have followed the steps you suggested, as well as uninstalling, deleting all relevant folders, reinstalling from Windows store, repeating all again and installing from your own installer.  At no point would Spotify get past a black screen.

Allowed full access through Windows Defender.

Windows 11 is fully up to date.

Honestly I think this is an issue with a recent Windows update but it is up to you guys to keep up with this sort of thing.

Can access through the web player for now but this needs a fix.