Multiple Error Messages and Crashing with Spotify Free (Windows 7)

[andy992]

Plan

Free

Country

United States

Device

PC

Operating System

Windows 7

I am running Spotify Free on a Desktop PC with Windows 7.  About a month ago, I began getting error messages, along with other problems with always require re-starting the Spotify app.  Including but not limited to:

- "Offline"  (in blue bar)

- "Can't play the current song"  (in blue bar)

- "No internet connection detected. Spotify will automatically try to reconnect when it detects an internet connection (error code:4)."  (in blue bar)

- Spotify freezes when ads play

- Album and friend images do not load

Most commonly, the "Offline" notification shows up in conjuction with the "...(error code:4)" notification.  At this point I usually have to re-start Spotify, which always fixes the issue, but sometimes only for a song or two...  At other times, Spotify will continue to function, even with these notofications!

I have no other internet connectivity issues.

I have spend hours and hours scouring the Community message boards and help sites, and found that none of these issues are uncommon.  However, I seem to have all of them at once, and nothing I do helps.  I have tried (in no particular order...)...

- Clean re-install  (more times than I can count), including being sure that all Spotify files are deleted from AppData

- Changing proxy settings in Advanced Options - I've tried them all

- Unchecking "Enable Hardware Acceleration"

- Unchecking all sources in "Local files"

- Multiple internet connections  (Ethernet cable and wi-fi)

- Changing DNS settings

- Disabling firewall

- Disabling anti-virus

The only thing that I changed recently was internet providers.  (switched from Verizon to Comcast)  However, Spotify worked fine for months after I made this switch, and again, I have no other connectivity issues.  So I don't think this should matter.

I'm out of ideas and beyond frustrated that I can't solve this.  Can anyone help??

[Sebasty]

Hey @andy992

That sounds really odd!

I'd suggest checking the hosts file, maybe it has entries that cause Spotify client to go defunct like that.

Try this:

1. open Notepad as an administrator (right-click - Open as Administrator)
2. go to File - Open and navigate to

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

3. Choose "All Files" instead of "Text Documents" next to the File Name box. You'll see a handful of files. Pick hosts and click on Open.
4. The file is opened. You will see a block of text with # in front of each line and might see entries like

0.0.0.0 website.com
127.0.0.1 website2.com

Check for any entries with spotify or fastly in the address. Examples may look like:

0.0.0.0 weblb-wg.gslb.spotify.com
0.0.0.0 prod.b.ssl.us-eu.fastlylb.net 

(and any variations inbetween)
5. If you do find any, you can delete the line. You can also add a # in front of the line, that's 'commenting out'.
6. Save your changes. Restart Spotify.

Let me know how you get on 🙂

[andy992]

Thank you for trying to help.

I have already tried this solution as well, as I think I saw you posted it for a previous issue.  However, I just tried it again, and do not see any of the entries you mention.  Screenshot below...

As I type this, Spotify crashed again... 😞

[andy992]

Update.  I was able to connect to a WiFi hotspot, and Spotify did not seem to have any issues.

I then disconnected from the hotspot, and reconnected to my primary network in my home.  Whether I connect via WiFi or wired ethernet, Spotify has connectivity issues and will freeze and crash.

So it seems the issue is with connecting to my primary internet network, which is Comcast/xfinity.  However, I have no issues with any other websites or apps, only Spotify.

I have re-started and re-booted my modem/router at least a dozen times, so that does not help.

Any suggestions?

[Sebasty]

@andy992

If the issue only appears in that connection, then I'd suggest getting in contact with your service provider. It could be that they are blocking something related to Spotify, and that may cause such issues. They do have firewalls, at least mine claimed to have one.

Are you still having such issues when going to the web player, or when entering Safe Mode on computer and trying the desktop client?

An easy method for entering Safe Mode is going to Start to search for msconfig.

Then, in the program you go to Boot tab, select Safe Boot with Networking (so you'll have internet), and click OK.
To get out of Safe Mode, go back to msconfig and unselect Safe Boot.

Let me know how it goes 🙂

[andy992]

In Safe Mode, I was unable to play any music on Spotify.  I got the following error message for anything I tried to play:

"Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer, you can import it."

The web player freezes as well.  However I do not seem to get the same error messages - It just stops working.

I have no issues connecting to any other website or app.

[Sebasty]

@andy992

I'd suggest making another Spotify account to see if the issue persists in this case too.

Also, if possible, try Spotify on another device in the same wifi, such as mobile connected to wifi.

If they happen, do they occur when you do something specific, or they occur as soon as you start Spotify?

Also, make sure you have no local file sources turned on in Spotify Preferences.

If you still get errors with a different Spotify account as well, I definitely recommend getting in touch with your ISP. They might be blocking Spotify's components.
(if you hesitate - this has happened before.) 🙂

Let me know how you get on!

[andy992]

Thank you again for trying to help.

I've now done the following, with the following results:

1)  Listened to Spotify on my iPhone, connected to my home WiFi.  No issues.

2)  Downloaded Spotify on my laptop, connected to home WiFi.  No issues.

3)  Downloaded Spotify on my laptop, connected to home ethernet.  No issues.

4)  Listened to Spotify on my home Desktop (the problem device), conncted to a MiFi hotspot.  No issues.

5)  Listened to Spotify on Desktop, connected to home Wifi.  Problems.

6)  Listened to Spotify on Desktop, connected to home ethernet.  Problems.

The issue appears to be the way my home Desktop connects to my home internet connection.  The baffling part is that I have absolutely no connection issues with any other website, app, etc. only Spotify.  Since Spotify works fine on all of my other devices when connected to home internet connection, I don't think my ISP is the problem.

I'm open (desperate?) to any other suggestions!

[Sebasty]

@andy992

That is indeed rather strange that only one device is affected!

One thing I'd try is making sure the connection is not labelled as 'public' by Windows. You can follow this Online Tech Tips article as a guide (scroll down for Windows 7).

Another thing that might be useful is deleting the connection and re-establishing it.
This Netgear article covers how to remove network profiles. To re-establish, you'll need to connect to the Internet as if it's the first time you connect to that connection.

Also, when reinstalling Spotify, I recommend restarting your PC between uninstalling and reinstalling.

I'm also curious, what do your event logs say - search for Event Viewer and look for any Spotify or other (possibly related) errors and warnings from Applications and System logs. They are under Windows Logs.

Let me know how you get on 🙂

[andy992]

Thanks again for the suggestions.

I had previously tried both of those suggestions, but tried them again.  I had disabled my WiFi and was connected via ethernet.  I re-enabled my Wifi, deleted the connection, and re-established it.  Connected to WiFi and played Spotifty app.  No change, still getting "error code 4" and "Offline" warnings.

I also made sure my connection was Private - it is.

On a side note, the Spotify online player works just fine.

As for the event logs, there appear to be dozens or more associated with Spotify...  An example is below.

[andy992]

Another point of frustration.  After uninstalling Spotify for the umpteenth time, I got an error message while trying to download the app again from the Spotify website.  See screenshot.  Eventually I was able to get it to download, but I had to click "Retry" about 20 times, and had to switch from ethernet to WiFi and back several times.

I neglected to mention that this has also happened before.

My computer really, really does not like Spotify apparently...

[Sebasty]

@andy992

Strange! The laptop you have no issues with is also running Windows?

I'd recommend this offline installer of Spotify, maybe that works better.

Also, this thread has one Solution mentioning antivirus, maybe yours (if you use one) clashes with Spotify in some what?

I really suggest you try making another Spotify account (a plain free user) and see if these issues happen when you log in with that.

Let me know how it goes 🙂