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

[lukaswil]

Plan

Premium

Country

UK

Device

Desktop

Operating System

Windows 10

My Question or Issue

When I try to play a song I get the following error message "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it"

I have tried all the fixes I have seen:

Reinstalling app.

Using version from Microsoft store.

Disabled hardware acceleration.

Disabled crossfading.

Changed speaker options.

Deleted local files.

I've had this issue before and it was fixed by using the version from the Microsoft store but this isn't working now.

Spotify works on my phone and my laptop, web player also works only the desktop app doesn't work.

[Alex]

Hi there @lukaswil,

Thanks for the reply.

Can you try lowering the sound like described in this thread. 

Let us know if that helps.

[lukaswil]

Sound settings are already below 192kHz, its set at 24bit 48khz.

[MafeG]

Hi @lukaswil,

Thank you for keeping us in the loop. 

Please run a clean reinstall once again, but this time download the app from the Microsoft Store.

If this doesn't do the trick, go to this thread and check the solutions, especially the ones that indicate how to tweak your PC's sound settings. 

Let us know how this goes!

[lukaswil]

This solution from LuckasKings fixed my issue finally. 
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/quot-Spotify-can-t-play-this-right-now-If-you-have-...

[haiz85]

i have the same problem :
i have tried to :
- reinstall apps
- disabled hardware acceleration
- delete local file
- install from windows store
- clean reinstall

the only thing work if change speaker output to HDMI and back to my external DAC which is from NVIDIA High Definition audio to NuPrime uDSD output everytime i open spotify. It is so frustrating to do that everytime, any solution?

Ok, I found solution for my own problem, change the usb port where the usb dac is plugged solved my problem , now i don't need to change output everytime i start spotify, fiuhhhh

[Jeremy]

Hi there folks,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community.

@lukaswil and @haiz85 - it's nice of you all to share what worked for you 🙂

Let us know if we can help you with anything else.

Take care!

[mrbeat88]

Right on bro, many thanks

[jtostado]

This worked for me

[fxckyoudanielek]

The support for paying users is inadequate.

Probably unpaid mods. Tells you a lot why Spotify are so hated and yet so profitable.

Cannot self serve a solution to this error. Only Spotify having audio issues. Going to cancel family plan instead of rely on this forum for support - not good enough

[2daysforthisFix]

Solution for me: Disable speakers in [Playback] and enable them again ...

[JenzDoolaeghe]

After trying everything on this forum, the issue is still not fixed on my computer

[Dian]

Hey @JenzDoolaeghe,

Thanks for posting in the Community.

In order for us to provide further troubleshooting steps, we need to know what exactly you've tried. Could you list the steps, that didn't work for you?

It is also important to share more on the issue you're experiencing as in the Spotify desktop app version you're using, what the sound output device is and how your device is connected to the internet.

Keep us posted,

Cheers!

[shin2022]

I tried to clean reinstall spotify but it did not work.

@jtostado solution worked like a charm.

[OscarDC]

Hey @shin2022,

Thank you for keeping in contact and for the info shared.

We're glad that everything is working fine for you by now. We appreciate the time you took following the troubleshooting steps and sharing what works for you.

If anyone still has this issue, could you confirm if lowering the default device sound setting below 192000 Hz (as mentioned previously by @JimboDimbo) makes any difference? This will help us investigate the issue, in case it persists.

We'll be on the lookout. 

[nabh_pal7]

I appreciate the provided help. For contrast the Special Playlist that i created isn't working on computer but works on phone...I created it on my phone...also these steps didn't work, or at least that's how it appears to be, the playlist still doesn't play on computer...

[Dian]

Hey @nabh_pal7,

Thanks for the reply.

Have you tried the sound output settings on your computer or reinstalling the sound drivers? How did that go?

Tell us also exactly what you've changed, so we can make sure we're on the same page.

Keep us posted,

Cheers!

[retahc]

How do you go about setting the sound to 192,000 Hz. I don't have an advanced tab in sounds? the songs play fine but as soon as I put on my headphones it comes up with the error message "Spotify Can't Play The songs........"...Can you suggest anything else, its so frustrating

[Vasil]

Hey @retahc!

Try the following steps:

1. From you taskbar, right click on the Speaker icon (with plugged headphones and sound output changed to them)
2. Click on Sounds -> select the Playback tab -> locate your headphones
3. Right click on them and go to Properties -> select Advanced

Sound quality should be there, listed as a drop-down menu.

Let us know how it goes 🙂
Thanks!

[Mortalheart]

Hi, 

This did not work on me, "it said that it can't play this song since it's not in my computer".

So streaming songs is not available?

Useless to pay premium for this household if we can't listen music.

[Eni]

Hey there @Mortalheart, 

Thanks for reaching out about this and welcome to the Community. 

Just to make sure, are you getting this error message when you're trying to listen to local files or stream songs from Spotify's catalog?

On another note, is this happening on multiple devices or only on a specific one? 

Lastly, could you let us know if the same happens if you use a different internet connection?

Keep us posted.