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.

[Pevf]

My problem was fixed by changing the sample rate from 48kHz to 44.1kHz in my Focusrite Control desktop app.

[Mark_helsinki]

Adding my solution because I was having the same problem and it turned out to be an easy fix for me.

I found out that in my Sound Settings, my Spotify specific rules where I always play through speakers regardless of what other Bluetooth headphones etc are attached, the output device was showing as blank. When I reset that to Speakers, voila it worked again. 

[deofbz]

I had to change the output audio for the app specially in windows settings as it had nothing selected for some reason.

[rokburok]

This solution worked for me!! Thanks!

[HoneyTrek]

also, tried all these tips and still won't work on my PC. hmmm.

[LeeMutachi]

I am a couple months late but for me the fix was to select the correct audio output device (default device used by all programs)

[ThrustingButts]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with Spotify's browser functionality. I listen to Spotify at work and cannot download the app freely. Because of this, I use the Spotify Browser/Web Player.
The Web Player constantly refuses to play songs that I know for a fact are available through Spotify and will possibly play after refreshing my browser. I have tried every potential fix on my end of the issue and even contacted my work's tech team to make sure it wasn't our firewalls. I understand that Spotify doesn't care about the Web Player, considering how pathetic its functionality is compared to the apps, but it's a basic feature for a music player to PLAY MUSIC.

[CD0387]

Plan

Free

Country

USA

Device

iPhone 13

Operating System

iOS 17.1.2

My Question or Issue

A little box pops up that says Spotify can't play this track right now. Instead of going to the next track it plays a random song that isn't even on the play list. It says that it's playing the next song. The little thumbnail has those little bars that indicates it's playing, but it's actually playing that random song. Why doesn't it play the next song? Sometimes this box pops up on multiple songs in a row. The same thing happens on web and desktop app.

[franki34]

Plan

Premium

Country

Canada

Device

Pc 

Operating System

Windows 11

My Question or Issue

I have a roland rubix24 usb audio interface. Whenever I plug my headphones on it spotify says this message when I try to play music: Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it. I tried some solutions found online but nothing worked. When I plug my headphones directly on my pc it works just fine but I need to plug my  headphones on my audio interface for music and microphone. 

Edit: I tried to unplug my microphone from the pc and plug it into the rubix audio interface while the music is playing and it plays it only on the left ear. If i close spotify and try it again it has the same problem. 

[Paha_Agentti]

I have this same problem, but it is not audio interface related. It comes and goes completely randomly. I had it last week for couple of hours, then suddenly all good, and now it's back again.

[TarunMonish]

Plan

Free

Country

India

Device

Desktop (Windows)

Operating System

Windows 10 Pro

My Question or Issue

 Hi !. I'm Tarun, My playlist gets pause and says a message, "Can't play the current song". So please resolve my issue as soon as possible. 

[q-1]

Hi @Yordan, i'm on Spotify premium, listening on Linux Manjaro in my Firefox web browser, and getting this same error, randomly. could you please summarize the specific troubleshooting steps from this thread that i must try?

[#14]

signed out in again no difference

[sadewolu]

Plan

Free/Premium

Country

United States

Device

PC

Operating System

Windows 10

My Question or Issue

Whenever I want to play a song on Spotify by selecting an artist, I would get a random error message that says, "Spotify can't play this song right now. If you have it imported" or something of that nature. I do not understand what that means, nor why that occurs whenever I want to play my music.

[Ivelina]

Hey @q-1,

Welcome to the thread!

You can go through the comments in the thread to see what the other mods have suggested, but for instance, can you send us the link to the content you're unable to play, so we can check on our end? Does the same error appear in the web player or on a different device too? 

It'd be great if you could also let us know all the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far, as well as send over the device and OS version, and the Spotify version you're running. The more info you provide, the better.

We'll be on the lookout for your response 🙂

[adorek]

Plan

Premium

Country

Poland

Device

PC

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

I have the same problem. It started to happen when I installed a new soundcard: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy FX V2. Now, Spotify only works when my headphones are attached (HP Omen Blast) Via USB. When headphones are connected via jack, Spotify don't work at all. I have tried everything, also with clean installation of Spotify. All other apps work normally (like Skype).

[Data-Shield]

Hi, I have the same weird problem.

Waiting for any solution from the community 😉

[ScottJough]

I've just experienced this issue on my laptop. I have no issues on my phone. I can play the first song but afterwards I get that "spotify can't play this right now. if you have the file on your computer" and no other songs can play. I uninstalled spotify and re-installed on my laptop and still can't play any songs besides the first track. I cleared the cache and I am still unable to play anything. What is going on?

[LanceWRichardso]

Displaying "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer, you can import it." I have already gone to "File" and made sure that I am NOT in "offline mode." My internet connection is good.

[MattC_3]

Hi MihailY Jeremy or anyone who has encountered this and resolved it.

I'm having an issue with one song at the moment, "...And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around" by $uicideboy$. I am trying to play the song from my Liked Songs in my library, but I get the message that's been called out here, "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it."

To my understanding, I am not playing from local files. Every song I've tried besides that one seems to play just fine. I've attempted some of the suggested solutions mentioned here in this thread thus far, but unfortunately to no avail. 

Interestingly, when I go to the song via search in Spotify (not search in my library/Liked Songs) and play it from the search results or from the artist's page, it plays just fine without issues. For reference, I'm trying to play this from the Desktop App and not the web-player. 

Appreciate any assistance with this!