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.

[#2]

I tried to uninstall and then reinstall the app, and I still could not play music. I can play music on my phone, so I tried using my phone as a command to play music on my pc, and it still gives the same answer every time I try: "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer, you can import it," and I don't want to import.

[mbderps]

This worked for me too. What he did above > Windows start button > settings > system > sound > output device properties > advanced device properties > advanced > changed format to 24 bit, 44100 Hz. 

[summ3rd90]

Hi, I tried all of what you listed but nothing works. The music is working on my phone but not here. Here's a screen recording of me attempting to play a bunch of different things but none of them work. Pls help i need my music

[summ3rd90]

I tried your whole list of solutions but it still doesnt work so This is a screen recording of me trying to play music but i keep either getting the error message or it just doesnt work (I promise im connected to my wifi) but pls i need help to fix this 😭

[mbderps]

Try this Windows start button > settings > system > sound > output device properties > advanced device properties > advanced > changed format to 24 bit, 44100 Hz. 

[Ilman14]

I dont know if you still have this issue or not, because it's 3 years ago. 

But if you still do have this issue, I manage to solve it by installing desktop app not via Microsoft Store, but directly download spotifysetup.exe from download page on official Spotify. This fixed the issue of "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it"

[_kayden_]

These Spotify tech support people are so useless. I literally found my issue to this bug within minutes.

(Note: This should work for all external devices connected directly to your computer in anyway, being a dongle or cable)

- Open Device Manager; via search

- Find The Sound, Video and game controllers Tab and click on the arrow on the left of it

- Right-Click whatever device you are using to output audio

- Click "Disable Driver"

- After that, right click again and click "Uninstall Driver"

- Whatever device that you use, unplug it from your computer now

- Plug it back in and it should set all settings to this device to factory settings but should now work

I hope this helped because this was annoying to figure out. 😁

[januaria81]

Everything was working fine this morning, but when I relogged on a bit later I got the same error message for Spotify Desktop. It plays fine on my phone and I was able to use Remote Desktop Connection to log into my work desktop and was able to use Spotify remotely, but can't get my damned local machine to get Spotify to play anything.

So this is not a user issue, I did not reset any of my audio options -- this is 100% a Spotify issue. All the online advice has been useless or overly technical. Very disappointed with the value of my subscription. Hope this is fixed soon, might want to explore other music apps.

[donna6666]

I am having the exact same issue.  Just started today out of blue, after years of working fine.  Web version works fine, but app just has same error msg listed by OP.  Tried everything mentioned here and still no go.  

[bateman252]

I did not even have a hosts file. still having this issue. Followed every step and turn offer hardware acceleration then reset again. Only happens on the PC and I can even see the app update when playing off a different device but as soon as I switch it hits me with " Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it. "

[bateman252]

So no idea if this will work for you but this worked for me at least just now, ill update if it reverts. So go to > Windows start button > settings > system > sound > Advance sound options.. Now see if you can see spotify app showing up here. If not  open spotify app and just press play.. yes at this point it still might not work but after you press play go  back to the Settings app and look for spotify, make sure it is on the audio source you want. Then once that is confirmed go back to spotify app turn off the hardware acceleration.( 3 dots top left > Help > Troubleshooting > Disable hardware acceleration and restart.
This was what finally worked! After idk 6 months..

[bateman252]

Thanks this did not do the trick for me but it gave me the off hand thought that helped me fix my issue. So thanks a bunch!

[januaria81]

TY, but that sounds way too convoluted for my non-techie brain. I've just
given up and launch Spotify on my browser, the desktop version is now
trashed.

[B_Morozov]

Plan

Premium

Country

Czech Republic

Device

PC

Operating System

 Windows 11

My Question or Issue

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

Tracks are not playing on the desktop version of the program when you click on play the message “Spotify can't play this rigt now. If you have this file on your computer you can import it.”. It works only through the web version works. checked on several nashniki. when playing local tracks starts but there is no sound. how to solve this problem?

[januaria81]

Did not work for me. None of the recommended solutions are working. This is a Spotify issue, not a user issue.

[DabDabD]

This is continuing to happen to me. Nothing I do has solved it yet. 

[firbol0308]

I canceled premium. I see no point in paying for a service that does not
work properly.

[Misha74]

did you do this - Windows start button > settings > system > sound > output device properties > advanced device properties > advanced > changed format to 24 bit, 44100 Hz.  I just did this and its now working so hopefully stays that way

[Baveras]

FWIW. This issue started happening to me recently. In my case it was because i had gotten a new headset and the new audio device had not been set to be default for all audio in Windows. It was set as default for communication, but not for _all_ audio. Once i fixed that in windows audio settings, Spotify started working as well. 

[#21]

I've had Spotify for years and now it says it cannot find and play the liked songs that I have been listening to at work. Anyone know what I can do?