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.

[lukaswil]

I think I have found a temporary resolution to this issue. Turn off "Smart Shuffle" then play the songs you cant play. Then turn "Smart Shuffle" back on and the songs should be playable.

If you have shuffle turned off, cycle through the shuffle options then play your song that was unplayable. The app seems to lag or freeze for a second then recover after this action when the issue is present.

[lukaswil]

For me, I found going into your audio settings, clicking on your output device, and disabling any "effects" worked.

[OscarDC]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your messages and for making us aware of this issue.

Jumping in here to gather all the details we need to report this with internal teams. In case you haven't sent it yet; let us know the following info:

- Your device info (make/model) and OS version

- Exact Spotify version

Also, and if possible; could any of you record a short video where we can take a better look? You can attach it to your next response by using the Insert Video option in the post editor. You can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link with us (make sure the video has the permissions for anyone to see it).

We'll be on the lookout.

[terracottatunes]

This was suddenly fixed yesterday.

[rafaello888]

well, maybe after my fighting with support for good 3 hours...

[terracottatunes]

whether it was you or not, thanks for your contribution lol

[stcrmiq]

Plan

Free

Country

Australia

Device

Macbook Air M2 2022

Operating System

macOS Sonoma 14.4.1

My Question or Issue

Whenever I try to play songs on a specific wifi, it says "Spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can import it." When I use other wifi's it is fine, but I mostly listen to songs at this specific location on this wifi so I would like to fix it. I know it is not the wifi's problem as other people can listen to songs on that specific wifi without the error message.

I have tried restarting my laptop, deleting and redownloading Spotify (not using this wifi as it does not let me), using the Spotify website, but it does not fix it and I cannot play any songs.

What I found worked was that if I play the song first using a different wifi such as my mobile data, then the song would play but not if I did not play it first.

If anyone has any solutions that would be great.

Edit: I restarted my laptop again and now I can play specific songs but not all of them.

[LBDuck]

Have to say this is one of the worst apps I've ever come across for random issues - and I've been in IT since the mid 80s..  I've sat at conferences where Spotify has presented on their Agile methodology and how wonderful it is....yet look at the number of potential fixes listed in this thread - not a great example of a stable, mature app.

I started having the same problem with not playing about a week ago after changing my drive.  Cloned my old drive onto a larger one and everything worked perfectly.  Upgraded to Win11 and everything worked perfectly again - except Spotify.  Played in web browser through the same speakers - no problems.  Using the app - no chance. Tried all the fixes - no luck.

Then suddenly today it decided to start working - I have no idea why as nothing has changed on the system for a few days.  Totally dumbfounded....

[Daniel-]

**bleep** thank you so much for posting this picture, i was two seconds away from throwing a screwdriver at my mobo 😄

[meechwtf]

2024 updated Fix, Go to your Add or Remove programs in your settings. Click "Advanced Options" then at the bottom Click "Repair". Worked For me EZ fix.

[mc_frost]

whenever i play a song in spotify, there's always a pop up message that says "Spotify can't play this right now, If you have the file on your computer you can import it."

[TonyMontano]

I'm experiencing a similar issue. I discovered that it only occurs on the Windows app when I'm using any type of headphones. I've tried reinstalling the app, but the same error message appears every time I attempt to play a song. Videos work fine, but the error reappears when I switch to audio.

[ShiroFOX]

Same issue here. It was working fine like couple days ago. And then it can't play anything for no reason even on web player.

Oddly, my IOS app works well but when I tried to switch devices the same error popped up.

[localgothgirl]

i had this fixed (idr what i did) then accidentally logged out, went to log in, and it's broken again. this is getting really frustrating, not a single thing im doing is working. not restarting my computer, checking the sound output settings, clean installing spotify (did this 4 times), nothing, and my internet works fine. works fine in the site, but not the app

[Moonagedaydream818xx]

GET ON WITH REPAIRING THIS LONGSTANDING ISSUE INSTEAD OF IGNORING YOUR PREMIUM CUSTOMERS STILL TAKING OUR MONIES & THEN YOUR ENGINEERS HANGING UP AS THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TO MYSELF OF LATE !! ??

[apearse69]

Ran into this problem recently on Windows 11, System>Sound>Properties, under Advanced settings>Audio enhancements - I changed the drop drow from Device Default Effects to Off then set back to Device Default Effects and it worked. My guess is a recent windows update made a change that Spotify couldn't work with.

As a side note, I had no issues if I selected a different output source but the moment I went back to my Realtek (built in), it would produce the error.

[slizzlee]

Randomly one day after years of working spotify tells me It can't play anything but my local files. I have 2 inputs/outputs for the wireless gaming headset I use: Game and Chat. My computers default is Game as well as spotifys, but it won't play when it's selected. However it will play when "chat" output is selected even though I have it disabled.

[slizzlee]

It actually will play when I select any other output that is not my default one.

[triplethreat23]

I'm having this problem. I've tried all the solutions in this thread and nothing works. The browser version plays fine but the app gives the "Spotify cannot play this right now" error. 

Spotify for Windows (64 bit)
1.2.52.442.g01893f92

[#21]

I keep getting message that spotify can't play this right now. If you have the file on your computer you can download it. This is on my laptop. Plays fine on android. I have uninstalled the app and reinstalled it. I have followed the spotify video hints and still nothing. I have freed up lots of space. Any ideas

[#22]

On PC, get this message, connected to internet, files are also downloaded... supposedly

[Yordan]

Welcome to the Spotify Community, @triplethreat23!

Could you try the following:

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound > Sound Control Panel, switch to the Communications tab and set "When Windows detects communications activity" to Do nothing.
2. Head back to the Playback tab, then right-click your audio output device and select Properties. In the new window that pops up, switch to the Advanced tab and untick "Exclusive Mode" + "Enable audio enhancements".

 It's also worth updating/reinstalling your sound drivers, if you haven't already. This article has some additional troubleshooting steps you can try, feel free to check it out as well.

Hope this helps!