Hi Jeremy,
For context - mostly Spotify works, then sometimes for no reason it
suddenly says it's offline and can't connect (error 4) which is rubbish.
Connection is fine, all my 15 other programs running over the network in
various ways continue to work perfectly. Usually a reboot, or turning WiFi
off and on makes Spotify go back online - presumably by resetting whatever
part of the application / network stack Spotify is getting upset about. The
network stack itself seems fine after the problem occurs.
Possibly something in the app stack Spotify is using is going wrong.
- - Thoroughly reinstall the app with these steps
.
- Uninstalled and removed all files and registry entries then clean
installed either the download and store version. I've never installed the
store version before. Both affected. I've removed and reinstalled the
download version 10+ times in the past few months - it does not help.
-
- - Check your firewall and antivirus software/apps to make sure
Spotify is whitelisted or set as an exception.
it is ALLOW listed.
- - Remove ALL entries from the Windows hosts file
(not
just the Spotify ones).
There are no entries in the hosts file on this machine.
- - Uninstall any ad-blocker apps.
I'm not removing AdBlock Chrome extension which is the only ad blocker
installed. I'd rather scrap my Spotify subscription.
If that's the problem - you need to fix it because it's a problem with
Spotify which only affects Spotify. This is as easy for you to test and
reproduce as it is for us.
- - Run Windows in Safe Mode with Networking - if the app works with no
issues there, we'd suggest adjusting different network settings and
uninstalling any software that might be conflicting with Spotify's
connectivity.
That's just impractical.This is my work machine I need to use to earn my
money. I can't spend hours or days running crippled in safe mode waiting to
see if the problem occurs or not.
Network settings are perfect and the machine has full IPv4 and IPv6
(native) connectivity to the Internet over 150 / 150 Mbit FTTH which is
virtually uncontended. Speed test is rarely less than 147Mbit up or down.
The internet connection is via Linksys home router built this year and
running latest software - providing pure NAT with no DPI or filtering rules
etc. No software installed on this machine should be conflicting with
Spotify's connectivity - however it's not practical for me to wreck my
working environment by uninstalling each of 120 packages one by one and
waiting hours / day to see if Spotify throws a fit again before doing the
next one.
-
- - If possible, try connecting your desktop to the internet via a
mobile hotspot. Should the app work through it, consult with your router's
manufacturer.
This is not a router problem. Toggling computer wifi off and on, or
rebooting the PC makes Spotify problem go away for a while. However I
cannot stress this enough - everything else on this machine works
perfectly. CHKDSK /F is clear, SFC is clear, DISM is clear. No other app
has any problems at all - and I spend 10hr a day working remotely with lots
of things going over the network connection - they all work fine even for
hours or days after Spotify declares it has no connection (against all
evidence to the contrary). No proxy is in use, and I have now set Spotify
to No Proxy instead of Automatic.
Where are the logs for Spotify and how do we debug why it thinks it has no
connection? Send me a debug build if you like.
I'm very happy to send you a Wireshark of the issue - though this assumes
whatever Spotify is failing to do is actually making it down the stack to
layer two.
- - If you're on a non-personal device or network (student laptop,
student network, corporate laptop, corporate network) get in touch with the
administrator for more help.
I am a senior network and computer engineer (25 yrs experience) in an MSP.
I am the administrator for all the machines and networking in our
company.. I make my money designing and fixing computer systems and
networks for our customers. That's why I know this is not a network or
computer problem.
Please tell us exactly what Spotify is doing to determine if it's online /
offline so we can help debug this.
Please note that virtually every time this happens Spotify continues to
play fine including tracks it doesn't have downloaded or cached. So it says
it's offline and disabled half the UI, but it's clearly not offline because
it's still streaming tracks it doesn't have downloaded or cached.
Thanks
Alex