Zombie Spotify process - Can't kill Spotify.exe task - The Spotify application is not responding

[hydra92681]

I can confirm with several people in the office this is now happening.

1. Launch Spotify

2. Click the big red X button or click File > Exit

3. Try launching Spotify again

4. "The Spotify application is not responding."

Here's what's happening.

When Spotify launches the first time under the main Spotify process there are two instances of Spotify.exe running. There should only be one...

http://screencast.com/t/CUf6nIkZ4T

When you kill the procees or process tree the extra Spotify.exe is left over...

http://screencast.com/t/On1mX3hXF

http://screencast.com/t/cspBACYS

This causes the extra Spotify.exe process to transform into a zombie (it's neither alive or dead)

http://screencast.com/t/vnUDrtDbnbhW

Once Spotify transforms into a Zombie new instances of Spotify cannot be launched until the computer is restarted.

http://screencast.com/t/D26d6teExsp

I can confirm that I was unable to kill this Zombie Spotify process with

- Task Manager

- Process Explorer

- taskkill /IM "spotify.exe" /T /F (via command prompt)

Basically this process cannot be killed with fire! o _ o

Please fix this. I'm running Version 1.0.14.124.g4dfabc51 on Windows 7 64-bit. It was installed on September 24, 2015 (according to Revo Uninstaller). I feel like I've been dealing with this for 1-2 weeks. This definitely coincides with v1.0.14.124 installation.

Please...

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Another random problem I believe is related to this Zombie process appears on couple computers (it happens on mine). When I launch Windows Explorer it's appears to be stuck in a "search" mode. In other words it's not showing available drives. Only when we bring up another instance of Windows Explorer are we able to see drives. I'm not 100% sure this is caused by the zombie Spotify process but it only appears to occur AFTER the zombie Spotify process. That's why I put this in as a separate thing. I simply cannot confirm this is a side effect.

[hydra92681]

Thanks, Spotify! Just got the update. The process now fully terminates! 😄

Update: Updating Spotify has never resolved the issue. I think the only solution for this problem is to install Windows 10. 

[hydra92681]

This process is back. At this point I'm just going to conclude the desktop app is buggy and will use the website version. I'd had nothing but problems with the desktop. At one point it was grinding my system to a halt making it difficult to use Photoshop and Visual Studio at work.

[dudenot]

I´ve got just the same problem recently. Uninstallation with killinf "Spotify" folder in AppData and reinstallation does not help. DO SOMETHING!

[hydra92681]

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@dudenot wrote:

I´ve got just the same problem recently. Uninstallation with killinf "Spotify" folder in AppData and reinstallation does not help. DO SOMETHING!

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I don't think Spotify is ever going to fix it. Ever since fresh installing Windows 10 on my home computer there have been no problems. I think the solution is Windows 10.

[mzx]

Hi,

I am having this probelm as well.

[MasterZord]

I have the same problem. I do not want to restart computer each time. This is serious trouble, each week I have to restart computer because of Spotify is not working. Ridiculous.

[mzx]

I have the same problem

[davidfbecker]

Same problem...  and we PAY for this? Sooooooo, pleaseeeeee

||======      ||      \               /                 ||     ============         ||

||                  ||           \       /                    ||                ||                      ||

||===            ||              / \                       ||                ||                      || 

||                  ||          /         \                   ||                ||                      ||

||                  ||       /                \               ||                ||                      O

or refund our money! Thank You...

[Shak_D]

Same here. The Spotify.exe process will absolutely not die. Restarting Windows only temporarily resolves the issue. Super frustrating. I always have a million programs open and it's so tedious to save and close everything prior to restarting.