Odd problem with deleted local file in liked songs

[FluffyUnikorn]

fyi before I start: I'm writing this after contacting the support directly because the sheer incompetence of the guy that was in my chat made me cringe so hard I'm asking the community now XD

The problem started like 3 or 4 years ago but it never really bothered me until now.
Cause of the problem:
I added some local files from my old android phone. Back then you were still able to like songs you added yourself. So I did.
Then I changed phones and with my android phone went my local files.

But instead of just vanishing the local file entry in my liked songs just got greyed out.

 

On iPhone its similar, just it doesn't show the greyed out song. Instead it says there is a Song in the playlist, but when you open it its just empty.

Now all that wouldn't bother me so much if Spotify would just skip the song. But every time it tries to play the song through shuffle or just playing the songs in order it tries to play the deleted file and throws an error. So the songs get interrupted and I need to go to whatever device is playing the music and skip/restart

Things I tried to fix the problem:

• Deleting Song: "remove song" is not there
• Deleting Playlist: not possible since its the liked songs playlist
• Logging out and back in again (did that plenty of times over the years)
• Reinstalling Spotify on all devices (didn't work)
• Adding the song locally again in hopes it would replace the lost one. (Doesn't work, you can not like locally added songs anymore)
• Adding the same song, that is now officially on Spotify (Doesn't replace the local file)
• Finally contacting support. They just told me to do the steps i already did again minus the adding other songs ideas.

I'm really hoping someone can help me. Or at least tell me how to get to actually competent support workers. The chat just connects you to cheap overseas supporters that don't really speak english that well.

[Yordan]

Hi @FluffyUnikorn!

This is a tough situation you're in, as there isn't much that can be done here, I'm afraid. Since the local file was added to your Liked Songs 3 or 4 years ago, Customer Support won't be able to revert the changes (the furthest they can go back to are a couple of months).

I'm going to propose a workaround which they can help out with: you can create a new account and transfer your music (without the liked local file) to a new account. If you're willing to go that route, here's what you'll need to do:

1. Back-up your Liked Songs by copying them (without the local file) into a new playlist. The desktop app is recommended for this as you can select multiple items with the help of the Shift key.
2. Reach out to Customer Support again and request an account transfer. They'll guide you through the process of creating a new account, re-subscribing as well as transferring your music. Just make sure to tell them to leave the Liked Songs and transfer everything else.
3. Once this has been taken care of you can select all tracks from the playlist and add them back to your Liked Songs on your new account.

Hope this info was helpful. The Community is always here if there's anything else you need assistance with.

[FluffyUnikorn]

Hi @Yordan,

do you think they could just wipe/clear my Liked songs playlist?
Iv'e emptied it anyways while trying to get rid of the song...

[AlejaR]

Hey @FluffyUnikorn,

Thanks for your reply.

In this case, as mentioned above by @Yordan, Customer Support team can revert some changes on to your account, but the furthest they can go back to are a couple of months. Additionally, they can't clear your liked songs entirely from their end.

That being said, we think the best way to go here is to proceed with the suggestion of the transfer of all the content of your account to a new one, aside from the Liked songs playlist. Most likely, this behavior has to do with the fact that the local files feature has changed since then.

We hope you found this helpful. Let us know if you need anything else. 

[#5]

I had a mobile phone, and I activated the 'Show Local Files' button, so obviously, my songs from that phone appeared on my Spotify Liked songs playlist in the desktop app and mobile phone app. However, when that phone got damaged, I found out that those songs still appear on my desktop Liked songs playlist (not in my current mobile phone app), but I can't reproduce them. I also tried to unlike them, but it didn't work (they're not even liked, the heart button is empty).
I'll be grateful for an answer!