Audiobooks not playing offline even though it's downloaded

[Annabananer]

Plan

Premium

Country

Australia

Device

Samsung galaxy s24 ultra 

Operating System

One UI version 6.1, Android version 14

My Question or Issue

I can play my music and podcasts offline after downloading them, but for some reason audiobooks won't play even after downloading. When I try to play, I get an error saying I don't have any internet connection. 

Is there a setting I'm missing or something?

[Ivelina]

Hey @Annabananer,

Thanks for posting in the Community!

To start troubleshooting this issue, it's worth giving the app a clean reinstall as it helps resolve different issues with Spotify's performance. It also gets rid of any corrupted cached files which may be affecting the behavior and you can follow the steps in this article. 

After the reinstall, you'll have to re-download the content and then set the app to offline mode to test if you're still getting the error message.

Make sure you're using a stable internet connection when downloading your content and if there's no change, try with a different connection if it's possible. 

Additionally, to test if it's a device-related issue you can even give this process a go on another device. 

Thanks and keep us posted 🙂

[user-removed]

I'm having the same issue and it's annoying. As a Premium member, I expected to be able to listen to audiobooks offline. I download two, then offline, I attempted to listen but a message showed I'm not able to. I can only listen whilst online only! Meaning my 15 hour allowance is used up! 

I've done exactly as suggested here and the issue remains!

There must be an issue in the settings preventing me from listening, but I can't find it. 

[Susan_GP]

Hi there @user-removed,

Thanks for your reply in this thread.

Bear in mind that if you already used the 15-hour Premium listening time, you won't be able to listen to the Audiobook, even if you downloaded it. You must have listening time available for it to work. Or do you have available Premium listening time and you're still unable to do it? If so, send over a screenshot of the message you get when going offline. 

We'll be here.

[spookdownunder]

I am also having an issue like this. Plenty of time left on listening credit. I have downloaded a book so that I can listen while runing without worrying about internet connection. But alas, the book keeps stopping platback after each, or every other (very short) chapters. I have to stop running, open phone, open app, then press play/pause until it starts playing the next chapter. What can I do about this, as it is very frustrating?

[Susan_GP]

Hi there @spookdownunder,

Thanks for your reply in this thread.

Just to check, is this only happening with downloaded Audiobooks? Or are you also having this issue with your downloaded music? 

In the meantime, we recommend clearing the app's cache by going to Settings > Storage > Clear cache. Additionally, are you turning the offline mode on?

Lastly, let us know the make, model, and OS version of the device and the Spotify version you're running.

We'll be here.

[Yolt97]

I’m having the same issue despite reinstalling the app or clearing the cache. I only have time for listening while at work where there’s no cell signal. It’s very frustrating to pay for premium yet be unable to listen to audiobooks effectively offline. This issue doesn’t happen with offline songs, so far only offline audiobooks. Also listening to non-downloaded audio books with online mode works fine. This feels like either a bug in the code or an oversight in design.

Is there some unspoken rule where the app has to connect to the internet to verify before permitting the next audiobook chapter to be played, even though it’s been downloaded? 

[AlejaR]

Hey @Yolt97,

Thanks for your reply here and welcome.

As mentioned above in this thread by @Susan_GP,  keep in mind that if you already used the 15-hour Premium listening time, you won't be able to listen to the audiobook in question, even if you downloaded it. You must have listening time available for it to work.

That being explained, if you have Premium listening time available, we'd recommend performing a clean reinstall of the app. By doing that, the app can be up-to-date, and you can make sure the remaining stored cache is not leading to this inconvenience. You can see the steps for a clean reinstall here.

If the issues persist afterwards, we'd like to gather some additional info:

• Send us the make/model and OS of the affected device.
• What's the exact Spotify version you're running?
• Are you enabling the offline mode before starting to listen? If not, can you try to see if you notice any difference?
• Are those audiobooks purchased by you or are they part of the Premium listening time?

Keep us in the loop!

[AlexPietsch]

Similar problem. I try to download a book. Well within the 15-hour limit. About 1/3rd of the book downloads. Then I can’t download more. I can listen when online. But not off (eg on an airplane). This only happens with audiobooks. I’ve cleared the cache and done a full reinstall. iOS 17.5.1 and Spotify 8.9.54.343. 

[MihailY]

Hey @AlexPietsch,

Thanks for reaching out.

Does this happen with all audiobooks? Have you tried using a different internet connection (preferably by a different ISP)? Also, have you made sure you have enough free space available on your device?

Keep us posted.

[AlexPietsch]

It has happened on multiple books. Plenty of free space on the phone

[Maria]

Hey @AlexPietsch,

Thanks for the reply!

Just to confirm, does the same thing happen if you try re-downloading the book(s) using another internet connection? For example, if you're currently using 4G/5G, you can try with WiFi.

Also, if possible, could you try logging into your account on another mobile device to see if you experience the same issues there?

Let us know how you get on.

[CJ76]

I have the same issue. None of the above fixes it. Music works fine offline, many hours left for listening but have to be online to listen to audiobooks even when downloaded

[Maria]

Hey there @CJ76,

Thanks for reaching out!

Just to confirm, does this happen on all devices that you use Spotify on, or just with a specific one? Did you notice if this began happening at a specific point? For example, after an update to the app or the device.

It would be great if you could send us the following info (mentioned by @AlejaR earlier in the thread), should the issue persist:

• The make & model of the affected device(s).
• The OS version of your device(s).
• Your current Spotify version.
• Are you switching on offline mode before starting playback?
• Are those audiobooks purchased by you, or are they part of the Premium listening time?

Also, if you're seeing an error message when you're trying to play the audiobook in offline mode (it could either be the same one as OP's or a different message), feel free to send us a screenshot of it, so that we can have a look as well.

Keep us posted!

[kwhofmann2013]

Plan

Free/Premium

Country

Device

(iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy 9, Macbook Pro late 2016)

Operating System

(iOS 10, Android Oreo, Windows 10,etc.)

My Question or Issue

[Jim102]

Exactly the same issue. I can only listen to audiobooks offline if I start listening when I am online. If I start the app (or even pause the book) where there is no signal or when on a plane in flight mode I cannot listen to audiobooks but music and podcasts are fine. Really frustrating. I assume the app can only check how much listening time you have left when online and won't let you listen if it can't check?

[iliko]

Exactly the same issue. Plays only downloaded music but not podcasts or audio books, unless I started to listen the audiobook before going offline.

Why can't you investigate it and keep trying to link it to a device?