You cannot download music from Spotify for offline listening without a Premium subscription, but you can still listen to Spotify offline without premium by using two free features built into the app.
Can you listen to Spotify offline without premium?
Officially, Spotify does not allow free users to download music for offline playback. Downloading songs, albums, or playlists is an exclusive feature of Spotify Premium. However, Spotify Free includes two legitimate offline options: downloading podcasts for offline listening and playing local audio files you already own through the desktop app. Neither option lets you download music from Spotify without premium, but both give you ways to listen without an internet connection.
Option 1: Download podcasts for offline listening
Spotify Free users can download individual podcast episodes to their device and play them offline. This is the only type of content you can save for offline listening without a Premium subscription.
- Open the Spotify app and search for a podcast you want to hear.
- Select the podcast to view its episode list.
- Tap the download icon (a downward arrow) next to any episode you want to save.
- Once downloaded, the episode will show a green arrow icon, indicating it is available offline.
- To listen without using data, switch on Offline Mode in your app settings so Spotify only plays downloaded content.
This method is ideal for long trips or areas with poor connectivity, giving you a way to use Spotify offline without premium for spoken-word content.
Option 2: Play local audio files through Spotify
If you already own music files on your computer, you can play them inside the Spotify desktop app. This lets you organize and listen to your personal collection alongside Spotify's catalog, even when you are offline.
- Open the Spotify desktop app on your Mac or Windows computer.
- Scroll to "Local Files" and toggle the feature on.
- Spotify will scan your computer's default music folders for compatible files like MP3s.
- Once scanned, a "Local Files" section appears in your library. From here, you can play songs directly or add them to playlists.
This is the best way to add local files to Spotify and listen to your own music offline without paying for Premium. Note that local files only sync to the desktop app; they cannot be transferred to mobile devices through this method. To download music MP3 files for this purpose, you would need to obtain them from sources you already own, such as CDs or digital purchases.
How offline mode works with Spotify Premium
Spotify Premium offers full offline listening for music. Premium users can download up to 10,000 songs per device on a maximum of five different devices. Downloaded music remains accessible as long as the subscription is active and the device connects to the internet at least once every 30 days. To ensure only downloaded content plays, Premium users can switch on Offline Mode:
- On mobile and tablet: Tap your profile picture, go to "Settings and privacy," select "Data-saving and offline," and toggle "Offline mode" on.
- On Mac: Click "Spotify" in the Apple menu at the top of the screen, then select "Offline Mode."
- On Windows: Click the three dots icon at the top of the screen, then "File" > "Offline Mode."
These steps prevent accidental streaming and keep playback limited to downloaded songs.
Create a playlist for your offline content
Organizing your downloaded podcasts or local files into playlists makes offline listening easier. To create a playlist for offline use:
- Name the playlist something descriptive, like "Offline Podcasts" or "Local Tracks."
- Add downloaded podcast episodes by finding them in your library and selecting "Add to Playlist."
- For local files on desktop, drag songs from the "Local Files" section into the new playlist.
Once your playlist is set, you can access all your offline content from one place, making it simple to find and play without scrolling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I listen to Spotify offline for free?
Yes, but only for podcasts and local audio files you own. Music downloads require a Premium subscription.
Does offline listening use data?
No. Once content is downloaded or played from local files, no internet data is used during playback. Streaming any content online will use data.
What are alternatives to Spotify for free offline music?
Other streaming services may offer different free tiers, but Spotify's free plan only supports offline listening for podcasts and local files. No legitimate streaming service allows free music downloads for offline playback.
How do I remove downloaded podcasts to free up space?
Go to the podcast episode, tap the green download arrow to toggle it off, and the file will be removed from your device.
