Where are Spotify downloads stored? On Windows and Mac, they are stored in an encrypted cache folder that you can see in Spotify Settings, but the files are not playable MP3s. On iPhone and iPad, downloads are locked inside the app’s sandbox and cannot be accessed anywhere else. On Android, downloads are stored within the app, though you can move the storage location to an SD card if your device supports it.
How to find and change the Spotify download location on Windows and Mac
To check where Spotify saves your offline music on a desktop computer, open the Spotify app, click your profile picture, and select Settings. Scroll to the Storage section and look at the Offline storage location. This path points to a folder where Spotify stores encrypted cache files, not playable audio files you can copy or move.
If you want to change that location, go to Settings > Storage and click the Change location button. A file browser will open, letting you pick a new folder. After you select it, Spotify will save future downloads there. Do not manually browse or modify the encrypted cache folder yourself, changing or deleting files inside it can break your offline playback.
Where Spotify downloads are stored on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, Spotify downloads are stored in encrypted, app-managed storage within the iOS sandbox and are not directly accessible via the Files app. You cannot view the individual song files, copy them to another folder, or share them outside the Spotify app. It is not possible to choose a custom download folder or change the storage location for Spotify downloads on iPhone or iPad. The only way to manage space is through the Spotify app’s Storage settings, where you can delete cache or remove all downloaded songs.
Where Spotify downloads are stored on Android and how to move them to an SD card
On Android, Spotify downloads are stored inside the app’s private data area and are not visible as individual music files in a file manager. However, you can change the download storage to an SD card if your device supports it. Open the Spotify app, go to Settings and privacy > Data-saving and offline > Storage, and choose between SD card or Device storage. Once you select SD card, Spotify will save new downloads to the external card. This is the only way to move downloads on Android, there is no option to pick a custom folder on internal storage. If you need the steps to get tracks offline in the first place, see how to download music from Spotify to my computer.
Essential rules for Spotify offline listening
Downloading music albums and playlists requires a Spotify Premium subscription; free users can only download podcasts. Premium users are limited to downloading a maximum of 10,000 tracks on each of up to 5 different devices. Downloaded content requires you to go online at least once every 30 days to remain active and playable. Spotify recommends having at least 1GB of free memory on your device for downloads. By default, Spotify downloads over Wi-Fi, but you can enable Downloads over cellular in Settings and privacy > Data-saving and offline on mobile devices. Clearing the Spotify cache is distinct from deleting downloads; clearing the cache frees up temporary space but does not remove your downloaded music. If you want to download music MP3 files for use outside Spotify, you cannot do that directly, Spotify’s downloads are encrypted and locked to the app. The previous 10,000 song limit for Your Library has been removed, but the download limit of 10,000 songs per device remains in effect.
