You can save a Spotify playlist to your device, but the method depends on whether you have Spotify Premium
Spotify Premium members can download playlists directly to their phone or computer so they play without an internet connection. Free account holders cannot download playlists, but they can save them to their library and stream them whenever they have internet access. The steps differ slightly between the mobile app, desktop app, and web player.
Downloaded playlists stay on your device until you delete them, and they update automatically when the playlist owner adds or removes songs. You need enough storage space on your device — a typical playlist of 50 songs takes up roughly 200 to 400 megabytes depending on audio quality.
Key Takeaways
- Only Spotify Premium members can download playlists to their device; free account holders can save playlists to their library but must stream them online.
- On the mobile app, tap the download icon (a downward arrow) next to any playlist to save it offline.
- On the desktop app, right-click the playlist and select "Download" from the menu.
- Downloaded playlists update automatically when the playlist owner makes changes, and you can delete them anytime to free up storage space.
Download a playlist on the Spotify mobile app
Open Spotify on your phone and find the playlist you want to download. This can be your own playlist, one you follow, or a playlist someone shared with you. Tap the three dots (menu icon) at the top right of the playlist page.
Look for the download icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow — and tap it. The icon will turn green and a checkmark will appear, showing the playlist is now downloading. Depending on the number of songs and your internet speed, this can take a few minutes to an hour.
Once the download finishes, you can play the playlist without an internet connection. Go to your library, tap "Downloads," and you will see all your downloaded playlists there. If you run low on storage space, you can delete a downloaded playlist by tapping the three dots next to it and selecting "Remove Download."
Download a playlist on the Spotify desktop app
Launch Spotify on your computer and navigate to the playlist you want to download. Right-click directly on the playlist name in your library or in the search results.
A menu will appear with several options. Select "Download" from this menu. A small download icon will appear next to the playlist name, showing it is downloading. The time this takes depends on how many songs are in the playlist and your internet connection speed.
After the download completes, the playlist is stored on your computer and will play offline. To see all your downloaded playlists, click "Downloads" in the left sidebar under "Your Library." You can remove a downloaded playlist by right-clicking it and selecting "Remove Download" to reclaim storage space.
What to do if you have a free Spotify account
Free Spotify accounts do not have the ability to download playlists for offline listening. However, you can still save playlists to your library so you can find them easily whenever you open the app — you just need an internet connection to play them.
To save a playlist on the mobile app, tap the heart icon at the top of the playlist page. On the desktop app, right-click the playlist and select "Add to Your Library." The playlist will then appear in your library under "Liked Playlists."
If offline listening is important to you, Spotify Premium is the only way to download playlists. You can also check whether your phone's music streaming service or another music app offers offline downloads as an alternative.
Troubleshooting downloads that are stuck or not working
If a playlist is taking longer than expected to download, check your internet connection first. A weak or unstable connection will slow the download significantly. Move closer to your router or switch to a stronger network if you are on Wi-Fi.
If the download icon does not appear or the download stops partway through, try closing the Spotify app completely and reopening it. On mobile, swipe the app away from your recent apps list. On desktop, close the window entirely and relaunch the app. Then navigate back to the playlist and tap the download icon again.
Make sure you have enough free storage space on your device. If your phone or computer is nearly full, Spotify cannot complete the download. Check your device storage in Settings and delete files you no longer need, then try downloading again.
How downloaded playlists update when the owner makes changes
When you download a playlist, Spotify keeps it in sync with the original. If the playlist owner adds new songs, those songs will download to your device automatically the next time you connect to the internet and open Spotify. If songs are removed from the playlist, they will disappear from your downloaded version as well.
This automatic updating happens in the background without any action from you. You do not need to re-download the playlist or manually refresh it. The sync happens whenever Spotify detects a change and you have an active internet connection.
Deleting downloaded playlists and managing storage
To delete a downloaded playlist and free up storage space, open Spotify and go to your Downloads section. On mobile, tap the three dots next to the playlist and select "Remove Download." On desktop, right-click the playlist and choose "Remove Download." The playlist will remain in your library, but the offline version will be deleted from your device.
You can also manage downloads through Spotify settings. On mobile, go to Settings, tap "Storage," and you will see how much space your downloads are using. You can delete individual playlists from here or clear all downloads at once. On desktop, go to Edit (or Spotify on Mac) > Preferences > Storage and manage your downloads the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download a playlist someone else created?
Yes. If you follow someone else's playlist or they shared it with you, you can download it the same way you download your own playlists. The download will stay on your device even if the playlist owner deletes it from their account, but it will stop updating with new songs they add.
What happens to my downloaded playlists if I cancel Spotify Premium?
Your downloaded playlists will be deleted from your device when your Premium subscription ends. You will still be able to stream those playlists with a free account as long as you have an internet connection, but you cannot download them again without Premium.
Can I download a playlist to multiple devices?
Yes. You can download the same playlist to your phone, tablet, and computer all at the same time. Each device stores its own copy of the playlist. If you download to more than three devices, Spotify will ask you to remove the download from one device before adding it to a new one.
How much storage space do downloaded playlists use?
A typical song uses 3 to 8 megabytes depending on audio quality settings. A 50-song playlist usually takes up 200 to 400 megabytes. You can adjust audio quality in Spotify settings to use less storage — lower quality uses less space but sounds worse.
Will downloaded playlists play if I turn off my internet?
Yes. Downloaded playlists play completely offline without any internet connection. You can listen to them on an airplane, in areas with no cell service, or anywhere else without needing to connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data.