Are your local music files not appearing in Spotify on your computer or mobile device? This guide will show you exactly how to fix this issue and get your songs back into your library.
To make your local files visible, you need to ensure you are looking in the correct location within the app, enable the right settings, and verify that your audio files are in a compatible format. If files are still missing, we will walk you through troubleshooting steps like clearing the cache, reindexing your music, and fixing sync issues between your desktop and mobile device. By following these steps, you can resolve the problem and fix local files not showing in Spotify.
Before you start, ensure you have Spotify Premium if you intend to sync local files from your computer to your mobile device. You will also need your audio files to be in MP3, MP4, or M4P format, as other formats like iTunes M4A are not supported.
Warning: Some troubleshooting steps, such as deleting the index.dat file or performing a clean reinstall, may require you to reset settings or clear data. Back up your local music files before attempting these actions to prevent data loss.
Follow these steps to ensure Spotify can see and play your local audio files.
To locate and fix local files in Spotify, start by checking if your files are listed in the Local Files folder. Open Spotify on your computer or mobile device, navigate to Your Library in the top left corner on desktop or the bottom navigation bar on mobile, and look for the Local Files folder (usually a green folder icon) to see if your files are listed there.
Adjusting Spotify settings is also crucial. Click your username in the top right corner and select Settings, then scroll down to the Local Files section. Toggle the switch next to Show local files to ensure it is turned on. Check the folders listed under Show songs from and ensure the switches are enabled for your music locations. If your files are in a different folder, click Add a source to include that specific folder. On mobile (Android or iOS), go to Settings > Local Files and toggle on Show audio files from this device.
Verifying file formats is another important step. Check your audio file extensions. Spotify supports MP3, MP4 (audio-only), and M4P. If you have MP4 files containing video, they will not appear. Warning: iTunes purchased files with the M4A extension or files with DRM protection are not supported.
Clearing cache and reindexing can also help resolve the issue. To clear the cache, go to Settings > Storage and click Clear cache. To delete index.dat on PC/Mac, close Spotify completely, go to Settings > Offline storage location to find the path, navigate to that folder and delete the file named index.dat, and reopen Spotify to force a cache rebuild. To reindex files, close Spotify, create a new folder and move your music files there, move the files back to the original folder, and reopen Spotify to trigger reindexing.
Fixing mobile sync issues requires ensuring you have an active Spotify Premium subscription, adding the local files from your computer to a playlist, and on your mobile device, opening that playlist and tapping the Download arrow to save the files locally. If using an iPhone, ensure audio files are stored On This iPhone and not in iCloud.
Advanced troubleshooting steps include resetting Spotify on Windows by going to Windows Settings > Apps > Spotify > Advanced options and clicking Reset. For Android, clear Cache and Storage in app settings, uninstall, then delete the com.spotify.music folder in your file manager before reinstalling. For Mac, delete folders named com.spotify.client in Library/Caches and the Spotify folder in Library/Application Support.
Pro tip: If you are trying to sync files to your mobile device, make sure both your computer and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that your computer is turned on during the initial sync process.
Being able to access your local files within Spotify creates a unified music library, combining your purchased or downloaded tracks with your streaming playlists. This eliminates the need to switch between different apps to listen to your entire music collection. Fixing these sync issues ensures you have access to your rare tracks, live recordings, or personal mixes wherever you go.
Furthermore, understanding how to manage local files empowers you to take full control of your digital music library. It allows you to curate a listening experience that isn’t limited by what is available on streaming services. Once your local files are properly indexed and synced, you can enjoy a seamless audio experience across all your devices without interruptions or missing tracks.
