How to Fix Spotify Not Playing in Background iPhone/Android Phone

One of the most in-demand platforms for streaming music is Spotify. The app has a worldwide user base who regularly enjoy their favorite songs from the millions of options available. Additionally, the app interface is designed to enhance user comfort and convenience. One of the most convenient features of Spotify is that you can play music in the background while using other apps.

However, Spotify not playing in the background is a very common problem on many devices. The problem usually stems from glitches or software bugs on iOS and Android devices. Fixing these problems is a piece of cake. In this guide, we’ll walk you through steps to keep Spotify playing in the background.

How to Fix Spotify Not Playing in Background

There are multiple ways you can resolve the issue. We handpicked the top solutions to make it easier for you and will discuss the steps in detail below. So, let’s dive right in!

Solution 1: Allow Background Activity

One nice thing about Spotify is that you can switch from one app to another, and the music will continue to play. Spotify uses your RAM to be able to run in the background. However, the Spotify app requires background activity permissions to carry this out.

Some smartphones are optimized to save battery percentage as much as possible. Therefore, without permission, it blocks the functions of any app that tends to run in the background. So, to fix Spotify not playing in the background, you need to enable background activity.

For Android

Enabling background permissions for an app on Android is very straightforward. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Launch your device and head over to Settings > Apps.
2. Scroll down and select the Spotify app.
3. Next, tap on Advanced.

4. Now, select Battery.
5. On the following screen, tap on the toggle beside Allow Background Activity.

This will enable Spotify to run in the background even if you open a different app.

For iOS

Allowing background activity for Spotify on iOS devices is also easy. To do that, follow the steps below:

1. Open your iPhone and go to Settings.
2. Click on Spotify.
3. Next, tap on the toggle beside Background App Refresh.

The background app refresh feature keeps the apps running and updating in the background. So, if Spotify stopped playing in the background for your iOS device, changing this should fix it.

Solution 2: Allow Spotify to Use Data in the Background

The Spotify app needs an active data connection or WiFi network to play the songs, unless you have a Premium account and have downloaded songs. But most of the time, Spotify will not play in the background without an internet connection. To fix this, enable the permission to use background data so that you can continue listening to music even without a WiFi connection. Fixing this issue for both Android and iOS devices is also straightforward.

For Android

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps > Manage Apps. Then, scroll down and select Spotify.
3. From there, tap on Data Usage.
4. Lastly, tap on the toggle beside Background Data.

You can also enable Unrestricted Data Usage if you do not want Data Saver mode to hinder constant data usage while using Spotify.

For iOS

1. Head over to Settings.
2. On the search bar, type in Spotify.
3. In the app settings, tap on the toggle beside Mobile Data.

Now you should get uninterrupted data connectivity while using Spotify in the background.

Solution 3: Disable Battery Optimization

Newer Android smartphones and iPhones are optimized to maximize efficiency on battery usage. While this is helpful, it also restricts the use of some apps and could be one of the reasons behind Spotify not playing in the background.

Luckily, you can disable battery optimization to fix this issue. This should not cause any problems for your battery, unless your device’s battery drains very quickly. We suggest enabling battery optimization settings after you are done using Spotify.

To switch off battery optimization, follow the steps below:

For Android

1. Open your smartphone and head over to Settings.
2. Scroll down and select Battery from the menu.

3. Now tap on Battery Saver.

4. Then, tap on the toggle to disable it. You can also create a schedule for the battery saver mode to activate automatically.

Another way to switch off Battery Saver mode on Android is by swiping down from the top of your screen, then tapping the Battery Saver icon to disable it.

For iOS

For iOS, the Battery Saver mode is known as the Low Power Mode. Similar to Android, it works to limit battery consumption or draining. If Spotify doesn’t play in the background on iPhone, disable Low Power Mode by following the instructions below:

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings and select Battery from the list of options.
2. On the following screen, the first option you will see is the Low Power Mode. If the toggle beside it is green, then it is activated. Tap on the green toggle to disable it.

You can enable the Low Power Mode again if your battery is draining fast or if you are done using Spotify.

Solution 4: Check the Ongoing Apps

Many users complain that Spotify stopped working in the background abruptly. This could be because too many ongoing apps are active in the background. Ongoing apps are the applications you are currently not using but are still available in the recent menu.

These ongoing apps affect Spotify in two ways. Firstly, they use up too much RAM. As a result, Spotify cannot function efficiently. Secondly, some apps might use the voice prompt, which blocks other audio on the smartphone.

But how to keep Spotify playing in the background if it keeps getting obstructed by other ongoing apps? The solution is to remove all apps from the recent menu.

For Android

You can conveniently remove ongoing apps from the recent menu if Spotify doesn’t play in the background for Android. Here’s how:

1. Tap on the recent menu icon or swipe up from the bottom of your screen. Apps running in the background will pop up.
2. Simply drag them out of the screen to remove them. Or, tap on the trash icon at the bottom to remove all the apps at once.

This should fix the issue if Spotify doesn’t play in the background on Android devices.

For iOS

The process for iOS devices is similar.

For iPhone 8 or older, double press the home button to bring up the recently opened apps menu. Then, drag the app out of the screen to close it.

For iPhone 10 and newer, swipe up and then right from the bottom of your screen. Afterward, slide the tabs out of the screen to close them.

This is a quick trick if Spotify won’t play in the background on iPhone. After clearing all the tabs, relaunch the Spotify app and check if it runs smoothly.

Solution 5: Clear Local Data from Spotify

Spotify not playing in the background could also be due to a bugged temporary cache file or local data. These files store data to execute certain minor tasks. Once their use is complete, these files are stored in the apps folder. Clearing these files can make Spotify function more efficiently.

For Android

On Android devices, the temporary files are also known as cache files. To remove cache files on Android, follow the steps below:

1. Firstly, open Settings.
2. Next, select Apps. Then, scroll and tap on Spotify from the list of apps.

3. Now select Storage and Cache.

4. Lastly, tap on Clear Cache to remove all the temporary files.

You can also tap on Clear Storage if you are running low on space and want to free up some storage within the app.

For iOS

Remove local app data on iPhone by following the instructions below:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to the search bar. Type in your name.
3. Next, tap on iCloud.
4. Now, select Manage Storage.
5. From the list of apps, select Spotify.
6. After that, select Delete Data.
7. Lastly, tap Delete again to confirm your command.

If there is any bugged file within the local app data, Spotify will not work properly on your iOS device.

Note: Deleting local app data on Spotify will remove your downloaded songs, so you will have to download the songs again to play them offline. However, it will not erase your playlists within the app since they’re saved on the Spotify servers.

Solution 6: Reinstall Your Spotify App

If you’ve already tried the troubleshooting methods above and none of them worked for you, you could try uninstalling and reinstalling the Spotify app. You might unknowingly change a setting, or an in-app glitch might be why Spotify is not playing in the background. In such cases, reinstalling the app will remove the glitches and revert it to its default settings.

For Android

To uninstall the Spotify app, simply:

1. Press and hold the app icon. Wait until a small window pops up.

1. Then, select Uninstall.
2. Wait for a few moments for the app to delete and your Android to register the changes.

To reinstall Spotify:

1. Launch PlayStore.
2. Then search for the Spotify app.
3. Lastly, tap on Install.
4. Once the installation is complete, the Open icon will pop up.

Open the Spotify app, play a song and go back to the home screen to check if it’s working properly in the background.

For iOS

You can uninstall an app on iOS in a few simple steps.

1. Firstly, press and hold the Spotify app icon until an options window pops up beside the icon.
2. Then tap on Delete App.
3. Lastly, tap Delete again to confirm.

To reinstall Spotify:

1. Head over to the AppStore.
2. Then, search for Spotify and tap Get.
3. Afterward, tap Install to start the process.

Reinstalling will eliminate all bugs and fix the issue of Spotify not playing in the background.

Ultimate Solution: Play Spotify Song in the Background Using Another Player

In some cases, even after trying all the methods discussed above, the Spotify app might still not run properly in the background of your device. If that’s your situation, fret not. You can also try to play Spotify songs in the background using another player.

Multiple Spotify music downloaders on the internet allow you to save songs and playlists directly to your Android or iOS device. These downloaders can also be used as music players to play songs in the background. Additionally, these downloaders save the songs in MP3 format so you can transfer them to other devices or play them without an internet connection.

To make it easier, we handpicked the best Spotify song downloaders for your consideration. These apps will play music in the background without any issues.

1. Allavsoft – This is a small Spotify music downloader that is very easy to set up. Copy and paste the link of any song, and the app will download it instantly. It works on Windows and Mac, so you can download and transfer music from your computer to your Android and iOS devices too. Read our complete review of Allavsoft here.

2. DRmare Music Converter – If you like downloading vast libraries or playlists in one go, then DRmare Music Converter is a great choice. You can download and convert all your favorite songs using the app while maintaining top-notch audio quality. Moreover, the app preserves the ID3 tags of files to make it more convenient for you.

3. Audials Music – With Audials Music, expect to get all the important features of an excellent music downloader and streamer. You can save all your songs in MP3 format along with the ID3 tags and play them on the app’s media player afterward. But, you can also transfer the songs to your smartphone and play them on your built-in music streamer instead.

If Spotify stops playing in the background and you cannot get it to start, switch to downloading your songs and playlists using any of the downloaders listed above. The process is straightforward, and you can play the songs on the built-in media player of your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download music from Spotify?

You can save music within the app, but you cannot download music onto your device directly from Spotify. However, if you use a third-party Spotify song downloader, you can grab any song from Spotify and save it on your smartphone.

What is causing Spotify to not run in the background?

There are several reasons why Spotify is not running in the background.

1. Spotify might not have permission to run in the background of your device.
2. Spotify might not be getting a proper WiFi connection or data.
3. Your RAM might be packed with other ongoing recent apps which are not allowing Spotify to run smoothly.
4. Battery saver mode might be hindering some functions of Spotify.
5. Glitches or bugs in your device.

Should I clear up storage for Spotify to run smoothly in the background?

If your device has low storage space, many apps and features will not work properly, and Spotify is one of them. For the app to function smoothly, ensure you have more than 2GB of free space on your device.

Conclusion

Getting interrupted in the middle of jamming to your favorite song is annoying. What’s more annoying is if Spotify won’t play in the background of your device. This restricts your flexibility since you’ll have to keep the app open while listening to music. While the problem might seem serious, it has some quick and easy fixes.

Hopefully, you will not encounter any more problems after reading through all these tips on how to keep Spotify playing in the background.