The Mobile App Spotify

Spotify download

Use the app to play music files stored on your device, which we call local files.

Note: Files or downloads from illegal sources are not permitted.

As the apps are basically local web pages displayed in Spotify, all the same issues seen with mobile versions of websites would apply. However, I agree that apps would be an ideal feature for the iPad version of Spotify when it is released. The larger screen should allow the apps to displayed with minimal adjustment. Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10. See screenshots, read the latest customer reviews, and compare ratings for Spotify Music.

For: Premium

Spotify App Windows 10

  1. On desktop, import your local files (with the 'Desktop' steps).
  2. Add the files to a new playlist.
  3. Log in on your mobile or tablet using the same WiFi as your desktop.
  4. Go to Settings > Local Files and switch on Local audio files.
    Note: You need to allow Spotify to find devices in the prompt that shows.
  5. Download the playlist with your local files.

Didn’t work?

Make sure:

  • You're logged in to the same account on both your desktop and mobile
  • Your devices are connected to the same WiFi network
  • The app is up-to-date on both devices
  • Your device is up-to-date
  • The Spotify app has access to your local network. Check in your iPhone/iPad settings under Spotify

For: Premium

  1. On desktop, import your local files (with the 'Desktop' steps).
  2. Add the files to a new playlist.
  3. Log in on your mobile or tablet using the same WiFi as your desktop.
  4. Download the playlist with your local files.

Spotify Download

Didn’t work?

Make sure:

  • You're logged in to the same account on both your desktop and mobile
  • Your devices are connected to the same WiFi network
  • The app is up-to-date on both devices
  • Your device is up-to-date
  1. Click , then Settings.
  2. Scroll to Local Files and switch Show Local Files on.
  3. Switch off any sources you don't want.
  4. Click ADD A SOURCE to select another folder.

Music from that folder is now in Local Files in the menu on the left.

Supported file types

Note: Some of your files may be protected in restricted formats. Install QuickTime on your computer to allow most of these tracks to be played on Spotify.

  • .mp3
  • .m4p (unless it contains video)
  • .mp4 (if QuickTime is installed on your computer)

The iTunes lossless format (M4A) isn't supported.

If your file isn’t supported, we do our best to match it with songs from the Spotify catalog. The version we match with might differ from the original.

Last updated: 24 September, 2020

Community Answers

Play 'local files' on my mobile device

What's the easiest way to be able to play 'local files' that reside on my desktop device on my mobile? After bringing them in to the desktop Spotify client as a playlist I'm able to play them there, a...

How do you add Local Files to the Desktop app?

Answer: We have an extensive record collection, but if the track you’re after hasn’t found its way on to Spotify yet, don’t worry! You can add any personal music you have with a feature...

Can you upload your own music?

Yeah, I've tried to figure it out but I can't seem to find how I have to do it anywhere..

More at the Community

One of the most prominent music playing platforms that you can access is definitely Spotify. Spotify has really revolutionized the music industry by making music tracks from all genres easily accessible by just visiting its website.

Apart from the versatility seen in the vast music collection that Spotify as under its catalog, another defining feature is its multiplatform use feature. This feature allows you to access Spotify music from different platforms such as the desktop application and mobile application.

For many Spotify users, the ongoing debate has for long been Spotify desktop vs mobile app, which is better of the two. Let us view this debate in depth so as to know which the best platform is.

  • See also: Differences between Spotify Web Player and Desktop Client

What Distinguishes the Two Platforms?

To get the better of the two platforms, Spotify desktop app, and mobile app, we first need to know what distinguishes them from one another.

The desktop application is the Spotify platform that is compatible with your desktop and is downloadable from Spotify's site and other download sites. It is compatible with all computers and saves you a lot of hustles that may come with using the website version. It is convenient to use and comes with a host of features that make it a worthy desktop music application.

On the other hand, the mobile application version is there in order to take advantage of increased mobile phone use. The Spotify mobile application allows you to get access to Spotify's vast music catalog from the comfort of your mobile phone. Just like the desktop version, this is a more convenient way of endlessly streaming to your music selection.

To see what really distinguishes the two platforms apart from the names are the features. Let us look at each of their features.

Features of the Two Platforms

This is the point where the debate on Spotify desktop app vs mobile app gets intense. Both of the platforms come with features that make each of them distinct from one another. Some of the features that the desktop platform and the mobile platform have are as seen below.

The Desktop Application


• Create Playlist Folders

The desktop application has the option of creating playlist folders if you have a long playlist that you would love to have organized. You just go to the file option on the desktop app menu and click on create a playlist folder and name it as you wish. You can then save your playlist on these folders for easy access to your music.

• Edit Cover Art

The desktop application also allows you to have your own desired cover art when listening to music. Spotify normally picks for you the cover art, however, with the desktop application, you can select the cover art that you want to feature as the music plays.

• Drag And Drop Sharing

When you get awesome music that you feel you need to share with your friends, you can easily share it via email or messenger by simply dragging and dropping. Click on the music track and drag it to the sending medium you want and drop it then send. The recipient will receive the music track's link making for an awesome sharing experience.

  • See more: 2 Best Ways to Email Spotify Playlists to Friends

• Song History

You can also view your song history from the Spotify desktop application. You can get a song by song list of all the songs that you have played, unlike the mobile version that only allows you to view playlists and albums.

The Mobile Application


• Voice Command

The mobile app has the voice command feature that helps in getting a request accomplished. You just long press the search button and ask Spotify to get you an album, an artist's playlist or whichever song you would like. This is a fast way of initiating a search to get to your beloved music.

• Link With Shazam

Shazam is one of the greatest music applications that allows you to get a music title and composer of an unknown music joint playing. Shazam can be connected to Spotify and allows you to save the playlist under your Shazam tracks.

• Lyrics View

Mobile App Shopify

Spotify can also connect to SoundHound and allows you to see the lyrics of the song you are playing on display. You can sing along to the selected song using this feature.

• Private Session

The private session feature allows you to play selected musical joints in private mode without Spotify bringing up suggestions to you. This is great especially for those joints that you only play once in a long time.

Verdict & Extra Tip

Spotify Free Download

The debate, Spotify desktop vs mobile app seems so intense by looking at what each version has to offer. The mobile version is good for convenience and you can play your music at any place anytime so long as you have the Spotify app installed. The desktop version, on the other hand, comes with a host of features that the mobile version lacks such as the song history view. As a conclusion to this tight duel, Spotify desktop client vs mobile app, the desktop version takes the in owing to its diverse and awesome features that the mobile version lacks.

Spotify Playlist Downloader online, free

Yet, no matter you're using spotify desktop client or mobile app, if you want to listen to Spotify songs offline anytime anywhere, you need to upgrade to the premium account to download the tracks. Another easy way is to use TunesKit Spotify Music Converter, a powerful Spotify music downloader, to download Spotify songs, albums, playlists to MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc. with lossless quality.

Spotify Mp3 Downloader

Adam Gorden is an experienced writer of TunesKit who is obsessed about tech, movie and software.