How to Add Local Files to Spotify

Not only can you stream music on Spotify anytime and anywhere, but you can also add local files to your Spotify playlists. This unique feature makes Spotify a music app that lets you stream tons of new songs and add your favorites from your computer to create the perfect personalized playlist.

This article will show you how to add local songs to your Spotify library whether it’s on Windows, Mac or a mobile device. You’ll also see some FAQs about things you can and can’t do with local files on your Spotify account.

How to add local files to Spotify

Spotify has 70 million tracks with new songs being uploaded every day. But sometimes the piece you are looking for is not available in the database. This is usually the case for less popular songs and those that are either recorded in other languages, are old, or are unavailable for legal reasons.

Not many users are aware of this, but you can import your music to your Spotify library. It’s a great way to store all your tracks in one place, considering your storage space isn’t limited to a certain number of songs. You should consider this option if the local files are all stored on your computer and you want to listen to them on the mobile app.

What’s great about this feature is that it’s not only available to premium subscribers – users with free accounts also have this option. However, It’s important to note that only users with a premium account can listen to local files on the mobile app.

How to add local files to Spotify on Mac

Before we get into the details, note that you can only do this on the desktop app. Spotify does not allow you to upload local songs to the web player.

On the other hand, macOS users still have a few steps to complete. In order to add local files to your Spotify library on your Mac, you need to enable them.

1. open yours “Spotify” desktop application.
   
2. Go to “Settings” in the left sidebar. Choose “To edit” and then “Preferences.”
   
3. Find “local files‘ on the list of sections.

   

4. Turn the “Show local files” switch. It turns green.

   

5. Now it’s time to paste the files from your computer. In the same section, Spotify will suggest folders to add the files from (usually Downloads and Music Library).

   

6. Press the “Add source” button.

   

7. You can add individual songs or an entire album.

   

8. All the added songs will be in the folder “local files“Songs folder in the Spotify library.

   

9. If you want to move the local songs, you can add them to separate playlists or create a brand new playlist for them. If you want to stream the local files on your phone, we recommend you to do so.

Remember that the local files you want to add to your Spotify library must be on the computer or a USB drive or stick connected to it. To make the process easier, make sure you download everything first and save all the tunes in one folder. Once the local files are added to your Spotify playlists, you can listen to them like any other song.

note: You can only insert MP3, MP4 and M4P files.

How to add local files to Spotify on Windows

On Windows, Spotify runs a scan of all your music folders as soon as you install the app. However, if your music files are in scattered folders, Spotify probably won’t find them all.

1. open yours “Spotify” desktop application.
   
2. Click yours “Profile Icon and Name” in the top-right corner, and then select “Settings.” You can also click “horizontal ellipse” (Settings) in the top left section, and then select “Edit -> Preferences”.
   
3. In which “local files” section, toggle “Show local files” At.
   
4. In which “music collection” section, click “ADD A SOURCE.”
   
5. In which “Show songs from” section, click “ADD SOURCE” to select a folder, then click “OK.”
   
6. The selected folder now appears in the “Show songs from” section in the Spotify app. You can turn any folder on or off at any time.
   
7. If you go to thehome‘ screen and select ‘your library” on the left you can click on that “Local Files” folder.
   
8. While it’s open you can play your local music, then add it to a playlist, etc.
   

How to transfer songs from iTunes to Spotify

If you want to upload your music from Apple Music/iTunes to Spotify and not to a specific folder on your computer, please do as follows:

1. Open minded “iTunes“ or “Apple Music.”
   
2. Choose “Preferences.”
   
3. Select the “Progressive” Possibility.
   
4. Check the “Share iTunes library XML with other applications” Possibility.
   
5. After enabling the iTunes music sharing option, you can upload the songs. open that “Spotify” desktop application.
   
6. Click on “Settings” from the drop down menu.
   
7. Select from the menu “Add a source.”
   
8. Choose “iTunes.”
   
9. Select the specific folder you want to upload to Spotify.

How to access local files on a mobile device

Although you can’t add music from your smartphone or tablet, you can access the tracks you’ve added to Spotify from your PC on your mobile device as long as you have a premium account. If you have a free Spotify account, you can only add and listen to local files on your computer. With a free account, your tracks will still appear on your phone, but you won’t be able to play them.

How to access local files on Spotify on Android

If you want to listen to local files in your mobile app, you still need to insert them from your computer by following the steps outlined in the previous section. After moving the local music files to a new playlist, do the following:

1. open that Spotify apartment

   

2. Locate the new album with local files and download the entire album by tapping the arrow icon.

   

Now you can freely listen to the local files.

note: Both your phone and computer must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Here’s how to access local files in Spotify on an iPhone or iPad

Again, you can’t add local files directly from your phone as you can only listen to them as a premium user. Accessing the local songs on an iPhone involves a few additional steps:

1. open that Spotify apartment

   

2. Go to “settings‘ in the top right corner of your screen.

   

3. Scroll down to “local files.“

   

4. Turn the “Local audio files” turn on.

   

5. Find the local songs whether they are all saved in one playlist or different ones. Download the playlists. (You must download the entire playlist as Spotify doesn’t allow you to download individual songs.)

   

How to fix local files not showing on phone on Spotify?

Even if you have followed all the steps correctly, you may still encounter some issues. In case the added local files don’t appear in your Spotify library on your phone, make sure of the following:

• Your mobile device and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Your Spotify app will be updated on all your devices.
• They use the same Spotify account.
• All your devices are up to date.
• You have enabled your local files in your desktop app.

More frequently asked questions

What is a local file on Spotify?

Local files are media stored on your computer. It’s important to note that the only local files you can add to your Spotify library are songs. However, Spotify does not support all file types. Spotify accepts files with the following extensions: .mp3, .m4a, .m4r, and .m4p.

note: M4p files containing videos are not allowed.

File formats that are not supported (but can be converted by you) are FLAC files (m4A) and other lossless formats.

If you still can’t find your local files, make sure you don’t have any filters enabled on your playlists. Also, make sure you’re using the correct account. To find a song in your Spotify library, go to the search bar and type it.

note: Spotify doesn’t allow you to upload local songs or those from illegal sources.

Listen to all your music on Spotify

Now you have learned how to add local files to your Spotify library, how to play the local files on your mobile app and many more tricks. There are a ton of options Spotify has to offer, and once you figure them all out, listening to music becomes an even better experience. By combining new tunes uploaded to Spotify every day with your own local songs, you can create the most personal playlists ever.

Have you ever added local songs on Spotify? Did you use the instructions outlined in this article? Let us know in the comment section below.

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