Why can't I play while not connected to wifi or data??

[glengray]

I pay for Spotify Premium and only signed up as I though you could listen to your playlist while not connected to wifi etc.  I understand not being able to download while not connected.  Can someone confirm if this is right?  Might as well cancel premium and put up with not being able to shuffle songs, as the charge plus cost for wifi makes it too expensive for what it is!

[Joe · Accepted solution]

I'm confused. You do realise that you need to download music first if you want to listen to it offline?

The process is described here.

[glengray]

I'm confused too!

The music is all downloaded. I have my playlist.

All I want to do is listen to it without having to use data or wifi.

I understood that was a benefit of paying for Premium - that you didn't need to be connected to data or wifi.

My problem is that if I am not connected, I cannot do ANYTHING on Spotify. Listen or download. I don't expect to be able to download new songs while offline, but I do expect to be able to listen to my existing playlist!!

[ErickRGuetta · Accepted solution]

Have you switch the toggle to "Download", does your playlist or songs show a little green arrow beside them?

[Joe · Accepted solution]

You're not being very specific but another thing which may throw you is that when you start up spotify in offline mode, you'll see a blank home screen with a message saying you need to go online. That's only true if you want the home screen to display. Tap the hamburger menu bar or swipe right and then tap Your Music to find and play your downloaded playlists.

[glengray]

Oh my gosh, no.  So I had songs on my playlist, but apparently they were not downloaded.  How does that happen?  Do they download to my  phone and use up space?  I'm so thick!!  

But thanks, I am downloading them now and will toggle that setting and pray it all works!!

[glengray]

Thank you Joe.  i looked at that link and realised I hadn't downloaded the songs, or toggled teh offline thing.  Does that mean I've been playing songs directly online?  Argh!

[glengray]

Thank you thank you thank you!  I am sure you have fixed my problem.  YUSS!!   And above poster too 😉

[Joe · Accepted solution]

Those help files a a mine of information. Worth a browse when you're really really bored 🙂

[Claude]

Are you saying that I can't stream music using cellular data?