Spotify desktop app crashing on startup - Windows 8.1

[world-in-union]

For two days I have been unable to use the Spotify desktop app on Win8.1. It crashes immediately on startup. Yes, I uninstalled the app and have done a clean re-install, but to no avail. My version is 0.9.10.22.gf87988f9. Most annoying, but what can I do? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Peter__]

Does it work if you right click on the Spotify icon on your desktop, go to Properties > Compatibility and select Windows XP?

[world-in-union]

Well, in WinXP SP3 compatibility mode it does not crash, but the Browse, Discover, and Radio sections stay empty and do not fill with content. I can play my own playlists, but clearly it does not work as it should.

[Peter__]

Exit Spotify (File > Exit)

Then try adding:

 --disable-accelerated-layers --disable-accelerated-fixed-root-background

to the end of the string in the Target box in Properties > Shortcut > Target > OK. Then launch by double clicking on that icon, any better?

[world-in-union]

Yes, this works now, even without the compatibility mode. Thank you!

May I ask what this works, and if the problem lies with my machine? Is there anything I can do to make the problem go away?

[Peter__ · Accepted solution]

This appears to be an issue relating to GPU acceleration in the chromium embedded framework that Spotify uses to display content inside the client. Whether the issue is with chromium, something in Spotify's code or being caused by a driver issue I'm not sure!

[world-in-union]

Well, I found out that I had a problem with my video card driver. I reinstalled the driver, and Spotify works now normally again. So it was a driver issue, as you suggested. Thanks for your help!

[Peter__]

Thanks for letting me know! 🙂

[memeweaver]

I've also had crash-on-load issues on Windows 8.1 since the last auto-update a few weeks ago.Adding those parameters to the shortcut target didn't work for me.

However I found if I clicked on a recent playlist from the Spotify taskbar menu, then the program opened fine. After that it opened OK.

I suspect that whatever I had been listening to before has been removed from the "available to Australia" list and the program crashed. That's what has happened on previous occasions. I wish Spotify would write better code to catch these.

[Peter__]

@memeweaver - That is an interesting thought! I will make sure it gets passed on.

[memeweaver]

It seems that as soon as you find one workaround to get Spotify working they break it again!

So with the latest "up"date, I can now only get it running if I 

1) launch the webplayer in my browser first

2) click a recent playlist from the taskbar Spotify icon

However as soon as I do anything like search for another artist, it crashes.

I really don't know why I bother trying.

[monotone2k]

I tried all of the above suggestions and no combination of them worked. 

However, this one step worked first time and the issue hasn't occurred again since: 

• Remove the following folder and then launch the desktop Spotify app: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Spotify

Hope this helps.

[bsamsel]

i have the same issue, have tried every alternative mentioned in this thread.....if i boot into safe mode i can launch it, i think it has something to do with a graphics driver as someone mentioned.....

this sucks! i much prefer the native desktop app over the dang webapp!

[ryan2980]

---

@memeweaver wrote:

However I found if I clicked on a recent playlist from the Spotify taskbar menu, then the program opened fine. After that it opened OK.

I suspect that whatever I had been listening to before has been removed from the "available to Australia" list and the program crashed. That's what has happened on previous occasions. I wish Spotify would write better code to catch these.

---

I'll second that theory.  I'd load Spotify, it would begin to load something in the main content area (progress spinner), and then crash.  After reading the above, I very quickly clicked on local files right after opening Spotify and everything is working now.

BTW, the Windows client deserves some compliments.  It looks great and it's very responsive; very good for an app that uses a lot of HTML / JS / CSS for the UI.  Great job!  I'd love to see a blog post or something where your developers showcase the technology stack they're using.

[bsamsel]

after much troubleshotting, it turns out it was just some kind of conflict with airfoil software i had. just uninstalled and reinstalled both and it works now. great.

[lokinz]

---

@monotone2k wrote:

I tried all of the above suggestions and no combination of them worked. 

However, this one step worked first time and the issue hasn't occurred again since: 

• Remove the following folder and then launch the desktop Spotify app: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Spotify

Hope this helps.

---

This worked for me. -Thanks! 

[unamatrixzero]

I'm running the latest version of Spotify on Windows 8.1

Download the latest install file and install spotify

When finished, right clik the shortcut on your desktop and klick Troubleshoot Compatability

Choose custom compatability settings, select Windows 7 and close

Right click spotify shortcut on your desktop again and click run as administrator

Enjoy spotify on Win 8.1

I can see the matrix

[unamatrixzero]

I'm running the latest version of Spotify on Windows 8.1

Download the latest install file and install spotify

When finished, right clik the shortcut on your desktop and klick Troubleshoot Compatability

Choose custom compatability settings, select Windows 7 and close

Right click spotify shortcut on your desktop again and click run as administrator

Enjoy spotify on Win 8.1

I can see the matrix

[zebrozeck]

It worked for me to 🙂

[kempdbc]

It seems you need to be very computer savy to use Spotify.  I installed the premium version today and nothing.  I have Windows Premium Home 7 and I just paid for the Premium upgrade. 

Think I should cancel?  Just would like an easy fix and nothing happens when I click on the spotify icon on my computer.

[unamatrixzero]

Hi

Download the latest version of Spotify and  follow the steps I described in my post above and it should work. When starting Spotify from your desktop icon, right click the icon and choose "Run as Administrator". Follow the steps I described exactly. If it doesn't work when you have done that, drop me a line and we'll figure it out together.