Stop local files from reenabling after closing app

[Rathen121]

Fresh install of Windows 11, fresh install of Spotify

I have a personal music library with 30,000+ songs

Whenever the Spotify app is launched it locks up my media hard drive, opening resource monitor shows it scanning every file in my music folder. I have read the threads about enabling local files, disabling each location, then turning local files back off again: https://community.spotify.com/t5/Desktop-Windows/Disable-Local-Files/td-p/4779953

Every time I open the app, it starts scanning again, and if I go back into settings the local files location scanning settings have enabled themselves again.

This happens in both the windows store and web download versions of Spotify, and I have done a fresh reinstall of each, as well as deleting all the appdata folders.

I would like to permanently disable the local files feature so that I can use the Spotify app without redisabling local file locations every time it is opened. Thanks!

[Joan]

Hi there @Rathen121,

Thanks for reaching out. 

This is very strange behaviour indeed. Could you please make a screen recording of you disabling the local files setting, restarting the app and showing that the setting turned itself on? If the files are too large to attach here in the Community, you can send them to us via Google Drive or as unlisted YouTube videos.

Additionally, please share the exact Spotify and Windows versions that you are using. With all this information, we'll be happy to investigate this further.

Keep us posted.

[Rathen121]

Spotify for Windows (64 bit)
1.2.24.756.g7a7fc7f0

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 23H2
Installed on ‎2023-‎10-‎28
OS build 22631.2506
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22677.1000.0

https://youtu.be/YvMVitwHPPc

Here is a clip of it happening. Clip starts with a fresh install of Spotify for Windows (64 bit) 1.2.24.756.g7a7fc7f0, all I had done was login. After opening the app, file reads start showing up in event viewer. Usually the workaround is to turn on local files, disable both default locations, then turn local files back off. I do this in the recording, and the reads stop in resource monitor. After closing and reopening the app, reads start back up again at the 1:43 mark. Going into settings shows that the local files toggle is still off, but turning it on reveals that the two file location toggles have turned back on. Turning them off again stops the reads, until the next time the app is restarted. Let me know if there is anything else I can record!

[Joan]

Hi @Rathen121,

Thanks for the info and the video, we appreciate it! Just to be sure, let's cover our basics first. If you haven't tried any of the following steps, please do so:

• Full clean reinstall
• Different devices
• Different networks
• When did this first start happening

Let us know how it goes.

[Rathen121]

@Joan

Thanks for the reply

I have done a full clean reinstall of the spotify site download, as well as the windows store version, and deleted all appdata folders. I have also done a full clean windows reinstall, wiping the disk and starting over. None of these stopped the issue

I don't have another windows device to work with at the moment unfortunately.

I have tried both ethernet and wifi, including a hotspot from my phone, total of 3 networks tried.

The first part of the bug (where you have to turn on local files to disable scanning in the default locations) has been happening as long as I can remember, but usually turning them off once would save until spotify was reinstalled. The second part where they get reenabled every time the app is launched has been happening since I switched to windows 11. I have fully reinstalled windows using a fresh ISO from microsoft several times, and that didn't seem to change anything.

[MihailY]

Hey @Rathen121,

Thanks for your reply and the additional info.

We're sorry to hear those troubleshooting steps didn't help. We've now forwarded this to the relevant team here at Spotify, however, we can't confirm when it will be addressed. In the meantime, please make sure to keep your app up-to-date.

Cheers,