Unable to download local files on Spotify since I got a new phone

[DanDancchi]

Plan

Premium

Device

iPhone 16

Operating System

iOS 18

My Question or Issue

Hello, since I have received a new phone a few months ago, I was unable to download my new playlists completely. On my app, they would only download songs available on Spotify, any local files that I have added would still be greyed out. Old playlists were still available, somehow. After doing some research and only finding posts from 4-6 years ago, I was met with a solution of clearing cache and doing a fresh re-install of the app. Which I did - now none of my playlists offer local files. I will attach a screenshot.

I even took a screenshot of my settings, since I thought I was going crazy... but my settings are the same. And yes, I am on my WiFi while trying to download local files. What am I supposed to do anymore? 

[Amayy]

Hey @DanDancchi, thanks for asking in the Community! 🎵

On iPhones, if you are not able to sync the local files like before, you will have to follow the steps mentioned in this article: Local Files.

There should be a folder called Spotify in your Files app under 'on my iPhone'. There you can move the local files that you have and restart the Spotify mobile app to see them in a dedicated local files playlist in your library. 

Let me know how it goes. 🙂

[DanDancchi]

Yeah, I have already done all of this, I can only download songs from Spotify itself, but any file I added from my PC as a local file onto playlists is greyed out. There is a Local Files data on my iPhone, but it won't change the fact that downloading the playlists is not downloading the entire playlist, as said beforehand. It did not change anything. 

[Amayy]

Thanks for the response @DanDancchi.

Could you share a screenshot of the folder here? Go to Files -> Browse -> on my iPhone -> Spotify. 

Note that downloading a playlist is different from syncing local files since those files are simply transferred between your devices. The screenshot above will help me confirm if the files are not syncing locally or if something else is responsible.

[DanDancchi]

Thank you for your response! I have attempted to "sync" my playlists on my phone again, just to see if anything changes, nothing. So after trying again, I took this screenshot below. Hopefully, you can tell me, what is wrong. I was not sure if maybe the whole issue was that once I got a new iPhone, basically used the feature to transfer my old phone onto the new phone, or if it is something else causing this issue. I am frankly just at a loss. Appreciating your help. 

 

[OscarDC]

Hey @DanDancchi,

Thank you for keeping in contact.

Jumping in just to mention that the folder you have opened is where you need to copy the audio files. So if you have the files stored somewhere else on your phone, you just have to copy the files and paste them on that folder.

After that, restart your Spotify app and that’s it, you’ll find all your local files added to the dedicated playlist previously mentioned by @Amayy.

Hope this helps. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask. 

[DanDancchi]

I don't really understand this. Since before, I did not download any audio files onto my phone or put them physically onto my phone. I had the audio files on my PC and put them onto my playlists... and then I just "downloaded" the playlists onto my phone via wifi and was able to listen to local files on my phone even when I was not connected to my home wifi (i.e. on the train). But this is no longer a possibility. It is not about putting any physical copies onto my phone, it is about being able to listen to local files from my PC that I placed onto playlists from anywhere once downloaded onto the phone.