Local File Music Not Found on Mobile

[gto512]

Plan

Premium

Country

United States

Device

iPhone 6s

Operating System

iOS 12.2

My Question or Issue

I tried adding some songs I had downloaded on my computer to my Spotify account and it worked on my computer, but the songs didn't show up on my phone. I made sure I had both playlists downloaded and that the software was up to date on both the computer and the phone and I met all of the requirments listed on the help page that I used to do this. I'm not really sure what I am doing wrong.

[Bittencourt]

Hi @gto512, thanks for writing.

If you're using a PC, please check Windows firewall or if you have a anti-virus suite running that includeds a firewall, make sure to allow spotify.exe through. Under Windows Firewall there are two spotify.exe apps listed, one is checked for public networks and one for private networks. Put a check mark next to them both and click OK at the bottom, and let me know if it helps!

[gto512]

Nothing happened. Here's what I'm doing, just in case I'm doing anything
wrong: First, I added the folder from my computer to the local files and
then turned it on. I then searched for one of the songs on the playlist to
get to it. Once I got to the local files playlist, I added each song to a
new playlist. Then, I clicked download on the computer playlist, went to
the app on my phone after I made sure I was connected to the same wifi
network, went to the playlist, and clicked download from the little 3 dots
in the upper right corner. I waited a few minutes and nothing showed up in
the playlist. It says there are 13 songs on the playlist on the playlists
menu page but when you go to the actual playlist nothing is there. It also
has a grey download arrow next to it unlike the rest of the playlists I
have downloaded, which are green. Am I doing something wrong? Is there
something else I have to do? Thanks for your help!

[Bittencourt]

Hey @gto512,

Did you double check if your local files are playing correctly in the desktop Spotify app? To do this, just go to Local Files on the left column and play them.

If they're alright, just drag them to the playlist you want. Then open your iPhone app and go the playlist to download it (make sure it's on the same Wi-Fi as the PC).

That should work!

[gto512]

Sadly, nothing happened again. I have been making sure to follow everything
you have said and I have made 4 playlists attempting to do this but none of
them have the songs that are on the computer. I don't really know what to
do at this point. All of the songs play perfectly fine on the computer, I
have made sure the firewall things are checked off, and I've made sure to
do everything you've suggested to do while doing everything the Spotify
community article has said to do as well.

[Bittencourt]

Hey @gto512,

Have you tried unchecking the 'hide unplayable songs' button under Settings > Playback on your phone? 

If that doesn't work, could you let us know the exact Spotify app versions on your desktop and mobile?

[Bittencourt]

Hey @gto512,

So, did it work?

Let me know if you need further help!

[katlobanova]

When I do this the artwork from the albums/songs goes missing (only on my iPhone). How can I solve this? Thanks!

[Bittencourt]

Hi @katlobanova, thanks for writing!

Some other users who had this issue manage do solve it by repeating the process, downloading the songs and then leaving the Spotify app open for about an hour and then restarting the app. 

Also, make sure to do it using the same Wi-Fi network on your phone and MacBook.

Hope this helps!

[Kishan2]

Hi there.  I have the exact same problem.  After the last update, the local files tab and all my songs just vanished.  There is no way for me to add local files back because the tab is completely missing from the settings menu

[Kishan2]

hey there, 

I found a temp work around.  I think Spotify accidentally deleted the local files tab from IOS devices.    What I did is go one my computer and play the song you want in your local files.   Then, while it is playing on your computer, go on your phone and click on the song that is playing (which should be the song from the local files).  Hit the heart icon so it saves and it stays on your phone

[Bittencourt]

Hey @Kishan2, thanks for sharing this - I'm glad you could solve the issue!

@katlobanova, let me hear from you 🙂

[katlobanova]

Hey Bittencourt,

I have downloaded Mp3tag but I don't know how to "fix the tag" so that the artwork shows. Are there any threads about this or tutorials?

[Bittencourt]

Hey @katlobanova,

I've found this simple tutorial that might help you.

Let me know how it goes!