Learn how to Repair the “Spotify Can’t Play This Proper Now” Error

When you had been enthusiastic about taking part in your favourite track however obtained the “Spotify can’t play this proper now” error as a substitute, chances are you’ll be questioning what went unsuitable. It is a fairly widespread Spotify error that many customers have encountered. This tutorial features a listing of options to attempt to hopefully be capable of play these songs you’ve been ready to listen to.
Good to know: if the issue is you can’t obtain songs from Spotify, try our devoted put up on the matter.
Primary Troubleshooting
Whereas this error tends to be extra widespread whereas utilizing the Spotify desktop or Mac consumer, it may present up within the cell apps as nicely. The error could also be accompanied by the advice, “If in case you have the file in your pc, you’ll be able to import it.” Whilst you can attempt to import your native information and try to play the monitor(s) once more, there’s an opportunity it nonetheless received’t work. If that occurs, one thing is amiss with the app or your pc.
To resolve the difficulty, be certain that you’ve gone by the listing of fundamental fixes beneath earlier than continuing to the extra issue-specific ones:
- Restart your system: a easy reboot could also be all you should begin listening to your favourite tracks once more. If the issue is because of a glitch or misconfigured setting, a restart will handle issues.
- Sign off of your Spotify account: within the desktop app, click on the person icon (Home windows) or drop-down arrow (Mac) within the upper-right nook, and choose “Sign off.” Within the cell app, you’ll have to faucet the gear icon in the proper nook and swipe down to search out the “Sign off” button. Signal again in along with your username and account.
- Restart Spotify: when you’ve been utilizing the app for some time, it might have turn out to be glitchy. Shut the app, then open it once more to see if it solves something. When you’re utilizing Spotify on Android, ensure you shut the app correctly earlier than restarting it.
- Replace Spotify: an outdated app typically misbehaves, so make sure that Spotify is updated. On a pc, when an replace is accessible, you’ll discover a blue dot subsequent to your profile image (Home windows) or the drop-down arrow (Mac) subsequent to your profile image. Click on it, then choose “Replace Spotify now.” On Android and iOS, test the Google App Retailer and App Retailer, respectively, to see whether or not there are any updates for Spotify.
1. Examine the Tune’s Availability
Some songs is probably not obtainable so that you can play on Spotify on account of copyright restrictions. As an example, if the licensing agreements for a track expired and weren’t renewed, the monitor will now not be obtainable on Spotify. Some music will also be region-locked, which means that it’s solely accessible to play in sure geographical areas.
You can also make Spotify present whether or not songs are unavailable: they’ll seem grayed out. The cell app enables you to allow or disable this characteristic.
- Press the gear-shaped icon within the upper-right nook to open Settings.
- Swipe down all the way in which to “Playback,” and toggle on the “Present unplayable songs” possibility.

- You’ll know that songs which might be grayed out simply aren’t obtainable to be performed on Spotify.
Tip: shifting to a brand new music streaming service? Learn to switch your Spotify playlists to Apple Music.
2. Disable {Hardware} Acceleration
{Hardware} acceleration is a characteristic that allows Spotify to leverage the capabilities of your pc’s GPU to deal with duties associated to rendering visuals, animations, and results with the Spotify utility. Nevertheless, the choice has been identified to intrude with the service’s means to play tracks, which is why it must be turned off.
- Within the Spotify consumer for desktop or Mac, click on both the person icon or the drop-down arrow within the upper-right nook. Choose “Settings” from the menu.

- Scroll right down to the underside, and disable the toggle subsequent to “Allow {hardware} acceleration.”

- Restart your pc to see whether or not the error persists.
3. Disable or Scale back Crossfading
Spotify’s crossfading characteristic permits a clean transition between songs by overlapping the top of the monitor with the start of the subsequent. Whereas it’s a really helpful addition, setting a big worth for this transitioning impact has been correlated to playback errors, corresponding to “Spotify can’t play this proper now.” Attempt lowering this worth to a minimal to see when you can play the affected tracks afterward.
- In your PC, open Settings as soon as once more.
- Scroll down till you discover the “Playback” part. Examine the “Crossfade track” possibility. If it’s enabled, you’ll discover a slider subsequent to it. Drag all of it the way in which to “0.”

- Alternatively, toggle off the “Crossfade songs” possibility altogether. (The slider will disappear.)

- On the cell apps, you’ll discover a slider subsequent to the “Crossfade” possibility beneath “Playback.” Set it to “Off.”

FYI: wish to monitor your music streaming? Generate a Spotify receipt.
4. Change Streaming High quality
If in case you have a Spotify Premium account and opted for top streaming high quality to your account, it could possibly be the explanation you’re getting the taking part in error in your system. Attempt decreasing it to see if it solves your problem.
- Go to Spotify Settings in your PC.
- Within the “Audio high quality” part, press on the drop-down menu subsequent to “Streaming High quality.”

- Choose “Computerized,” “Low” or any possibility decrease than your present setting.
- On cell, you’ll need to set new values for “Wi-Fi streaming” and “Mobile streaming.”

5. Change Output Format for PC Audio system
Are you utilizing a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) at increased pattern charges? It might be what’s inflicting the difficulty. Attempt altering the output format to your audio system to a decrease or increased worth (though you need to begin by decreasing it), and see what occurs.
- Open Management Panel in your pc.
- Click on on “{Hardware} & Sound.” When you don’t see this selection, make sure that “View by” is about to “Class” within the upper-right nook.

- Click on “Sound.”

- Choose “Audio system,” then click on the “Properties” button.

- Click on on the drop-down beneath “Default Format” to pick a distinct worth. We advocate choosing a decrease one than what you’re presently utilizing.

- On Mac, modify this setting utilizing the Audio MIDI Setup app.
Tip: learn to change the default audio system in Home windows.
6. Set Output Gadget for Spotify to Default
One other potential Home windows answer is to test whether or not your output system for the Spotify app is about to default. Earlier than making an attempt this repair, make sure that your Spotify consumer is open.
- Navigate to “System -> Sound.”
- Scroll down and click on on “Quantity Mixer.”

- Discover Spotify within the “Apps” part, and press the drop-down arrow subsequent to it.

- Ensure that the “Output system” is about to “Default.” If it’s not, faucet on the field to alter it.

- Home windows 10 customers ought to go to “Settings -> System -> Sound,” and click on “App quantity and system preferences” to open the Quantity Mixer choices. Discover the Spotify app, and use the drop-down menu to set it to “Default.”
7. Reinstall Spotify
If nothing has labored to date, attempt to reinstall the Spotify app. When you’re experiencing the difficulty in your Home windows pc, take away this system first by way of Settings, then reinstall it from the Microsoft Retailer. On Android or iOS, you’ll have to uninstall and reinstall from Play Retailer and App Retailer, respectively.
- Go to “Settings -> Apps -> Put in apps.”
- Discover the app within the listing, and press the three dots subsequent to it.

- Choose “Uninstall” to take away the app.
- Open the Microsoft Retailer. Discover the Spotify app by way of the search bar, and set up it from there.

Tip: Spotify internet participant not working for you? Attempt these fixes.
Continuously Requested Questions
I’m seeing this error after I’ve paused playback with Bluetooth headphones (or one other linked system). How can I repair it?
Ensure that your system’s firmware is updated. For Bluetooth gadgets, it’s also possible to unpair and restore them to repair the error.
Does Spotify restrict your library of songs?
When you’re questioning whether or not you’re seeing the error on account of your music library being too giant, don’t fear about it. Some time again, the streaming service eliminated its beforehand held 10,000-song cap, permitting customers to avoid wasting limitless content material to their “Your Music” collections.
Picture credit score: Unsplash. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.