Save Spotify Playlists & Podcasts for Offline Playback

This guide shows you how to download Spotify playlists, albums, and podcast episodes to your device so you can listen without an internet connection. You’ll need a Spotify Premium subscription, as offline downloads are a paid feature. The steps work on both mobile (iOS/Android) and desktop (Windows/Mac) apps.

What You’ll Need

A Spotify Premium account (free accounts cannot download content)
The Spotify app installed on your phone, tablet, or computer
Enough storage space on your device for the downloaded audio
An internet connection to download the files initially

Step-by-Step

Downloading a Playlist or Album (Mobile)

Open the Spotify app on your phone or tablet.
Go to the playlist or album you want to save. You can find it under “Your Library” or by searching.
Look for the download toggle — a downward-pointing arrow icon. On iOS, it’s located near the top of the playlist, under the title. On Android, tap the three-dot menu (⋯) and select “Download.”
Tap the toggle or press Download. The icon will turn green (or show a checkmark) once the download starts.
Wait for the progress bar to complete. You can check the status by going to “Your Library” → “Downloads” — playlists that are fully downloaded show a green arrow next to them.

Downloading a Playlist or Album (Desktop)

Open the Spotify desktop app on your computer.
Navigate to the playlist or album you want.
Click the “Download” toggle — a downward arrow icon — located near the top of the playlist, next to the play button.
The toggle will turn green when the download is complete. You can listen offline by switching on “Offline Mode” in the app’s settings.

Downloading Podcast Episodes

Open a podcast show page in the Spotify app.
Find the specific episode you want to download.
Tap the downward arrow icon next to the episode’s play button. The icon will turn green when the episode is saved.
To download multiple episodes at once, tap the “Download” button at the top of the show page (if available) to grab all new episodes automatically.
Access your downloaded episodes under “Your Library” → “Podcasts” → “Downloads.”

Enabling Offline Mode

After downloading, go to “Settings” in the Spotify app.
Tap “Playback.”
Toggle on “Offline.” This prevents Spotify from streaming anything, so you only use downloaded content.
When you’re back online, toggle Offline off to sync your listening history and discover new content.

Common Mistakes

Using a free account: Downloads require Premium. If you don’t see the download option, check your subscription status.
Downloading on one device, expecting it on another: Downloads are device-specific. You must download content separately on each device you want to use offline.
Not enabling Offline Mode: Even with downloads, Spotify may stream if you have a connection. Turn on Offline Mode to avoid data usage.
Forgetting to update downloads: If you add new songs to a playlist, they won’t download automatically unless you have “Auto Download” enabled (iOS only).
Ignoring storage limits: Each device has a download cap (e.g., 10,000 songs per device). Check your storage regularly.

Tips

On iOS, enable “Auto Download” in Settings → Download to automatically download newly added songs to playlists you’ve already saved.
Use “Download” on a podcast show to automatically grab new episodes when they’re released.
Download at a higher audio quality: Go to Settings → Audio Quality → Download, and select “Very High” for best sound (uses more storage).
Before a trip, check that all your desired playlists show a green arrow. You can also see a list of all downloaded content under “Your Library” → “Downloads.”
If you’re low on storage, delete old downloads by toggling off the download icon on playlists you no longer need.

Troubleshooting

Downloads Won’t Start

Check your internet connection — a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection is required.
Restart the Spotify app.
Clear the app cache (Settings → Storage → Clear Cache) and try again.
Log out and log back in.

Downloads Keep Failing or Disappearing

Ensure you have enough free storage on your device.
Check if you’re within the 10,000-song per device limit.
If you’re using a VPN, disable it — it can interfere with downloads.
Re-download the content after updating the Spotify app.

Downloads Play But Make Sound Only When Online

Turn on Offline Mode in Settings → Playback.
If Offline Mode is already on, toggle it off and on again to refresh.
Verify the playlist actually shows a green arrow — if not, it wasn’t fully downloaded.

Podcast Episodes Won’t Download

Some podcast episodes may be excluded from downloads by the creator. Look for a note on the episode page.
Check that your app is updated to the latest version.
Try downloading a different episode to see if it’s specific to that one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download Spotify content without Premium?

No. Offline downloads are a Premium-only feature. Free accounts can only stream online.

How many songs can I download?

Up to 10,000 songs per device, on up to 5 different devices.

Do my downloads expire?

Yes, if you don’t go online at least once every 30 days, downloaded content becomes unavailable until you reconnect and refresh the license.

Can I download podcasts on the free plan?

No, podcast downloads also require Premium.

Does downloading use a lot of data?

Yes, downloads consume data. It’s best to download over Wi-Fi. You can also adjust download quality in settings to reduce data usage.

Can I transfer downloads to another device?

No, downloads are tied to the device they were saved on. You need to download separately on each device.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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