Spotify boasts a huge library of tracks that can easily satisfy the needs of most music fans. But if your taste tends to be a bit more eclectic than most people’s, finding the obscure tracks you tend to favor may not be guaranteed on the platform. Not to worry, though, as Spotify lets you add your own music so that you can include it into Spotify playlists, then easily listen to them on all your Spotify-supported devices. This article walks you through the process of bringing your local files to the service.
Content
- Enable Local Files in Spotify for Desktop
- How to Add a Music Source to Spotify for Desktop
- How to View Your Local Files in Spotify for Desktop
- How to View Your Desktop’s Local Files on Android
- How to Add Local Files in Spotify on Android
- How to View Your Android’s Local Files on Desktop
- How to Add Local Files in Spotify on iOS
- How to View Your Desktop’s Local Files on iOS
- Frequently Asked Questions
Also read: 7 of the Best Spotify Alternatives for Music Streaming
A Preliminary Note
Before we get started with the tutorial, we should point out a few things. First, you need a Spotify Premium account to add your own files to the app. You can’t do so if you’re using a free account.
On top of that, it’s only possible to add a selected number of formats to Spotify: MP3, MP4 and M4P. For MP4, you’ll have to have QuickTime installed on your PC for it to work. You can add local files from both your computer and Android mobile device but not iOS.
Also read: Spotify Web Player Not Working? Here Are the Fixes
Enable Local Files in Spotify for Desktop
Before you start adding your local files in Spotify, you need to enable the feature in the program by following these steps:
- Open the Spotify client on your Windows or Mac computer.
- Click on the downward arrow in the upper-right corner of the display next to your profile name.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll down until you find the “Local Files” section.
- Toggle on the “Show Local Files” option.
Now you can start adding your own music to the Spotify desktop client.
Also read: How to Create and Scan a Spotify Code to Share Songs
How to Add a Music Source to Spotify for Desktop
Now you can add you own local files to the desktop client. Follow these instructions to get started.
- Once you’ve enabled “Show Local Files” in Settings, a new button will become available.
- Click on the “Add a Source” button and find the folder that contains all the tracks you wish to add to Spotify. You can add multiple sources.
Also read: How to Change Your Username on Snapchat, Spotify, Fortnite, and More
How to View Your Local Files in Spotify for Desktop
In order to view the files that you’ve just added, you’ll need to access your Spotify library and proceed from there.
- On the left side of the display, click on “Your Library.”
- Click on it to view all your playlists and find your “Local Files” directory.
- You should be able to see all the music files you’ve added.
- Click on the three dots next to a song and select “Add to (existing) playlist,” “Add to new playlist” or “Add to (listening) queue.”
- Repeat the process for each song, you want to add to a particular playlist.
- Go back to “Your Library” and find the Playlist you added songs to and click on it. The song(s) should be there.
We encourage you to create a separate new playlist for your Local Files for easier access on your mobile device.
Also read: How to Connect Spotify to Your Discord Account
How to View Your Desktop’s Local Files on Android
Want to listen to your desktop’s local files on your Android device? Just make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi before you proceed with the steps below.
- In the Spotify app for Android, tap on the “Your Library” button at the bottom.
- Find and tap on the playlist you created using your desktop’s Local Files.
- You won’t be able to play the songs just yet. Tap on the “Download” button at the top to get them on this device as well to be able to start playing them.
- On the other hand, if you added just one song to an existing playlist, you need to download the whole playlist to make it available on your mobile device.
Also read: How to Change Spotify Playlist Picture on Android
How to Add Local Files in Spotify on Android
If you wish to add your own songs to Spotify from your Android device, follow the steps below:
- In the Spotify app for Android, tap on the gear icon in the upper-right corner to enter the “Settings” panel.
- Scroll down until you find the “Show local audio files” option and toggle it on.
- Tap on “Your Library -> Local Files.”
Note that even if you enabled the “Local Files” folder on desktop, it doesn’t mean it will automatically appear in your mobile app. The desktop “Local Files” will only show up in the mobile “Local Files” once you’ve downloaded them (as explained above).
- Once the mobile “Local Files” folder has been enabled, it will show you all the audio files (MP3, MP4 or M4P) present on your mobile device. You can create a new Playlist or add them to an existing Playlists by tapping on the three-dots and tapping “Add to playlist” or “Add to queue.”
Also read: How to Create a Radio Station on Spotify and Find New Music
How to View Your Android’s Local Files on Desktop
The reverse is also possible by following the instructions we’ve outlined above. Basically, you need to create a new Playlist on Android using the local files you wish to use on your desktop, then revert to your PC, open the playlist in question and download the songs.
The music will now shop up in your desktop’s “Local Files” folder, and you’ll be able to play them whenever you wish.
How to Add Local Files in Spotify on iOS
You can also add your local files in Spotify if you’re using an iOS device. Follow these steps to do so:
1. In the iOS app, tap on the gear icon in the top left.
- Scroll down until you find “Local Files” and tap on it.
- Tap on the “Import your music” option at the top.
- Select the files you want to play in Spotify.
- Tap on “Your Library” at the bottom. The files should be showing up in the “Liked Songs” folder, allowing you to play them from there.
Also read: How to Create Folder and Manage Playlists on Spotify
How to View Your Desktop’s Local Files on iOS
You can sync your desktop’s local files to iOS so that you can see them in the mobile app. To do so, you’ll need to enable the option first.
- In the iOS Spotify app, tap on the gear icon in the top left.
- Scroll down until you find “Local Files” and tap on it.
- Toggle on the “Local audio files” option to sync local files to this device while on the same network.
- Once this step is completed, tap on “Your Library” at the bottom.
- Select the playlist that has your local files in it and tap one of the songs to start playing it.
- You can download the playlist as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What can I do if I can’t see all my Local Files in Spotify?
If you’re not able to see your local files in the Spotify desktop client, you may need to make sure all the default sources are enabled, including Downloads and “Music Library.” Go to “Settings -> Local Files” and toggle these options on.
On top of that, check to see if your Spotify app is up to date. If an update is available for your PC, you should be able to spot a red dot next to your username in the top right. If you’re experiencing the same issue on Android, you should make sure to update the app as well. Furthermore, ensure the files you are trying to add as local files are MP3, MP4 or M4P.
2. I can’t download the desktop local files on my phone. What now?
Try deleting the playlists containing local files on all devices. You can move the files to a different folder on your PC and add it as a source for the local files in the Spotify client. After that, you can start the whole process as outlined above from the beginning. If that doesn’t do the trick, it’s a good idea to perform a clean reinstall on your devices.
3. I’m not really satisfied with Spotify. Are there any worthwhile alternatives?
If Spotify isn’t doing it for you but you’d still like to stream music, we recommend these six Spotify alternatives.
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Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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