Spotify is one of the best music streaming apps in the world.
However, one of the most annoying things about the service is that it will automatically download new songs and albums when you’re on Wi-Fi, even when you don’t want it to.
First of all, keep in mind that this can happen if a playlist you’ve downloaded has been recently modified so the next time you open the app it will try to sync to reflect the recent changes.
This could happen if you downloaded playlists created by other users, Spotify-created playlists that update often, Made for you playlists, Collaborative playlists, etc.
So, if you’ve downloaded some of these playlists, this can explain the behavior you describe. If you don’t want Spotify to download songs every day, here are some things you can do:
1. Turn off the download switch
You can download songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts with Spotify Premium. However, you can only download podcasts if you are using the free version of Spotify.
If you have downloaded an album or playlist from Spotify, it means that every time a song is added to the list, it will be automatically downloaded.
To disable the download of a specific album/playlist, go to the album/playlist.
You’ll see a green arrow icon that indicates the album/playlist is downloaded. Tap on that arrow icon again to remove the downloaded songs from your device.
Note that this will remove all your downloaded songs. You will need to go to the albums and playlists you want to have available offline and turn on the “download” switch for each one.
Once you have done this, be sure to clear the Spotify app’s cache. You can do this from the Spotify app by going to Settings > Clear Cache.
2. Disable Spotify’s background activity
One of the main reasons why Spotify keeps downloading songs every day is because the app has been given permission to run in the background of your mobile device.
Whenever I add a new song to one of the playlists I’ve saved offline on my desktop, Spotify will download the song if I have the app running in the background of my iPhone.
It’s not a bad thing because it’s meant to have the song ready the next time I open Spotify on my iPhone. But if you don’t want it to download songs every day, disable its background activity.
How to disable Spotify’s background activity on Android
You can disable the background activity of certain apps by navigating to the App menu by accessing Settings. Here’s how to disable Spotify’s background activity on Android:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Select Spotify from the list of apps.
- Under Usage, tap Battery.
- Turn off the toggle for “Allow background activity”.
How to disable Spotify’s background activity on iPhone or iPad
If you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, the term is called “Background App Refresh”. This feature refreshes apps that are running in the background by downloading updates and new content.
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Select the “Background App Refresh” tab.
- Select the “Background App Refresh” option again.
- Choose “Off”.
Keep in mind that once you’ve disabled Spotify’s background activity, the app won’t be able to run in the background. It will keep disconnecting from Bluetooth when you lock your phone.
3. Uninstall battery-saving and/or cache-clearing apps
Do you have any third-party battery-saving and/or cache-clearing apps installed on your mobile phone? If so, that particular app could interfere with Spotify’s cache.
Spotify uses your device memory to store parts of music and podcasts as cache, so it can play without lagging and store downloaded music and podcasts to play offline.
If you have these apps, I recommend uninstalling them. You don’t want these apps to put your phone to sleep or clear its cache on your behalf whenever your phone is not in use.
4. Clean reinstall the Spotify app
The last resort is to clean and reinstall the Spotify app.
A clean reinstall is different from a regular reinstall. It will remove the old drivers first and then install the new ones. This tends to solve issues with the app’s performance.
How to clean reinstall Spotify on iPhone and iPad
- Open Spotify.
- Tap the gear icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Storage then Delete Cache.
- Head to your device’s Settings, then tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Select Spotify from the list of apps.
- Tap Offload the app and confirm.
- Then, tap Delete App and confirm.
- Once the app is deleted, turn your device completely off.
- Wait a couple of minutes.
- Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the display turns on.
- Switch your device back on.
- Install Spotify from the App Store.
How to clean reinstall Spotify on Android
- Go to your phone’s Settings.
- Select Apps or Applications.
- Select Manage applications.
- Find and select Spotify in your list of apps.
- Tap Clear Data.
- Go to Storage > Android > Data and delete a folder called com.spotify.music.
- Switch your device off.
- Wait a couple of minutes.
- Switch your device back on.
- Open Google Play and install the Spotify Music app.
Give your device a quick restart as well before you open the newly installed app.
After a clean reinstall, your downloaded music and podcasts will be deleted, and your settings will be reset to default. If you want to listen offline, you’ll need to redownload your content again.
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