Spotify Local Files Explained: Add and Sync Your Music

Quick answer

Spotify Local Files lets supported apps play compatible audio files stored on your device. Enable Local Files in settings, choose the source folder or device library, then add tracks to playlists; syncing between devices has additional network and download requirements.

Add local files on desktop

Spotify can scan selected folders on a computer after Local Files is enabled.

1. Open Spotify Settings.
2. Enable Show Local Files.
3. Select the folders Spotify should use.
4. Open Your Library, find Local Files and add wanted tracks to a playlist.

Use local files on mobile

Mobile apps can expose compatible audio already stored on the device when Local Files is enabled and the operating system grants access.

Moving a desktop local-file playlist to mobile may require both devices on the same network and the playlist downloaded on the receiving device.

What Local Files does not do

Spotify does not upload your personal track as a public catalogue release. Other listeners cannot play a local file unless they separately have access to the underlying audio.

Lyrics, artist pages and normal catalogue metadata may be missing or incomplete.

Fix missing or greyed-out files

Check that the format is supported, the file still exists in the selected folder, local-network permission is enabled and both apps are current.

Protected or unsupported files may need to be obtained in a compatible, legally usable format; renaming a file extension does not convert the audio.

Common questions

Sources & verification

• Spotify — local files
• Spotify — supported devices

Keep exploring

• Spotify Offline Downloads Explained
• Spotify Supported Devices Explained
• Spotify Lyrics Explained: View, Share and Troubleshoot