How to Fix ‘Spotify Can’t Play This Right Now’ Error

It can be frustrating when you’re eager to listen to a song and are repeatedly interrupted by the error message, Spotify can’t play this right now. If you have a file on your computer you can import it. Typically, this issue arises due to application or computer problems or the unavailability of certain songs in your region. This error can slow down the Spotify app and cause glitches. Restarting the application and your computer may resolve the issue. However, if this approach fails, the methods listed below will assist in resolving the problem.

Here are some reasons why Spotify might not be able to play songs:

• Slow Internet Connection: Spotify might stop playing tracks if your internet connection is weak or unstable. Should you face connectivity issues, try disconnecting and reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network to address the problem.
• Crashed System Files: Although third-party software can help maintain Windows health, it may mistakenly flag important files as bugs and crash them. Consequently, Spotify may encounter issues playing songs. Reinstalling the application can resolve this problem.
• Corrupt Cache: The cache provides temporary storage, enabling the application to run smoothly. However, if cache files become corrupted due to overloading or concurrent operation of numerous programs, they can impede Spotify’s performance. Therefore, deleting these local cache files can solve the issue and allow the app to launch successfully.

Licensing agreements can also contribute to song availability issues on Spotify. Music is subject to complex licensing arrangements that vary by region, and as a result, certain tracks or albums may become unavailable if these agreements change or expire. This can lead to situations where you might see a song listed but find it unplayable, a common reason behind playback errors on Spotify.

Keeping this in mind, if you encounter a song that won’t play, it’s worth checking if licensing restrictions could be the cause. While Spotify strives to keep a comprehensive music library, these licensing challenges can sometimes affect its ability to offer every track to every user.

1. Change High-Quality Music Streaming Settings

The high-quality streaming feature is exclusively available with Spotify Premium. If you have a free membership, you may be restricted to a lower quality level.

1. First, open the Spotify app on your computer and click on your username in the dashboard’s top-right corner.
2. Select the Settings Option. Then, scroll down to Music Quality.
3. Navigate to Streaming Quality and change the setting to Automatic or select a lower quality option.
   

2. Update the Spotify App

Outdated versions of the Spotify app may not support new features and could contain bugs. Thus, updating your app is essential.

1. Launch the Spotify app on your system and select ‘About Spotify’ from the menu.
2. Look for any available updates.
3. If an update is available, click on Update Now and follow the instructions to install the latest version.
   

3. Disable Hardware Acceleration on the Spotify App

Hardware acceleration optimizes the performance of the app by leveraging computer hardware. However, it can sometimes cause slowdowns and impact song playback.

For Spotify on Windows:

1. Open the Spotify app and click on the three-dotted Menu icon at the top-left corner of the dashboard.
2. Select View and look for a tick mark next to the Hardware Acceleration option.
3. If it’s ticked, uncheck this option.
   

For Spotify on Mac:

1. Open the Spotify application and click on Spotify in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Deselect the Hardware Acceleration option.

   

4. Delete Spotify Local File Cache

Overloaded cache files can affect app performance. Clearing Spotify’s cache can often resolve issues.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %appdata% and press Enter to open the AppData folder.
   
3. Navigate to the Spotify folder and then the Users subfolder. Select your user folder, labeled with a combination of characters and numbers.
4. Locate and right-click on the local-files.bnk file, choosing to delete it.
   

5. Set Crossfading Value to 0 Seconds

Setting the crossfade value to zero can help resolve playback issues. The crossfade feature provides a smooth transition between tracks but can sometimes cause problems.

1. Launch the Spotify app and click on your username. Then, head to the settings.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the settings page and select Show Advanced Settings.
3. Under the Playback heading, find the Crossfade songs option. Set the crossfade value to 0 seconds. You can also turn off the toggle button.

   

6. Change Playback Speaker on the Computer

Playback issues might arise if Spotify is set to play through an incorrect device. Follow these steps to switch to the correct playback device:

1. On the taskbar, right-click the Volume Icon and choose ‘Sounds’.
2. Navigate to ‘Playback’ tab.
   
3. Select the desired default device and open its properties.
4. In the properties menu, navigate to the Advanced tab and change the format from the Default format to a higher or lower quality as needed.
   
5. Click Apply and then OK.

7. Reinstall the Spotify App

If none of the above methods have worked, uninstalling and reinstalling the Spotify app may be necessary. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog.
2. Type Control Panel into the field and press OK.
3. Navigate to Programs, find Spotify in the list and click on the Uninstall option.

   

4. To reinstall, open a web browser and navigate to the official Spotify website to download the application anew.

If none of these methods are effective, consider using the Spotify web player in your browser. However, you may encounter an issue where the Spotify web player won’t play music. Fortunately, we have addressed this topic on our website.