"Why are Spotify songs greyed out? I was able to play them 24 hours ago, but now they are suddenly unplayable..."
If you are facing the same situation, you are not alone. Many Spotify users also report Spotify songs being greyed out due to licensing changes, regional restrictions, etc, disrupting their listening experience without warning. Fortunately, this issue can be solved in minutes. In this guide, we will explain why it happens and provide 12 easy, proven fixes across iPhone, Android, PC, and Mac to restore your library instantly.
Quick Answer:
Spotify songs greyed out usually mean the tracks are unavailable due to various reasons. You can fix this quickly by:
1. Switch to a more stable and smooth internet.
2. Ensure offline mode is disabled.
3. Log out and back in.
4. Clear Spotify app cache.
5. Re-add the song to your playlist.
If you want to listen to greyed out songs on Spotify even when they remain unavailable, consider converting music to common formats.
Why Are Some Songs Greyed Out on Spotify?
Actually, this is one of the most common Spotify problems reported by users on the official community. Based on real-user feedback and our in-app testing, the main causes of Spotify songs greyed out include:
1. Licensing Changes & Region Restrictions
If the license agreement is not renewed, the songs will be greyed out. Additionally, regional restrictions may cause some Spotify songs unavailable in your region. (Check Fix 12)
2. Spotify Offline Mode Enabled
When the offline mode is turned on, Spotify will only play downloaded tracks. Any song that hasn't been saved offline will appear greyed out. (Check Fix 2)
3. Poor Internet or Server Issues
Unstable Wi‑Fi, mobile data interruptions, or temporary Spotify server outages may lead to songs suddenly being unplayable on Spotify. (Check Fix 1-3)
4. App Bugs or Outdated Version
Spotify may fail to work properly due to bugs or glitches, especially if you are using an old version. These issues can cause Spotify songs to temporarily disappear or become unclickable. (Check Fix 4-6, Fix 10-11)
5. Blocked Songs or Explicit Filter
You might have accidentally hidden a track or enabled an explicit content filter that makes certain Spotify music unavailable in playlists. (Check Fix 8-9)
6. Local Files Sync Issues
Uploading music in unsupported formats or encountering syncing issues between devices can trigger local songs to be greyed out on Spotify. (Check Fix 7)
Top 12 Fixes for Spotify Songs Greyed Out
Although the reason why songs are greyed out on Spotify varies, you can easily troubleshoot the issue in this section. Our team has tested a variety of methods shared online and compiled the following 12 proven fixes for you to try.
Fix 1. Use a Stable Network
When Spotify playlist songs greyed out suddenly, the first task is to check your internet connection. When your connection is weak, Spotify cannot properly sync the music library, causing tracks to be unclickable. To fix this, try:
1. Move closer to your Wi-Fi source.
2. Switch from cellular data to a stable Wi‑Fi network.
3. Restart your router.
Fix 2. Disable Offline Mode
If you are using offline mode, you will only be able to access songs that have already been downloaded. Undownloaded songs will appear greyed out on the Spotify app and cannot be played. To play unavailable songs on Spotify, disable offline mode and Spotify will be able to reconnect to the internet and get access to the entire online music library.
- On iOS/Android: Tap on your profile icon to navigate to "Settings and privacy" > "Data-saving and offline" and then, you can switch "Offline mode" off.
- On Windows: Click on the three-dot icon in the top left to go to "File" > "Offline Mode" to disable it.
- On Mac: Hit "Spotify" on the top menu and then select "Offline Mode".
Fix 3. Stop Using VPN
When you use a VPN, it masks your actual IP address and makes Spotify think you are in a different location. This might prevent you from listening to certain songs or playlists that are only available in your country, showing error code 4 or greyed-out songs on Spotify. To fix this, try turning off your VPN. Here is how.
- On Android: Go to "Settings" > "Network & Internet" > "VPN". Then, toggle off the "VPN" option.
- On iPhone/iPad: Go to "Settings" > "General" > "VPN & Device Management". Tap the status toggle to turn it off.
- On Windows: Go to "Settings" > "Network & Internet", and then click "VPN" on the left. Select the VPN connection and click "Disconnect".
- On Mac: Go to "System settings" > "Network" > "VPN" and hit "Disconnect".
Note.
Using a VPN might help you temporarily access unavailable Spotify music from other regions, but this method often slows down your internet connection, leads to error code 17, and may even cause account bans due to a mismatch in regional settings.
As a result, it is more effective to use professional third-party tools like TuneFab Spotify Music Converter, which can play and download Spotify songs from all regions without any restrictions. (Learn more in Part 3)
Fix 4. Log Out and Back to Spotify
Account-related glitches can result in Spotify Premium songs being greyed out or failing to load properly. Logging out and logging back in is a simple but effective method that can help refresh your account information, force Spotify to resync your library, and fix some common glitches. If your Spotify songs are greyed out, you can try logging out of your Spotify account on your device, then logging back in and checking if the issue has been resolved.
Fix 5. Clear Spotify Cache
Cache files are temporary data that the app uses to improve performance. However, corrupted or outdated files can be another reason why some songs are unplayable on Spotify. Clearing the cache can refresh these files, thus resolving temporary playback issues. Simple tutorials are offered below.
- On iOS/Android: Open the Spotify app. Go to "Settings and privacy" > "Data-saving and offline" > "Storage" and tap on "Clear".
- On Windows/Mac: Open the Spotify app and tap on your profile picture. Select "Settings" > "Storage" and click the "Clear cache" option.
Fix 6. Re-Add Songs to Playlists
If a song in your Spotify playlist suddenly turns grey, it may be due to a network connection or software bug, rather than a copyright restriction or an issue with the song itself. In such cases, try searching for the song to see if it is still available. If yes, delete the greyed-out Spotify song from your playlist and then simply re-add it to your collection.
Fix 7. Enable Local Audio
First of all, make sure your local files are supported by Spotify (MP3, M4P, and MP4). If you've added local music to Spotify, then you'll need to make sure the "Show Local Files" option is enabled. If not, the local tracks you uploaded might appear greyed out and won't be accessible or playable on other devices logged into the same Spotify account.
Tips: If you are wondering how to get those local music files, consider using a reliable Spotify music converter to help you out!
Here are the steps to enable this on different devices.
On Windows/Mac:
Hit your profile picture and select "Settings". Then, toggle off the "Show Local Files" option.
On iOS/Android:
1. Add local files to a playlist on your computer first.
2. On your phone, go to "Settings and privacy" > "Apps and device" and toggle on "Local audio files".
3. Open that same playlist on your phone. Tap on the download icon, and you will see songs synced and turned from grey to white.
Fix 8. Unblock Songs/Artists
One possible reason why some songs are unavailable on Spotify is that you may have blocked a certain artist or song in the past. Here is a step-by-step troubleshooting guide.
Unblock Artists
1. Go to the artist page on the Spotify app.
2. Tap on the three-dot icon, and then select the "Allow to play this artist" option.
Unblock Songs
1. Navigate to the hidden song that is labeled with a circle with a line through it.
2. Tap on the three-dot icon next to the title, and then select "Hidden". The song should immediately return to full color and become playable.
Related Article: How to Unblock Spotify at School, Workplace, or Restricted Areas
Fix 9. Allow Explicit Content
If the song greyed out on Spotify is labeled with an "E", it typically means it is marked as "explicit content" and may be blocked due to age restrictions. To play it, you'll need to adjust your Spotify settings to allow explicit content. Here's how to do it.
On Windows/Mac:
1. Hit your profile picture and go to "Settings" > "Explicit content".
2. Toggle on the "Allow explicit content" button.
3. Return to your Spotify playlist, and reload it. The grey-out "E" songs should be available now.
On iPhone/Android:
1. Tap your profile icon to go to "Settings and privacy".
2. Select "Content and display" and enable "Allow explicit content".
Fix 10. Update the Spotify App
Spotify often releases new versions to fix known bugs and glitches. Therefore, keeping your Spotify app up-to-date helps fix the issue of Spotify songs greyed out on iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac.
On Android/iPhone, you can visit the App Store or Google Play Store to get new updates.
On PC/Mac, you can update through Microsoft Store, Mac App Store, its official website, or Spotify’s in‑app update prompt.
Fix 11. Reinstall the Spotify App Clearly
Sometimes, you may have fixed the issue, but Spotify songs greyed out again after the update, even showing an error code 18. In this case, it is advisable to perform a clean reinstallation of your Spotify app. Detailed steps are below.
On Windows
1. Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & features". Find Spotify and click its "Uninstall" button.
2. Completely delete the Spotify folder in the patch: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Spotify
3. Restart your PC, then download and install the latest version from the official Spotify website.
On Mac
1. Drag Spotify to the "Trash" app.
2. Open "Finder" and go to "Go" > "Library" > "Caches".
3. Delete any folders starting with "com.spotify.".
4. Restart your Mac and reinstall the Spotify app.
On iPhone
1. On the home screen, long-tap the Spotify icon and choose "Uninstall".
2. Restart your iPhone and then download Spotify again from the Apple App Store.
On Android
1. Navigate to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Spotify". Choose "Storage & cache" and then "Clear Data" or "Clear Storage".
2. Uninstall the Spotify app.
3. Open the file manager and check "Internal Storage\Android\data". If a com.spotify.music folder exists, delete it.
4. Restart your phone and reinstall the app from the Google Play Store.
Fix 12. Find Other Versions of Unplayable Songs
If none of the previous 11 fixes help, copyright restrictions may be the underlying cause. So, how to play unplayable songs on Spotify? One temporary but effective solution is to search for alternative versions, such as live, acoustic, remix, or cover versions.
Are you wondering if there is a permanent solution? The answer is yes! Continue reading the pro tip in the following to keep your favorite Spotify songs forever, without worrying about any restrictions.
How to Listen to Spotify Greyed Out Songs Forever 🔥
If the above methods don't help you listen to grey-out Spotify songs successfully, or if you're looking for a one-time solution to avoid all Spotify streaming problems, TuneFab Spotify Music Converter is the tool you need.
This user-friendly tool works for both Spotify Free and Premium, has a built-in Spotify web player, and allows you to rip Spotify songs into common formats like MP3, M4A, FLAC, WAV, AAC, AIFF, and ALAC. The ripped songs will be preserved with lossless quality. You can then transfer your music to any device or player to enjoy your favorite tracks anytime, without worrying about greyed-out songs on Spotify or any other playback errors.
Discover More Features of TuneFab Spotify Music Converter
- Download songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks from Spotify without Premium.
- Ensure the original 320kbps high-fidelity sound with customizable options.
- One click to batch convert Spotify playlists, albums, and even songs from the artist page.
- Deliver a 35X faster download speed to save you valuable time.
- Preserve lyrics and the original ID3 tags, including artist name, album, cover art, etc.
Next, follow the simple steps to download your Spotify songs permanently, and you can be free from any issues that make Spotify songs greyed out:
Step 1. Access Spotify Web Player in TuneFab
When you launch TuneFab Spotify Music Converter, select the "Spotify" service to access the web player. Next, log in to your Spotify account to move on.
Step 2. Add Songs or Playlists to Conversion List
Locate the song, album, or playlist you want to download from Spotify. Then, click on "Add (to Convert)" or the floating "+" icon, and TuneFab will automatically fetch the music information and add it to the conversion list.
Step 3. Configure Output Parameters
When the pop-up appears, you can use the dropdown menu to customize the output format, bitrate, and sample rate according to your preference.
Step 4. Download Spotify Music to Your Computer
Select all the songs you want to download, and then click on the "Convert Now" button. TuneFab Spotify Music Converter will start ripping and converting Spotify songs to your computer.
After that, you can check all downloads in the "Local Library" tab. You can easily listen to Spotify greyed out songs within the app, or hit the folder icon to locate the saving folder on your computer. Then, you can effortlessly enjoy Spotify songs offline across all devices, without any hassle.
Read More:
FAQs About Greyed-Out Songs on Spotify
How to show/hide greyed-out songs in Spotify library?
The recent versions of the Spotify desktop app show unavailable songs by default and offer no option to hide them. For Android and iPhone, you can go to "Settings and privacy" > "Content and display". Then, toggle "Show unplayable songs" on and off to show/hide greyed-out songs on Spotify.
Are greyed-out songs removed permanently?
Not always. In many cases, Spotify songs greyed out are only temporarily unavailable due to licensing changes, regional restrictions, and content updates. However, if a track has been permanently removed by the artist or copyright holder, it will no longer be accessible.
Does Spotify Premium fix greyed out songs?
No, unfortunately. Premium plans only remove ads, offer higher audio quality, and enable offline downloads. Plus, for free users, using Spotify abroad is limited to 14 days. Even if you upgrade to a Premium membership, greyed-out songs on Spotify may still occur.
Conclusion
If you are wondering why Spotify songs are unavailable and how to fix Spotify songs greyed out, the 12 proven fixes above can help you quickly restore playback and regain access to your music.
To permanently listen to greyed-out songs on Spotify, TuneFab Spotify Music Converter can be a reliable and final option. It lets you convert Spotify songs to MP3 and other formats at up to 35X speed. This ensures you enjoy uninterrupted offline playback, even if songs become unavailable on Spotify. Give it a try and enjoy seamless playback without greyed-out tracks.
