7 Ways to Fix Spotify Podcasts Not Working

You may be eager to relax by diving into some of the best Spotify podcasts, but only to find Spotify Podcasts not working. You checked a few times and noticed that the music plays fine, but the podcasts just won't work. It's a scenario that can quickly dampen your mood and leave you disappointed.

No worries. This article can help you out. From the internet check to the Spotify check and thoughtful tips on ensuring interrupted listening, we've compiled a comprehensive guide to get your Spotify Podcasts back up and running smoothly. Don't let technical glitches disrupt your listening experience any longer. Scroll down to discover the 7 effective ways to resolve Spotify Podcasts not working and get back to enjoying your favorite shows hassle-free.

Solution 1. Check Spotify Server Status

It is not surprising that something goes wrong with Spotify's server, which will lead to a temporary shutdown of the service. You can first check the latest Spotify server status on its official X (namely, Twitter) account.

If the server is down, no operation is required on your end. Just wait for the service provider to resolve it. As it will impact all its users, you can expect the provider to take immediate action and fix these glitches as promptly as possible. Do not get too worried. Take the chance for a cup of your favorite drink.

Solution 2. Check the Internet Connection

When Spotify Podcasts are not working, you will never go wrong by checking your internet connection. As an online streaming service, Spotify requires a stable internet for smooth playing. Podcasts are likely to be interrupted and may not load or buffer if your internet connection is unstable or disconnected. Thus, make sure your device is connected to reliable, high-speed internet. Or switch to a fast one. This simple step can often resolve playback issues and get you back to enjoying your favorite podcasts.

Solution 3. Log out & Log in Spotify Account

Sometimes an unknown error will happen to your account. Logging out and logging back into your Spotify account would be a simple way to refresh and sync the account-related data and reset a new session, which often drives you out of the issues with podcasts not working. Below are steps to log out of all devices and web pages at once:

1. Log into your account page on Spotify.
2. Click "Security and Privacy".
3. Scroll down the page and select "Log out".

Usually, you can log into your account to see if it works after a couple of minutes.

Solution 4. Force Quit and Restart the Spotify App

It is common for Spotify to suddenly stop working because of corrupted caches, crowded background processes, etc. This is where force quitting and restarting the Spotify app comes into play. By force quitting and restarting the app, you give it a chance to establish a new connection to the server. Below are steps to force quitting your Spotify account from Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Force quit Spotify on Windows

1. Navigate to “Task Manager” by pressing “Control + Alt + Delete”.
2. Select "Spotify" and click "End task".

Force quit Spotify on Mac

1. Press "Option (or Alt) + Command + Esc (Escape)" together. Alternatively, choose "Force Quit" from the Apple menu in the corner of your screen.
2. Select Spotify on the Force Quit window and click "Force Quit".

Force close Spotify on your Android device

1. Go to "Settings" > "Apps or Apps & notifications"
2. Tap "See all apps to view all opened applications"
3. Choose "Spotify" >"Force stop" option, and finally tap "OK" for the confirmation.

Force close Spotify on your iOS device

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, and pause in the middle.
2. Find the Spotify window and swipe up on the app's preview to close the app.

Once you force quit Spotify, you can restart Spotify and play a podcast to check whether it works.

 

Solution 5. Clear Spotify Cache

Usually, Spotify will store parts of podcasts as caches for a smooth, no-lagging play. When there are too many caches or corrupted ones, it is likely to cause Spotify podcasts not to load or not to work. You can fix common issues by clearing caches, which can free up space and let Spotify podcasts play again.

• Desktop Spotify: click your profile picture at the top, select "Settings", scroll down to find "Storage", and click "Clear cache".
• Android Devices: swipe left or tap your profile picture, and tap "Settings and privacy" > "Delete cache under Storage".
• iOS Devices: tap the options in order: “Home” >“Settings” > “Storage” >>“Clear cache”.

 

Solution 6. Update Spotify to the Latest Version

Undoubtedly, you will often find an app updating with the descriptions of "Fixed several bugs." It is the reason why you'd better have apps on your device up-to-date: not only for the latest features but also for the avoidance of not-working situations.

This method also applies to Spotify. Once you update your Spotify to the latest version, the issue of Spotify podcasts not working may be worked out. Follow the below steps to update Spotify to the newest version.

• Desktop Spotify: a blue dot will appear on the Spotify menu button when there is a new version available. Click on it and select "Update Available. Restart Now.", you will get the latest version soon.



• Android Devices: simply search for Spotify on the Google Play Store and tap “UPDATE” if a new version is available.
• iOS Devices: open the "App Store" > "Updates", find "Spotify", and tap "UPDATE". To ensure you always have the latest version for iOS devices, you are always recommended to enable auto-update in iTunes & App Store.

 

Solution 7. Clean Reinstall the Spotify App

You can also try a clean reinstall of your Spotify app. A clean reinstall refers to a more complete reinstallation after removing all the previous settings, downloads, and file folders of Spotify. This will allow you to reuse the app on your device without interruptions from existing errors. Here are the steps to install Spotify cleanly on your device.

Clean Reinstall Spotify on Windows

Step 1. Exit Spotify by clicking "File" in the menu bar.

Step 2. Uninstall Spotify by clicking "Start" > "Settings" > "System" > "Apps & features", selecting "Spotify", and right-clicking to "Uninstall".

Step 3. Delete all Spotify-related files.

1. Type "%AppData%" in the Start search bar, open "AppData\Roaming", and delete any Spotify folder.
2. Check "AppData\Local" (or C:\Users*USERNAME*\AppData\Local\Spotify\Storage) for the remaining Spotify folders.
3. Run a search on your device to ensure no Spotify leftovers exist.

Step 4. Shut down your device, wait for a few minutes, restart it, download Spotify from the Windows Apps Store or Spotify site, and reinstall it.

Clean Reinstall Spotify on Mac

Step 1. Quit Spotify.

Step 2. Open "Finder", click "Go", and select "Library".

Step 3. Open "Caches" and delete folders named "com.spotify.Client" and "com.spotify.client.helper".

Step 4. Navigate back and open "Application Support", then delete the "Spotify" folder.

Step 5. Press "Command + Shift + G" to bring up "Go to Folder". Enter "/Library/", then search for "Spotify" and delete all related files.

Step 6. Shut down your computer and wait a few minutes, power on your Mac, and download Spotify to install it again.

Clean Reinstall Spotify on Android

Step 1. Tap "Settings" > "Apps", find Spotify. Select "Storage & Cache" > "Clear Storage".

Step 2. Go back to select "Uninstall".

Step 3. After the uninstallation finishes, open the file manager, navigate to "Internal Storage\Android\data", and delete the folder named "com.spotify.music".

Step 4. Restart your device and reinstall Spotify from the Google Play Store.

Clean Reinstall Spotify on iOS

Step 1. Open Spotify, tap "Settings" > "Storage", and then "Delete Cache".

Step 2. Go to your device's "Settings" > "General" >"iPhone Storage". Select Spotify from the list of apps, tap "Offload App", and confirm to "Delete App".

Step 3. Power off your device, restart it after a few minutes, and reinstall Spotify from the App Store.

 

Tip: Listen to Spotify Podcasts Without Issues

If you've exhausted all the solutions above, it might be time to explore alternative solutions for uninterrupted listening. Accessing its web version can be a temporary fix, or you can turn to a third-party tool, for instance, TuneFab Spotify Music Converter that enables you to seamlessly listen and download Spotify podcasts through its built-in web player.

TuneFab Spotify Music Converter is an easy-to-use music converter designed for Spotify music and podcasts. It helps you download Spotify podcast to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, and more in high quality. With ID3 tag preservations and customization features, it provides unlimited flexibility for offline listening and further management of your favorite podcast content. For its great compatibility with both Windows and MacOS, you can also convert Spotify to MP3 on all devices effortlessly.

Now, let's check out how easily you can download Spotify Podcasts with this powerful tool.

Step 1. Download, install, and launch the TuneFab Spotify Music Converter on your device. Confirm to "Open the Spotify web player", and log into your Spotify account.

Step 2. Search and pick the podcast or episode you want to download, drag it to the floating green "+" button. Or click the “+” button on the details page. Then TuneFab Spotify Music Converter can auto-add the content to the queue for parsing.Image alt: Search to Add Spotify Podcasts for Downloading

Step 3. After the parsing finishes, in the converting queue, go to "Convert files to" at the top right, and select the expected output format from the dropdown menu. 

 

Step 4. Click "Convert" to download a single episode or "Convert All" to download all selected podcasts. When required, you can "Retry " or "Stop" downloading during the process. Once done, view your offline Spotify podcasts in the "Finished" section.

 

Conclusion

When facing issues like "Spotify podcasts not working," several troubleshooting steps can help. A check for a stable internet connection can be the first step, and then you can enact further confirmation of Spotify's server status, account settings, caches, and app version. If problems still persist, just force quit, restart, and reinstall Spotify as the final solution.

Of course, you can always ask for help from a third-party tool for a more effective and straightforward solution. Offering permanent storage for favorite podcasts, TuneFab Spotify Music Converter stands out as your best choice. The built-in Spotify web player provides uninterrupted access to abundant content. With its powerful downloading features, every Spotify enthusiast can listen to their favorite Spotify podcasts seamlessly even offline. Download it now to elevate your Spotify Podcasts listening.