The Spotify App Is Crashing on Android, but There Are Workarounds

The Spotify app is currently experiencing crashes and freezing on Android, the company has acknowledged after about two weeks of pressure from listeners. A fix is purportedly on the way, but in the meantime, there are a few steps you can take to get your music going.

Reports of problems with the Android Spotify app first started on the Spotify help forums, although they have since spread to social media as well. Those affected complain that the app either freezes when opening, or crashes midway through listening. Others mention that problems only pick up when connecting to wifi—Spotify has since confirmed that "the issue doesn't occur while using mobile data."

According to Spotify, the company is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. Additionally, Spotify says most complaints are coming from Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel users, although the cause is unclear. While there could be a problem with these devices specifically (a user on Reddit has theorized that the culprit might be Chromecast compatibility), because these are also popular Android phones, it could just be an issue with sample size.

Regardless of phone model, not all users on Android are affected. While listening on my Pixel 10, I experienced no difference from using the app on my iPhone 15 Pro.

If you are an Android user and are currently unable to use the Spotify app normally, try these solutions while waiting for an official fix:

Listen on mobile data instead

Because the issues with the Spotify app are limited to wifi, the simplest solution to the problem is to use mobile data instead. While it's not an ideal solution, as not everyone has unlimited data, it's a simple fix for those who do. Disconnecting from wifi depends on your model of phone, although you can usually find the toggle by swiping down from the top of the screen.

Use the web player

While it's not as convenient as using the Spotify app, you could try using the browser version of Spotify instead to get around the issue. Click here to access it. Note, however, that the web player will try to swap over to the Spotify app if you have it installed, so you'll either need to temporarily uninstall it, or adjust your browser's permissions to keep it from redirecting links to the app. On my Pixel 10, this is under Settings > Apps > Default apps > Opening links > Spotify, although your phone's controls might be different. Note that the web player also lacks a few features, such as downloads.

Try a different wifi network

While this isn't an ideal solution if your home wifi network is affected, Spotify says the bug is currently only affecting "certain WiFi networks." If you find yourself in the office or at a coffee shop, it's worth connecting to their wifi to see if the problem persists there.

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