Top 7 Ways to Fix Spotify Not Responding on Windows and Mac
Spotify is without a doubt the most popular music streaming service among millions of users. You can take advantage of the automatically generated playlists and other features like group sessions for hosting a private music streaming session. While the Spotify app works as expected on Android and iOS, the same can’t be said for its desktop alternatives.
Spotify desktop apps don’t seem native compared to their rivals. It works as expected for most of the time, but sometimes you may run into unresponsive app issues, and it can leave you scratching your head in disguise.
If you are having such problems, you have come to the right place. This article will talk about the Seven Best Ways to Fix Unresponsive Spotify on Windows and Mac. Let’s start.
1. Reopen Spotify
It is possible that the Spotify app did not launch correctly, which may lead to an error when opening it. To check, click the red “X” at the top right side of the window to close Spotify. Completely closing may take a while.
On Mac, you can right click the Spotify icon on the Dock and select the Close or Force Close option.
Wait a few seconds and restart it. Then check if everything is working as expected. Otherwise, don’t worry, we’ve got more stuff up our sleeve.
2. Restart the PC or Mac
I recommend this solution in almost all of my Windows 10 and Mac guides. Restarting the device is a good idea to fix errors without too much tinkering.
In Windows, just click on the Windows icon and select Restart. On Mac, tap the little Apple icon in the top left corner and select Restart.
3. Use Task Manager (Windows)
Before removing or reinstalling Spotify, I have another easy option which could be the solution to all your Spotify problems on Windows.
Sometimes the Spotify app never stops properly and continues to work even after closing the app. When you relaunch the app, the system gets confused because according to it Spotify is already running. And it can lead to no response error on Windows.
Follow the steps below to remove Spotify process from background completely using task manager.
Step 1: Press the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut on your keyboard and select Task Manager on the blue screen, which will cover your desktop.
You can also use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open Task Manager.
2nd step: Right click, select the Processes tab and go to Spotify.
Step 3: Click on the Spotify icon, open it and select End Process.
Step 4: Restart your computer and check if the Spotify app can be opened without receiving annoying error message.
If it opens successfully, you’re good to go, but if it still doesn’t respond, you’ll need to go ahead and perform the next method.
4. Use the activity monitor (Mac)
Similar to Task Manager on Windows, you can use Activity Monitor on Mac to close Spotify app completely. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Use Command + Space keys on your Mac and search for Activity Monitor.
2nd step: Select Spotify from the menu and tap the X mark to close the app.
5. Reinstall Spotify
You may need to upgrade your game a bit and do a clean reinstall of the Spotify app. This should fix the issue immediately, but there are several steps you need to take to complete the process in the best possible way.
Follow the steps below.
Reinstall Spotify on Windows
Step 1: Press Windows key on your keyboard and right click Spotify to select Uninstall option.
2nd step: If the application asks for confirmation, click OK. Now press Windows key + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer and navigate to the folder structure below.
C:UsersYOURUSERNAMEAppDataRoaming
Step 3: You need to delete the Spotify folder. If you are unable to display AppData under your username, right-click on Quick Access and select Options.
Step 4: On the View tab, click the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option, then click Apply and OK. You can now see the hidden folder named AppData.
After that, you can finish reinstalling the Spotify app from the Microsoft Store.
Reinstall Spotify on Mac
Step 1: Open the Finder menu on Mac.
2nd step: Go to Applications and search for Spotify.
Step 3: Right click on the app and drag it to the trash.
6. Disable hardware acceleration
Many Spotify users have claimed that unchecking the Hardware Acceleration option has helped them bring sanity into their lives.
In Windows, when you open the Spotify window, press the Alt key on your keyboard and from the File menu, select View.
Now turn off the Hardware acceleration option and close Spotify. Wait a few moments and restart it to check whether it works or not.
On Mac, you can open the Spotify app and select the Spotify menu from the menu bar and turn off hardware acceleration.
7. Update the operating system
You need to make sure your Windows or Mac system is fully up to date. Updating your operating system can remove annoying errors, so it’s always a good idea to check for updates from the settings or the System Preferences menu on Windows and Mac, respectively.
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Enjoy Spotify without glitch
Spotify is an integral part of my routine work at home. And I’m sure that applies to many of you as well. If you come across an error while playing your favorite songs, follow the steps above and fix the problem. While you’re at it, let us know which trick worked for you in the comments section below.
Then:
Looking to change the playlist coverage on Spotify? Read the article below to learn how to edit it on mobile and desktop.
Last updated Jan 2, 2021
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