How to Add Custom Songs to Spotify: A Complete Guide to Local Files
Spotify boasts an official library of over 100 million tracks, but music lovers know that some of the best sounds live outside major streaming platforms. Whether it is an unreleased mixtape, a live concert recording, a local indie band’s demo, or a personalized mashup, there are times when your favorite song simply isn’t available on Spotify.
Fortunately, Spotify has a powerful, built-in feature called Local Files that allows you to import your own audio files directly into the app. Once imported, you can listen to them alongside your favorite streamed playlists.
Here is everything you need to know to add custom songs to Spotify on both desktop and mobile devices.
Step 1: Prepare Your Audio Files
Before diving into the app settings, ensure your custom audio files are ready and compatible.
Supported Formats: Spotify primarily supports .mp3, .mp4, and .m4a files. (Note: .mp4 files cannot contain video, and the Apple Lossless format/ALAC is not supported).
Metadata Check: Spotify reads the metadata (ID3 tags) of your files. If you want your custom songs to display the correct track title, artist name, and album artwork, edit the file details on your computer before importing them.
Step 2: Enable Local Files on Desktop (Mac or PC)
The initial setup must be done using the Spotify desktop application. You cannot upload files directly from the web player or a mobile device.
Open the Spotify desktop app and click on your Profile picture in the top-right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. Scroll down until you find the Library section.
Toggle the switch next to Show Local Files to the “On” position.
Under the “Show songs from” subsection, you will see default folders like Downloads and Music Library. If your custom songs are stored elsewhere, click Add a source and select the specific folder where your files are saved.
Once enabled, a new tab labeled Local Files will appear in your “Your Library” sidebar. Clicking this folder will reveal all the custom tracks Spotify has indexed from your computer.
Step 3: Add Custom Songs to a Playlist
To listen to these songs across different devices, you need to add them to a playlist. Go to your Local Files folder in the desktop app. Find the custom song you want to add.
Click the three dots (…) next to the song title, hover over Add to playlist, and choose an existing playlist or create a new one.
Step 4: Sync Custom Songs to Mobile (iOS or Android)
If you want to listen to your custom songs on your phone or tablet while on the go, you must sync them using the local network. Prerequisites for Mobile Syncing:
Your computer and your mobile device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You must log into the same Spotify account on both devices.
A Spotify Premium subscription is required to sync local files to mobile devices. On iOS (iPhone/iPad):
Open the Spotify app on your iOS device and tap your Profile icon in the top-left corner. Select Settings and privacy > Local Files.
Toggle the switch for Show audio files from this device to “On”. (This grants permissions for Spotify to look for local data).
Go to Your Library and locate the playlist containing your custom songs.
Tap the Download icon (the downward arrow). The tracks will sync from your PC to your phone. On Android:
Open the Spotify app on your Android device and tap your Profile icon in the top-left corner. Select Settings and privacy.
Scroll down to the Local Files section and toggle Show audio files from this device to “On”.
Navigate to Your Library and open the playlist with your custom songs.
Tap the Download icon to save the files locally to your device.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your custom songs are grayed out or refuse to sync to your mobile device, try these quick fixes:
Check the Network: Ensure your phone hasn’t accidentally switched to cellular data or a different Wi-Fi band (
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