Spotify Offline Backup: Play Music Offline Without Downloading

By Charles Davis Posted on 2025-03-06 / Post for Spotify Tips

Suppose you are a Spotify user, what if you want to listen to music offline on an airplane or if there is no network connection, but you haven't downloaded the music in advance? Is there any solution? Yes. In fact, Spotify had provided an Offline Backup feature for users to listen to music without downloading it.

Haven't you heard of or used this feature? No worries. In this post, we will give you a full review of Spotify Offline Backup playlist feature. Here you will know what it is, how to find it, how to use it, alternative tool, and so on. Now, let's begin.

spotify offline backup

Part 1. Spotify Offline Backup: Overview

What Is Spotify Offline Backup and How Does It Work

In fact, Spotify Offline Backup feature was launched in October 2024. It is designed to keep music playing offline without downloading it in advance. With this feature on, Spotify app will automatically create an offline playlist for you according to your listening habits, including queued songs, cached songs, recently streamed tracks and your Spotify downloads. That means you don't need to manually download songs for offline playing and save data or storage.

It is quite similar to the Spotify Daylist feature, which updates constantly based on your listening habits. Besides, you can filter and sort the Spotify Offline Backup playlist by artist, mood and genre. If your device is offline and you open the Spotify app, the Offline Backup playlist will appear in the Home tab on Spotify automatically. But you need to enable the Offline Listening option in the Spotify app in advance. By the way, you can add the track you like from the Offline Backup playlist to your library.

View also: How to Backup Spotify Playlist

Limitations of Spotify Offline Backup

However, there are some restrictions of Spotify Offline Backup feature. Please check them below.

1. Spotify Premium Users Only: It is noted that this feature is only available for Premium users globally.

2. Limited Devices: Now, it works only on Android and iOS devices, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. You can't access it on desktop or other devices.

3. Latest Spotify App: To use Spotify Offline Backup, you need to have the Spotify app with the latest version.

4. Not Offline Forever: The Spotify Offline Backup playlist is temporary, as it is based on cached data. So, you can't listen to them offline forever.

5. Need to Listen to Over 5 Songs: You have to listen to over 5 songs recently to activate this feature.

Part 2. How to Find and Use Spotify Offline Backup

In this part, we will walk you through the steps on how to get Spotify Offline Backup playlist on Android and iOS devices. Before starting, you need to ensure that you have an active Spotify Premium account. Besides, make sure that you have listened to over 5 songs recently and enabled the Offline Listening/Offline Access option in the Spotify app. Once confirmed, let's start.

On Android

Step 1. Go to the Spotify app on your Android mobile phone or tablet.

Step 2. Click on your profile icon on the screen and then choose 'Settings & Privacy'.

spotify settings and privacy on android

Step 3. Scroll down to 'Data-saving and offline' and click on it. Then turn on the 'Offline access' toggle.

enable offline access to get spotify offline backup android

On iOS

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on your iPhone or iPad device.

Step 2. Hit on your profile icon and choose 'Settings & Privacy'.

Step 3. Navigate to 'Storage', then enable the 'Offline listening' option.

turn on offline listening to use spotify offline backup ios

After following the steps above, you get the Spotify Offline Backup feature. But where to find it? Once your device is offline, Spotify will generate and show Offline Backup playlist on its app's Home feed for you. Then you can tap on it and start listening to music without an internet connection.

find spotify offline backup playlist on home feed

Part 3. How to Play Spotify Offline Without Spotify Offline Backup Playlist

Though Spotify Offline Backup is convenient for users, it also has some weaknesses. It is not available for Spotify Free users. And it requires to listen to more tracks recently. What's more, the playlist is not forever so you can't access it all the time. In this case, here we'd like to introduce the best way to help you enjoy Spotify music offline forever without using the Spotify Offline Backup playlist.

AudFree Spotify Music Converter is dedicated to download Spotify songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, etc. on your computer without premium locally and forever. Besides, it is able to convert Spotify to MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, FLAC, etc. Also, it can download Spotify songs in batches at 5X faster speed. Moreover, you can change the audio channel, bitrate, and sample rate Spotify music tracks. After the conversion, you will get 100% original quality Spotify files locally to enjoy offline freely on any device.

Key Features of AudFree Spotify Music Converter

audfree spotify music converter
  • Keep the original quality of Spotify tracks, playlists, albums, etc.
  • Download Spotify music for offline listening forever at 5X speed
  • Support to reset output bit rate, sample rate, etc.
  • Convert Spotify songs to multiple output formats

How to Download Spotify Music to Play Offline without Spotify Offline Backup

Now, download and install AudFree Spotify Music Converter via the Download button above. Then check the steps below to start to download Spotify music to play offline.

Step 1Import Spotify Songs to AudFree Spotify Music Converter
import songs from spotify to audfree spodable
Once installed, open the AudFree software, then drag and drop audio content from the Spotify app to its main screen. Or copy the track links and paste them one by one into the search box at the top of AudFree tool. Later, don't forget to click the Add button to load the music tracks for converting.
Step 2Set Output Parameters of Spotify Music
customize output parameters for spotify music
Now, you can reset output audio formats for Spotify songs for playing on any device or player. Please click on the Menu icon at the upper-right corner of AudFree program. Then select the Preferences and Convert options. Here, you can pick up the output audio format to download Spotify music to MP3, FLAC, etc. The output audio channels, bit rate, sample rate and other audio parameters can be also altered. After that, tap the OK button.
Step 3Convert Spotify Music to Play Offline without Spotify Offline Backup Playlist
download spotify to play offline without spotify offline backup
At the last step, click the "Convert" button to begin to download Spotify music without Premium. After the conversion, all the converted Spotify files will be saved to your selected folder. You could browse them on your computer by clicking the "Converted" icon in the AudFree program. After that, you can play Spotify songs offline anytime and anywhere without using the Spotify Offline Backup feature.

Part 4. FAQs about Spotify Offline Backup

Q1: How Can I Turn Off Spotify Offline Backup Playlist?

A: In fact, there is no option to disable or delete Spotify Offline Backup playlist once you enabled it.

Q2: Why Is Spotify Offline Backup Not Working on My Device? How to Fix It?

A: If you can't see your Spotify Offline Backup playlist, there is something you need to confirm in advance. To use Spotify Offline Backup feature, you need to make sure that you are a Spotify Premium user. Besides, ensure that the Offline Listening or Offline Access options are enabled in Spotify Settings. Also, please make sure that the Spotify app is the latest version. What's more, you need to listen to more than five tracks recently to access this feature.

Q3: Can I Use Offline Backup on Spotify Desktop App?

A: No, you can't. The Offline Backip feature is only available for Android and iOS devices now.

Q4: Can I Download Spotify Offline Backup Playlist?

A: Yes. You can add the track from the Offline Backup section to your Spotify Library's playlist. Then you can download them for offline playback.

Part 5. Conclusion

Spotify Offline Backup playlist does help users who forget to download music for offline listening in advance. But there are limitations to using it. In this case, AudFree Spotify Music Converter is here to help you. Without using a Spotify Premium account, it allows you to download Spotify music unlimitedly for listening offline. Also, the music downloads can be stored and played on any local device forever.

Charles Davis

Charles Davis

Chief Editor

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Charles Davis is the chief-editor of AudFree Company, who writes a variety of tech articles and music reviews, such as hot software releases and Spotify music tips.