Is Spotify taking up too much space on your phone or computer? Noticing the app lag or songs not playing properly? It might be time to clear your Spotify cache. This hidden storage quietly piles up behind the scenes to speed up playback—but over time, it can clog your device and cause problems. The good news? Clearing it is quick, easy, and can instantly free up space and fix annoying issues. Whether you’re using Spotify on your phone, tablet, or desktop, this guide will show you exactly how to clear the cache and get things running smoothly again. Let’s explore now!
What Exactly is Spotify Cache?
Ever notice how your favorite songs play instantly after a while? That’s thanks to Spotify’s cache—a behind-the-scenes helper that stores recently played music, album art, and other data on your device. Think of it like a shortcut: instead of loading everything from scratch, Spotify grabs it from local storage to save time and data. This is especially useful when your Wi-Fi is weak or you’re on a slow connection.
Why Clearing the Spotify Cache Can Help?
Over time, all that stored data adds up. If Spotify starts acting sluggish, freezing, or using more space than it should, your cache might be the culprit. Clearing the cache is like giving the app a fresh start—it removes temporary files without deleting your music library or personal settings. After clearing it, you might notice faster performance and fewer glitches.
What Happens When You Clear Spotify’s Cache?
Don’t worry—clearing your cache won’t delete your playlists or downloads. It just wipes the temporary files Spotify uses to speed things up. That includes things like:
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Album artwork
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Browsing data
It’s a safe and simple way to troubleshoot issues and free up some extra storage on your device.
How To Clear Cache on Spotify?
Clearing Spotify’s cache can resolve common problems like slow loading times, app glitches, or laggy playback. It’s also a smart way to manage storage—especially if Spotify is using more space than expected. You can even check how much space is being used by downloads and cache. If you’re running low on storage, you also have the option to remove all downloads—but keep in mind, this will delete your offline music access.
On Desktop (Windows & Mac)
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Open Spotify and log in to your account.
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Access the Settings menu:
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Windows & Mac (latest version):
Click the downward arrow next to your profile icon in the top-right corner, then select “Settings.” -
Windows (classic version):
Click the three-dot menu in the top-left corner > Edit > Preferences. -
Mac (classic version):
Click Spotify in the top menu bar > Preferences.
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Scroll down to find the “Storage” section.
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Click the “Clear Cache” button (or similar wording).
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A prompt will appear explaining that temporary files will be removed (but your downloads will stay intact). Confirm to proceed.
On Mobile (iOS & Android)
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Open the Spotify app on your mobile device and log in.
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Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
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Scroll down and select “Storage” (on iOS) or look for a “Storage” or “Cache” option (on Android).
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Tap “Clear Cache.”
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Confirm the action when prompted. Your downloaded music will remain untouched.
How to Clear Spotify Cache (Beyond the App Settings)
In addition to clearing cache through Spotify’s app settings, you can manually remove cached files directly from your device’s storage. This is especially useful if the app isn’t behaving properly or if you’re looking to reclaim more space.
On Android Devices (Through Device Settings)
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Open your device’s Settings.
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Scroll down and tap Apps or Applications.
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Find and select Spotify from the list.
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Tap Storage & Cache (or a similar option).
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Tap Clear Cache.
Note: Do not tap “Clear Data” unless you want to reset the app completely—it will log you out and delete all your app settings.
For Mac Users (Via Finder)
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Open Finder and click Go in the top menu bar, then choose Computer.
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Navigate to:
Macintosh HD > Users > [Your Username] > Library > Caches. -
Locate the folder named com.spotify.client.
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Open that folder and delete all the files inside to clear the cache.
For Windows Users (Via File Explorer)
A. Spotify Downloaded from Spotify’s Official Website:
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Open File Explorer and go to:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Spotify\Storage -
Delete the contents of the Storage folder.
Or:
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Navigate to:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Spotify\Users\[YourSpotifyUsername-user] -
Find and delete the file local-files.bnk.
B. Spotify Installed via Microsoft Store:
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Press
Windows + R, typeappdata, and press Enter. -
Go to:
Local > Packages > SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_zpdnekdrzrea0 > LocalCache > Spotify > Data -
Close Spotify completely.
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Delete all folders inside the Data directory.
How To Remove Offline Download Cache Files?
Want to delete downloaded songs manually? Here’s how:
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Open Spotify and go to Settings (via the top-right menu).
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Scroll down and click Show Advanced Settings.
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Under Offline Songs Storage, note the file path listed.
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Navigate to that folder on your computer.
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On Mac, it’s often:
/Library/Application Support/Spotify/ -
Delete the file named watch-sources.bnk to remove downloaded song cache.
Wrapping Up
Clearing your Spotify cache is a simple yet powerful way to keep the app running smoothly and your device clutter-free. Whether you’re dealing with playback glitches, low storage space, or just want a clean slate, taking a few minutes to clear the cache can make a noticeable difference. And the best part? It won’t affect your playlists, downloads, or personal settings.
Now that you know how to do it across all platforms—from mobile to desktop and even manually—you’re equipped to keep Spotify running at its best. So the next time your music skips or storage runs low, you’ll know exactly what to do. Happy listening!