Let’s be real—there’s nothing more frustrating than opening Spotify, hitting play, switching to another app, and realizing your music has suddenly stopped. It’s almost like Spotify assumes you’re no longer listening and decides to pause your music for you. But why does this happen? And more importantly, how can you keep your music on Spotify playing while using other apps?
Unlike some apps, Spotify doesn’t have a clear-cut setting for enabling background playback. This feels especially odd considering platforms like YouTube Music restrict background play to Premium subscribers. All we want is a simple feature—letting music continue while we text, scroll through social media, or check emails—yet it doesn’t always work the way it should.
The reality is, most of us are multitaskers. We want our music to flow seamlessly while we work, browse, or just unwind. The good news? There are ways to fix this issue and keep Spotify playing in the background without annoying interruptions.
Let’s dive in and figure out how to keep your music playing smoothly—no matter what else you’re doing on your device.
How to Play Music on Spotify in the Background?
Now that you’ve ensured Spotify has the necessary permissions to run in the background, let’s go over how to enjoy uninterrupted music playback—whether you’re using a mobile device or a computer.
on Mobile (iOS & Android)
- Open the Spotify app on your phone.
- Select a song, album, or playlist, then tap Play.
- Once the music starts, exit the app by pressing the Home button or swiping up on your device.
- Your music should continue playing while you browse other apps or use your phone normally.
- Manage your Playback
- For iOS: Swipe down from the upper-right corner (iPhone X & later) or up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone 8 & earlier) to access Control Center. Here, you can pause, skip tracks, adjust volume, or repeat a song.
- For Android: Swipe down from the top of the screen to access Quick Settings, where you can manage Spotify playback without reopening the app.
Note: If Spotify pauses while playing videos or games, you may need to tweak your device settings or explore additional fixes.
on a Computer (PC & Mac)
- Open Spotify on your computer.
- Select a song, album, or playlist, then hit Play.
- Click the MiniPlayer button (exclusive to Premium users) in the bottom-right corner of the screen or the top-right of the Now Playing view (for podcasts). For Windows: Click the Minimize button in the top-right corner of the Spotify window. For Mac: Click the yellow Minimize button in the top-left corner.
- Once minimized, your music will keep playing while you multitask or browse the web
- You can easily control Spotify playback without switching back to the main window by using the MiniPlayer on your screen or the built-in playback controls on your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). These allow you to pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume with minimal interruption.
Note: The MiniPlayer feature is available on both the Spotify Web Player and Spotify Desktop App, offering a compact view for seamless control. If you’re using Windows, the Spotify widget in the Windows Game Bar provides similar functionality, letting you manage playback without leaving your current task.
How to Keep Spotify Playing While Using Other Apps?
If Spotify stops playing when you exit the app, it could be due to battery optimization, data restrictions, app settings, or even technical glitches. If you’re struggling with background playback issues, try these effective fixes:
1. Disable Battery Saver for Spotify
Battery-saving settings can limit Spotify’s ability to run in the background. To prevent this:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Go to Apps or Manage Apps and find Spotify.
- Tap on Battery Saver or Battery Optimization.
- Set it to No Restrictions to allow Spotify to keep running when you switch apps.
2. Allow Spotify to Use Background Data
Restricting background data can prevent Spotify from streaming when the app isn’t open. To fix this:
- Open your device settings.
- Navigate to Apps > Spotify.
- Tap Data Usage.
- Turn ON Background Data to ensure Spotify can stream even when minimized.
3. Close Conflicting Apps
Certain apps may interfere with Spotify’s playback by taking control of the audio output.
- Open the recent apps menu (app switcher) on your phone.
- Close any media-heavy apps like YouTube, TikTok, or other streaming services.
Tip:
- Apps like Waze, Google Drive, or Uber can block Spotify playback due to voice prompts. If needed, adjust their settings or close them.
- If you use Spotify while driving, enable Car Mode in Spotify and toggle “Keep Spotify open” to on.
4. Try Spotify’s Official Fixes
- Log out of your Spotify account.
- Go to Settings > Log Out > Restart your device.
- Log back in and test if the issue is resolved.
5. Reinstall the Spotify App
If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling Spotify may help:
- Uninstall Spotify from your device.
- Visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download the latest version.
- After reinstalling, repeat the setup steps to ensure Spotify runs smoothly in the background.
Conclusion
There’s nothing more frustrating than having your music stop the moment you switch apps. Whether you’re multitasking, browsing social media, or just locking your phone, Spotify should keep playing in the background without interruptions. Now that you know how to keep Spotify playing while using other apps, you can listen to your favorite tracks anytime—without the hassle of constant pauses.