For those of us who’ve been loyal Spotify users for years, glitches and errors are no stranger to our experience. One pesky issue that often crops up is the dreaded “Upstream Request Timeout” error on Spotify, which can disrupt our music streaming, playlist browsing, or podcast listening sessions.
If you’ve found yourself facing this frustrating error, fear not! In this guide, we’ll explore why and when the “Upstream Request Timeout” error occurs and share some handy fixes to get you back to enjoying your tunes hassle-free.
What Exactly is the Spotify “Upstream Request Timeout” Error?
The “Upstream Request Timeout” error indicates a server-side problem that occurs when Spotify cannot receive a response from upstream services within the allotted time. “Upstream” refers to any service that supplies Spotify with data and functionality, which it depends on to operate smoothly.
If you experience this error, it could suggest that the Spotify servers are temporarily down, possibly due to maintenance or being overwhelmed by high user traffic. Alternatively, this issue might also arise from an unreliable internet connection.
How to Solve the “Upstream Request Timeout” Error on Spotify?
Since this is mainly a server-side issue, there’s not much you can do to resolve it from your side. However, if you frequently run into this error, we’ve outlined a few strategies you might try. Let’s explore these solutions below.
1: Repair Your Internet Connection
First, verify that your internet connection is stable. If you’re on Wi-Fi, consider switching to mobile data, or vice versa, to determine if it makes a difference. You can also check other streaming services to see if they’re functioning correctly.
Additionally, if you’re using a VPN, consider disabling it. VPNs can sometimes reduce network speeds, which may lead to an upstream timeout.
2: Recheck if Spotify is Down
If your internet connection is stable, the issue might be with Spotify’s servers. This error often occurs during server maintenance or when there’s a surge in traffic, such as during the release of the annual Spotify Wrapped. This can prevent the servers from responding promptly to your requests.
To verify server status, consider checking downdetector.com to see if there are any reports of downtime. Additionally, you might want to visit platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to see if others are experiencing similar issues.
3: Open Spotify in incognito mode
Consider launching Spotify in an Incognito or Private browsing window. This approach avoids using existing cache or cookies and disables any extensions that might be disrupting the Spotify web player, potentially causing the error. To open an Incognito window, simply click on the three-dot icon at the top of your browser and select “New Incognito Window.”
4: Remove Browser Cache Data
Accumulated cached data and cookies can degrade your browser’s performance, lead to crashes, and might even trigger an Upstream request timeout. That’s why it’s essential to clear them periodically. Here’s how to clear the cache and cookies in Google Chrome:
1. Click the three-dot icon at the top right of Chrome.
2. Choose Clear browsing data. You can also use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete.
3. Check the boxes for Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
4. For Time range, select All time.
5. Click Clear data.
Afterward, close and reopen your browser to check if this resolves the issue with the Spotify web player.
5: Upgrade Your Web Browser
Updating your web browser may also help resolve this error. Older browser versions might not support the latest web standards needed to operate streaming services effectively. Regularly updating your browser is crucial. Here’s how to update Google Chrome:
- Click the three-dot icon at the top right of Chrome.
- Navigate to Help > About Google Chrome.
- The About page will automatically check for and begin downloading any available updates.
- Once the update is downloaded, click on “Relaunch” to apply the changes.
After updating, open a new tab in Spotify, log in with your account, and see if the error persists.
6: Download the Spotify Desktop App
This problem often occurs when using the Spotify web player in a browser. Switching to the dedicated Spotify app may resolve the issue and also simplify accessing the service by eliminating the need to navigate through browser tabs.
The Spotify app is available for all major platforms, including Windows and macOS. Consider downloading it to see if it resolves the Upstream timeout error.
Last thoughts
These are all the steps you can take to address the “Upstream Request Timeout” error. Try each one to see which solution works best for you.