How to Fix Spotify Web Player Not Working

By Adam Gorden Updated on March 11, 2024

fix spotify web player not working

Spotify has made it easier for us to access any track and playlist through web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and more without installing any extra software. While it's bringing more convenience for us to enjoy the music online, the Spotify web player at the meantime throws us many unexpected problems such as Spotify web player black screen and more. We can find many reports about 'Spotify web player not working' issue in the Spotify community like below:

Spotify web player won't play anything in Chrome. When I click the Play button, nothing happens. Can anyone help?
I can't access Spotify through my web browser. It keeps saying 'protected content is not allowed' in Chrome settings. But it is. why won't Spotify web player play? Any solution to fix Spotify web player not playing?

If your Spotify web player stopped working suddenly, you are suggested to try these solutions introduced below which will help you fix the error and make the Spotify web player work smoothly again.

Part 1. How to Fix Spotify Web Player Not Working

Spotify Web Player offers the full range of Spotify's music catalog and features, allowing users to create playlists, save favorite tracks, explore new artists, and more - all through their web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and others.

Remember:

    Some shared or public networks, such as those in schools or offices, may have restrictions. If you're on such a network, consider reaching out to the network administrators for assistance.

Step 1: Enable Spotify Web Player Properly

If it's your first time using Spotify Web Player or if you're experiencing playback issues, it's crucial to ensure the service is properly enabled in your browser. Here's how to access and adjust these settings on popular web browsers:

  • For Google Chrome:

    1. Launch Google Chrome on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
    4. Navigate to the "Privacy and security" section in the side menu and expand more options.
    5. Under "Privacy and security," click on "Site settings."
    6. Look for "JavaScript" in the list of site content settings.
    7. chorme settings privacy and security content

    8. Ensure that the option "Sites can use JavaScript" is selected instead of "Don't allow sites to use JavaScript." This allows all websites to run JavaScript.
    9. chorme settings content javascript

    10. Optionally, to specifically enable Spotify, click on "Add" under the "Allowed to use JavaScript" section and enter "https://open.spotify.com" as the site.
  • For Firefox:

    1. Open Firefox on your computer.
    2. Type "play.spotify.com" into the address bar and hit Enter. Alternatively, search for "Spotify Web Player" on a search engine and click the appropriate link.
    3. Look for the "chain" icon next to the address bar on the Spotify Web Player page in Firefox. This icon indicates that DRM (Digital Rights Management) software is in use on the site.
    4. firefox spotify web player drm content manage settings

    5. Click on the "chain" icon, and a message will appear stating: "Some audio or video on this site uses DRM software, which may limit what Firefox can let you do with it."
    6. firefox general digital play drm controlled content

    7. Click the "Manage Settings" button. This will open a new tab or window with Firefox's DRM content settings.
    8. In the "Digital Rights Management (DRM) Content" section, ensure that the box for "Play DRM-controlled content" is checked. This allows Firefox to play content that requires DRM, such as music on Spotify.
  • For Microsoft Edge:

    1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Settings" from the menu.
    4. In the left sidebar, choose "Cookies and site permissions."
    5. Click on "JavaScript."
    6. microsoft edge settings site permissions

    7. Ensure that the toggle switch next to "Allowed (recommended)" is turned on.
    8. microsoft edge settings site permissions javascript

    9. Optionally, to add an exception for Spotify, click on "Add" under the "Allow" section and enter "https://open.spotify.com" as the site.

    Alternatively, you can:

    1. Launch Microsoft Edge and navigate to the Spotify Web Player.
    2. Look for the padlock icon next to the website address. Click on it.
    3. Select "Permissions for this site" > "JavaScript."
    4. microsoft edge spotify web player site settings

    5. Ensure "Allowed (default)" or "Allowed" is selected.

Step 2: Refresh Spotify Web Player

If you've ensured that the Spotify Web Player is properly enabled in your browser but are still experiencing issues, a simple refresh might do the trick. Here's how to refresh the Spotify Web Player:

  • For Google Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge:

    1. Locate the Spotify Web Player tab in your browser.
    2. Click the circular arrow icon or press "Ctrl + R" (Windows) or "Cmd + R" (Mac) on your keyboard to refresh the page.
    3. Alternatively, you can right-click on the tab and select "Reload" or "Refresh."
  • For Safari:

    1. Find the Spotify Web Player tab in Safari.
    2. Click the refresh button located next to the address bar, or press "Cmd + R" on your keyboard to refresh the page.

Step 3: Update Your Web Browser

Outdated web browsers can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with online services like the Spotify Web Player. Ensuring that you have the latest version of your browser installed can often resolve these issues. Here's how to update some common web browsers:

  • For Google Chrome:

    1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Hover over "Help" in the dropdown menu.
    4. Select "About Google Chrome."
    5. chrome about chrome check for updates

    6. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
  • For Firefox:

    1. Open Firefox on your computer.
    2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Help" from the dropdown menu.
    4. Click on "About Firefox."
    5. firefox about firefox check for updates

    6. Firefox will check for updates and download them automatically.
  • For Microsoft Edge:

    Microsoft Edge updates are typically included with Windows updates. Here's how to ensure you have the latest version:

    1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
    2. Type "Windows Update" in the search bar and select "Check for updates."
    3. Windows will check for any available updates, including updates for Microsoft Edge.
    4. If updates are available, download and install them.
  • For Safari:

    Safari updates are generally included with macOS updates. Here's how to check for updates:

    1. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
    2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
    3. Click on "Software Update."
    4. If updates are available for Safari or macOS, follow the prompts to download and install them.

Step 4: Clean Your Web Browser Cookies

Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to remember your preferences and login information. Sometimes, corrupted cookies can cause issues with web applications like Spotify Web Player. Here's how to clear cookies on popular browsers:

  • For Google Chrome:

    1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
    4. Scroll down and click on "Privacy and security" in the left sidebar.
    5. Under "Privacy and security," click on "Clear browsing data."
    6. In the popup window, make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked.
    7. Choose the time range (e.g., "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," "All time").
    8. Click "Clear data" to delete the cookies.
  • For Firefox:

    1. Open Firefox on your computer.
    2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Click on "History" > "Clear recent history."
    4. firefox history clear recent history

    5. In the popup window, select "Cookies" and choose the time range.
    6. Click "Clear Now" to remove the cookies.
  • For Microsoft Edge:

    1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Settings" from the menu.
    4. In the left sidebar, choose "Privacy, search, and services."
    5. Under "Clear browsing data," click on "Choose what to clear."
    6. Check the box for "Cookies and other site data."
    7. Click "Clear now" to delete the cookies.
  • For Safari:

    1. Open Safari on your computer.
    2. Click on "Safari" in the top menu bar.
    3. Select "Preferences" > "Privacy."
    4. Click on "Manage Website Data."
    5. Select "Remove All" to delete all cookies, or select specific websites and click "Remove" to delete individual cookies.
    6. Confirm the action by clicking "Remove Now."

Step 5: Open Spotify Web Player in Private/Incognito Window

Sometimes, browser extensions or settings can interfere with the normal functioning of the Spotify Web Player. Opening the player in a private or incognito window can help determine if this is the case. Here's how to do it:

  • For Google Chrome:

    1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "New incognito window" from the dropdown menu.
    4. chrome new incoginitio window

    5. In the new incognito window, type "https://open.spotify.com" into the address bar.
    6. This will open the Spotify Web Player in a clean, private browsing session without extensions.
  • For Firefox:

    1. Open Firefox on your computer.
    2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "New Private Window" from the dropdown menu.
    4. firefox new private window

    5. In the new private window, type "https://open.spotify.com" into the address bar.
    6. This will open the Spotify Web Player in a private browsing session without extensions.
  • For Microsoft Edge:

    1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "New InPrivate Window" from the menu.
    4. microsoft edge new inprivate

    5. In the new InPrivate window, type "https://open.spotify.com" into the address bar.
    6. This will open the Spotify Web Player in a private browsing session.
  • For Safari:

    1. Open Safari on your computer.
    2. Click on "File" in the top menu bar.
    3. Select "New Private Window" from the dropdown menu.
    4. In the new private window, type "https://open.spotify.com" into the address bar.
    5. This will open the Spotify Web Player in a private browsing session.

Step 6: Log Out and Log Back In Spotify

Sometimes, issues with the Spotify Web Player can be resolved by simply logging out of your account and then logging back in. This process can refresh your session and clear any temporary glitches. Here's how you can do it:

  • For Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and more:

    1. Open the Spotify Web Player in your preferred browser.
    2. Look for your profile icon or name in the top-right corner of the page.
    3. Click on the icon or name to open the dropdown menu.
    4. Select "Log Out" from the options. This will log you out of your Spotify account.
    5. Once you are logged out, close the browser tab or window.
    6. After logging out, open a new tab or window in the same browser.
    7. Visit the Spotify Web Player website again: https://open.spotify.com
    8. You should see the login screen. Click "Log In" and enter your Spotify username and password to log back into your account.
    9. Once logged in, try using the Spotify Web Player again to see if the issue has been resolved.

Step 7: Change Your Spotify Location

Sometimes, the location settings in your Spotify account might cause issues with the Web Player. Changing your Spotify account's location settings can help resolve these issues. Here's how you can do it:

change spotify location
  • For Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari and more:

    1. Open the Spotify Web Player and ensure you're logged in.
    2. Click on your profile name or icon in the top-right corner of the page.
    3. From the dropdown menu, select "Account."
    4. In your account settings, find the "Country or region" section.
    5. Click on "Edit Profile" or a similar option to change your country or location.
    6. From the drop-down menu, choose the country or region where you are currently located or where you want Spotify to recognize your location.
    7. Ensure that the new country is selected correctly.
    8. After choosing your new country, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
    9. Click "Save" to apply the changes to your profile settings.
    10. Close any open tabs or windows of the Spotify Web Player.
    11. Open a new tab or window and visit https://open.spotify.com again.
    12. Log in to your Spotify account.
    13. Once logged in, try using the Spotify Web Player to play music, create playlists, or access other features.
    14. Check if the player is now working correctly without any issues related to location.

Step 8: Clear Host Files

Sometimes, issues with the Spotify Web Player can be due to conflicting entries in your hosts file. Clearing these entries can help resolve the problem. Here's how you can do it on Windows and Mac:

  • For Windows:

    1. Press the Windows key, type "Notepad" in the search bar.
    2. Right-click on "Notepad" in the search results and select "Run as administrator."
    3. If prompted by User Account Control, click "Yes."
    4. In Notepad, go to 'File > Open'.
    5. windows notepad file open

    6. Navigate to the following location: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
    7. Change the file type from "Text Documents" to "All Files" to see the hosts file.
    8. Select the "hosts" file and click "Open."
    9. The hosts file will open with a block of text, each line preceded by a '#'.
    10. Look for any lines with entries related to Spotify or Fastly.
    11. If found, delete the line by removing it entirely or add a '#' at the beginning of the line to comment it out.
    12. After editing, go to 'File > Save' to save the changes to the hosts file.
    13. Close any open tabs or windows of the Spotify Web Player.
    14. Open a new browser tab and visit https://open.spotify.com again.
    15. Log in to your Spotify account.
    16. Check if the Web Player is now working correctly.
  • For Mac:

    1. Press 'Command + Space' to open Spotlight Search.
    2. Type "Terminal" and press 'Enter' to open the Terminal app.
    3. In the Terminal, type the following command and press 'Enter': sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
    4. Enter your administrator password when prompted.
    5. The hosts file will open with a block of text.
    6. Look for any lines containing entries related to Spotify.
    7. If found, delete those lines.
    8. Save the changes: Press 'Control + O' to save the file, then 'Enter' to confirm the filename, and finally 'Control + X' to exit Nano.
    9. Close any open tabs or windows of the Spotify Web Player.
    10. Open a new browser tab and visit https://open.spotify.com again.
    11. Log in to your Spotify account.
    12. Check if the Web Player is now working correctly.

Part 2. How to Fix Spotify Web Player Error Message

If you encounter the "playback of protected content is not enabled" error message or similar issues on the Spotify Web Player, it might be due to missing plugins or settings in your browser. Here's how you can fix this error by enabling the Widevine plugin or downloading a media pack:

Remember:

    Enabling the plugin requires no downloads and doesn't compromise your online security.

  • For Google Chrome:

    1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
    2. Type chrome://settings/content in the address bar and press Enter.
    3. Scroll down to the "Protected content" section.
    4. Ensure that the option "Sites can play protected content" is selected. This should enable the Widevine plugin for playing DRM-protected content.
    5. chrome settings protected content ids

  • For Firefox:

    1. Open Firefox on your computer.
    2. Type about:addons in the address bar and press Enter.
    3. In the Add-ons Manager, select "Plugins" from the left menu.
    4. Look for "Widevine Content Decryption Module" and make sure it is set to "Always Activate."
    5. firefox plugins windevine

    6. This should enable the Widevine plugin for playing DRM-protected content.
  • For Microsoft Edge:

    1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
    2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
    3. Select "Extensions" from the menu.
    4. Look for "Widevine Content Decryption Module" and ensure it is enabled.
    5. If it's not installed, you might need to download it from the Microsoft Store.
  • For Safari:

    Safari on macOS already has support for Widevine built-in. However, if you're encountering issues, you might need to download the "WebKit Media Foundation" framework:

    1. Go to Apple's official website to download the necessary media pack.
    2. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the media pack.

Part 3. Alternatives to Fix Spotify Web Player Not Working

If you're experiencing persistent issues with the Spotify Web Player, an alternative solution is to use the Spotify desktop or mobile application. Here's how you can get the Spotify application and benefit from its features, including offline mode:

Spotify Application VS Spotify Web Player:

spotify web player
  • For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

    1. Visit the Spotify Download page on your web browser.
    2. Click on the "Download" button for your respective operating system (Windows or macOS).
    3. Once the download is complete, open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the Spotify application.
    4. After installation, launch the Spotify app and log in with your Spotify account credentials.
  • For Mobile (iOS/Android):

    1. Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) on your mobile device.
    2. Search for "Spotify" in the search bar.
    3. Locate the official Spotify app and tap on "Download" or "Install."
    4. Once installed, open the Spotify app and log in with your Spotify account.
    5. You now have access to Spotify's full features on your mobile device.

Part 4. How to Download Music from Spotify for Free

As it's difficult to identify what actually causes the loading error of the Spotify web player, the problem might keep existing and remains unsolved after trying all those suggestions. But don't worry. In fact, there is an ultimate way that can enable you to play Spotify songs with any web player effortlessly, when you find Spotify won't play web player.

You should know that Spotify protects its online streams. Therefore, only the paid users are able to download the songs offline. However, those downloaded songs are not actually downloaded at all. In short, the songs are still saved on the Spotify server. You only rent, not buy the music from Spotify. That's why we can only listen to Spotify music through its desktop app or the web player. But what if we find a way to download those Spotify songs on the local drive? Once done, we can then play the Spotify music with any other player on the web.

That's true. The only tool you'll need is called ViWizard Spotify Music Downloader, which is able to extract and download Spotify songs/albums/playlists by converting the protected OGG Vorbis format to common MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC and others. It works with both premium and free accounts of Spotify. That's to say, it lets you listen to Spotify offline even without premium.

spotify music converter

Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter

Free Trial Free Trial

* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.

  • Download Spotify songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, audiobooks
  • Convert Spotify music to lossless MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, M4B
  • Support playing offline Spotify music on any device at any time
  • Compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as, the latest Spotify

Now just follow the complete guide below to see how to use this smart Spotify downloader to download and play Spotify songs on any media player and device:

Step 1Drag Spotify Songs/Playlists to ViWizard

Open ViWizard Spotify Music Converter. Then the Spotify app will be loaded simultaneously. After that, log in to your Spotify account and drag any playlist or track from the Spotify store to the ViWizard window for downloading.

add spotify music

Step 2Set Output Profile

Go to the Preferences option from the top menu of ViWizard after loading the Spotify songs. Here you can select the output format, such as MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, M4A, and M4B. You can also change other parameters like audio codec, bit rate, etc. if you like.

select output format

Step 3Download Spotify Music Offline for Any Player

Now go back to the main interface of ViWizard, then click the Convert button to start extracting and downloading Spotify songs. Once the process is over, tap the "history" icon to locate the downloaded tracks or playlists. Then you can freely share and play those offline songs on non-Spotify web player without a problem.

convert spotify songs

Step 4Convert Spotify Songs

Click the "Convert" button to start the conversion process. Once completed, check the "History" folder to find the converted Spotify songs.

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