Spotify is one of the world’s top music and podcast streaming platforms on both desktop and mobile. Hence, it’s no surprise that a lot of users rely on the app to listen to their favorite tunes. However, that’s also the reason why it can be irritating whenever there’s a problem. One day, you might wake up to find that Spotify keeps pausing on you. What gives? If you’re experiencing this problem, then don’t worry. There are a few solutions you might want to try to fix the issue when Spotify keeps pausing.
Why Does Spotify Keep Pausing?
Firstly, let’s tackle the question that’s boggling all of our minds: why does Spotify keep pausing? There are several reasons why Spotify keeps pausing on your account. Here are just a couple of possibilities you might want to consider.
Too Many People Using Your Account
“Oh no, Spotify keeps crashing. What should I do?” Oftentimes, people immediately start panicking when they discover that Spotify keeps pausing on their phones. However, the reason why this happens could simply be down to account-related issues.
For example, the reason why Spotify keeps pausing might be because too many people are using the account. You might have logged into your account on multiple devices all at once. Everyone does this because you can conveniently listen to music on more than one device.
However, this practice can also cause problems with Spotify if there are too many. It’s especially problematic if you don’t log your account out of the various devices you logged into.
Poor/Limited Internet
On the other hand, you might discover that Spotify keeps pausing not because of your account. Instead, it could be a problem with the internet connection. As you know, Spotify is mainly an internet-based service. Hence, it’s important to have a proper network connection while using the app.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem if you download all your songs for offline listening. However, not everyone can access this feature and not everyone has the storage capacity. Hence, it’s important to make sure you have a stable network connection. Check your phone’s Wi-Fi connection and make sure it has a signal
On the other hand, perhaps Spotify keeps pausing because you have insufficient data. This could happen if you often use your mobile data to use Spotify. It’s better to use Wi-Fi if there’s an available connection around you. However, if data’s all you have, make sure to understand the mechanisms behind Spotify data usage to budget your data.
It’s also possible that Spotify keeps pausing because you suddenly find your mobile data not working the way it should. You might have forgotten to keep it on or there could be some other underlying issue with your cellular data. However, if a lack of data is the problem, then you might want to consider upgrading your plan. If you’re still on a prepaid plan, try looking for the best unlimited data plan to avoid data caps.
Software Issues
Lastly, the Spotify application not responding well could be due to software issues. For example, there could be too many background apps running that are interfering with Spotify’s performance. It could also be a cache issue because an overwhelming number of them could be the reason Spotify keeps pausing.
How to Fix Spotify That Keeps Pausing
There could be many reasons why Spotify keeps pausing and it’s not always easy to pinpoint the problem. As a result, you might want to try various fixes to see which one works for you. Each one targets a specific problem with Spotify, your data, or the software. Just try each one and see if that fixes the issue.
1. Restart Your Data or Connect to Wi-Fi
By default, Spotify’s streaming quality stays on “automatic.” However, for many music-loving audiophiles, the automatic quality setting isn’t enough. As a result, quality-sensitive listeners tend to boost their Spotify music quality in the settings.
However, while listening to higher-quality music certainly has its benefits, it also has its downsides. For example, it could be one of the reasons why Spotify keeps pausing. This normally only happens when your network connection is insufficient or unstable. Hence, if you’re listening to lossless quality music, using a 3G connection won’t be enough and will result in buffering.
If you already have a 4G connection or higher, then you might want to try restarting your data connection altogether. This could refresh your connection strength and could potentially fix the issue when Spotify keeps pausing.
Of course, if you have access to a Wi-Fi connection, try connecting to that instead of using mobile data. This is because regardless of how fast your data speeds are, Wi-Fi will always provide better stability and quality overall.
On the other hand, if you don’t mind listening at 160kbps, try adjusting your Spotify music quality settings. Make sure to choose “Low” or “Normal” if you want to use fewer data. However, you can also choose “Automatic” so that Spotify can adjust based on your data speed. You can find these settings under Music Quality > Streaming.
2. Disable Data Saving Mode
Streaming music online requires a fairly decent data connection, even at lower music quality. Hence, if you find that Spotify keeps pausing on your phone, you might want to disable your data saver. Of course, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t try to budget your monthly data allowance when you’re running out. However, at that point, you should try to keep streaming as a whole at a minimum.
If you can still afford it, try streaming your music with data saving mode disabled. This should fix the issue when Spotify keeps pausing on you. On the other hand, you could also download the music you want over Wi-Fi to save on precious data. Just make sure you have enough storage space to accommodate all of your favorite songs.
3. Restart Your Phone
Restarting both hardware and software usually leads to many breakthroughs so it’s not a bad idea to try it here. Just long-press on your phone’s power button and tap on the “Restart” option. Afterward, try to launch the app to see if Spotify keeps pausing even after this quick fix. If things still aren’t working well, move on to the fourth fix.
4. Disconnect From Bluetooth Devices
Ever since Apple’s AirPods came out, many smartphone manufacturers have ditched the headphone jack in favor of truly wireless earbuds. As a result, consumers have also jumped onto the bandwagon (whether willingly or forcefully) and more commonly use Bluetooth earphones.
However, unlike the simple plug-and-play nature of the wired headset, Bluetooth earphones can have their complications. In fact, unstable or imperfect Bluetooth connectivity could be the reason why Spotify keeps pausing. If you suspect that’s the case for you, then you might want to try tinkering with your Bluetooth connection.
Firstly, try disconnecting your phone from your Bluetooth headset or Bluetooth speaker. Then, try reconnecting your devices and see if Spotify keeps pausing even after the reconnection. If it still does, try updating the Spotify app and see if it’s fixed. Afterward, if Spotify keeps pausing even then, try reinstalling the Spotify app as a whole.
5. Disable Battery-Saving Mode
We get it. Sometimes, it’s not always practical to charge your phone the night before. It might have been at 60% when you went to sleep so it didn’t warrant a charge at the time. On the other hand, you might have completely forgotten to charge your phone and went straight to bed last night.
Regardless, sometimes we just end up with a drained battery in the middle of the day. As a result, we turn on battery-saving mode to make our phones last until we get home. However, if you listen to music with Spotify in battery-saving mode, chances are you’re going to run into problems.
Using Spotify in battery-saving mode is one of the biggest reasons why Spotify keeps pausing for many people. Hence, either one or the other has to go. If you still have enough battery to spare, then maybe it’s best to turn off battery-saving mode for now. Just go to the Settings app and look for the Battery option. Then, navigate to Battery & Performance and toggle the battery saver off.
On the other hand, if you can’t disable battery-saving mode, then it’s best to stop using Spotify for now. Perhaps try to think of life and your place in the universe on your commute home instead. Maybe next time, try remembering to charge your phone, too.
6. Clear Cache
Smartphones rely on cache and temp files to make everything work the way you want it to. However, when your Spotify keeps pausing because of it, then it might be time to clear away the clutter.
To do this on a mobile device, launch the Spotify app and tap Settings. Afterward, navigate to Storage and then tap on Delete cache. On the other hand, you can also do this on a desktop computer by going to the Settings page on the Spotify app or webpage. Afterward, look for Show Advanced Settings and click on Offline songs storage to find your cache. Then, delete the files within the folder you’re directed to on your File Explorer.
7. Sign Out Everywhere
If all else fails and Spotify keeps pausing even after the other fixes, try logging out of your account. You have to do this for all of your devices. However, don’t fret and think that you need to log out of your account one by one. Instead, use Spotify’s handy feature that signs you out from all devices.
Just head to Spotify’s website and sign in to your account. Afterward, go to your account overview page and scroll until you find the “sign out everywhere” option. Click on the button and you should successfully sign out from all your devices. Afterward, log into your account again and see if Spotify keeps pausing.
Takeaway: Keep Spotify Playing
From this experience, you know that it’s frustrating whenever Spotify keeps pausing your music. Hence, it’s important to keep Spotify playing by knowing all the reasons why this problem occurs in the first place. Keep all of these points in mind and hopefully, you’ll never have to witness Spotify repeatedly pause again.
