Are you facing issues with video playback on Spotify? Nothing is more frustrating than if the video does not load or keeps buffering when streaming a live performance or watching a music video.
Spotify is a popular music streaming platform that offers users access to millions of songs and podcasts worldwide. Spotify offers a free, ad-supported version and a premium subscription service that provides users with ad–free listening, unlimited skips, and the ability to download songs for offline listening.
While using Spotify, some video–based content may not load, which invokes the video not working problem. This issue can arise mainly because of enabled hardware or autoplay settings, outdated graphics cards, slow internet connection, or your system firewall settings. In this blog, we will explore some common reasons why the video not working issue may occur on Spotify and provide 12 practical solutions for resolving the issue.
In short, here are tips to follow to fix this issue:
- Check for Basic Requirements
- Check Internet Connectivity
- Clear Spotify Cache Data
- Disable Hardware Acceleration
- Update Spotify Version
- Allow Spotify Through Your Firewall Settings
- Update Graphics Card Driver
- Check Spotify Video Playback Settings
- Re-Install Spotify
- Check Audio Settings
- Reset The Device
- Contact Spotify Support
Check for Basic Requirements
Spotify videos require a set of specifications to be met if you want an interrupted video play. For that, you must know that Spotify is installed in one of the supported operating systems. It includes Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.10 or later for Mac.
To check which Operating System is currently in your use, navigate to the “System > About.” Note that Spotify needs a minimum of 512 MB of RAM to run smoothly on a device. If you don’t have enough space, free up some and enjoy watching videos on Spotify.
Check Internet Connectivity
Internet is another basic requirement of Spotify to stream music smoothly. To fix the video not working problem of Spotify, check your internet connection and troubleshoot if necessary. First, switch to the string internet connection, i.e., wireless or wired:
Now, check if the video is working or not. If not, you need to troubleshoot your internet connection by navigating to the path, i.e., System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooter:
Clear Spotify Cache Data
You can clear up Spotify cache data for several reasons, such as fixing bugs and glitches, protecting privacy, freeing up the used space by Spotify data, improving the playback of songs, or enhancing the app performance. More specifically, we recommend you clear Spotify cache data to resolve the discussed video not working issue.
- For Android/iPhone
To clear the Spotify cache on the mobile application, follow the path “Settings > Storage” and then click on the Clear Cache button:
- For Desktop
Open the Settings of the Spotify app from the profile’s dropdown icon. Scroll down and click on the Clear Cache button to clear Spotify cache data:
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration is a notable feature for smooth video playback performance or any graphical presentation. If the hardware is not supported or the hardware gets malfunctions, then Hardware acceleration may also cause the video not to work.
Therefore, disabling hardware acceleration in Spotify can be another fix for resolving the video not working issue. It lets your computer’s CPU handle the video playback instead of relying on your graphics card.
To disable the hardware acceleration, open the Spotify app, and click on the highlighted icon next to your username. Then, select the Settings option from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down through the opened Window and find the Compatibility section, which contains a toggle button referring to the hardware acceleration. Ensure to turn it off:
Update Spotify Version
It is important to update the Spotify app regularly to enjoy new features, improve security and compatibility, and fix bugs on Spotify. If you use an outdated version of Spotify, you might not get smooth video playback. Let’s see how it can be updated on various platforms:
- For Android/iPhone
Open the App Store and search for Spotify. When Spotify appears in the search result, you will see an UPDATE button or an OPEN button. Tap the UPDATE button if it is available. Else, you already have the updated version:
- For Desktop
Firstly, open the App Store and search for Spotify. An Update option is present below the Open button. In case it is not there, then you have the latest version:
Allow Spotify Through Your Firewall Settings
A firewall is a security mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to or from a network. It can occasionally block particular services or programs from accessing the internet. If the firewall prevents Spotify from connecting to the internet, it encounters issues related to video playback.
Therefore, permit Spotify to access the firewall settings. For this, navigate to the Path, “Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Allowed Apps” and ensure that Spotify is allowed on the Public network:
Update Graphics Card Driver
The graphics card of your system is in charge of handling video playback. The system cannot effectively handle the video playback on Spotify if the graphics card is obsolete or has driver problems, leading to problems like freezing, buffering, or not operating.
Ensure your computer’s graphics card is updated and compatible with the software. This can also resolve the Spotify video not functioning issue. First, open the Windows search bar and search for the Device Manager:
The opened window contains the list of hardware devices that have some driver that runs them. Look for the Display adapters option and locate your graphics card. Then, double-click on the graphics card:
Then, go to the tab named Driver, which contains the relevant details of the driver associated with your graphics card. Here, look for the Update Driver button and click on it to update:
As a result, the best driver for your graphics card will get installed. In the other case, the opened sub–window will notify you that the graphics card is already up-to–date:
Check Spotify Video Playback Settings
The upcoming video in a playlist or queue is automatically played with Spotify’s autoplay feature. Usually, this feature works fine until the connection disrupts. In such a case, turning off autoplay gives Spotify more time to buffer the currently playing video and provides a seamless playback experience.
To disable video playback, go to Spotify Settings, move to the Autoplay section, and turn off the toggle button:
Re-Install Spotify
You can also try out the option of reinstalling Spotify if none of the specified solutions worked for you. First, you have to completely uninstall/remove Spotify from your device, i.e., Desktop or Mobile. Then, reach out to the respective App Store and install a fresh copy. Let’s see how it is down on various platforms:
- For Android/iPhone
To remove Spotify, locate the icon of Spotify and long press on it. You will get a list of options; choose Remove/Uninstall option (as displayed at your end). After the uninstallation, open your App Store and search for Spotify to have a fresh installation:
- For Desktop
Use the Start menu, look for Spotify, right–click, and hit the Uninstall button. Afterward, to get the latest Spotify app on your Desktop system, go to their Downloads page or the App store to reinstall it:
Check Audio Settings
There can be a scenario where the video is not working because of audio issues. In certain situations, if the audio of an online media is not loaded correctly, it also affects the video playback. In such a situation, you need to check your system’s sound/audio settings.
To do so, navigate to the sound settings or play some other media file to ensure that your audio device is functioning correctly, i.e., the volume mixer path is “System > Sound > Volume mixer”:
If you want to dive deeper, you can troubleshoot your audio settings. For this, open the path “System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters” and then click Run in front of the Playing Audio troubleshooter:
Reset the Device
There are chances that your system is not doing good, and the last option you are left with is resetting it. Remember, you will not lose all your data with this action. So, feel safe with this solution. To initiate a System Reset, navigate to the path “System > recovery” and click on the Reset PC:
There are two options, i.e., Keep my files and Remove everything. It is recommended to choose the Keep my files option to remove the apps and settings but keep the personal files:
Then, follow the on–screen instructions until you reach this window. As a result, the system will get reset. Again, you can play the video on Spotify and enjoy the amazing experience:
Contact Spotify Support
The Spotify support center can also assist you in resolving the video not working issue. If the above–listed solutions have not worked for you, then the time to reach Spotify has come. Go to the official Support account of Spotify on Twitter, i.e., Spotify Cares. Drop a detailed message with all the information to get the solution:
Bottom Line
Video on Spotify may not work based on various reasons. For instance, the Spotify app is incompatible with your system; you have an unstable or slow internet connection, hardware acceleration is enabled, firewall settings are preventing Spotify from accessing the internet and streaming videos, graphics card drivers are outdated, or because of Autoplay settings on Spotify.
Like the other problems, several solutions can be tried, such as disabling the hardware acceleration, permitting Spotify through the firewall, updating the graphics card, clearing Spotify cache data, updating/reinstalling the Spotify app, or checking the system’s audio settings.
Lastly, if the problem is still not rectified, you may have to reset your device or contact the Spotify support team. In the end, you will be able to stand at some solution and will be able to get rid of this problem.
Adnan is a Software Engineer with an aim to learn and teach the community through words. The go-to expert about Technology. He has honed his skills in crafting easy-to-understand documentation, tutorials, and articles on these powerful tools.