Spotify Offline Backup Playlist 100% Explained + How to Backup Any Spotify Playlist You Want

In early October 2024, Spotify officially introduced a feature called Spotify Offline Backup.

The name clearly indicates what this thing does: if you run out of data, your internet connection dies, or you unexpectedly have to activate Airplane mode, you will still be able to use Spotify offline.

Spotify makes this possible by using your cached files. In simple terms, your Spotify cache memory includes songs that you have recently or regularly listened to.

Spotify keeps these files regardless of the new feature to make your app run smoother – if your frequently listened-to songs are already downloaded and ready to go, Spotify will take less time to load, right?

So the logic here was: since those files are already there, why not turn them into a feature? Makes perfect sense, if you ask me.

How to Turn On Spotify Offline Backup Playlist: TL; DR

To turn on the Spotify Offline Backup feature, open your Spotify app (iOS or Android), tap your profile image in the upper-left corner, select “Settings and privacy“, then “Storage“, and then, make sure that the “Offline listening” toggle is turned on.

How to Listen to Spotify Offline With Backup Playlist

First of all, the Spotify Offline Backup feature is on by default for most users. But just in case, this is how to turn on Spotify Offline Backup or check that the option is turned on.

1. 1. Open your iOS or Android Spotify mobile app.
2. 2. Tap your profile image in the top-left corner.

1. 3. Tap “Settings and privacy“.

1. 4. Select “Storage” OR select “Data Saving” and then go to “Offline“.

1. 5. Switch the “Offline listening” toggle on so it’s green.

That’s it, your Spoitfy Offline Backup is now on. You should now be able to access the “Offline Backup” playlist in your Spotify library.

What Is Spotify Offline Backup?

Spotify Offline Backup is a Spotify playlist that you can open in your Spotify app without internet connection and without downloading the songs.

The Backup playlist is sourced from your Spotify Cache memory, which holds your frequently or recently played songs for easier access to make the app run smoother.

So, the difference between the Offline Backup playlist and your Spotify downloads is the the Backup playlist is made on its own and you don’t have to do anything.

Also, Spotify Offline Backup is not the same as adding local files to Spotify because these songs are available within the app.

How to Backup a Spotify Playlist

If you want to get more serious about backing up your Spotify playlists, we actually offer a Backup feature with dedicated cloud space to our Premium users. This is how to backup Spotify playlists using Tune My Music.

1. 1. Visit the Tune My Music Backup page and click the “Backup your music” button.
2. 2. Select your backup destination: backup to file, receive the backup via email, or backup to the Tune My Music cloud for Premium users.

1. 3. If you selected email or cloud backup, select your backup frequency (one-time, weekly, or monthly), and click the “Continue” button.

1. 4. Select Spotify as your backup source.

1. 5. Select the data for backup and click the “Confirm Backup” button.

1. 6. You will see the progress of the backup process. Once complete (takes less than a minute usually), you will see the “Backup completed!” message.

Why Is My Spotify Offline Backup Not Working?

The Offline Backup Spotify feature is fairly straightforward so, in my experience at least, there are only a few reasons why it may not be working.

We explained earlier in this aricle how to check that your Spofiy Offline Backup is turned on. Well, if it is, and the offline playlist is still not appearing, these are the possible causes.

• • You Are Not a Spotify Premium User: The Offline Backup feature is available to Spotify Premium users only. If you are not one, the Offline Backup feature will not be available on your account.
• • You Cleared Your Spotify Cache: As noted, the Offline Backup playlist is sourced from your Spotify cache. If you cleared it recently, there won’t be tracks to source from, right? That’s why Spotify points out that you must have “listened to more than five songs recently and have offline listening enabled” for the feature to work.
• • You Didn’t Update Your Spotify App: Check your App Store or Play Store to see if you are running the latest version of the Spotify app. Outdated versions might have trouble runnign the Offline Backup feature.

Can I Listen to Spotify Offline?

Yes, you can listen to Spotify offline in a limited capacity, of course. If you open the app without internet connection, you will get a basic version with none of the features that require data. Still, these three listening options will be available.

• • Spotify Offline Backup Playlist: The topic of this article. Again, this is a playlist of your cached Spotify files.
• • Spotify Downloads: If you downloaded songs to your Spotify account for offline listening, the files will be in your local storage and you will be able to play them.
• • Local Files: If you added local files to your Spotify library, you will be able to listen to them. The difference between downloads and local files is that the Downloads are songs regularly available on Spotify, while local files can be anything you recorded and put on your phone – not just limited to music, of course.

Read more: How to Recover Deleted Spotify Playlist

FAQs About Spotify Offline Backup Feature

Who Can Use Spotify Offline Backup?

All mobile Premium users can use the Backup playlist. The Offline Backup Spotify feature was rolled out globally to iOS and Android users, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Can You Use Spotify Offline Without Downloading Songs?

Yes, you can still use Spotify offline if you haven’t downloaded any songs. One option is the Spotify Offline Backup playlist, while the second one is adding local files to your Spotify app.

Can I Filter My Offline Backup Spotify Playlist?

Yes, Spotify’s Offline Backup playlists can be sorted and filtered by artists, genres, moods, all the usual stuff available for your regular Spotify playlists.

Does Spotify Offline Backup Require Extra Data?

No extra data is needed for the Offline Backup feature on Spotify. This is beacuse Spotify uses already-existing data in your cache to generate the playlist.

Summary: So Can You Listen to Spotify Offline Or Not?

To recap, the fastest way to enable Spotify Offline Backup is to open your Spotify app, tap your profile image, select “Settings and privacy”, go to “Storage” and make sure the “Offline listening” toggle is switched on.

Alternativelly, you can go to to “Data Saving” and then select “Offline” to find the toggle.

That would be all for today, check out more of our How To articles if you’re interested in similar content. Stay safe and enjoy the music!