Overview: Many users have voiced their concern that their Spotify stops playing music when screen gets off or locked. Hence, I have decided to write this article that will offer you quick and easy solutions to fix Spotify stops playing when screen is off on Android.
- Quick And Easy Fixes
- 1. Turn On Background App Refresh
- 2. Turn Off Battery Optimization
- 3. Check For Sleeping Apps
- 4. Deactivate Widgets
- 5. Clear Local Cache and Data Of The App
- 6. Re-Install The Spotify App
- 7. Factory Reset Your Android Phone
- 8. Contact Spotify Support Team
- Related Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Let’s make a start with real user practical scenario!
Practical Scenario 1: Music Stops After Few Minutes On Lock Screen
Practical Scenario 2: Song Stops Playing When Screen Goes Off
These are just two examples!
But the question here is – Why does my Spotify music stop when screen turns off on Android?
Let’s find out!
Also Read: Spotify Not Working On Android Auto? Here Is The Real Fix!
Why Does Spotify Music Stop When Screen Turns Off On Android?
There could be several reasons, such as:
- Background App Refresh Is Disabled.
- Battery saver or optimization is enabled.
- Maybe cache files got corrupted.
- Your Android is outdated.
- Your app is outdated.
- And so on…
Anyway, let’s come to the solution section.
Here we have provided proven and trusted solutions to fix Spotify stops playing music when the screen is off on Android devices.
First Try These Quick And Easy Fixes:
- Restart Phone: Most of the problem get easily solved by simply restarting phone.
- Update Android OS: If your device OS is out of date, then it can have bugs and you might face several issues. Hence, check and update your Android OS to latest version.
- Update App: Just like Android OS, if your app is out of date, then it might create lot of problem. Therefore, simply update your Spotify app (if any available) and see if problem get solved or not.
- Log out and Login to Spotify Account: Sometimes the issue occurs due to some glitch to your account. Hence, re-login can fix the issue. Open Spotify app> Tap Settings> Tap Log out.
- Check Notification Settings Of Spotify App: Make sure the Notification Settings for the app is toggled ON. Go to Settings> Notification & status bar> Spotify> toggle the switch to ON position.
If these quick fixes do not help you to solve your problem, then follow the below-mentioned solutions.
Also Read: How To Fix Spotify Wrapped 2021 Not Working On Android?
1. Turn On Background App Refresh
In order to resolve the issue of ‘Spotify stops playing when screen if off’ is to turn on background app refresh or enable background activity.
Android smartphones comes with the in-built feature that restricts the activity of apps in the background when you use any other app or when your phone screen is off.
Though, this feature saves battery on your phone, but it also slows down your device and apps does not work properly.
Hence, below follow the steps to turn on background app refresh on Android.
- Go to Settings> Apps> All Apps.
- Look and tap on ‘Spotify’ app.
- Select ‘Battery’ and enable the ‘Allow Background Activity’ option.
Also Read: Spotify Music Recovery: Recover Deleted Playlists from Spotify Music App
2. Turn Off Battery Optimization
Moving ahead, you can disable battery optimization for Spotify app. Though this will consume your phone’s battery, but you will not face any problem with the playback while phone screen is locked or off.
Follow the below steps to disable battery optimization for Spotify on Android.
- Go to Settings> Apps> All Apps.
- Look and tap on Spotify.
- Select ‘Battery’ and tap on Optimize battery usage.
- At the top, from the drop-down menu, select “All”.
- Look for Spotify and disable battery optimization.
Besides that, you can lock the app in the Recents. Simply, open Spotify and expand Recents. Next to Spotify, tap on Padlock in order the app in RAM, so that it won’t get closed after your phone screen is turned off.
Also Read: How Do I Play YouTube Music In Background Without Premium?
3. Check For Sleeping Apps
This is particularly for Samsung phones. The sleeping app is a feature that saves battery by avoiding apps from running in the background.
Hence, you must check that Spotify is not added to the sleeping apps list.
- On your device, go to Settings> Device Care.
Note: On some Samsung phones, these settings may differ. On some device, you will see “Battery and device care” option.
- Tap Battery> Background usage limits.
Note: On some older Samsung phones, instead of Background usage limits, you will see the option of App power management.
- Tap on Sleeping apps.
- Now see, if the Spotify app is listed or not. If it is listed, then press and hold “Spotify” app, until “Remove” option appears. Tap “Remove”.
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4. Deactivate Widgets
This solution is particular for Samsung phones. Default music widget is a pop-up toolbar that allow users to control media playing on the phone.
Hence, disabling this feature can fix the issue with Spotify.
- On your device, go to Settings> tap Lock Screen.
- Tap Widget.
- Now, toggle the switch to the OFF position next to Music.
5. Clear Local Cache and Data Of The App
The next thing you should do is to clear all the local cache and data of the Spotify app. It will reset the app.
But keep in mind that doing this will erase all your local songs – download music, saved playlists, tracks and podcasts. Hence, you have to download them again.
However, it can solve the problems caused by corrupted cache or data in the app and it might allow you to play podcasts or music while the device’s screen is locked or off.
Here follow the steps to clear cache and data:
- Go to Settings> Apps> All Apps.
- Look for Spotify and tap on it.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap on ‘Clear Data’ and ‘Clear Cache’.
Restart your device and try to play the music with screen off and see if this solves your problem.
Also Read: How To Fix Spotify Podcasts Not Working On Android or iOS
6. Re-Install The Spotify App
It has been seen in various forum and community website that user has suggested that re-installing the app fixes the problem.
Hence, you must try this solution as well.
- From your Android Home Screen, look for Spotify
- Press and hold it until uninstall option appears.
- Finally, tap on ‘Uninstall’ button.
- Now, open Play Store. Type ‘Spotify’ in the search bar and install the app.
7. Factory Reset Your Android Phone
If none of the above-mentioned solutions fixes your issue, then it’s time to factory reset your phone.
This solution will wipe all data, account details, changes settings, downloaded apps. Hence, it is suggested that you must first back up your phone data and then proceed with this solution.
Below follow the steps to reset Android phone.
- On your phone, go to Settings> General Management/System.
- Select “Reset” and then tap on “Factory Data Reset” option.
- Confirm the reset process by entering the lock PIN or pattern.
- Finally, tap on “Erase All/Deleted All” option.
Once, the factory reset process completes, your phone will get back to its default settings, only left with preinstalled apps.
Now, install Spotify and see if your problem is fixed or not.
Also Read: Google Chrome Not Downloading Files? Here’s The Real Fixes!
8. Contact Spotify Support Team
If still, Spotify stops playing music in the background when screen is off or locked, then it is a high time you must contact Spotify support team.
Explain them your issue in details, they will be able to help you in the right direction.
Related Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Answer 1: Yes, Spotify does have a sleep feature. In order to enable or disable the feature, tap on “3 Dot” menu and look for “Sleep Timer” option. Beside that, most of smartphones such as Samsung phone has sleeping feature, in which you can add and remove app, as mentioned in 3rd number solution.
Answer 2: If battery optimization is enabled, background app refresh is disabled or if the Spotify app listed in the sleeping apps list, then the app may stop playing music when screen is off or locked.
Answer 3: Make sure that the background app refresh is enabled, battery optimization is disabled and the app is not added in the sleeping feature list. Only, then you can keep playing Spotify in the background.
Answer 4: Follow the below steps to allow wifi and mobile data permission.
Wrap Up
Spotify is one of the most popular music and podcast listening app on any smart phone.
But some of the times, due to some problems in the app itself or your phone, it pauses playing music when screen is off or locked.
This can annoy your music listening experience and you would look forward to fix it.
Well, the solutions mentioned in this article can help you to fix this issue as quick as possible.
However, if one solution doesn’t fix the issue, then you have to follow all other solutions, depending upon the causes for your issue.
If you have found this article helpful and useful, then do share it, as it can help others.
Max Field is a founder of recoverandroid-data.com. He is an Android lover and loves to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions and more related to Android. He has 9+ years of experience in this field.
