Spotify lyrics aren’t working

Are Spotify lyrics not working? First, test several popular songs. If lyrics are missing for only one song, that track is probably unavailable or being updated. If you cannot see lyrics for any song, update Spotify, fully close the app, check your internet connection and sign in again. Lyrics are not available for every song, on every device or in every market.

Play a familiar song, open the Now Playing screen and swipe down to Lyrics. On a computer, click the lyrics icon at the bottom while the song is playing. On mobile, also check whether the lyrics preview is enabled.

In this guide, you’ll find the official process, a practical checklist and solutions for listeners and artists.

Why do Spotify lyrics sometimes not work?

Spotify offers lyrics to users on Spotify Free and Premium. However, not every song has them. According to Spotify, availability can vary by time, country, device and agreements with rights holders. New lyrics are added every day.

Are lyrics missing for one song? The issue is usually with that specific track. Can you see no lyrics for any song? The cause is more likely to be the Spotify app, your device, the internet connection or a setting.

Spotify receives licensed and synchronised lyrics from Musixmatch. As a listener, you cannot add missing lyrics directly in Spotify. A verified artist can add, edit and sync lyrics through Musixmatch. In Japan, Spotify uses a different partner for listeners.

Lyrics can also disappear temporarily. This can happen when rights change or when lyrics are corrected. In that case, you do not need to delete your account or reinstall the entire app straight away.

Where do you find lyrics in Spotify?

The location of Spotify lyrics differs slightly by device. You must always play a song first.

Where are lyrics on a mobile or tablet?

1. Open Spotify.
2. Play a song.
3. Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom.
4. Swipe down on the full player screen.
5. Go to Lyrics.
6. Tap the lyrics to open them in a larger view.

On a tablet, you may first need to tap the album cover in the side panel. While the song plays, a synchronised lyrics display follows the music one line at a time.

On mobile, Spotify also shows a lyrics preview under the album cover or over Canvas. This preview is usually on. On the player screen, open the menu with the three dots and choose Lyrics to turn the preview on or off. This choice only applies to songs with available lyrics.

Can you not see a preview under the album cover? Keep swiping down anyway. The preview and the full lyrics view are not exactly the same. A disabled preview does not always mean the full lyrics are missing.

Where are lyrics on desktop and in the web player?

1. Open Spotify and play a song.
2. Look at the controls at the bottom.
3. Click the lyrics icon.
4. The lyrics open on the main screen.

Is the icon missing for one song? Test another popular song. Is the icon missing everywhere? Check the Spotify app, your browser and the internet connection.

You can also use the web player to test it. Do lyrics work there but not in the desktop app? The problem is probably in the installed app or its temporary data.

How do you fix missing Spotify lyrics one step at a time?

Follow the steps below in this order. After each step, test the same song and then a second popular song. This helps you identify the cause more quickly.

First, check whether the song has lyrics

Play two or three popular songs by different artists. If lyrics are missing for only one song, no lyrics are probably available or the existing lyrics are being updated. You do not need to change any mobile settings.

Preferably compare different artists and different albums. An original, remix, live recording and acoustic version count as separate recordings. The studio version may show lyrics while another version does not yet have them.

Also check whether the song plays normally. Is the title greyed out and the song does not start? The issue is not the lyrics feature. In that case, read why a song is greyed out on Spotify.

Turn on the lyrics preview

On mobile, open the Now Playing screen. Tap the three dots. Look for Lyrics and turn on the preview. Then swipe down on the player screen.

This setting mainly controls the small preview under the album cover or on Canvas. When full lyrics are available, you can often open them from the player screen as well.

Update the Spotify app

Open the App Store or Google Play Store. Search for Spotify and tap Update if that button appears. An old app can show an outdated screen or contain bugs that have already been fixed in a newer version.

Do you use Spotify on a computer? Close the program and open it again. Allow any available update to install. Then test the web player too. If lyrics work in the web player, the problem is probably with the desktop app.

Fully close and restart Spotify

Also close the Spotify app from your list of open apps. Returning to the home screen is not enough. Open Spotify again and test the same song.

On a computer, quit Spotify completely. If necessary, check that the program is no longer running in the background. Then restart it. A temporary player error will often be gone afterwards.

Check your internet connection and offline use

Quickly switch between WiFi and mobile data. Spotify must be able to load lyrics through the internet. A song that has already been downloaded may play while the lyrics fail to load or refresh properly.

Turn off offline mode temporarily and reconnect. Also check whether other parts of Spotify load normally, such as album covers, search results and artist pages. If those also do not load, the connection is probably the issue.

Log out and back in

First, make sure you know your password or another way to sign in. Then log out, fully close Spotify and sign back in. This refreshes the connection between the app and your account.

If possible, test your account on another device. If lyrics work there, the account is probably not the issue. Focus on the app or settings of the first device instead.

Carefully clear temporary data

Spotify has settings for storage and temporary data. Clearing them can help if the display is incorrect. Keep in mind that you may need to download offline music again.

Do not remove the entire app straight away. Start with the least disruptive steps, such as updating, fully closing and signing in again. Only reinstall Spotify if the earlier solutions do not help.

Which check can you do straight away?

Use this short checklist when Spotify lyrics are not working:

1. Test three popular songs by different artists.
2. Open Now Playing and swipe down.
3. Turn on the Lyrics preview.
4. Update Spotify to the latest version.
5. Fully close the app.
6. Test both WiFi and mobile data.
7. Temporarily turn off offline mode.
8. Log out and back in.
9. Test the same account on another device.
10. If one song is missing lyrics, wait and check again later.

By following this order, you can usually find out quickly whether the problem is with the song, your device, the app or your account.

While testing, note which song, device and network you used. Also write down the time. If the same lyrics work later, the outage was probably temporary.

If necessary, take a screenshot of an error message before closing the app. This helps if you need support. Also note the exact title, artist and version of the song.

Do not compare only the original with a live version of the same song. Each performance is a separate recording and may have its own data. The studio version may show lyrics while a remix, acoustic version, reissue or live recording does not yet have them.

Does it work the same on iPhone, Android and desktop?

The basics are the same on every device, but the screen and buttons differ. This table shows where to look and what to check first.

Do you use a smart TV, game console or speaker with a screen? The feature may work differently there or may be missing completely. Spotify clearly states that availability can vary by device.

Your operating system version can also matter. On an older device, you may no longer receive the latest Spotify version. In that case, test the web player or another device.

Which errors and limitations are common?

Why do you see that lyrics are unavailable?

The lyrics may not have been delivered, licensed or synced yet. Existing lyrics can also be temporarily updated. Spotify adds new lyrics every day, so try the song again later.

If other songs do show lyrics, you do not need to change anything about your account. The issue is then almost certainly the availability of that specific recording.

Why are the lyrics not synchronised with the music?

Synchronised lyrics use timing for each line. That timing may be set incorrectly. An artist can submit corrections through Musixmatch.

As a listener, you can report an error through the available options in Spotify or Musixmatch. You cannot rewrite the official lyrics yourself in Spotify. When reporting the issue, always mention the song, version and the line where the timing is incorrect.

Why are the lyrics in the wrong language?

A song may have lyrics in the script in which they were supplied. Spotify does not automatically translate every set of lyrics. The language of your Spotify menu does not change the content of the official lyrics.

Choosing Dutch as the interface language therefore does not automatically turn English, Spanish or Japanese lyrics into Dutch.

Why is sharing lyrics not working?

Open the full lyrics on mobile. Tap Share at the bottom, select the lines you want and then choose an app. If Share is missing, the feature may not be available for that song, device or market.

Update the Spotify app and test another song. Also check whether the app you want to share to is working properly.

Why do the lyrics disappear after an update?

Availability can change because of rights, new deliveries or corrections. It does not necessarily indicate a problem with your mobile. When several songs lose their lyrics at the same time, first check whether Spotify has a general outage.

Then test another device or the web player. If everything works normally there, the fault is probably in the app on your first device.

What changes after the lyrics work again?

Your music, playlists and listening history do not change. You simply regain access to the available lyrics view. With synchronised lyrics, the current line is highlighted while the song plays.

You can open the lyrics in a larger view and sometimes share selected lines on mobile. Turning on the preview applies to all songs with available lyrics. This setting does not create missing lyrics.

Lyrics do not directly affect stream payouts. Want to know how income is calculated? Read buy Spotify streams.

What can you do as an artist if your own lyrics are missing?

Spotify refers artists to Musixmatch. There, you can verify an artist profile. According to Spotify, the free version is sufficient to add, edit and sync lyrics.

After verification, connect your Spotify artist page. Then choose a song, add the full lyrics and submit them. Write repeated words and repeated sections out in full. Do not use a short note such as “2x”.

Only write words that are actually sung. Use the original script and pay attention to spelling, capitalisation and punctuation. Also make sure you link the lyrics to the correct recording.

For synchronisation, connect each line to the correct moment in the audio. After submission, it may take a few days before the change appears on Spotify. A missing release can take up to about 48 hours to appear after being added in Musixmatch.

Only use lyrics you have rights to or that you manage as an authorised artist. Do not simply copy lyrics from an unknown website. Lyrics are protected by copyright.

Adding lyrics is separate from the reach of your release. If you want to build more visibility after improving your artist page, you can, for example, buy Spotify podcast streams or buy targeted Spotify followers. These services do not fix missing lyrics. Musixmatch remains the correct option for that.

Which misconceptions exist about Spotify lyrics?

A Premium subscription does not guarantee that every song has lyrics. The feature is available for Free and Premium, but lyrics for a specific recording may still be missing.

The app language does not change the original lyrics. Choosing Dutch as the interface language does not turn English lyrics into Dutch.

A download does not guarantee that the lyrics will always remain visible offline. Music and lyrics are not loaded or stored in exactly the same way.

Deleting the app is not the best first step. You may lose downloads and settings. First, test multiple songs, install an update and restart Spotify.

A listener cannot add official lyrics directly in Spotify. For artists, management takes place through Musixmatch. Want to improve the appearance of your music collection in the meantime? See how to create your own cover for your Spotify playlist.

Also, do not use lyrics as your only source when you want to quote a line exactly. Check the artist’s official release where possible and keep copyright in mind.

A small timing error does not automatically mean that all the words are incorrect. On the other hand, lyrics can follow the music well and still contain a spelling mistake. Report as specifically as possible which song, version and line are incorrect. This is more useful than simply saying the entire feature does not work.

Which questions are frequently asked about Spotify lyrics?

What should you do first if Spotify lyrics are not working?

Test several popular songs. If lyrics work for other songs, they are probably missing only for the first song. If no lyrics work, update the app, restart Spotify and check your internet connection.

Do Spotify lyrics work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. Open the player screen and swipe down to Lyrics. The exact buttons may differ by app version. Spotify says availability can vary by device and market.

Are lyrics available for every account?

The feature is available for Spotify Free and Premium. However, not every song on every device has lyrics. Rights, available data, your device and your market determine what you see.

Which setting is the most important?

On mobile, check the switch for the Lyrics preview in the Now Playing menu. After that, having the latest Spotify app and a working internet connection matters most.

What are the most common mistakes?

People test only one song, look on the wrong page or expect Spotify Premium to provide all lyrics. They also confuse downloaded music with permanently stored lyrics.

Why does a live version have no lyrics while the original does?

Every performance counts as a separate recording. A studio version, remix, acoustic version and live recording can all have different data. The lyrics therefore need to be available and correctly linked for each recording.

What can you check if a song still does not work?

First, check whether the song itself is available as usual. A grey title indicates a different problem. Then test your account on a second device. If lyrics are missing for only one song, wait a few days and try again.

Which step should you take first now?

Open Spotify and test three popular songs by different artists. Swipe down in Now Playing. If the lyrics do not work anywhere, update the app, check your internet connection and restart Spotify.

If the lyrics are not working for only one song, do not change anything about your account. The lyrics are probably unavailable, linked incorrectly or being updated.

This helps you avoid unnecessary steps and quickly identify the problem. As an artist, check Musixmatch next. As a listener, wait for a new delivery or a correction to the lyrics.

Check the song again later. Availability can change after Spotify or Musixmatch receives new or corrected data.