Spotify lyrics aren’t working

Are Spotify lyrics not working? Start by testing several familiar 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, close the app completely, check your internet connection, and sign in again. Lyrics are not available for every song, device, or 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 a mobile device, also check whether the lyrics preview is turned on.

This guide provides the official process, a practical checklist, and solutions for listeners and artists.

Why do Spotify lyrics sometimes stop working?

Spotify offers lyrics to Spotify Free and Premium users. However, they are not available for every song. 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 limited to that specific track. Can you see no lyrics for any song? The cause is more likely to be the Spotify app, your device, your internet connection, or a setting.

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

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

Where can you find lyrics in Spotify?

The location of Spotify lyrics varies slightly by device. You always need to play a song first.

Where can you find lyrics on a phone 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 display them in a larger view.

On a tablet, you may need to tap the album cover in the side panel first. While the song plays, synchronized lyrics follow the music line by line.

On mobile devices, Spotify also displays a lyrics preview below the album cover or over Canvas. This preview is usually turned on. From the player screen, open the menu with the three dots and select Lyrics to turn the preview on or off. This selection applies only to songs with available lyrics.

Do you not see a preview below the album cover? Keep swiping down anyway. The preview and full lyrics view are not exactly the same. Turning off the preview does not always mean that the full lyrics are missing.

Where can you find lyrics on desktop and in the web player?

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

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

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

How can you fix missing Spotify lyrics step by step?

Complete the following steps in order. After each step, test the same song and then a second familiar song. This will help 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 phone settings in that case.

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

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

Turn on the lyrics preview

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

This setting mainly controls the small preview below 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 the button appears. An older app may display an outdated screen or include bugs that have already been fixed in a newer version.

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

Close Spotify completely and restart it

Close the Spotify app from your list of open apps as well. Returning to the home screen is not enough. Reopen Spotify and test the same song.

On a computer, quit Spotify completely. If necessary, confirm that the application is no longer running in the background. Then restart it. This often clears a temporary player error.

Check your internet connection and offline use

Quickly switch between a wireless internet connection and mobile data. Spotify must be able to load lyrics through the internet. A song that has already been downloaded may play even if its lyrics do not load or refresh correctly.

Temporarily turn off offline mode and reconnect. Also check whether other parts of Spotify load normally, such as album covers, search results, and artist pages. If these do not load either, your connection is probably the issue.

Log out and sign back in

First, make sure you know your password or another login method. Then log out, close Spotify completely, 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, your account is probably not the issue. Focus instead on the app or settings on the first device.

Carefully clear temporary data

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

Do not remove the entire app right away. Begin with the least disruptive steps, such as updating it, closing it completely, and signing in again. Reinstall Spotify only if the earlier solutions do not help.

What can you check right away?

Use this short checklist when Spotify lyrics are not working:

1. Test three familiar 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. Close the app completely.
6. Test both a wireless internet connection and mobile data.
7. Temporarily turn off offline mode.
8. Log out and sign back in.
9. Test the same account on another device.
10. If lyrics are missing for one song, wait and check again later.

Following this order will usually help you quickly determine whether the problem is with the song, your device, the app, or your account.

As you test, note the song, device, and network you used. Record the time as well. If the same lyrics work later, the interruption was probably temporary.

If necessary, take a screenshot of any error message before closing the app. This can help if you need support. Also record the exact song title, artist, and version.

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 display lyrics while a remix, acoustic version, reissue, or live recording does not have them yet.

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

The basic process is the same on every device, but the screens and buttons vary. 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 on that device or may be completely unavailable. Spotify clearly states that availability can vary by device.

Your operating system version may also matter. On an older device, you might no longer receive the latest Spotify version. If so, test the web player or another device.

Which errors and limitations are common?

Why do you see a message that lyrics are unavailable?

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

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

Why are the lyrics not synchronized with the music?

Synchronized lyrics use timing for each line. That timing may be incorrect. An artist can submit corrections through Musixmatch.

As a listener, you can report an error using the available options in Spotify or Musixmatch. You cannot rewrite the official lyrics yourself in Spotify. When reporting the problem, always include the song, version, and line with the incorrect timing.

Why are the lyrics in the wrong language?

A song may display lyrics in the script in which they were provided. Spotify does not automatically translate every set of lyrics. Changing the language of your Spotify menu does not alter the content of the official lyrics.

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

Why can you not share lyrics?

Open the full lyrics on a mobile device. Tap Share at the bottom, select the lines you want, and 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 confirm that the app you want to share to is working correctly.

Why do lyrics disappear after an update?

Availability can change because of rights, new deliveries, or corrections. This does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your phone. If several songs lose their lyrics at the same time, first check whether Spotify is experiencing a general outage.

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

What changes once the lyrics work again?

Your music, playlists, and listening history remain unchanged. You simply regain access to the available lyrics view. With synchronized lyrics, the current line is highlighted as the song plays.

You can display the lyrics in a larger view and sometimes share selected lines on mobile devices. 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 learn how income is calculated? Read buy Spotify streams.

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

Spotify directs artists to Musixmatch, where you can verify an artist profile. According to Spotify, the free version is sufficient to add, edit, and synchronize lyrics.

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

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

To synchronize the lyrics, connect each line to the correct point in the audio. After submission, the change may take a few days to appear on Spotify. A missing release may take up to about 48 hours to appear after it is added in Musixmatch.

Use only lyrics that you have the rights to or manage as an authorized artist. Do not simply copy lyrics from an unknown website. Lyrics are protected by copyright.

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

What misconceptions are there about Spotify lyrics?

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

The app language does not change the original lyrics. Selecting Dutch as the interface language does not translate English lyrics into Dutch.

Downloading a song does not guarantee that its 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. Test several songs, install an update, and restart Spotify first.

A listener cannot add official lyrics directly in Spotify. Artists manage lyrics through Musixmatch. Want to improve the appearance of your music collection in the meantime? Learn how to create your own cover for a Spotify playlist.

Do not use lyrics as your only source when you need to quote a line exactly. Where possible, check the artist’s official release and remember copyright requirements.

A minor timing error does not automatically mean that every word is incorrect. Conversely, lyrics can follow the music accurately and still contain a spelling error. Report the exact song, version, and incorrect line whenever possible. This is more useful than simply stating that the entire feature does not work.

Which questions are frequently asked about Spotify lyrics?

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

Test several familiar 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 vary by app version. Spotify states that availability can vary by device and market.

Are lyrics available for every account?

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

Which setting is most important?

On a mobile device, check the switch for the Lyrics preview in the Now Playing menu. After that, having a current 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 include lyrics for every song. They may also confuse downloaded music with permanently stored lyrics.

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

Each performance is treated as a separate recording. A studio version, remix, acoustic version, and live recording can all contain different data. Lyrics must therefore 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 and plays normally. 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?

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

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

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

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