Spotify Keeps Pausing? Here's How to Fix It

You are in the middle of a playlist and Spotify pauses on its own. When spotify keeps pausing becomes an issue, the cause is usually something you can fix yourself. You hit play, it works for a minute, and then pauses again. Spotify randomly pausing is one of the most common playback issues users report, and it happens across phones, desktops, smart speakers, and car audio systems. The cause is usually another device taking over playback, a battery optimization setting interrupting the app, or an account issue. This guide covers every known fix.

Check Spotify Connect for Competing Devices

Spotify Connect lets you play music on one device and control it from another. If someone else is logged into your account, or if another device is playing, it can pause your current session.

1. Open the Spotify app and tap the device icon (speaker and screen icon) at the bottom of the Now Playing screen.
2. Check if another device is listed as active. If you see a device you do not recognize or are not currently using, it may be taking over playback.
3. Select This device to force playback to your current device.

If you suspect someone else is using your account, go to account.spotify.com in a browser, click Sign out everywhere, and change your password. This is the most common cause of Spotify pausing randomly and unexpectedly.

Disable Battery Optimization (Mobile)

Android and iOS aggressively close background apps to save battery. If your phone's battery optimizer targets Spotify, the app will pause whenever the screen turns off or when you switch to another app.

Android

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Battery.
2. Select Unrestricted (or "Don't optimize" on older Android versions).
3. On Samsung devices, also go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits and make sure Spotify is not in the "Sleeping apps" or "Deep sleeping apps" list.

iPhone

1. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
2. Make sure Background App Refresh is enabled globally and for Spotify specifically.
3. Also check Settings > Battery. If Low Power Mode is on, it restricts background activity. Turn it off while listening to music.

Fix Internet and Connectivity Issues

Spotify streams music over the internet, so an unstable connection causes pauses, buffering, and track skips.

• Check your WiFi signal. Move closer to your router or switch to a wired connection on desktop. Weak WiFi causes intermittent drops that pause playback.
• Switch between WiFi and mobile data. If Spotify pauses on WiFi, try mobile data (and vice versa) to isolate the network.
• Download music for offline playback. If you have a Spotify Premium account, download your playlists for offline listening. This eliminates all network-related pauses. Go to the playlist and toggle the Download switch.
• Lower the streaming quality. Go to Settings > Audio Quality and change the streaming quality to Normal or Low. Higher quality streams require more bandwidth and are more sensitive to connection instability.

According to Spotify's official troubleshooting guide, network instability and battery optimization are the two most common causes of unexpected playback pauses.

Clear Cache and Reinstall

Clear Spotify Cache

• Mobile: Open Spotify > Settings > Storage > Clear cache. This removes temporary files without deleting your downloads.
• Desktop (Windows): Close Spotify. Navigate to %LocalAppData%\Spotify\Storage and delete the contents of the folder.
• Desktop (Mac): Close Spotify. Go to ~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client/Storage and delete the folder contents.

Reinstall Spotify

If clearing the cache does not help, uninstall Spotify completely and reinstall it from the app store or spotify.com. A fresh install replaces any corrupted application files that may be causing playback issues.

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Check Bluetooth and Audio Output

If you are listening through Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth speaker, the connection may be dropping intermittently.

• Move closer to the Bluetooth device. Bluetooth range is typically 30 feet, but walls and other obstacles reduce it significantly.
• Unpair and re-pair the device. Go to your Bluetooth settings, forget the audio device, and pair it again from scratch.
• Check for interference. Other Bluetooth devices, USB 3.0 devices, and microwaves can interfere with Bluetooth signals.
• Test with wired headphones. If Spotify does not pause with wired headphones, the Bluetooth connection is the problem.

For broader Bluetooth connectivity issues, see our guide on Bluetooth connected but no sound for audio-specific troubleshooting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spotify Keeps Pausing

Why does Spotify pause when I open another app?

Your phone's battery optimization is killing Spotify in the background. Follow the steps above to exempt Spotify from battery optimization. On some Android phones, you also need to enable "Allow background activity" in the app's battery settings.

Why does Spotify pause at the same time every day?

This can happen if you have a timer, alarm, or automation (like a sleep timer or a Shortcuts automation on iPhone) set that pauses media playback at a specific time. Check your Clock app for any active timers and your Shortcuts app for any automations that affect media playback.

Can someone else on my account cause Spotify to pause?

Yes. If someone else is logged into your Spotify account and starts playing music, it can pause your playback. Spotify Free accounts allow only one active stream at a time. Even Spotify Premium's individual plan supports only one stream. Spotify Duo and Family plans allow simultaneous streams on different accounts. Sign out everywhere and change your password if you suspect unauthorized access.

Why does Spotify pause when my screen locks?

This is a battery optimization issue. Your phone is stopping Spotify when the screen turns off to save power. Exempt Spotify from battery restrictions and also check if your phone has a "kill apps when screen off" setting in the developer options or battery settings.