How to Download Spotify Playlists to Phone/Computer

There’s more than one way to download a favorite Spotify playlist to your phone or computer. And here, we’ll explore all the most reliable ways, from using the native Spotify app to applying third-party tools that save Spotify playlists as local files. You can choose the method that best suits your Spotify account type, desired download format, and other preferences. Let’s move on for more details now.

How to Download Spotify Playlists to Windows/Mac

Spotify downloads are locked within the native app. So, if you need more freedom, there are other two methods that will let you save Spotify music to your local computer. Let’s break it down, step by step.

Way 1. Use Spotify Desktop

Spotify Mac or Windows allows you to save up to 10,000 songs. However, a premium subscription is a must. From Student to Family, any plan will unlock the ability to store tracks. Note that what you save on one device stays there. If you need those songs elsewhere, you’ll have to download them again. Besides, ensure your computer has enough room to store the playlist you’re planning to keep.

Making your Spotify playlist available offline on the desktop app is simple. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1. Open the playlist or album you want to download. Look for the download icon and select it to start saving all tracks in the playlist offline.

Step 2. Once downloaded, green icons will appear beside the track names and the download icon will turn green. To see everything you’ve saved offline, activate the Downloaded tag in the filters at the top of your library.

Way 2. Through Music Downloader

StreamFox for Music, the Eassiy All-in-one Music Converter, redefines how Spotify tracks make their way to your desktop. It downloads Spotify music as local files that can be played on any media player.

Different from the common downloader that requires song URLs for downloads, StreamFox integrates the Spotify web player with its interface and enables you to sign into Spotify with your free or premium account. The embed Spotify browser places your playlists within reach and StreamFox just adds a download button to make them offline.

StreamFox gives you full control over your music downloads. You can pick formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, or FLAC and set audio quality ranging from standard 128 kbps to high-definition lossless audio. Additionally, you can choose to keep some metadata or preserve all the information for the song download. The ID3 tags include song titles, artists, albums, cover art and more. 

Steps to Download Spotify Playlists to MP3 with StreamFox

Step 1. Start by downloading and installing StreamFox for Music on your Windows or Mac. Open the app and select Spotify.

Step 2. You’ll be on the integrated browser within StreamFox to sign into your Spotify account. Use your free or premium account credentials to access your entire Spotify library.

Step 3. Load your favorite playlists to StreamFox by dragging them onto the + button on the right-hand side of the screen.

Step 4. Once you add playlists, the Converting tab opens automatically. Click Convert All to begin saving your tracks. The default output format is MP3. You can change it to your desired one like FLAC.

Step 5. Once the process is complete, head to the Finished tab. Here, click View Output File to access them in your local storage.

Way 3. Try Online Converter

SpotifyDown opens the door to downloading playlists at 320 kbps. However, it’s far from the seamless speed of StreamFox. Yes, even with just three or four songs, the download process will test your patience. Push it to eight or more, and you’ll see cracks forming. In fact, longer playlists grind the tool to a near halt.

SpotifyDown keeps the ID3 tags of your music downloads intact, such as cover art, album names, and song titles, which is a rarity among online converters. Still, it lacks the customization options in StreamFox. You’re locked into default settings, with no room to tweak. Let’s break it down:

Step 1. Go to the target playlist in Spotify and click the three dots above the tracks. In the menu, hit Share and pick Copy link to playlist.

Step 2. Using your favorite browser, go to SpotifyDown. Add the playlist link to the text bar and hit the big Download button to move to the final page.

Step 3. The playlist image appears at the top. Below it, choose Download ZIP to gather everything in one go. Each track will have its own download button, lined up in playlist order if you want to handpick.

Step 4. A pop-up will show the number of tracks SpotifyDown identified and the time it’ll take to zip them. Hit Continue to proceed.

Step 5. The Download Manager will complete the process automatically, and the Save As window appears. Give the file a name, pick a location, and click Save to export it into your computer.

Which is the Best Way to Download Playlists from Spotify to Computer

How to Download Spotify Playlists to iPhone/Android

The Spotify app makes downloading playlists possible on both Android and iPhone, if you’re a premium user. To export Spotify playlists, you’ll need a third-party tool.

For Android, an extra app does the trick. On iOS, you’ll have to lean on the custom workflow in the Shortcuts app to make it happen. Each approach has its quirks, but they bring Spotify music to your phone. Here’s how it all unfolds.

Way 1. Use Spotify Mobile

Any playlist on the Spotify app can be saved offline, such as Made by you, curated by Spotify, or shared by someone else. The download process is the same for Android and iPhone.

Customization for download is minimal. You can adjust the sound quality, but the format stays fixed. The music stays within the app. Plus, once your subscription ends or you don’t use Spotify in 30 days, your downloads will become inaccessible. If you don’t mind that, here’s how to save your playlists with Spotify mobile:

Step 1. On Spotify app, choose the playlist or album you want to download and tap the downward arrow. Once the download finished, the arrow will change to green and a green mark will appear beside each track.

Step 2. Head to Your Library from the bottom of the screen and tap Downloads to locate the saved music.

Way 2. Apply Spowlo

Although Spowlo is a useful tool to download Spotify music on Android, Spotify isn’t where Spowlo gets its music. Instead, it works through YouTube and YouTube Music and converts the music into formats like OPUS, MP3, FLAC, OGG, or M4A.

For most playlists, Spowlo processes them successfully. However, you may encounter errors such as “query failed” when searching for a song using a link, or some collections may fail to process.

In all, as an open-source platform, Spowlo ensures a clean and ad-free experience. Metadata of song downloads stays intact too. One experimental feature worth noting is its ability to preserve lyrics. Let’s get into the details of how exactly it works:

Step 1. Go to the Spowlo.com. Scroll down the page and you’ll see two APK options: ARMv8 and ARMv7.

Start with the ARM v8 version, it works on most Android devices, so download that first. If it doesn’t install, return to the page and choose ARM v7 version instead.

Step 2. Install the APK file on your Android device. If installation is blocked, allow installations from unknown sources in your settings.

Step 3. Make sure you have the playlist link from Spotify. You can simply open the desired playlist in your Spotify app. Tap the three dots, choose Share from the context menu, and select Copy Link.

Step 4. Head back to the Spowlo app, paste the Spotify playlist link into the query box and tap the Paste button. Then, hit the Download button to continue.

Step 5. The configure screen will open from the bottom. You can pick the audio format and quality you want or stick with the original. When ready, tap Start Download. The song will land directly in your device’s files.

Way 3. Through Shortcuts

Shortcuts on iOS offer a way to get Spotify music offline. Like Spowlo, iOS Shortcuts cannot bypass Spotify’s DRM restrictions. The music isn’t pulled directly from Spotify but sourced elsewhere. The quality is left to chance and the metadata is a hit-or-miss affair too.

Plus, keep in mind that Shortcuts aren’t made for scale. Take the Spotify Playlist DL shortcut, for instance. It scans your playlist and identifies all the tracks, but only processes five songs at a time. In other words, getting a large playlist will require multiple runs. Here’s how to set Shortcuts up and make it work on saving Spotify music:

Step 1. Run your iPhone’s settings and scroll until you see Shortcuts. Tap Shortcuts and toggle on Allow Untrusted Shortcuts. This simple switch lets you bring in third-party tools like Spotify music downloaders.

Step 2. Open your browser and paste this link: Spotify Player DL Shortcut. Tap Get Shortcut button at the bottom to add it to your Shortcuts app.

Step 3. Get the song’s link from Spotify. Tap the three dots next to the track, hit Share, and select Copy.

Step 4. Launch the Shortcuts app and run Spotify DL. When prompted, drop the copied link into the field. Confirm, allow permissions, and wait for the success message, and it will be done.

Go to your Files app and navigate to iCloud Drive. Inside, the Spotify DL.xyz folder holds your songs which are ready to use in any app or player.

Which is the Best Way to Download Playlists from Spotify to Phone

Conclusion

Downloading a Spotify playlist to your phone or computer boils down to three main options. Spotify Premium is a solid choice with a main limitation that once your subscription expires, so do the downloads. Spowlo, iOS Shortcut, and Spotifydown provide quick results, but they are not dependable.

If reliability and consistency are what you’re after, StreamFox for Music stands out. It allows you to save Spotify music in premium quality without premium account and lets you create an offline library that comes fully organized right from the start.