Are you encountering the frustrating “Spotify Upstream Connect Error” message? This error prevents you from listening to music on Spotify. Not being able to access your favorite songs and playlists can be very annoying.
But don’t worry, there are several things you can try to fix the Spotify upstream connect error.
4 Causes Of Spotify Upstream Connect Error
This issue usually arises as a result of one of the following causes:
- Network connectivity issues – Problems with your internet connection, Wi-Fi issues, or a proxy or firewall blocking access can all lead to this error on Spotify.
- Outdated app – If you are using an outdated version of the Spotify app, it may not be able to connect properly to Spotify’s servers.
- Glitch on Spotify’s end – Sometimes server outages or technical problems on Spotify’s end could be the culprit.
- Account issues – In rare cases, this could occur due to a problem with your individual Spotify account.
5 Quick Fixes To Try
Before diving into more complex troubleshooting, attempt these quick fixes:
- Restart the Spotify app – Close the app fully by swiping it away and restarting. This refreshes things and reconnects.
- Check internet connection – Make sure you have an active, stable internet connection. Connect to a different Wi-Fi network or switch to mobile data.
- Update Spotify app – Go to your app store, search “Spotify” and update it to the latest version.
- Reinstall Spotify app – Uninstall Spotify, restart your device and reinstall a fresh version of the Spotify app from the app store.
- Log out and log in to Spotify account – Sometimes signing out and back in fixes account issues causing problems.
How To Fix Spotify Upstream Connect Error?
If none of those quick fixes resolve it, don’t worry – keep reading for more helpful solutions.
1. Bypass Proxy Or Firewall Issues
Often a school, college, or workplace network has security measures like proxies and firewalls that can block Spotify access and cause this upstream error.
To get around this, use a VPN service. VPNs allow you to bypass network restrictions, virtually changing your location.
2. Use a VPN On a Phone Or Tablet
- Install a free or paid VPN app like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or ProtonVPN.
- Establish a connection to a server location that you prefer.
- Now open Spotify – it should now work fine.
Using a reliable VPN app solves Spotify upstream connect errors caused by proxies, firewalls, filters, or geo-restrictions.
3. Adjust Spotify Streaming Quality
Sometimes network congestion forces Spotify to lower streaming quality, resulting in upstream errors.
You can manually lower Spotify streaming quality as per network capabilities:
On Mobile:
- Tap the “Home” tab > “Settings” icon > “Music Quality”
- Select a lower option like “Low” Quality to reduce data usage.
At the Desktop Version:
- Click “Edit” > “Preferences” > “Music Quality”
- Choose a lower setting like 96 kbps.
Testing different quality levels can help fix buffering issues and upstream errors by reducing bandwidth strain.
4. Clear Spotify App Cache And Data
Corrupted cache/data is a common app issue causing upstream errors. Clearing the cache forces the app to rebuild the temporary data files, fixing problems.
Clearing the App Cache On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to iPhone “Settings” > Tap “General” > “iPhone Storage”
- Search for “Spotify”, tap on it, and select “Offload App” (this deletes cache while keeping the app)
How To Clear Cache On Android:
- Open phone “Settings” > “Apps” > “Spotify”
- Press on Storage, followed by selecting Clear Cache and then Clear Data.
At the Desktop:
- Close Spotify and open File Explorer > AppData\Roaming\Spotify
- Delete the “Cache” folder
Clearing Spotify’s temporary cache/data forces a fresh reload often fixing upstream errors.
5. Disable Or Enable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration uses your graphics card to improve Spotify performance. Though rarely, improper GPU usage can cause issues.
You can toggle hardware acceleration on or off to test if it fixes upstream errors:
How to Disable Or Enable Hardware Acceleration On Windows:
- Click the 3 dots menu > Settings > Show Advanced Settings
- Enable/disable the “Enable Hardware Acceleration” option
At Macbook:
- Go to Spotify > Preferences > Advanced tab
- Check/uncheck “Enable Hardware Acceleration”
On Linux:
- Edit /etc/environment file
- Add/remove: SPOTIFY_SKIP_HARDWARE_ACCELERATION=1
Testing with hardware acceleration on or off helps determine if GPU issues are responsible.
6. Allow Access Through Firewall And Antivirus
Third-party antivirus software and firewalls can sometimes block Spotify erroneously causing upstream errors.
You can try allowing Spotify through them:
Windows Firewall:
- Access the Windows Firewall settings through the System and Security section in the Control Panel.
- Click “Allow an app through Firewall”
- Allow both Spotify and Spotify.exe
Antivirus:
- Open Antivirus settings
- Go to the Firewall, Network protection, or App permissions tabs
- Explicitly allow and whitelist Spotify there
Adding Spotify as an exception to firewalls and antivirus software prevents conflict issues.
7. Change the DNS Server On Device
Upstream issues connecting to Spotify servers may be caused by problems with your current DNS server.
Changing the DNS can help Spotify communicate properly.
By using Windows:
- Network Sharing Center > Change Adapter Options > Right-click Wi-Fi > Properties
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 > Use the following DNS servers
- Enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 > OK
At the Mac:
- Menu of Apple System Settings Internet Advanced
- Select DNS > Add Row
- Enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
On iPhone & Android:
- Go to Wi-Fi Settings> Tap the info “i” icon next to the network
- Change hardcoded DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
Router DNS issues can lead to upstream connectivity problems fixable by assigning Google DNS.
8. Reset Router & Renew IP Address
Router glitches causing internet instability can also throw the upstream connect error.
Resetting the router fixes problems and renewing the IP fetches a fresh connection:
- Keep the device connected, and “power OFF” the router for 20 sec
- Power ON the router again allowing a full reboot
- Renew device IP – Release and Renew IP if static or Disable/Re-enable WiFi
Rebooting the router and renewing the IP address gives Spotify a clean slate fixing upstream connectivity problems.
9. Delete And Reinstall the Spotify App
If all else fails, uninstalling Spotify fully and then downloading a clean version fixes persistent upstream errors:
- Back up playlist and library data to prevent losing tracks
- Uninstall the Spotify app fully including leftover files
- Reboot the device before reinstalling it for a clean slate
- Download and install a fresh Spotify app from the official site or app store
- Login to your Spotify account to sync back data
This forces a full refresh of corrupt files that may be causing hard-to-diagnose upstream connect problems that persist despite other fixes.
10. Contact Spotify Customer Support
For stubborn upstream errors not resolvable through troubleshooting, directly contact <a href=”https://support.spotify.com/” target=”_blank”>Spotify’s customer support</a>.
Provide details of:
- Troubleshooting steps attempted
- Device and app specifics
- Screenshots of error message
Their tech team can then investigate issues with your specific account, provide missing fixes, or escalate unresolved problems.
This ensures someone looks directly at what’s not working to restore full Spotify access.
Conclusion
The “Can’t connect to Spotify” or “Spotify keeps disconnecting” error messages locking you out of music are no doubt frustrating.
But as you’ve seen, this common Spotify upstream connect error can be fixed through a variety of troubleshooting techniques like VPN use, DNS changes, router resets, reinstalls, disable acceleration, and more.
Combining these methods allows you to gradually isolate the specific points of failure by testing connectivity after each step.
Patience and perseverance are key as the source of the problem could be anything from an outdated app version to an account glitch to network conflicts.
While sudden upstream errors seem disruptive initially, they provide an opportunity to better optimize both device settings as well as Spotify’s performance in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Spotify upstream connect error?
This is an error caused by connectivity issues preventing Spotify from communicating with its streaming servers, locking users out of music access.
Why does my Spotify keep disconnecting?
Frequent disconnections are also caused by the same upstream factors like network problems, signal issues, throttling, geo-restrictions, and server outages.
How do I troubleshoot Spotify connect problems?
Common troubleshooting includes VPN use, restarts, DNS changes, firewall/antivirus exceptions, hardware acceleration toggle, app reinstalls, and router resets among other methods.
Who do I contact for Spotify support?
For persistent upstream errors unfixed through troubleshooting, directly contact Spotify’s customer support team through their Help section accessible via account login.
What happens if I get the error code 104 on Spotify?
Error 104 indicates specifically either a DNS failure or broken network routes preventing connectivity. Fixing DNS settings and router usually resolves this individual code.