Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services, offering access to millions of songs from artists around the world. However, some users have encountered an issue where certain tracks or albums appear greyed out and cannot be played.
This can be frustrating when you are trying to listen to music you want to hear. So “why are some songs greyed out on Spotify” and what can you do about it?
There are a few potential reasons why you might see greyed out songs on Spotify:
Why Are Some Songs Greyed Out On Spotify Android?
Here are the following reasons that “Why are some songs greyed out on Spotify iPhone“
1. Licensing Restrictions
The most common reason is licensing agreements. Spotify has negotiated contracts with major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. This gives them the right to stream many songs in their catalogues.
However, Spotify does not have permission to stream every single song available. Artists and labels can choose to restrict access to some tracks and not make them available. Or Spotify’s contracts may have expired for certain albums or songs. This means they legally cannot let you listen to those greyed out tracks.
2. Regional Restrictions
Licensing can also lead to regional restrictions. For example, an artist’s record label may have only given Spotify permission to stream a song in specific countries. So if you try listening to that track from a location where Spotify doesn’t hold the rights, it will show up unavailable in your region.
The record labels might enforce these geographic limitations if they have existing deals with other services in certain markets. Then Spotify ends up blocked from streaming music in places where other platforms have exclusivity.
3. Downloaded Content Expired
If you have downloaded Spotify songs for offline listening, they may become greyed out if that downloaded content expires. Spotify allows you to save music on your mobile devices so you can listen without an internet connection. However, these offline downloads have an expiration date and can eventually become unavailable.
Once the offline download has expired, those saved songs will show up as unavailable until you go online and refresh the content. This is to prevent people from downloading music once and keeping it forever without connecting back to Spotify’s servers.
4. Issues With Your Account
In some cases, there may be an issue with your individual Spotify account that is preventing access to certain content. For example, if you recently changed your region or created your account in another country, some songs may be blocked based on your current location.
Or if you are behind on your Spotify payments, the service may restrict access to some content until you pay off your balance. Any type of account issue like this could potentially lead to greyed out songs.
5. Glitches in the App
Occasionally a song might appear greyed out due to a glitch or bug in the Spotify app. Issues like temporary server outages, software crashes, or connectivity problems could make some tracks show unavailable. Usually, a song that is greyed out because of a technical glitch will become playable again after some time or a restart of the app.
How to Fix Greyed Out Songs on Spotify
So those are some potential reasons why you might see unavailable greyed out tracks in your Spotify library. Thankfully, there are a few things you can try to fix and access those songs again:
- Update the app: Make sure you are running the latest version of the Spotify app, which may resolve any bugs or glitches causing greyed-out songs.
- Restart the app: If it is a temporary technical issue, a quick restart of the Spotify app can often correct the problem.
- Reinstall the app: If a reinstall does not work, uninstalling Spotify entirely and then downloading it again can fix glitched-out content.
- Refresh downloaded content: Check any downloaded Spotify songs to see if they have expired. Connect to the internet and refresh to update those available offline tracks.
- Change regions: Try changing the region or country set for your Spotify account, which may fix restrictions related to music licensing deals.
- Connect to a different network: If you are streaming through a particular WiFi or mobile network, try connecting to a different one to see if that un greys songs.
- Contact Spotify Support: If all else fails, reach out to Spotify’s customer support team. They may be able to resolve any issues with your account that could lead to blocked content.
While having greyed out tracks in your Spotify library can be annoying, in most cases, you can get access to those unavailable songs again with a little troubleshooting.
With licensing deals constantly evolving, Spotify is typically able to add songs back to its catalog after some time too. So don’t despair if one of your favorites is blocked, as it may become available again down the road!
FAQs: Spotify Greyed Out Songs
Why does Spotify grey out some songs?
The most common reason Spotify greys out tracks is licensing restrictions. Artists or labels choose not to make some songs available on Spotify. Or Spotify’s contracts to stream certain music have expired. This makes those tracks unavailable.
Can you recover greyed out songs on Spotify?
In most cases, yes. Try updating the app, restarting your device, reinstalling Spotify, or refreshing downloaded content. Changing regions or connecting to different networks can also help recover greyed out tracks.
Does Spotify delete greyed out songs?
No, Spotify does not delete greyed out songs from your library. They simply become unavailable until licensing or technical issues are resolved. Then they typically return to normal.
Why are some albums greyed out on Spotify?
Full albums that are greyed out are usually unavailable due to licensing restrictions or regional blocking in certain countries. Labels and artists choose which full albums they allow Spotify to stream.
How do I unlock greyed out songs on Spotify?
The main ways to unlock greyed out tracks are: updating the app, restarting your device, reinstalling Spotify, changing regions, connecting to new networks, and contacting support if account issues are preventing access.
Conclusion
Greyed out songs on Spotify can be caused by a variety of issues, from licensing limitations to technical glitches. While it can be frustrating to not have access to certain tracks, there are several steps you can take to try and resolve the problem. With some effort, you will likely be able to regain access to most unavailable content.
Spotify is constantly working on expanding its catalog as well, so songs that are blocked now may become available again down the line. Stay persistent and use the troubleshooting tips outlined here, and you’ll be able to listen to your favorite tunes once more.