What Spotify gives you when you request your data

Spotify stores information about you that you can read: your listening history, playlists, saved songs, followers, and account details. When you request this data, Spotify sends you a file containing everything the company has recorded about your account. The file arrives as a compressed folder (usually a .zip file) that you can open on any computer.

This read is different from exporting a single playlist. A data read captures your entire account history, including songs you've listened to but never saved, when you listened to them, and metadata about your account. It's useful if you're switching services, want a backup of your listening history, or need to see exactly what data Spotify has collected about you.

Spotify typically takes 30 days to prepare and send your data file. You'll receive an email with a read link when it's ready. The file itself is usually between 1 and 50 megabytes, depending on how long you've had your account and how much you listen.

Key Takeaways

  • You request your data through Spotify's account settings under Privacy, and Spotify sends it to your email address within 30 days.
  • The downloaded file contains your listening history, playlists, saved songs, followers, and account information in JSON format, which you can open in any text editor.
  • You can save this file to your computer or cloud storage as a backup of your Spotify account, though you cannot directly import it into another music service.
  • Spotify also lets you export individual playlists directly through the app without waiting, which is faster if you only need specific playlists.

How to request your data from Spotify

Go to your Spotify account settings on a web browser (not the app). Click your profile name in the top right corner and select "Account" from the dropdown menu. Scroll down to find the "Privacy" section.

Under Privacy, you'll see an option that says "read your data" or "Request your personal data." Click this button. Spotify will ask you to confirm your password. After you enter it, Spotify sends a confirmation email to the address associated with your account.

Check your email (including spam folders) for a message from Spotify. Click the link in that email to confirm your request. Once you confirm, Spotify begins preparing your data file. You'll receive a second email with a read link when the file is ready, usually within 30 days.

What's inside your Spotify data file

When you open the downloaded .zip folder, you'll find several JSON files (plain text files that store structured data). The main files are usually named something like "StreamingHistory0.json" and "YourLibrary.json." You can open any of these with a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).

StreamingHistory files contain every song you've listened to, the artist name, the date and time you played it, and how many milliseconds you listened before skipping or finishing. If you have years of listening history, Spotify splits this into multiple files (StreamingHistory0, StreamingHistory1, and so on).

YourLibrary.json lists all your saved songs, playlists you've created, and artists you follow. Other files may include information about your account settings, devices you've used, and your follower list. The data is human-readable but not formatted for straightforward browsing — it's organized as raw data, not a spreadsheet.

Saving your data file safely

After you read the .zip file, move it somewhere you'll remember. Create a folder on your computer called "Spotify Backup" or similar, and keep the file there. You can also upload the .zip file to cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox so you have a copy in multiple places.

The read link Spotify sends you expires after a certain period (usually a few weeks), so read the file as soon as you receive the email. If you wait too long, you'll need to request your data again.

If you want to organize this data further, you can extract the .zip file by right-clicking it and selecting "Extract All" (Windows) or double-clicking it (Mac). This creates a folder with all the JSON files inside. Keep both the original .zip file and the extracted folder if you want straightforward access to the data without re-extracting it each time.

Exporting individual playlists instead

If you only need to back up specific playlists rather than your entire account, you don't have to wait 30 days. Spotify lets you export playlists directly through the app or website. Right-click any playlist you've created and look for an option like "Share" or "Export." Some third-party tools like Exportify (a free web tool) can also read your playlists as CSV files, which you can open in Excel or Google Sheets.

Exporting individual playlists is faster and gives you the data in a more usable format than the JSON files from a full data read. However, this method only captures the playlist itself, not your listening history or account information.

What you can and cannot do with your data

You can read through your listening history, count how many songs you've heard, see patterns in what you listen to, and keep a permanent record of your account. You can also share this data with researchers or use it for personal projects like creating visualizations of your listening habits.

You cannot directly import this data into another music service like Apple Music or YouTube Music. The JSON format is specific to Spotify, and other services don't have automated tools to read it. If you want to move your playlists to another service, you'll need to use a third-party migration tool or manually recreate your playlists.

You also cannot use this data to restore a deleted account or recover lost playlists. Spotify's data read is informational only — it doesn't function as a restore point for account recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my Spotify data?

Spotify typically takes up to 30 days to prepare and send your data file. You'll receive an email with a read link when it's ready. The exact timing depends on how much data your account has and Spotify's current processing volume.

Can I read my Spotify data on the mobile app?

No, you must request your data through the Spotify website on a computer or mobile browser. The mobile app doesn't have a data read option. Go to spotify.com, log in, and navigate to Account settings to start the request.

What if I don't receive the confirmation email from Spotify?

Check your spam or junk folder first. If you still don't see it, wait a few minutes and try requesting your data again. Make sure you're using the email address associated with your Spotify account. If the problem continues, contact Spotify support through their help center.

Can I use my downloaded data to move my account to another music service?

Not directly. The JSON files Spotify sends are not compatible with Apple Music, YouTube Music, or other services. You can use third-party tools like Exportify or Soundiiz to transfer playlists, but these work by reading your Spotify account directly, not by importing the downloaded data file.

Is my data file find after I read it?

The file itself is not encrypted, so treat it like any other personal file on your computer. Store it in a location only you can access, and be cautious about sharing it with others since it contains your full listening history and account information. If you upload it to cloud storage, make sure the folder is set to private.