Spotify lets you add MP3 files you own to your library, but only on desktop and only for your own listening

Spotify has two ways to add your own audio files. The first — Local Files — lets you upload MP3s, WAV files, M4A files, and a few other formats directly from your computer to Spotify's desktop app. The second — Spotify for Artists — is for people who own the music itself and want to distribute it to all Spotify listeners worldwide. Most people need Local Files. Local Files play only on the device where you added them, and only if you stay logged in.

Local Files does not sync to your phone or tablet, and Spotify does not back them up. If you delete the file from your computer or move it to a different folder, Spotify loses track of it. This is why Local Files work best for rare recordings, bootleg live shows, or music you recorded yourself — not for your everyday library.

Key Takeaways

  • Local Files must be stored in a folder on your computer; moving or deleting the file breaks the link in Spotify.
  • Local Files play only on the desktop app and only when you are logged in — they do not appear on your phone or tablet.
  • You must enable Local Files in Spotify settings before the app will show them in your library.
  • If you own the music and want other people to hear it on Spotify, you need a distributor like DistroKid or CD Baby, not Local Files.

How to set up Local Files on your computer

Open Spotify on your desktop (Windows or Mac). Click the three horizontal lines in the top left, then select Settings. Scroll down to the Local Files section. Toggle the switch next to Local Files to turn it on. Spotify will ask you to choose a folder where your audio files live.

Click Add a Source and navigate to the folder containing your MP3s. You can add more than one folder if your music is spread across different locations. Once you add a folder, Spotify scans it and displays any compatible files in a section called Local Files in your library sidebar. This scan can take a few minutes if you have hundreds of files.

Organizing files so Spotify can find them

Spotify reads the metadata — the embedded information inside the file — to organize your music. If your MP3 has artist name, album name, and track title filled in, Spotify will sort it correctly. If the metadata is blank or wrong, Spotify may put the song in the wrong place or give it a generic name.

You can edit metadata using free tools like MusicBrainz Picard (Windows and Mac) or MediaInfo (Windows). On a Mac, you can also right-click the file, select Get Info, and fill in the details directly. After you edit metadata, Spotify may need a few minutes to re-scan the folder and update what it shows.

File names alone do not matter to Spotify — only the metadata inside the file does. A file named "song.mp3" with no artist information will appear as "Unknown Artist" in Spotify, even if the file name is clear.

What file formats Spotify accepts

Spotify Local Files accepts MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, and OGG files. MP3 is the most common and works everywhere. M4A files (often from iTunes) also work well. WAV and FLAC are uncompressed or losslessly compressed, so they sound better but take up much more space on your hard drive.

Spotify does not accept protected files — music you bought from iTunes with DRM (Digital Rights Management) will not work. You also cannot add files that are shorter than 30 seconds; Spotify treats anything shorter as a sound effect, not a song.

Playing Local Files and what happens on other devices

Once Spotify scans your folder, Local Files appear in a section at the bottom of your library sidebar on desktop. You can create playlists that mix Local Files with regular Spotify tracks. When you play a Local File on your desktop, it plays normally. When you try to play that same playlist on your phone, Spotify skips over the Local Files and plays only the tracks from Spotify's catalog.

Local Files do not read to your phone even if you have offline mode turned on. They exist only on the computer where you added them. If you want the same music on your phone, you need to use a different method — either buy it from an app store, stream it from a service that has it, or use a separate music app on your phone that reads local files.

If you own the music and want to distribute it

Local Files are for personal use only. If you are a musician, producer, or label and you want your music to appear in Spotify's catalog so other people can find and listen to it, you need a distributor. Services like DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, and Aggregator take your audio files and metadata and push them to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other platforms.

Distributors charge a fee — usually $10 to $50 per year, or a percentage of what you earn. They handle the paperwork, collect royalties, and make sure your music appears with the right credits and artwork. This is the only way to get your music into Spotify's main catalog where other listeners can discover it.

Troubleshooting when Local Files do not show up

If you added a folder but your files do not appear in Spotify, check these things in order. First, make sure Local Files is actually turned on in Settings — toggle it off and back on. Second, check that the files are in a format Spotify accepts (MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, or OGG). Third, move the files to a simpler folder path with no special characters or spaces — for example, C:\Music instead of C:\My Music Files (2024).

Fourth, check the file metadata. Open one file in a metadata editor and confirm it has an artist name and track title. Fifth, restart Spotify completely — close it entirely and open it again. Spotify sometimes needs a restart to finish scanning a folder. If files still do not appear after these steps, try removing the folder from Local Files settings and adding it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to my Local Files on my phone or tablet?

No. Local Files play only on the desktop app where you added them. Spotify's mobile apps do not support Local Files at all. If you want the same music on your phone, you will need to use a different music app or service that supports local file playback.

What happens if I move my MP3 files to a different folder?

Spotify loses the link to them. The songs will disappear from your library and playlists. To fix this, you can either move the files back to the original folder or remove the old folder from Local Files settings and add the new one. Spotify will re-scan and find them in the new location.

Can I share a playlist that includes Local Files with a friend?

Your friend will see the playlist, but the Local Files will not play for them — only the regular Spotify tracks will. They will see the Local Files listed but grayed out. This is why Local Files are best kept in separate playlists from music you want to share.

Do Local Files count toward my storage space on Spotify?

No. Local Files are stored on your computer, not on Spotify's servers. They do not use any of your Spotify account space. They do use space on your hard drive, so if you have hundreds of large WAV files, you may run low on disk space.

Can I use Local Files if I have a free Spotify account?

Yes. Local Files work on both free and paid Spotify accounts. The only limitation is that free accounts have ads and cannot read music for offline listening, but Local Files bypass both of those restrictions since they are already on your computer.