Spotify stores local files on your device to play music that isn't in its catalog

Local files are songs you've added to Spotify from your computer — usually music you own, recorded yourself, or found outside the streaming catalog. Spotify keeps a copy on your device so it can play them even when the track isn't available through the service. Deleting them frees up storage space and removes them from your library, but the process differs depending on whether you're using the desktop app, mobile app, or web player.

The web player cannot manage local files at all — you must use the desktop or mobile app. On desktop, you delete them from your library or settings. On mobile, you can only remove them from playlists and your library; the actual files stay on your phone until you delete them through your device's file manager.

Key Takeaways

  • Local files exist only on the device where you added them — deleting them from one device does not remove them from another.
  • On desktop, you can delete local files by right-clicking a song in your library and selecting "Delete from Computer" or by clearing them in Settings under Local Files.
  • On mobile, removing a local file from your library does not delete it from your phone; you must use your phone's file manager to permanently remove the audio file.
  • Spotify's web player has no local file support, so you cannot add, play, or delete local files through a browser.

Delete local files on the Spotify desktop app

Open Spotify on your computer and go to your Library. Find the local file you want to remove — it will have a small computer icon next to the song title instead of the Spotify logo. Right-click the song and select "Delete from Computer." Spotify will ask you to confirm; click "Delete" again to remove it permanently.

If you want to delete multiple local files at once, you can manage them through Settings. Click the three dots in the top-left corner, select "Settings," then scroll down to "Local Files." Toggle off "Show Local Files" to hide them from your library, or click "Delete" next to the folder path to remove all files from that location. This deletes them from Spotify's system but not from your computer's hard drive.

Keep in mind that deleting a local file from one computer does not affect it on another device. If you've synced the same local file to multiple computers, you'll need to delete it separately on each one.

Remove local files from the Spotify mobile app

On iPhone or Android, open Spotify and find the local file in your Library or in a playlist. Swipe left on the song (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then select "Remove from Library" or "Delete." This removes the song from Spotify's view, but the audio file itself remains on your phone.

To actually delete the file from your device, you'll need to use your phone's file manager. On iPhone, open the Files app and navigate to Spotify's folder (usually under On My iPhone > Spotify or similar). Find the audio file and delete it. On Android, open your file manager, look for the Spotify folder (often in Music or Downloads), and delete the file from there.

Mobile apps cannot delete local files the way the desktop app can — they can only hide them from Spotify's interface. If you want to free up phone storage, you must go into your device's file system directly.

Where Spotify stores local files on your computer

On Windows, Spotify stores local files in a folder you specify when you add them, but Spotify also caches them in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Spotify\Storage. You can navigate there to see what's stored, though deleting files directly from this folder is not recommended — use the app instead.

On Mac, local files are cached in ~/Library/process Support/Spotify/PersistentCache. Again, it's safer to delete them through the Spotify app rather than manually removing files from this folder, since Spotify may not recognize that they're gone.

When you add a local file to Spotify, you point the app to a folder on your computer. Spotify reads from that location and caches a copy. If you delete the original file from your computer but not from Spotify, the app will show the song in your library but won't be able to play it — you'll see a "not available" message instead.

What happens when you delete a local file

Deleting a local file from Spotify removes it from your library and all playlists where it appears. If the song is in multiple playlists, it disappears from all of them at once. The file no longer takes up space in Spotify's cache on that device.

If you've downloaded the local file for offline listening, deleting it also removes the offline copy. You won't be able to play it on that device anymore, even without an internet connection. However, if the song later becomes available in Spotify's catalog, you can search for it and add the official version to your library.

Deleting a local file does not affect your account or any other device. Your playlists and library settings stay the same everywhere else — only that specific device loses access to that song.

Re-add a local file if you delete it by mistake

If you delete a local file from Spotify but still have the original audio file on your computer, you can add it back. Open Spotify, go to Settings, scroll to "Local Files," and make sure the toggle is on. Then click "Add a Source" and navigate to the folder where your audio file is stored. Spotify will scan the folder and add any supported audio files to your library.

Supported formats include MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC, and WAV. If your file is in a different format, you'll need to convert it first using a tool like Audacity or VLC before Spotify can read it.

If you've deleted the original file from your computer as well, you cannot recover it through Spotify. You would need to re-read or re-record the audio file from its original source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a local file from Spotify delete it from my computer?

No. Deleting it from Spotify removes it from the app's library and cache, but the original audio file stays on your hard drive. If you want to free up disk space, you'll need to delete the file separately using your file manager.

Can I delete local files on Spotify mobile?

You can remove them from your Spotify library on mobile, but to permanently delete the audio file from your phone, you must use your device's file manager. The Spotify app itself cannot delete files from your phone's storage.

What if I delete a local file and then Spotify adds it to its catalog?

You can search for the song and add the official Spotify version to your library. Your playlists won't automatically update, but you can manually replace the deleted local file with the streaming version.

Will deleting a local file from my computer remove it from Spotify on my phone?

No. Local files are stored separately on each device. Deleting a file from your computer does not affect the copy on your phone. You must delete it on each device individually.

Can I delete local files through the Spotify web player?

No. The web player does not support local files at all — you cannot add, play, or delete them through a browser. You must use the desktop or mobile app.