Lock screen is Spotify silent? Don't worry, there's a solution!

When it comes to online music platforms, it is rare that anyone can ignore the name Spotify. This is not only an application but also a well-built music ecosystem, providing a convenient and quality experience. When experiencing this premium application, users can freely listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and even exclusive conversations from famous artists around the world. All content is legally released, fully copyrighted, giving listeners more peace of mind compared to unclear free platforms.

1. Spotify is the leading music streaming platform worldwide

What makes Spotify so popular is not only its huge library of content with tens of millions of songs but also its sound quality. With the option to upgrade to Premium, users will experience music at the highest quality level, smooth, clear and sharp down to every detail. It is no exaggeration to say that Spotify has turned listening to music into a valuable “ritual” in daily life.

In addition, Spotify has an extremely smart personalization feature. Based on your listening habits, the application will automatically suggest suitable playlists, thereby turning each listening session into a new journey of discovery. You can work while listening to background music; work out while listening to motivational podcasts; or simply relax with gentle piano music at the end of the day. Thanks to these brilliant advantages, Spotify has attracted a huge number of users worldwide, despite the fact that to use it comfortably, users have to pay a monthly fee.

However, even the most perfect application cannot avoid technical problems during use. And Spotify is no exception. Despite its popularity and strong investment, this application sometimes leaves users "dismayed" by a few small errors. One of the most annoying problems is the situation where Spotify stops playing music when the phone screen is turned off. For many people, this is not just a bug but also an unacceptable interruption experience.

2. How to fix Spotify not playing music when screen is off

First of all, it’s important to note that Spotify was designed to play music even when the screen is off. This is a fundamental feature that allows users to enjoy music seamlessly without having to constantly keep the screen on – which is both battery-consuming and annoying. Thanks to this feature, you can easily plug in your headphones, put your phone in your pocket and comfortably immerse yourself in the world of music anywhere: on the bus, while walking or before going to bed.

However, there are days when Spotify suddenly stops playing music as soon as the screen turns off. This makes listeners lose interest, especially those who are enjoying hour-long podcasts or chill playlists to sleep. The cause can come from many sides: software conflicts on the phone, unstable internet connection or simply the Spotify app is experiencing a temporary error.

So what to do to fix it? The answer is not just a single operation, but often a combination of solutions. Each method has its own suitable situations, so you need to try them in turn to find the most effective solution for your phone.

2.1. Check Internet connection

One of the common reasons why Spotify won’t play music when the screen is off is network connectivity issues. The app primarily works online, meaning you need a stable internet connection to stream music from the server to your phone. If your Wifi connection is unstable or your 4G/5G signal is weak, it’s easy for the music to be interrupted or stopped altogether.

In fact, many users think that the problem lies with the application, when the real culprit is the Internet. This is especially common when you are moving through areas with poor signal, such as when riding the subway, entering an elevator or in the suburbs. In this case, the simple solution is to check the Wifi connection, switch to mobile data or turn on airplane mode for a few seconds and then turn it off to “refresh” the network.

In addition, you can also pre-download your favorite playlists to your device to listen offline. This is a big advantage of the Premium package, because it gives you complete peace of mind even when you lose your internet connection. The habit of downloading music offline not only helps limit the error of stopping music when turning off the screen but also saves a significant amount of mobile data.

2.2. Force stop and reopen Spotify

In the world of technology, there is a “secret” that applies to almost every application: close it and reopen it. It sounds simple, but in fact, this operation can solve many unusual problems, including Spotify stopping music when the screen is off.

On iPhone, you just swipe up from the bottom (or double-tap the Home button on older models), find the Spotify app in the list of background apps, and swipe up to close it. Then, you reopen the app as usual. On Android, the operation is similar: press the Multitasking key, find Spotify, and swipe away. If you want to be more "heavy-handed", you can go to Settings, select Apps, find Spotify, and select Force Stop.

In addition, clearing the cache is also an effective way to refresh the application. The cache helps to temporarily store data to increase access speed, but sometimes it causes conflicts that make the application unstable. With just a few steps to clear the cache, you will be surprised to see Spotify smooth again like when it was first installed.

2.3. Restart your phone and update the software

If you have tried many ways but Spotify still does not "obediently" play music when the screen is off, it is time to think about restarting your phone. This is an extremely useful trick because it will delete background processes, refresh memory and handle system conflicts. Many "oh my god" problems suddenly disappear after just one restart.

Along with that, software updates are also very important. Manufacturers constantly release patches to fix bugs and optimize the system, including compatibility with apps like Spotify. If your phone has a new update but you haven't installed it, it could be the reason why Spotify is not working properly. So don't hesitate to upgrade, because in addition to fixing bugs, you will also benefit from security improvements and overall performance.

2.4. Some other tricks

If you’ve tried all of the above and Spotify is still acting up, there are a few additional tricks you can try. First, update your Spotify app to the latest version. Updates often come with bug fixes, and the issue you’re experiencing may have already been fixed by the developer. If that doesn’t work, uninstall the app and re-download it from the App Store or Google Play to reinstall it.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the battery saving mode on your phone. Some devices, especially Android, when turning on battery saving mode, will limit the operation of background applications, leading to the situation where the music automatically stops when the screen turns off. Turning off this mode can help Spotify operate more stably.

For iPhone users, one important step is to enable Background App Refresh. Just go to Settings, select General, then turn on Background App Refresh for Spotify. This will allow the app to continue running even when you don't have your screen on.

3. What happens if Spotify doesn't play music when the screen is off?

At first glance, Spotify stopping music when the screen is off seems like a small, inconsequential issue. However, for those who regularly listen to music, especially those who consider music an essential part of life, this error has a bigger impact than you think. Music is something that accompanies us in every moment: when we run hard, when we relax before bed, or when we drive on long roads. Just when the music suddenly stops, the space suddenly becomes empty, the seamless experience is interrupted, and the emotions lose their completeness.

This annoyance sometimes makes users impatient, even frustrated with the application they love. A small interrupted experience can eventually make users question the stability of the platform. This is the reason why the seemingly simple error “Spotify does not play music when the screen is off” has a significant impact on user loyalty.

The good news, however, is that the cause of this problem is mostly very basic: unstable network connection, application freeze, full cache or battery saving mode accidentally intervened. These problems can be completely resolved quickly with just a few familiar operations such as restarting the device, clearing the cache, updating Spotify or even just force-stopping and reopening the application. In most cases, you will see the music playing smoothly again as if there was no problem.

Music is meant to be enjoyed, to connect, and to heal. So, don’t let a small error like Spotify stopping when the screen is off ruin those precious moments. Just calmly apply the simple tricks suggested, you can completely fix it and continue to immerse yourself in the world of music in the smoothest way.