Where Are Spotify Downloads Stored [Android/iPhone/Windows/Mac]

Spotify downloads exist on your device, but they’re locked to the app. You can see the space they occupy, but not the files themselves. This raises a simple question: where are Spotify downloads stored? We’ll answer that. You’ll also learn how to find downloaded songs and playlists within the app.

There’s more. Spotify limits the downloads only to its ecosystem, but it is possible to extract them as MP3 files. We’ll show you the steps and even free users can follow them to enjoy Spotify offline.

Spotify downloads on Windows and Mac aren’t hidden, they’re saved on your computer. On Windows, these files will usually sit in your system’s Local Disk C, though you can change their location if needed. For macOS, they’re stored in the Library folder.

Spotify will even show you the exact download path in the app settings (under Storage section), so finding the folder isn’t a problem.

However, accessing it will leave you puzzled. Here’s why: the files inside won’t look like your regular music tracks, complete with album covers and neat titles. Instead, they’re stored as cache files, split into chunks and scrambled with randomized filenames like 0008 or 4F0B. Even under those subfolders, the audio files are heavily encrypted and fragmented.

To sum it up, you can see the Spotify downloads on your computer, but you can’t use or extract them. Only Spotify can decode and play them.

On Android, the story doesn’t change much from Windows or Mac. Spotify downloads are saved as cache in your internal storage or SD card, whatever is set as the default. You can access the Spotifycache folder through your My Files app (or your File Manager), but the content will still appear unreadable.

On iPhone and iPad, however, things are different. Apple’s sandboxing system locks each app’s data within its own directory, making iOS far more restrictive compared to Android’s more open storage. In short, you can’t view or access Spotify’s downloaded files on iOS.

Within the Spotify app itself, your downloads are easily identifiable, neatly organized, and ready to play whenever you need them. The steps to locate are the same for both Android and iPhone users. It is very straightforward:

Step 1. Start the Spotify app. Open Your Library. You’ll find it at the bottom-right of the screen, marked clearly as Your Library.

Step 2. Look at the top of your library screen, tap the one labeled Downloaded. 

Step 3. All your downloaded playlists, albums, and tracks will now appear in one place. Tap what you like and let the music play with no connection required.

Spotify’s desktop interface mirrors its mobile counterpart. On both macOS and Windows, your downloads reside in the Your Library section, accessible from the sidebar on the left.

The library view sometimes will appear collapsed. To expand it, click the rectangular Your Library icon. Once inside, look just below the header to locate the filters. Select the Downloaded filter, which will highlight visually when activated.

From there, all your downloaded playlists and albums will appear, ready to play. Just tap on any item to start listening.

Sure, you can find Spotify’s downloaded files physical storage locations. However, they don’t offer much value beyond taking up space. Even the in-app downloads are strictly for Spotify’s ecosystem, you can see them, listen to them within the app, but transferring? That’s not happening.

Nonetheless, it’s possible to extract these songs as MP3 files. And yes, the outputs will come as regular audio files, ready to play or transfer to your other devices with no restrictions.

Here are three practical methods to achieve this, whether you’re using a mobile device, computer, or an online tool. Each method comes with its own pros and cons. Let’s dive in.

Way 1. Use Desktop Software

If you’re looking for a dedicated tool to extract Spotify tracks as MP3 files on your desktop, StreamFox for Music is exactly what you need.

Here’s what sets StreamFox apart: it converts Spotify files into MP3 format directly, and if you need alternatives, it offers WAV, FLAC, M4A, or AAC as well. These options will ensure compatibility across a wide range of devices.  Unlike fragmented or encrypted Spotify cache files, the converted music is accessible and complete. StreamFox delivers fully tagged audio tracks with their original song titles, artist names, album covers,etc., intact.

Even better, StreamFox eliminates the need for a Spotify Premium account. Unlike Spotify’s in-app downloads, which require a subscription, StreamFox works flawlessly with free accounts. Simply log in, browse your library, and start the process. There are no limits on the number of songs you can save either.

StreamFox for Music

• ODSMRT technology delivers Spotify’s original audio quality up to 320 kbps.
• Download songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks in MP3 format.
• 50x faster download speeds save more songs quickly.
• Extract MP3s from platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.

Download Download

How to Use StreamFox for Music to Extract Spotify Songs as MP3

Step 1. Install StreamFox for Music on your Windows or Mac computer. Complete the setup and choose Spotify as the source for MP3 extraction.

Step 2. Access your Spotify account to unlock your library and playlists.

Step 3. Navigate to the wanted songs or playlists page inside the embed Spotify web player. Click the red + button to line up all the songs in the playlist for conversion. Or, if you prefer, drag specific tracks or multiple playlists to the same red banner at the top-right one by one.

Step 4. Once your selections appear in the Converting tab, MP3 will already be set as the default output. Adjust it to another format if needed. Finalize the process by clicking Convert All.

Step 5. Switch to the Finished tab, and click View Output File to see the location of the downloaded MP3 files.

Way 2. Use Mobile Utility

There aren’t many cross-platform options that work seamlessly for both Android and iPhone users. One interesting and creative workaround comes in the form of Telegram bots.

Yes, we’re talking about the Telegram messenger app. Telegram’s bot functionality includes options to download music directly and the process is as simple as texting a friend. While these bots don’t pull data from Spotify servers or break Spotify’s DRM protection, they cleverly use Spotify URLs to match metadata with external platforms, such as YouTube or other non-DRM-locked sources. That said, in most cases, Telegram bots like @SpotSeekBot  manage to extract the requested Spotify track in MP3, but the sound quality cannot be guaranteed. 

SpotSeekBot’s Key Features:

• High-quality audio downloads up to 320 kbps.
• Intuitive link-pasting system helps you grab exact tracks in most cases.
• Free and open-source. 

How to Use SpotSeekBot to Extract Spotify Music in MP3 on Mobile:

Step 1. Start on Spotify. Find the song you want to extract as MP3. Tap the three little dots next to it and choose Share. From there, copy the track’s link.

Step 2. Switch over to Telegram. Type @SpotSeekBot into the search bar, pick the bot, and hit Start.

Step 3. Drop the copied link into the bot’s chat and send it.

Step 4. When the bot delivers, tap the download button next to the track preview.

For iPhone users, long-press on the received file and save it to your Files app. On Android, the track will be saved directly to your device’s internal storage. You can look for them in Telegram Folder>Music.

Way 3. Use Online Tool

Online tools such as SpotDL.io are another simple way to extract Spotify songs as MP3 files. They work much like Telegram bots, but with one key difference: you can access them directly from a web browser, whether on your mobile device or computer.

There’s no need to download or install anything, which is an added convenience. The process is equally straightforward: paste your Spotify song URL into the tool and it will match the metadata to freely available sources to fetch the song for you.

Key Features

• Work entirely through your browser.
• Process playlists or album links, but you’ll still have to save tracks individually.
• Offer audio quality between 128 kbps and 256 kbps.
• Absolutely free to use.

How to Use SpotDL.io to Extract Spotify Music as MP3:

Step 1. Find the playlist you want to download on Spotify, tap the three-dot menu below its title, and choose Share. Then, select Copy Link to Playlist to grab its link.

Step 2. Type in SpotDL.io in your browser’s address bar. Paste the playlist link into the input bar on the homepage and clickStart.

Step 3. SpotDL will list your playlist. Next to each song, you’ll see a Convert button. Click Convert on the tracks you want and the button will switch to Download. Tap it and the song will land right in your designated folder.

Conclusion

So, there you have it: answers to your questions about where Spotify downloads are stored and how to make them truly yours. Spotify saves its files in encrypted formats and there is no direct access without Spotify app. Still, you can extract as regular MP3 files.

We’ve shown you the three best methods. Telegram bots and online tools work well for occasional downloads. However, if you’re serious about building an offline music library and want something reliable for bulk downloads in 320kbps, StreamFox for Music stands out. You don’t need a Premium account and still gives you original quality Spotify music with all the ID3 tags intact.