Fix Spotify Pausing Randomly: 12 Proven Solutions (2026)

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re about as frustrated as I was when my Spotify kept pausing randomly during my morning workout playlist. There’s nothing quite like getting into the zone, only to have the music cut out every 30 seconds—or worse, at completely random intervals.

I spent weeks dealing with this issue across my iPhone, MacBook, and even my smart TV. After trying every solution I could find (and discovering quite a few on my own), I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to help you fix Spotify’s random pausing once and for all.

The good news? In most cases, the fix is simpler than you might think. We’ll start with the quick 30-second solutions that resolve the issue for about 80% of users, then work our way through more specific fixes for Discord conflicts, multiple device issues, and those stubborn cases that need deeper troubleshooting.

Let me walk you through exactly what worked for me and thousands of other Spotify users who’ve dealt with this annoying problem.

Quick Fixes to Try First (30-Second Solutions)

Before we dive into complex troubleshooting, let’s try these quick fixes that solve the pausing issue for most users. I always start here because there’s no point spending 20 minutes on advanced solutions if a simple restart does the trick.

• Force close and restart Spotify: This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often it works. On your phone, don’t just minimize the app—actually swipe it away from your recent apps list. On desktop, use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to fully quit Spotify, then relaunch it. This clears temporary glitches that can cause random pausing.
• Check if someone else is using your account: Head to your account overview page on Spotify’s website and look for “Sign out everywhere.” If you see unfamiliar devices or locations, someone might be using your account, which causes playback to pause when they start playing music. I discovered my old tablet was still logged in and randomly connecting to WiFi, causing my music to pause.
• Disable Discord temporarily: If you use Discord, close it completely (check your system tray) and see if Spotify still pauses. Discord’s voice activity detection can automatically pause Spotify, and this is hands-down the most common cause I’ve encountered among gamers and streamers.
• Test your internet connection: Run a quick speed test on fast.com or speedtest.net. If your connection is dropping below 1 Mbps or showing high packet loss, that’s your culprit. Try switching from WiFi to cellular data (or vice versa) to see if the pausing stops. Sometimes it’s as simple as moving closer to your router.

Fix Discord Automatically Pausing Spotify

Discord and Spotify integration is fantastic when it works, but it’s also responsible for a huge number of random pausing complaints. The issue usually happens when Discord thinks you’re about to speak and helpfully pauses your music—except it does this even when you’re not in a voice channel.

First, open Discord and click the gear icon for User Settings. Navigate to Voice & Video settings and look for “Automatically determine input sensitivity.” Turn this OFF and manually adjust the sensitivity slider so it only picks up your voice when you’re actually speaking. Set it higher than you think you need—you can always lower it if people can’t hear you.

Next, scroll down to the “Advanced” section in Voice & Video settings. Find “Attenuation” and set it to 0%. This stops Discord from lowering or pausing other applications when voice activity is detected. While you’re there, disable “Echo Cancellation” and “Noise Suppression” temporarily to see if they’re causing conflicts.

In Spotify’s settings, you can also disconnect Discord integration entirely if you don’t use the “Listening to Spotify” status feature. Go to Spotify Settings > Social and turn off “Share my listening activity on Discord.” This completely separates the two apps and eliminates any integration-related pausing.

If you’re a streamer who needs both apps working together, consider using Spotify in your browser instead of the desktop app while streaming. The web player doesn’t integrate as deeply with Discord, which can prevent these conflicts.

Stop Multiple Device Conflicts

One morning, my Spotify kept pausing every few minutes. After checking everything else, I discovered my partner had borrowed my car, and the Bluetooth was automatically connecting to Spotify when they started the engine. Multiple device conflicts are incredibly common, especially with family plans or when you’ve logged into Spotify on various devices over the years.

Start by checking which devices are currently using your account. In the Spotify app, look at the bottom where it shows what’s playing. Tap the devices icon (it looks like a computer and speaker) to see all active devices. If you see devices you don’t recognize or aren’t currently using, that’s your problem.

The nuclear option that works every time: Go to your Spotify account overview on the web, find “Sign out everywhere,” and click it. Yes, you’ll need to log back in on all your devices, but this instantly stops any device conflicts. Change your password while you’re at it—I found out my old roommate was still using my account two years after moving out.

For Spotify Family plan users, make sure each family member is actually using their own account and not sharing the main account login. I’ve seen families sharing one premium account across five devices, which causes constant pausing as Spotify limits simultaneous streams. Each family member needs their own login—that’s the whole point of the family plan.

Set up device nicknames to easily identify what’s playing where. In the Spotify app settings, you can rename each device. Instead of “iPhone” and “iPhone (2),” use “John’s iPhone” and “Kitchen Speaker.” This makes it immediately obvious when someone else is causing your music to pause.

Android & iPhone Specific Solutions

Android Battery & Permission Settings

Android’s aggressive battery optimization is a common culprit for Spotify pausing randomly. Your phone is literally killing Spotify in the background to save battery, which causes the music to stop. Here’s how to fix it on most Android devices (settings names might vary slightly by manufacturer).

Go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Battery. Look for “Battery optimization” or “Adaptive battery” and set it to “Unrestricted” or “Don’t optimize.” On Samsung phones, you might need to go to Device Care > Battery > Background usage limits and make sure Spotify isn’t on the “Sleeping apps” list.

Next, check app permissions. Settings > Apps > Spotify > Permissions. Make sure Spotify has permission for “Background activity” or “Background data.” Without this, Android stops Spotify from running when you switch to another app or lock your screen.

Disable Data Saver mode if it’s on. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Saver and turn it off, or add Spotify to the “Unrestricted data” list. Data Saver can throttle Spotify’s connection, causing buffering and pausing issues, especially on cellular data.

iPhone Background App Refresh

iOS handles background apps differently than Android, but it can still cause Spotify to pause randomly. The main culprit is usually Background App Refresh being disabled or Low Power Mode interfering with playback.

Open Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Make sure it’s turned on globally, and specifically enabled for Spotify. This allows Spotify to maintain its connection and buffer songs even when you’re using other apps.

If you use Low Power Mode frequently, be aware that it can cause Spotify to pause when your screen locks. You can either disable Low Power Mode while listening to music, or go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and be prepared to deal with occasional pauses as a trade-off for battery life.

Check your cellular data settings too. Go to Settings > Cellular and scroll down to find Spotify. Make sure the toggle is green (enabled). If you’re on a limited data plan, also check Settings > Music > Cellular Data and ensure “Downloads” and “Streaming” are turned on if you want to use Spotify on cellular.

Fix Network and Connection Issues

Weak or unstable internet connections cause more Spotify pausing issues than you might think. The app tries to buffer the next song, fails, and pauses playback. I lived with this problem for months before realizing my router was the issue.

First, test if it’s actually a network problem. Download a few playlists for offline listening (tap the download arrow on any playlist). If offline music plays without pausing, you’ve confirmed it’s a network issue. This simple test saves hours of unnecessary troubleshooting.

For WiFi issues, try forgetting and reconnecting to your network. On your phone, go to WiFi settings, find your network, and select “Forget.” Then reconnect with the password. This forces a fresh connection and can resolve authentication issues that cause intermittent connectivity.

If you’re switching between WiFi and cellular frequently (like when leaving home), this can cause pauses. In Spotify settings, go to Audio Quality and make sure “Auto adjust quality” is turned off. Set both WiFi and Cellular streaming to the same quality level. This prevents Spotify from pausing to rebuffer when switching networks.

VPN users, pay attention: Your VPN might be causing problems. Spotify can pause when your VPN switches servers or loses connection momentarily. Try disabling your VPN temporarily, or add Spotify to your VPN’s split tunneling exceptions if that feature is available.

Deep App Troubleshooting

Clear Cache and Data

When Spotify’s cache gets corrupted, it can cause all sorts of weird behavior, including random pausing. Clearing the cache is safe and won’t delete your downloads or playlists—it just removes temporary files that might be causing problems.

On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Storage > Clear Cache. Don’t tap “Clear Data” unless you want to log in again and re-download everything. Just clear the cache first and see if that fixes the pausing.

On iPhone, you can’t clear just the cache, but you can offload the app. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Spotify > Offload App. This removes the app but keeps your data. Then tap “Reinstall App” to download a fresh copy.

For desktop users, Spotify’s cache can grow to several gigabytes. On Windows, navigate to %appdata%\Spotify\Storage and delete everything in that folder. On Mac, go to ~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client and clear it out. Restart Spotify after clearing the cache.

Clean Reinstall Process

If clearing the cache doesn’t work, a clean reinstall often does. But do it properly—simply deleting and reinstalling the app isn’t enough because it leaves behind corrupted data.

First, note down any local files or podcasts you’ve added to Spotify, as these won’t sync to your account. Then, in Spotify settings, make sure all your playlists are public or private (not local) so they’ll sync back after reinstalling.

On mobile, delete the app completely. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Spotify > Uninstall. On iPhone, press and hold the Spotify icon, tap the X, and confirm deletion. Then restart your phone before reinstalling from the app store.

On desktop, use the official Spotify uninstaller, then manually delete leftover folders. On Windows, delete C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Spotify. On Mac, delete ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify. This ensures you’re starting completely fresh.

Account Security and Management

Sometimes Spotify pauses because someone else is using your account without your knowledge. This happened to me when my account was compromised—someone in Brazil was listening to music I’d never heard of, causing my playback to pause constantly.

Check your account activity immediately. Log into Spotify on the web, go to your account overview, and look at “Privacy Settings.” Click on “Manage Apps” to see every app that has access to your Spotify account. Revoke access to anything you don’t recognize or no longer use.

Change your password even if you don’t see suspicious activity. Use a unique password you’ve never used elsewhere—password reuse is how most Spotify accounts get compromised. While you’re at it, enable two-factor authentication if Spotify has rolled it out to your account (they’re gradually adding this feature).

Review your recent listening history for songs you don’t recognize. In the desktop app, check the play queue and recently played. If you see unfamiliar artists or playlists, especially in languages you don’t speak, someone else has been using your account.

After securing your account, use “Sign out everywhere” one more time to kick off any unauthorized devices. Then log back in only on your personal devices. This completely eliminates account-sharing issues that cause random pausing.

Advanced Settings and Features

Spotify has several hidden settings that can cause or fix random pausing issues. Most users never touch these, but adjusting them can solve persistent problems that basic troubleshooting misses.

Autoplay is a common culprit. When it malfunctions, Spotify might pause instead of playing the next suggested song. Go to Settings > Playback and toggle Autoplay off, restart the app, then turn it back on. This resets the feature and often fixes pausing between songs.

Crossfade can cause issues on older devices or with certain Bluetooth speakers. If your music pauses between tracks, go to Settings > Playback > Crossfade and set it to 0 seconds. Some devices can’t handle the processing required for smooth crossfading, causing brief pauses or skips.

Audio quality settings matter more than you’d think. If you’ve set quality to “Very High” but your connection can’t maintain the required bandwidth, Spotify pauses to buffer. Go to Settings > Audio Quality and set streaming quality to “Automatic” or drop it down one level from your current setting.

For those interested in alternative solutions while troubleshooting continues, you might want to record streaming audio with Audacity to capture your favorite songs for offline listening without interruption.

Enable offline mode temporarily to diagnose whether online features are causing problems. If Spotify works perfectly in offline mode with downloaded music, you know the issue is related to streaming, account sync, or network connectivity rather than the app itself.

Bluetooth and Audio Device Issues

Bluetooth connectivity problems are a sneaky cause of Spotify pausing that many people overlook. Your headphones might be briefly disconnecting without you noticing, causing Spotify to pause automatically.

Test with wired headphones first. If the pausing stops with wired headphones but happens with Bluetooth, you’ve found your problem. The fix depends on what’s causing the Bluetooth interference.

Check your Bluetooth device battery. When wireless headphones or speakers run low on battery (usually below 20%), they can disconnect momentarily to conserve power. This triggers Spotify’s auto-pause feature. Keep your devices charged above 30% for stable playback.

Reduce Bluetooth interference by moving away from other wireless devices. Microwaves, WiFi routers, and other Bluetooth devices can interfere with your connection. I discovered my music paused every time someone used the microwave in the break room—moving to a different spot solved it instantly.

Some Bluetooth codecs cause compatibility issues with certain devices. On Android, go to Developer Options (tap Build Number 7 times to enable) and look for Bluetooth Audio Codec. Try switching between SBC, AAC, and aptX to see if one works better with your headphones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

After working through these solutions, your Spotify pausing issues should be resolved. In my experience, 90% of cases are fixed by the quick solutions, Discord settings, or dealing with multiple device conflicts. The remaining 10% usually require the deeper troubleshooting steps we covered.

If you’ve tried everything and Spotify still pauses randomly, it’s time to contact Spotify Support directly. They can check server-side issues with your account that we can’t see from the user end. Make sure to tell them which solutions you’ve already tried to save time.

Once you’ve fixed the pausing issue, why not enhance your Spotify experience? Check out these creative Spotify playlist names to better organize your music collection. A well-organized library makes it easier to spot when something’s wrong with your account.

For those who continue experiencing persistent issues despite all troubleshooting attempts, you might want to consider your options. Some users choose to permanently delete your Spotify account and switch to alternative music streaming services. Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music are all solid alternatives that might work better with your specific setup.

Remember, technology should make our lives easier, not frustrate us with constant interruptions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Spotify’s support team if these solutions don’t work—they’re generally helpful and can access diagnostic tools we can’t. Happy listening, and may your music never pause unexpectedly again!