Spotify also has apps for the Windows operating system in addition to Android and iOS. However, compared to the Android and iOS versions, the Windows version is less optimized and has some bugs.

It's common to encounter errors when relying on the Spotify desktop app to listen to music. The error message "Spotify can't play this right now" has been worrying PC users recently. So, if you've encountered this error message, keep reading this guide. 🎧

Why do I get the error 'Spotify can't play this right now'?

The reason behind the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error message on Windows has yet to be discovered. However, it appears to be related to an unstable internet connection, outdated cache files, corrupted Spotify app data, among other things.

Since the exact reason for the error message has not yet been determined, we must rely on some general methods to resolve it. The error message itself doesn't indicate any specific reason.

It's complicated Fix the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error in Windows 10/11 because you need to follow different methods. You have to try these methods until the problem is resolved.

1. Restart the Spotify Desktop App

If you encounter the error message 'Spotify can't play this right now,' you should reopen the app.

Close and reopen the application Spotify desktop app. Reopening the Spotify desktop app will refresh the server connection and resolve the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error message. 🔄

2. Check Your Internet

If your internet isn't working, no matter how hard you try, you won't be able to play songs on Spotify. The message "Spotify can't play this right now" usually appears when the desktop app is unable to exchange data with its server.

When the desktop app fails to exchange data, users see the error message 'Spotify can't play this right now.'

Therefore, before continuing with other methods, check if your internet connection is working and stable. If your internet is working but you're still receiving the error, continue with the next methods.

3. Check if Spotify is down

If your internet is working and you've reopened the Spotify desktop app but still see the error message 'Spotify can't play this right now,' you need to check if Spotify is down.

Spotify will only work if the servers are active. When the Spotify servers are down, the desktop app may display various errors, including "Spotify can't play this right now."

To confirm that Spotify is not experiencing a server outage, you should check the Spotify status page on DownDetectorIf the servers are down, you should wait a few minutes or a few hours. ⏳

4. Disable Speakers While Playing and Re-Enable Them

Many users in the Spotify community have claimed to have resolved the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error by disabling and enabling speakers from the playback settings.

To resolve the issue, you'll need to change your PC's speaker playback settings. Here's how:

1. Click on Windows Search and writes System Sound.

2. Open the app Change System Sounds from the list.

3. Now, switch to the tab Reproduction.

4. Right-click on your current audio device and select Disable. Once done, click on Apply.

5. Now, right click on your audio device and select Enable. Once you have done this, click on the button Apply.

5. Disable Hardware Acceleration

The Hardware Acceleration feature is available on the desktop version of Spotify. When enabled, the workload is transferred to the dedicated GPU, freeing up the CPU for other tasks.

Hardware acceleration improves Spotify's visual performance, but can sometimes cause errors. To fix the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error, try disable hardware acceleration.

1. Open the Spotify desktop app and click on the three points.

2. From the list of options that appears, select Edit > Preferences.

3. Now, click on the option Show Advanced Settings on the Settings page.

4. Now in the Compatibility section, turn off the switch Enable Hardware Acceleration

6. Change Audio Playback Quality

If you used to be a Spotify Premium user but recently canceled your subscription, your Spotify desktop app may still attempt to play music in high quality.

This can trigger the error message 'Spotify can't play this right now.' So, if you've switched to Spotify's free plan, you should also adjust the audio quality.

1. Launch the Spotify app on your desktop and click on your profile picture in the upper right corner.

2. From the list of options that appears, click on Settings.

3. In Settings, scroll down to Audio Quality. Then, select Automatic in Audio Quality and save the changes.

Here's how to change the audio quality on Spotify to resolve the 'Spotify can't play this right now' message.

7. Set the Crossfade Value to 0

If you're still receiving the error message "Spotify can't play this right now" even after following all the methods, you need to set the crossfade value to 0. The crossfading feature allows for smooth transitions between songs in a playlist, but it can sometimes cause playback issues. Here's how to set the crossfade value to 0.

1. First, open the Spotify app on your desktop computer. Once done, click on your user name.

2. From the list of options that appears, select Settings.

3. On the Settings screen, scroll down to Playback. Now, either deactivate the option Crossfade Songs either sets its value to 0.

8. Change the Default Format Settings for Your Speakers

Changing the speaker output format has already helped many users resolve the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error message. Therefore, in this method, you need to change the default format settings for your PC speakers.

1. First, click on the button Windows startup and select Settings.

2. In Settings, switch to the System section and select Sounds.

3. Click on your connected speaker and go to the format settings.

4. Click the Format drop-down menu and select a lower or higher HZ audio format.

You should try different formats until you find the one that resolves the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error message. 🎶

9. Clear the Spotify App Cache on Desktop

If none of the methods worked, you should try clearing the cache file of the Spotify app on your desktop. To do so, follow the simple steps below.

1. Open the Spotify app on your desktop and click on your profile picture.

2. From the list of options that appears, select Settings.

3. In Settings, scroll down to the Storage section. Then click Clear Cache.

Once done, reopen your Spotify desktop app to resolve the 'Spotify can't play this right now' error message.

10. Reinstall the Spotify Desktop App

If you've made it this far and none of the methods have worked, then your only remaining option is to reinstall the Spotify desktop app.

You can try uninstalling the Spotify app on your Windows computer and reinstalling it. However, before uninstalling, be sure to back up your playlists. This will also remove user-defined settings, cache, and data files from your computer.

So, these are some of the best ways to solve the message from error 'Spotify cannot play this now'If you need more help troubleshooting the Spotify error message, let us know in the comments. Also, if the article helped you, share it with your friends. 📲