How to fix
“The Spotify application is not responding” error
on Windows

Hello. When I tried to open Spotify I received the "The Spotify application is not responding" error on my Windows computer. What should I do to fix this?

With 406 million monthly active users and 180 million paying subscribers as of December 2021, Spotify is one of the world's most popular music streaming service providers. It has a library with digital recordings of copyrighted songs, podcasts, and even learning material.

However, when trying to use the Spotify application on Windows, users can encounter various issues. We previously wrote about song change notifications not working on Windows 11, and the "Something went wrong" error. One of the most common issues that users encounter when trying to open Spotify on Windows is "The Spotify application is not responding" error.

It is unknown what exactly causes this problem. It could be the Hardware Acceleration setting in Spotify, the Windows Defender Firewall, etc. In this guide, you will find 

"The Spotify application is not responding" error in Windows could also be caused by cache[ref en-1] which is often the culprit of many malfunctions. We suggest employing a maintenance tool like [d1] that can clear cookies and cache automatically. This powerful software can also fix various system errors, BSODs,[ref en-2] corrupted files, and registry[ref en-3] issues which can help in keeping the system running smoothly. Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Solution 1. Force Quit Spotify App

For most people, going to the Task Manager and ending the Spotify process helped solve the issue.

• Hold down Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager
• Right-click Spotify and click End task

• Close the Task Manager and relaunch Spotify

Solution 2. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration in Spotify helps optimize the performance of the app on top of the software, which should lead to an overall better quality music listening experience. However, some people found that disabling this feature helped in resolving "The Spotify application is not responding" error.

• Open Spotify
• In the top-left corner, click the three dots to open the drop-down menu
• Select Edit and click Preferences
• In the Settings window, scroll to find the Compatibility section

• Toggle off the slider next to Hardware acceleration
• Restart Spotify

Solution 3. Allow Spotify to Run through the Firewall

The Windows Defender Firewall might be blocking Spotify from launching because it mistakenly perceives it as a threat. Follow the steps below to check your Firewall settings:

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box
• Type in firewall.cpl and click OK
• Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall

• Click Change settings
• Scroll down and locate Spotify.exe
• Mark the Private and Public checkboxes next to Spotify.exe and click OK

Solution 4. Clear Spotify’s Cache

Cache is a software component that stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. However, the buildup of cache is known to cause various malfunctions.

• Close Spotify if it is running
• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog
• Type %AppData% and click OK
• Access the Spotify folder and then open the Users folder
• Go to your user folder

• Right-click the local-files.bnk file and click Delete
• Restart Spotify

Solution 5. Reinstall Spotify

If none of the above methods fixed the error, uninstall Spotify and see if it get rids of the problem:

• Go to Apps and Features
• Locate Spotify in the list, press on it, and click Uninstall
• Click Uninstall again to confirm the removal
• Click OK when prompted and restart your PC

• Open your web browser and go to the official Spotify website
• Click on the Download button
• Once downloaded, run SpotifySetup.exe
• Click Log In
• Check if the issue disappeared