Spotify not working with VPN: 5 FIXES (walkthrough)

Spotify has millions of listeners around the world, but you need a VPN in some countries to unlock it. If the music streamer fails to load while you have an active VPN connection, see our walkthrough. We can help you if Spotify isn’t working with your VPN.

The best VPNs for Spotify are easy to configure, plus they let you access a wider range of music. Our research shows that, if you can’t access Spotify, your VPN servers might have been blocked. Keep reading for the details.

Which VPNs work with Spotify?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why is my VPN not working with Spotify?

You might have landed on this article because your current VPN fails to unlock Spotify playlists and albums. If you’re attempting to use the website or app from a restricted territory, your connection could be blocked. However, the best VPNs for Spotify can help you listen to your favourite tunes from anywhere in the world.

Your current VPN isn’t working and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN could well be blacklisted.

How does Spotify detect VPNs?

If your device isn’t hiding your real location, Spotify will interfere with the server you’re using. Bad VPNs take a long time to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to region-locked albums, songs and podcasts on Spotify.

In summary, reasons why Spotify doesn’t work:

• The music service has blacklisted your VPN server
• You have a bad internet connection
• Cookies are revealing your true location to the music streamer
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address

Spotify fixes

1. Update your VPN

There’s no point trying to use a VPN with Spotify that isn’t up-to-date. To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. You should be able to find an Update option in there. This is a good place to start if Spotify isn’t working with your VPN.

On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile and choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. On iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the corner of the screen.

2. Swap your VPN server

If Spotify isn’t running on your device, the issue may lie with your VPN server, so swapping to an alternative could be the answer. Try disconnecting from the server you’re currently using.

3. Message Customer Support

The most popular VPNs employ teams to address technical issues. If you’re having trouble using Spotify from a country where it’s not officially supported, reach out to them for assistance.

Access your VPN provider’s website and head to the Support or Contact Us pages. Some VPNs even provide a 24/7 live chat service for their members, which is great if you’re reaching out late in the day.

See also: How we test VPNs

4. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t work, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open both your VPN and Spotify to see what the results are.

5. Check your internet connection

To do this, disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for Spotify

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

To access region-locked songs and albums from anywhere, use ExpressVPN. It’s user-friendly, fast and effective for accessing tunes. With ExpressVPN, all you need to do is connect to a server and you can easily enjoy music from anywhere. Highly recommended if Spotify isn’t working with your VPN.

ExpressVPN hides your IP address, making it impossible for websites to see that you’re enjoying content from a non-supported country. With servers available in more than 90 countries, every ExpressVPN user can benefit from global coverage. ExpressVPN is compatible with various devices including Mac, Android, and iOS smartphones.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is an excellent choice if you want a Spotify-compatible VPN. The service employs 256-bit encryption to ward off cybercriminals, also featuring public wi-fi security to safeguard your devices from malware when connected to hotspots in public areas.

With Ivacy, you can easily access albums abroad without anyone (including your ISP) being aware. This is due to Ivacy’s stringent no-logs policy, which prevents your sensitive personal information from being sold to nefarious third parties.

Ivacy is among the most popular VPNs proven to work on Spotify. By trying it out today, you can gain immediate access to over 3,000 VPN servers worldwide. A single Ivacy subscription provides coverage for up to 10 devices at once, making it ideal for music-loving families.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN is another exceptional VPN that lets you listen to region-locked music on Spotify. It has servers distributed worldwide, safeguarded by military-grade encryption. Furthermore, NordVPN’s advanced encryption technology allows you to stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks without compromising speed.

The servers on offer are highly secure, and you can connect without divulging your personal information. NordVPN doesn’t spy on you, either. Moreover, you can explore the CyberSec feature, which effectively blocks dubious websites and reduces the likelihood of your device being infected with data-stealing malware.

With NordVPN, you can enjoy your favourite artists abroad within minutes. Simply connect to a VPN server and go from there. Plus, NordVPN offers a 24/7 live chat service to assist you whenever necessary.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our top recommendations for accessing music on Spotify. With optimised servers designed to reduce load times, it’s easy to use and provides a great streaming experience.

One of the best features of PureVPN is the encryption of data, which ensures complete anonymity while streaming. Additionally, there’s a 24-hour support team available to answer any questions you might have. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country, PureVPN makes it easy to bypass geo-locked apps.

With over 6,500 servers in more than 75 countries worldwide, PureVPN provides ample opportunities for unlocking tunes on Spotify. Plus, if you’re not completely satisfied after trying it out, the brand offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use a VPN with Spotify

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From your device, download and open the ExpressVPN app and select a server in a country that officially supports Spotify – the UK, for example.
4. Once you’re connected, head to Spotify.
5. Log in to your Spotify account and enjoy.

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