If your Spotify app suddenly stopped working last April 16, don’t worry—you’re not the only one facing the silence. Tens of thousands of users across the globe have reported issues with the world’s leading music streaming platform.
From malfunctioning apps to tracks that just won’t play, Spotify is experiencing widespread technical issues. The downtime started in the morning and impacted almost all versions of the service, including the mobile app, web player, and desktop client.
Spotify Outage: What’s Going On?
At approximately 9 AM ET on April 16, upset Spotify customers overran social media sites such as X, complaining that either the app wouldn’t load or that it wouldn’t stream music. Spotify acknowledged the glitch on their official X account, stating they were aware of some issues at that time.
By 10 AM, the real-time outage-monitoring site DownDetector.com displayed a staggering increase, with nearly 50,000 issue reports.
Although complaints started to recede by 11 AM, it was not necessarily due to resolution. The vast majority of users were merely waiting out the problem, especially since Spotify’s support page itself was also experiencing loading issues.
No, It’s Not a Hack
Rumors emerged online suggesting Spotify had been hacked, but the official @SpotifyStatus account clarified that this wasn’t the case. Although the exact reason for the disruption has not been disclosed, the company assured users that engineers are addressing the issue.
With over 675 million active users globally, this outage is significant—not only for daily listeners but also for artists and podcasters who rely on Spotify’s platform to connect with their audience.
Best Spotify Alternatives You Can Use Right Now
If you’re eager to satisfy your music cravings while Spotify is down, consider these three top alternatives:
Apple Music
Pros:
- Offers Spatial Audio and Hi-Res Lossless streaming.
- Seamlessly integrates your iTunes downloads with streaming content.
- Provides smart recommendations from both human curators and AI.
- Optimized for smooth use on iOS and Apple devices.
Cons:
- Not as smooth on Android and PC.
Best for: Apple device users and audiophiles looking for immersive sound.
Qobuz
Pros:
- Features a beautiful, intuitive app interface.
- Streams 24-bit Hi-Res audio without needing external decoders.
- Includes a built-in download store for purchasing favorite tracks.
Cons:
- No support for spatial audio technologies.
Best for: Audiophiles and music collectors who prioritize sound quality and ownership.
Amazon Music Unlimited
Pros:
- More affordable for Amazon Prime members.
- Displays lyrics in real time on the Now Playing screen.
- Supports hi-res and spatial audio (Dolby Atmos & Sony 360 Reality Audio).
- Integrates with all Echo devices and Alexa.
Cons:
- Lacks artist bios and background information.
- No longer has a music locker for personal uploads.
Best for: Budget-conscious listeners and smart home users.
Originally published on Tech Times
