How to Add Your Own Music to Spotify: The Complete Guide

Have you ever recorded a track, mixed a masterpiece, or just have rare local audio files that aren’t on streaming, and wished you could stream them right alongside your favorite mainstream hits?

Even if you aren’t distributing your music commercially through a label, Spotify makes it surprisingly easy to play your own audio files on your devices using a feature called Local Files.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get your personal tracks playing on your Spotify app, whether you are using a desktop or mobile device.

Part 1: Preparing Your Music Files

Before touching Spotify, you need to make sure your audio files are ready to play nice with the app. Spotify accepts specific file formats for local playback.

• Supported Formats: MP3, M4P (unless video), and MP4 (if QuickTime is installed on your computer). Note that Apple Music’s DRM-protected AAC files (.m4a) typically will not work.
• Organization Tip: Create a dedicated folder on your computer (for example, named “Spotify Local Files”) and drop all your custom tracks, unreleased demos, or podcast episodes in there. Keeping them in one spot prevents them from accidentally getting deleted or moved later.

Part 2: Setting Up Local Files on Desktop

The easiest way to import your music is through the Spotify desktop application (Mac or Windows). Once you sync them here, you can easily access them on your phone, too.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open the Spotify desktop app and click on your Profile picture in the top right corner.
2. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Local Files.
4. Toggle the switch for Show audio files from this computer to the On position.
5. Click the Add a source button that appears right below it.
6. A window will pop up—find and select the folder on your computer where your music files are saved, then click Open.

Your custom tracks are now imported! To find them in your library:

• Look at the left-hand sidebar and click on your Library (or look for a newly generated playlist/folder named Local Files).
• You can now drag and drop these tracks into any custom playlist you want.

Part 3: Listening to Your Local Music on Mobile (iOS & Android)

Listening to your custom tracks on your computer is great, but listening to them on your phone while on the go is the ultimate goal. To sync your local files to your phone, follow these rules:

1. Same Wi-Fi Network: Make sure your phone and your computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Same Account: Log into the exact same Spotify account on both devices.
3. Create a Playlist: On your desktop app, put all your local files into a brand-new, dedicated playlist (