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PhoenixAdler's avatar
PhoenixAdler
Iron Contributor
Nov 19, 2025

Can you download music from spotify to usb for listening on my car

Alright, so my car stereo is ancient and my only option is a USB port. I want to bump my Spotify playlists in there, but apparently you can't just drag and drop the files as it does not work at all. I know I'm not the only one who's tried to do this.

What's the move here? I'm looking for the best way to download music from spotify to usb and slap them on my flash drive. I need a converter that doesn't look like it was made in 1998. Also, any pro-tips on the best format to use so my car actually reads the **bleep** thing would be a lifesaver.

Thanks, folks.

7 Replies

  • MaverickNova's avatar
    MaverickNova
    Iron Contributor

    For doing this, you need a Spotify music downloader is a third-party tool (not made by Spotify) that converts Spotify songs, playlists, or albums into standard audio files like MP3, WAV, or FLAC. Since Spotify downloads inside the app are encrypted and can’t be used outside Spotify, these tools recreate the audio and save it in an open format so you can play the music on devices like car stereos, MP3 players, or offline computers. They work by accessing Spotify’s audio stream (with your account) and converting it into regular files that are no longer locked by Spotify’s DRM.

    How to download music from spotify to usb or sd card

    1. Install a Spotify downloader app on your PC or Mac.
    2. Open the downloader and log in to your Spotify account. This allows the tool to load your playlists and albums.
    3. Copy and paste the Spotify song/playlist link or select the music directly inside the downloader’s interface.
    4. Choose your output format. Most tools let you select MP3, WAV, or FLAC, plus bitrate and quality.
    5. The tool converts the Spotify tracks from encrypted format into normal files.
    6. You can then transfer the MP3s to a USB drive, SD card, car stereo, or phone.

     

    These tools are not official and are not supported by Spotify. They are widely used for personal offline playback, but they bypass Spotify’s DRM, so they should only be used responsibly and legally for your own listening.

  • EzraOak's avatar
    EzraOak
    Iron Contributor

    My answer is No! You cannot directly download music from Spotify to USB drive and save it as a playable MP3 file. Spotify uses encrypted files to prevent this. The "Download" feature is only for offline listening within the Spotify app.

    Here is the most practical free method that doesn't involve sketchy software.

    1. Use a website like ytmq3*cc or online video converter*com.
    2. Find Your Song on Website: Search for the official music video, lyric video, or the audio track for the song you want from your Spotify playlist.
    3. Copy its URL: Copy its link from the address bar.
    4. Start Convert : Visit your chosen converter website, paste the URL, and select MP3 as the format. Choose the highest audio quality (usually 320 kbps).
    5. Download the File: Click convert and download the file to your computer.
    Repeat: Do this for every song in your playlist. It's manual, but it's free.

     

     

  • Spotify downloads are encrypted using DRM, which prevents the files from being opened or played outside the Spotify app. Even if you use Spotify Premium, the songs are stored in a hidden folder on your device as cache files, not standard audio formats like MP3 or WAV. This encryption ensures that the downloaded tracks cannot be copied, transferred, or used with other apps or devices.

    Because of this protection, your car’s audio system cannot read or recognize Spotify’s downloaded files. Cars expect normal audio files, but Spotify’s encrypted cache files are unreadable to anything except the Spotify app. That’s why the only way to play Spotify in a car is by streaming through Bluetooth, AUX, CarPlay, or Android Auto — not by transferring the downloaded files.

    You need to find other ways to download music from spotify to usb and it is easy to find them online.

  • Jrueui's avatar
    Jrueui
    Iron Contributor

    In order to listen to your favorite songs freely in your car, is downloading music from Spotify to USB the only option? No! Here, I would like to recommend a method to you. This method bypasses Spotify completely by using free music from platforms where artists give away their music.

    • SoundCloud: Thousands of artists, especially in electronic, hip-hop, and indie, offer free downloads directly on their tracks. Look for the "Download" button under the waveform.
      Bandcamp: Many artists, especially emerging ones, use the "name your price" option, which you can set to $0 to download their music for free in high-quality MP3 or FLAC.
      Free Music Archive (FMA): A curated library of legal-to-download music.

     

    Steps:

    1. Search for your favorite artists or discover new ones on these platforms.
    2. When you find a track/album with a free download, get the MP3 file.
    3. Drag and drop that file directly onto your USB drive.

     

    Why it's better than the method of downloading music from Spotify to USB:
    100% Legal and Ethical: You're supporting artists who choose to share their work freely.
    High Quality: You get direct MP3 files.
    No Conversion Needed: It's just downloading files.

  • If you have Spotify Premium, you can download playlists and songs within the app for offline listening, but these files are stored in a protected format and can't be directly transferred to a USB drive. So the possibility of downloading music from Spotify to USB is extremely low. If your car has an AUX input, you can use the oldest trick in the book.

    The Tools:

    • A male-to-male 3.5mm AUX cable.
    • A second device (like an old phone or laptop) with a "Voice Memos" or recording app.
    • Your main phone/computer playing Spotify.

    The Process:

    1. Connect the AUX cable from the headphone jack of your main device (playing Spotify) to the microphone/line-in jack of your recording device.
    2. Start recording on the second device.
    3. Press play on your main device.
    4. You are now recording the audio directly from the cable, bypassing your computer's internal sound.
  • Kaydenyo's avatar
    Kaydenyo
    Iron Contributor

    How to download music from Spotify to USB? I guess it's quite difficult to do that, but you can record your songs. OBS Studio is a free, open-source software used for streaming and recording videos. If you plan to record your own music or record Spotify streaming for personal use. OBS can record your screen or audio, but it's not designed for music downloading.

    1. Download & Install OBS
    2. Configure Audio Settings
      Open OBS.
      Go to Settings > Audio.
      Under Devices, find Desktop Audio.
      Choose your default system sound device (e.g., "Built-in Output" or your speakers/headphones).
    3. Set Up Recording Scene
      Click the + button in the Scenes panel.
      Name it (e.g., "Spotify Recording").
      No need to add video sources unless you want to record your screen.
    4. Start Recording
      Click Start Recording in OBS.
      Play your Spotify music on your computer.
      OBS will record the audio playing through your system.
    5. Stop Recording
      When the music finishes or you want to stop:
      Click Stop Recording in OBS.
      The recording will be saved to your default output folder (configured in Settings > Output > Recording).

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