Can you download music from Spotify to mac?

It’s a common issue. Spotify songs are protected and stored in encrypted OGG format, which is why you can’t simply move or play them outside the Spotify app. Even if the download button is available, the files remain locked to the Spotify ecosystem.

There are usually two ways people handle this on Mac:

• Recording with Au_dacity (free method). You can set Au_dacity to record your Mac’s system audio while Spotify is playing. This will save the songs as MP3 or WAV files. It’s free and works for any track, but it’s time-consuming since you need to record each song in real time, and the quality may vary depending on your audio settings.
  
  
• Using a dedicated Spotify downloader. Tools like Tune Fab Spotify Music Conver ter
   can directly convert Spotify tracks, albums, or playlists into MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC on Mac. It supports batch downloads, keeps ID3 tags (artist, album, cover, etc.), and allows you to choose high-quality output (up to 320kbps). This way, you can build an offline music library that works in any player, not just Spotify.
  
  

So if you just need a few tracks, Au_dacity might do the job. But if you want a full library for offline use on your Mac, a converter is usually more efficient.

I wanted to download playlist from Spotify to Mac before, and I tried many methods. Later, I found that Spotify Web Player caches audio streams when playing. In fact, you can use the terminal curl to grab these files. It is a semi-automatic method suitable for technical users who like to tinker.

1. Open Chrome or Edge browser, enter Spotify Web Player, and log in to your account.
2. Press F12 to open the developer tools, then click the Network tab.
3. Switch to the "Media" option, and then play Spotify songs.
4. Find the .mp4 or .ogg file in the request list, right-click to copy the file link.
5. Open the Mac terminal and run the curl command to download the audio stream:

curl -o song.ogg "audio file link"

If you want to convert to MP3, you can use ffffmppeg:

fffmepeg -i song.ogg -acodec libmp3lame output.mp3

If you know how to use the terminal and are willing to manually find the audio link, this method can download music from Spotify to Mac and retain the original sound quality. Compared with recording, this method has better sound quality, but the operation is slightly complicated and is suitable for technical users.

If you're recording audio for personal use (e.g., creating a backup of music you already own), here's how you could download songs from Spotify to Mac by recording the audio.

1. Tools like Audio Hijack (paid) can capture audio playing on your Mac. Set the in

2. Set the input source to the system audio on Mac or Spotify app.

3. Start playing the song you want to record. 

4. Begin recording in the software while the song plays.

5. Once the song finishes, stop the recording and save the file in your desired format (e.g., MP3).

Recording Spotify audio is totally and not against their terms. Instead, consider using Spotify Premium or purchasing music legally to support the artists you love. 

If you're unable to download songs from Spotify to Mac as usual, here are a few alternatives:

• Spotify Web Player: You can use the web player if you need to access songs temporarily without downloading.
• Create Playlists: You can add your favorite songs to a playlist that you can easily access. Ensure you’re connected to the internet to play them.
• Different Devices: If you're having issues exclusively on Mac, you might try another device, such as your smartphone, to download songs there for offline listening.

Converting or Using Other Tools:
If you really need to play the downloaded songs outside of Spotify, note that Spotify’s content is encrypted, meaning it cannot be directly converted to unprotected formats legally. However, there are third-party tools that claim to remove this encryption, but it's important to proceed with caution, as they may violate Spotify’s terms of service.

Remember that downloading music from Spotify to Mac using third-party tools or converting formats could violate Spotify’s terms of service, and it may be illegal depending on your local laws. Always consider supporting artists through legal avenues to ensure they receive fair compensation for their work.

I also wanted to download playlists or songs from Spotify to Mac before, but I didn't want to install a bunch of third-party software, so I tried the built-in Automator recording on Mac. It's actually quite useful. Although it can't be downloaded directly, it can record the audio played by Spotify and finally export it to MP3, which is a workaround.

Specific operation (my experience)

1. Open Automator (in Applications > Automator).
2. Create a new "Workflow" and select Record Audio.
3. Select "Built-in Input" in the input device. If your Mac doesn't have Stereo Mix, you can create an Aggregate Device in Audio MIDI Setup to synchronize the system audio input and output.
4. Open QuickTime Player, select New Audio Recording, and then select the audio source in Automator.
5. Open Spotify, play the playlist you want to record, and click the "Record" button at the same time.
6. After the playlist is finished, stop recording and then export MP3 or AAC files.

My experience

• No third-party software is required, no need to worry about security issues, and the recorded sound quality is also good.
• You need to wait for the playlist to finish playing, and you need to manually edit when recording multiple songs, which is time-consuming.

If you don’t want to install any software, but want to download playlist from Spotify to Mac, this method is feasible, but you need a little patience. It is quite convenient for those who only want to save a small number of songs!

Spotify's Offline Mode is a feature available to Spotify Premium subscribers that allows you to download songs, albums, playlists, or podcasts to your device for offline listening. This is a legal and convenient way to enjoy your favorite music without an internet connection. 

What is Spotify Offline Mode?

• Offline Mode lets you download content to your device so you can listen to it without an active internet connection.
• Downloaded content is encrypted and can only be played within the Spotify app.
• You need a Spotify Premium subscription to use this feature.

How to Download Music from Spotify on Mac

Step 1: Launch the Spotify app on your Mac.

Step 2: Navigate to the playlist, album, or podcast you want to download.

• For Playlists: Toggle the Download switch (it looks like a downward arrow) at the top of the playlist.
• For Albums: Click the Download button (downward arrow) next to the album name.
• For Podcasts: Toggle the Download switch on the podcast episode.
• Wait for the Download to Complete:

Step 3: A green downward arrow will appear next to the downloaded content once it’s ready for offline listening.

Step 4: Go to Settings (click your profile name in the top-right corner > Settings). Scroll down to Playback and toggle on Offline Mode. Now, you can only access the downloaded content.

Important Notes

• Storage Space: Downloaded content takes up storage on your device, so ensure you have enough space.
• Device Limit: You can download music on up to 5 devices per account, but you can only play on one device at a time.
• Offline Expiry: If you don’t go online for 30 days, your offline downloads will expire, and you’ll need to reconnect to the internet to refresh them.

By using Spotify's Offline Mode, you can enjoy your favorite music legally and without an internet connection. 

Spotify's functionality regarding music downloads is indeed the same across platforms, but there are some nuances to know about. If you're encountering issues with certain songs being un-download songs from spotify to Mac, here are some potential reasons and solutions:

Reasons for the Gray Download Button:

• Availability: Not all songs on Spotify are available for download due to licensing issues. Some tracks may be restricted in certain regions or under certain accounts.
• Subscription Level: Only Premium subscribers can download music for offline listening. Make sure that your account is indeed a Premium subscription.
• Device Compatibility: Some songs may not be available for offline download on certain devices.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Check Your Subscription: Ensure that your Spotify account is active and has a Premium subscription.
• Update Spotify: Make sure you're using the latest version of the Spotify app on your Mac. Updates often fix bugs that may affect functionality.
• Reinstalling Spotify: Sometimes, reinstalling the app can solve various issues related to downloading and playback.

I have tried downloading songs from Spotify to Mac on Mac before. I have tried several methods and summarized 3 more reliable ones. See which one is suitable for you.

1. Spotify Premium official download (the simplest, but with limitations)
Suitable for: Already subscribed to Spotify Premium, just need to listen offline in Spotify.
Operation:

1. Open Spotify for Mac and log in to Premium account.
2. On the playlist or album page, find the "Download" button and click it to cache it locally.
3. It can only be played in Spotify, and cannot be exported to MP3 or played across devices.

The downloaded songs are in encrypted format and cannot be played on other players.
After the subscription expires, the downloaded songs will become invalid.

Method 2: Mac's built-in "Audio MIDI Setup" recording 
If you are using the free version of Spotify, you can use the tools that come with Mac to record music.

Advantages: No software installation is required, and Spotify songs can be converted into audio files.
 Disadvantages: Recording requires real-time playback, which is inefficient and requires manual editing.

Specific steps:

1. Open "Audio MIDI Setup" (found in Applications > Utilities).
2. Click "Create Aggregate Device" and select "Built-in Output" and "Built-in Input".
3. Open QuickTime Player and click "File" > "New Audio Recording".
4. Play a song on Spotify and start QuickTime recording at the same time.
5. Click "Stop" after recording, and then export the audio file (the format can be MP3, AAC, WAV, etc.).

⚠️ Limitations:

Can only record in real time, and you have to wait 3 minutes for 3 minutes of playback.

Method 3: Use the browser "Developer Tools" to grab the audio stream 
When the web version of Spotify is playing, it actually loads the audio stream file, which we can find with the "Developer Tools".

1. Open Spotify Web Player (URL: https://open.spotify.com) with Chrome or Edge browser.
2. Press F12 to open the "Developer Tools" and switch to the "Network" tab.
3. Click "Media" and then play Spotify songs.
4. Find the .mp4 or .ogg file, right-click to copy the link, and open it in a new browser tab.
5. Right-click "Save As" to download the audio file, and then you can use fffempeg to convert the format.

fffmepeg -i downloaded_audio.ogg -acodec libmp3lame output.mp3

⚠️ Limitations:

Not all songs can be used with this method, sometimes the audio is segmented.

Although there is no official method to download songs from Spotify to Mac, these solutions can be implemented as workarounds. Try which one works for you!