How to Play Spotify on JRiver [2 Easy and Proven Ways]

Part 1. How to Live Stream Spotify to JRiver for Free

First, let's check the quick, easy and free way to play Spotify through JRiver Media Center. That is to use the built-in WDM (Windows Driver Model) Driver feature in the JRiver program. This function can turn JRiver into your computer's default sound device. That means anything that plays audio on your computer will be processed by JRiver. So, you can use this feature to route audio from Spotify to JRiver directly. Now, let's learn the detailed steps to make it.

Step 1. Make sure that you have installed the JRiver WDM Driver on your computer. Typically, you will be asked to install it during the JRiver Media Center installation. If you haven't installed it, please go to JRiver's Tools > Options > General > Features and check the box for 'WDM Driver' to install it. Then you will be asked to restart your computer.

Step 2. Open the JRiver Media Center, go to the search bar, type 'WDM' and choose 'WDM Driver'. Or, you can go to Options > Audio > Advanced. Then ensure that the box 'Allow JRiver's WDM Driver to be the default system audio device' is checked. This lets other apps recognize JRiver as an available audio output device.

Step 3. Locate the speaker icon on your Windows taskbar and click it. Then choose 'Sounds' or 'Open Sound Settings' to go to your playback devices. Here you will see the 'JRiver Media Center' option in the list, then right-click it and choose 'Set as Default Device'. This will tell your computer to send all audio to JRiver.

Step 4. Now, start the Spotify desktop app and play any track you want. Once played, the sound will be routed through JRiver and you will see the track in the Playing Now screen in JRiver. Here you can control music playback, apply equalization, room correction and other DSP studio effects.

Note: This method is a real-time playback and live stream only. It won't add music from Spotify to JRiver music library. When you close the Spotify app, the music will stop at the same time. Besides, the sound from your Windows operating system may also play through JRiver.

Part 2. How to Play Spotify on JRriver with High Quality Permanently

Using the WDM driver to stream Spotify to JRiver is not enough for some people, especially audiophiles. You may want to have a full control of Spotify music, like offline playback, manage Spotify music in JRiver library and so on. In this case, the most effective solution is to convert your Spotify music files into DRM-free local files that JRiver can import, scan and manage.

This method needs a dedicated tool like AudFree Spotify Music Converter. It is recommended to you for it can download and extract Spotify tracks to MP3, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, WAV and M4B files. You can then add songs of Spotify to JRiver and listen to them with no network connection. The lossless music files offered by the AudFree software are preserved with their ID3 tags, including their titles, genre, group, year, album cover, etc. You can gain the tracks in a coffee time since the AudFree Spotify to JRiver Converter runs at 13X faster speed.

Now, you can use the AudFree Spotify Music Downloader to keep Spotify songs forever for JRiver. Please do what we show you below.

Step 1 Load Spotify Tracks to AudFree Program

When you open the AudFree Spotify Music Converter on your computer after you install it, you can see its main interface with the built-in Spotify web player. Log in to your Spotify account and choose the songs on Spotify to convert the format. Then hit the "+" icon and tap the 'Add to list' button to upload the songs.

Step 2 Select Output Format of Spotify Songs for JRiver

Click Menu > "Preferences" > "Conversion" option, you can then pick your favorite format and customize the channel, bit rate and sample rate. As JRiver supports files in the format of MP3, FLAC, APE, ALAC, WM, AIFF, WAV, etc., you are suggested to set the output format as FLAC, MP3 and WAV. Additionally, you can archive the output files by Artist or Album.

Step 3Start to Convert Spotify Music for JRiver

Tap on the button "Convert" to export Spotify playlists in batch. You can get a 30-second converted Spotify track if you use the free version of the AudFree Spotify Music Converter. You can locate the converted files in the output folder when the process is done.

Step 4Add Spotify to JRiver

With all the converted Spotify songs on your computer, you can directly import them to JRiver. Here is a short guide for you. Then you can freely play the music from Spotify through JRiver.

Step 1. Open JRiver and head to File > Library > Import.

Step 2. Choose 'Configure Auto-Import' > 'Next' in the pop-up window.

Step 3. Now, tap 'Add' to proceed to add the folder with the converted Spotify music files.

Step 4. At last, complete the wizard. Then JRiver will scan this folder and import any new music you convert automatically.

After that, your local Spotify music files will be in your JRiver library as high-quality and permanent local files. Then you can manage them and play them offline on JRiver with all metadata.

Part 3. Compare 2 Ways to Stream Spotify to JRiver

The ways above both help you play Spotify music on JRiver Media Center. But they are totally different. So, which one should you choose from? If you have no idea, check the comparison table below to decide.

Part 4. FAQs about Spotify on JRiver

Is There an Official Spotify Plugin for JRiver?

No, there is no official Spotify plugin for JRiver Media Center currently.

Can JRiver's DLNA/UPnP Features Be Used with Spotify?

No, the Spotify app doesn't act as a DLNA server. In this case, you can't use JRiver's DLNA features to stream music from it directly.

Does JRiver Support Spotify Connect?

No, JRiver doesn't support native support for Spotify Connect.

Will Using the WDM Driver Affect the Audio Quality While Playing Spotify through JRiver?

It won't degrade the original audio quality from Spotify. On the contrary, it allows you to enhance the sound quality by using JRiver's DSP Studio effects, including equalization, headphone crossfeed, and so on.

Will the Spotify Song Title and Album Art Show up in JRiver?

No. JRiver won't receive any metadata from Spotify. You will see a generic label like 'Playing from WDM Driver' in JRiver's Playing Now screen while playing Spotify music. To check the details of the playing Spotify song, you need to go back to the Spotify app.

How to Fix Spotify Not Sound in JRiver?

First, you need to confirm that 'JRiver Media Center' is set as the default playback device in your Windows Sounds settings. Also, ensure that the volume on your device is turned up. Besides, verify that the WDM Driver in JRiver is enabled.

View also: How to Fix Spotify No Sound

Part 5. In Conclusion

Now, by using one of these two methods above, you can finally play Spotify on JRiver for a superior listening experience. For casual users who just want to apply JRiver's audio processing to their live streams, the WDM Driver is a perfect and cost-free solution. For the dedicated audiophile looking to build a unified, high-fidelity local Spotify music library with offline access, investing in a music converter like AudFree Spotify Music Converter is the definitive answer. By converting your favorite Spotify playlists to FLAC, you create a permanent and high-quality collection that JRiver can manage for years to come.