How to Download Spotify Songs to iPhone with/without Premium [Full Guide]

Part 1. How to Download Songs on Spotify on iPhone with Premium

It is noted that the download feature is a privilege for Spotify Premium users. If you have a premium account, you can download Spotify songs on iPhone for offline playback whenever you want.

How to Download Music from Spotify to iPhone with Premium

Preparation:

✅ Before we start, make sure that you have a valid Spotify Premium subscription.

✅ Install the latest Spotify app on your iPhone from the App Store if you haven't installed it already.

✅ Enough available storage on your iPhone.

✅ A stable WiFi or mobile data connection.

Now, you can follow the simple process to get Spotify downloads on iPhone models running iOS 13 through the latest iOS 17 and iOS 18.

Step 1. Open the Spotify application on your iPhone device.

Step 2. Log in using your Spotify Premium account details. Or, you can sign up for Spotify Premium free trial first.

Step 3. Search for the playlists, albums, or podcasts you want to download using the "Library" or "Search" option.

Step 4. Click on the "Arrow facing downward" to start downloading after opening the playlist. A green indicator will let you know if the download is complete.

Step 5. You can also adjust download quality settings by going to "Settings" > "Music Quality" > "Download Quality".

Step 6. Then select the desired quality, like Normal (96 kbps), High (160 kbps), and Very High (320 kbps).

How to Find Downloaded Spotify Music on iPhone

Step 1. Tap "Your Library" at the bottom of the Spotify screen.

Step 2. Select "Music" from the options that appear.

Step 3. Scroll down to the "Downloads" section, where you will find all the playlists and albums that you have downloaded.

How to Listen to Downloaded Spotify Songs Offline

Step 1. Tap "Home" at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2. Click the "Gear" icon in the top right corner to access Settings.

Step 3. Scroll down to "Playback" and toggle on "Offline".

Step 4. Your downloaded Spotify songs will now be available for offline listening on iPhone.

Limitations of Downloading Spotify Music to iPhone with Premium

Though Spotify Premium is convenient, there are some restrictions that you need to know.

1. Downloads Aren't Real Audio Files

Spotify stores downloaded songs as encrypted cache files rather than in MP3 or other common formats. You cannot locate or use these files outside the Spotify app.

2. A Premium Subscription Is Required

Once your Spotify Premium subscription expires, the offline download feature will no longer be available.

3. Playback Is Limited to Spotify

Downloaded Spotify songs cannot be imported into Apple Music, copied to a USB drive, transferred to other devices, or used in DJ or video editing software.

4. Periodic Online Verification

Spotify requires devices to reconnect to the internet periodically to verify subscription status. If verification is not completed within the required timeframe, offline downloads may become unplayable.

Spotify Premium is a great choice for users who simply want to listen to music offline while traveling or commuting. However, if you wish to permanently own your music library or require greater playback flexibility, you will need to look for other solutions. Now, let's move on to reading the methods to download Spotify songs to iPhone and keep forever.

Part 2. How to Download Music from Spotify to iPhone for Free as Local Files

Whether you have a Spotify Premium or a Free account, or you want to keep your downloaded Spotify music permanently, you can download Spotify songs as local files with the help of a Spotify downloading tool. Then you can transfer the Spotify downloads to your iPhone for offline listening.

To save you time, we have selected the best and most professional AudFree Spotify Music Downloader. It is designed to download Spotify songs, albums, playlists, audiobooks, podcasts and more on your computer locally.

This reliable tool also converts Spotify to MP3, M4A, M4B, AIFF, FLAC, and WAV without quality loss. With high-tech conversion skills, it performs batch conversion of Spotify songs at 13X faster speed, saving a lot of waiting time. Also, ID3 tags and metadata information are well preserved in Spotify downloads for a better listening experience on iPhone.

How to Download Spotify Music for iPhone as Local Files without Premium

Step 1. Select Spotify Songs to AudFree Spotify Music Converter

Open this best Spotify music downloader for iPhone on your computer and log in to your Spotify account in the built-in Spotify web player. Search for the song or playlist you want to download and drag and drop it into the + section on the converter. After that, press the Add to list button.

Step 2. Set Spotify Output Format for iPhone

Click on Menu > Preferences section and switch to the Conversion bar. Select the output format of your Spotify music as MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to customize other settings to improve Spotify audio quality, such as channels, bit rate and sample rate.

Step 3. Download Songs on Spotify without Premium

Click on the Convert icon and the Spotify song will start downloading automatically. You can check the location of Spotify songs on your computer locally by clicking on the Converted option. Then you can keep Spotify music forever and transfer it to your iPhone or other desired device for offline enjoyment.

How to Transfer Local Spotify Music Downloads to iPhone

Once Spotify songs have been converted to normal audio format, you can transfer downloaded Spotify music to iPhone. Below are the steps how to download songs on Spotify without premium on iPhone.

Sync with Apple Music App or Finder on macOS Catalina or later

Step 1. Launch the Apple Music app or the Finder window on your Mac computer.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone device to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 3. After the appearance of your iPhone on the sidebar of the window, click on its icon.

Step 4. Go to the "Music" option and click the checkbox that is next to "Sync music onto iPhone".

Step 5. Tap the "Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists" option, then choose your converted Spotify song.

Step 6. Hit the "Apply" button in the bottom-right corner of the window to start to transfer Spotify music to iPhone.

Sync with iTunes on Windows and macOS Mojave or earlier

Step 1. Launch the iTunes window.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.

Step 3. Select the "Device" option in the top-left corner of the iTunes window and click on the "Music" section.

Step 4. Hit the checkbox beside the "Sync Music" tab.

Step 5. Select the local Spotify song you want to sync from the "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres" option.

Step 6. At the bottom of the window by the right-hand side, you will see the "Apply" button. Click on it to sync the song you want.

Transfer with AirDrop on Mac

If you just want to move a few Spotify songs to iPhone, AirDrop is a quick wireless method.

Step 1. Enable WiFi, Bluetooth and AirDrop on both your Mac and iPhone device.

Step 2. Find and locate the converted Spotify music files on your computer.

Step 3. Right-click the selected files, choose Share > AirDrop and then choose your iPhone.

Step 4. On your iPhone, accept the transfer, then save the files to the Files app or open them with a compatible music player.

Now, you can open the Apple Music app on your iPhone. Then tap the 'Library' section at the bottom menu bar to browse and listen to the downloaded Spotify music on iPhone offline without the Spotify app. This method is suitable for airplane travelers, commuters, people with limited data plans, etc.

Part 3. How to Download Music from Spotify to iPhone for Free via iPhone's Apps

If you don't want a desktop tool, alternatively, you can try using Shortcuts or Telegram Bot to download Spotify playlist to iPhone for free.

How to Download Spotify for iPhone Free with Telegram Bot

Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging and voice over IP service for downloading music from Spotify, Deezer, SoundCloud and YouTube. With Telegram Spotify Downloader, you can match and download favorite Spotify tracks to MP3 on your iPhone.

Step 1. Copy the link to the Spotify music you want to download.

Step 2. Launch Telegram, search for "Telegram Spotify bot" and click on the "Start" option in the search results.

Step 3. Paste the link to the Spotify song into the chat bar and click on the "Send" button.

Step 4. Tap the "Download" icon to download Spotify music on iPhone.

How to Download from Spotify to iPhone with Shortcuts

Shortcuts is an updated version of Workflow for iPhone that offers a Spotify Album Downloader. It can search the online database to find the Spotify music you are looking for. However, this method prevents you from downloading more than 30 Spotify songs.

Now, follow these simple steps to download Spotify songs to MP3 using iOS Shortcuts.

Step 1. Open the Spotify app on your iPhone and copy the link to the Spotify album you want.

Step 2. Run Shortcuts and find the "Spotify Album Downloader".

Step 3. Paste the Spotify link into the tool and select the song you want to download.

Step 4. Click the "OK" button to download music from Spotify to iPhone without premium.

Part 4. How to Solve Spotify Won't Download Songs on iPhone

Having trouble downloading songs on Spotify using your iPhone? It can be frustrating when you are trying to enjoy your favorite tunes, but the app just won't cooperate. Fortunately, there are several simple fixes that you can try to get Spotify working on iPhone properly again.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

The first thing you should do when you can't download Spotify songs to iPhone is to check your internet connection. Ensure that you are connected to a stable and reliable Wi-Fi network or cellular data. If you are not connected to the internet, or your connection is weak, Spotify may not be able to download songs.

2. Update the Spotify App

Sometimes, outdated apps can cause issues with performance and functionality. Go to the App Store and check if there is an update available for Spotify. If there is, download and install it, then try downloading your songs again.

3. Clear the Spotify App Cache

Clearing the cache can also help resolve issues with Spotify downloads. To do this, open the Spotify app on your iPhone and go to "Settings > Storage". Tap on "Delete Cache" and wait for the process to complete. Besides, go to iPhone's Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Spotify, choose Delete App and then reinstall the app to fix the issue completely.

4. Restart Your iPhone

Press and hold the power button until the "Slide to power off" prompt appears. Swipe right to turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on. Open the Spotify app and see if you can download your music without any problems.

5. Reinstall Spotify

If none of the above solutions work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling Spotify on your iPhone. To do this, tap and hold the Spotify app icon until it starts shaking. Tap on the "X" button to delete the app, then go to the App Store and reinstall it.

6. Check Background App Refresh Status

iOS 18 employs a very aggressive battery management strategy. First, please ensure that "Low Power Mode" is turned off. Second, go to "Settings", locate Spotify, and make sure "Background App Refresh" is enabled. If the device's battery level is extremely low, the system will forcibly cut off background network activity for all third-party apps.

7. Turn off Smart Downloads on Spotify

Spotify's "Smart Downloads" feature silently downloads podcasts and songs in the background that the system thinks you will like. Go to Spotify Settings > Data Saver & Offline and turn off Smart Downloads to free up bandwidth and storage space that were being quietly consumed.

8. Contact Spotify Support

If all else fails, you can contact Spotify support for further assistance. They may be able to provide additional troubleshooting steps or escalate the issue to their technical team for resolution.

Part 5. Which Is the Best Way to Download Spotify Songs on iPhone

The article above mentions 4 ways to download music from Spotify to iPhone. Which one should you choose? This comparison table below will give you the answer as it compares these four methods from important aspects.

Feature	Via Spotify Premium	Via AudFree Spotify Music Converter	Via Telegram Bot	Via Shortcuts
Compatible OS	Windows/Mac/Android/iOS	Windows/Mac	iPhone	iPhone
Supported Output Format	Ogg Vorbis	MP3, M4B, AIFF, M4A, WAV, FLAC	MP3	MP3
Output Quality	High	High (320kbps / Lossless)	Low	Low
Download Speed	1X	13X	1X	1X
Keep Music Permanently	❌	✅️	✅️	✅️
Customize Output Quality	✅️	✅️	❌	❌
Keep ID3 Tags	Limited	✅️	Limited	Limited
Requires PC/Mac	❌	✅️	❌	❌
Setup Difficulty	Easy	Easy	Easy	Hard
Ban Risk	❌	❌	❌	❌
Ratings	🌟🌟🌟	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟	🌟🌟🌟	🌟🌟🌟

After comparing these four methods, it is clear that AudFree Spotify Music Downloader is the best option for downloading Spotify songs on iPhone. It offers high-quality Spotify downloads in multiple formats and supports batch downloads. What's more, you can always keep the downloaded Spotify songs on your iPhone or other desired devices as local files.

Part 6. FAQs about Downloading from Spotify to iPhone

Part 7. Conclusion

Listening to Spotify music is now easy on iPhone, whether you're a Spotify Premium or free user. But you can choose the way that suits you.

If you are a Spotify Premium user who only wants offline playback using the Spotify app, the most easiest way is to use the Spotify's built-in download feature. However, those files can't be played outside Spotify and you don't own them.

If you want permanent Spotify music files for playback anywhere, converting them into common audio formats is your best choice. With the introduction of the AudFree Spotify Music Converter, you can download songs on Spotify without Premium on iPhone. Then you can transfer these files to other devices for offline playback.

If you prefer not to install a desktop app on your device, the launch of Telegram and Shortcuts allows iPhone users to enjoy offline Spotify songs for free.

Now, you can get Spotify downloads on iPhone without any problems by following the steps above. If you have any other ideas on how to download music from Spotify to iPhone, please don't hesitate to share them with us in the comment area below.