How to Download Spotify Songs to USB Drive for Free for Playing Offline

Part 1. How to Download Music from Spotify to USB Stick Officially

Many users are looking for a way to download Spotify music to USB drive because their computer's internal SSD is nearly full. If you want to save disk space and use Spotify app for playback, the official Offline Storage method is your best bet.

If you are a Spotify Premium user, you can download any Spotify music to the USB drive. While for Spotify Free users, you can only download Spotify podcasts without premium to USB flash drive for free for listening. By the way, Spotify provides music listeners with a channel to locate Spotify music downloads and change Spotify storage location. Now, follow the steps below to learn how to download Spotify songs to USB stick.

Step 1. Insert your USB flash drive into your Windows or Mac computer's USB port. We recommend using a USB 3.0 or 3.1 drive for faster data caching. Then create a folder to save Spotify music files in your USB drive.

Step 2. Open the Spotify desktop app, tap the Profile in the top-right corner and choose Settings.

Step 3. Then scroll to 'Offline storage location' under the 'Storage' section to find where are Spotify downloads stored.

Step 4. Later, you can hit the 'Change location' button to change the target folder as your USB stick.

After that, you can find and download songs from Spotify to USB flash drive instead of your computer's hard drive.

Part 2. How to Download Spotify Music to USB Drive for Free

From the above, we know that Spotify songs are in a special OGG Vorbis format. So, they can't be recognized by many popular devices, like MP3 players, etc., and USB flash sticks are no exception. Besides, the compatible audio formats via USB connection are MP3, WMA, AAC, M4A, and M4B. If you'd like to play Spotify music from USB drive without limits, the best way is to download Spotify songs as USB-compatible audio files locally.

Here we can meet AudFree Spotify Music Converter, one of the most professional Spotify to USB converters for Windows and Mac. It specializes in unlocking the limitations of Spotify songs and playlists for both Spotify free and premium members. It can convert Spotify to MP3, M4A, and other USB-compatible audio formats with lossless ID3 tags retained for free.

It is worth mentioning that this multifaceted software can download music from Spotify to USB free at 13X faster speed without any problem. After that, you're able to play Spotify in the car or on other devices that support the USB port without any limitation, such as a DJ controller, smart TV, and more. It allows you to access offline Spotify music permanently even though you cancel Spotify Premium subscription.

Compare Official Spotify vs AudFree Spotify Converter Methods

Feature	Via Spotify Free	Via Spotify Premium	Via AudFree Spotify Converter
Download for Offline Use	❌ (Podcasts only)	✅	✅
Keep Songs Permanently	❌	❌	✅
Export to MP3/FLAC	❌	❌	✅
Play on Car USB Port	❌	❌	✅
Play on Any Device	Spotify app only	Spotify app only	✅
Audio Quality	160kbps	320kbps	Lossless / Up to 320kbps

How to Download Music from Spotify to USB Drive Free via AudFree Spotify Converter

AudFree Spotify Music Converter offers the opportunity to download Spotify songs for free with a few clicks. Let's take a look at how to download Spotify songs to USB drive via the step-by-step tutorial below. After that, you can quickly get local Spotify music and put Spotify songs on a USB flash stick.

Step 1. Import Spotify Songs to AudFree Spotify Converter

Please install and launch AudFree Spotify Music Converter from your computer desktop. Then you will see the built-in Spotify web player on its main screen. Now, you can find your favorite Spotify playlist or other audio content. To import them to AudFree Spotify Music Converter, you can drag and drop them to the '+ ♫' section on the AudFree home page. Or click the Spotify track and then click on the '+ ♫' icon. Later, you need to tap the 'Add to list' option to import Spotify music for converting.

Step 2. Personalize Spotify Output Format for USB Drive

You can open the settings window by clicking the Menu icon and selecting the 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' options. You can set the target Spotify output format that can be compatible with USB flash sticks, like MP3, FLAC, M4A, etc. In this new window, you can also change other audio settings such as sample rate, bit rate, channels, etc. for playing Spotify through USB stick better.

Note:

For high-fidelity quality, change the Bit Rate to 320kbps and the Sample Rate to 48,000Hz. Besides, you can insert the USB stick into your computer in advance. Then set the output destination folder as USB music folder in AudFree Spotify Music Converter. By doing this, you can export Spotify playlist to USB drive directly.

Step 3. Download Spotify to USB Drive Free

When all settings are ready, you can start to set up the converting process by touching the 'Convert' button in the Converting window. It will download Spotify songs without Premium to unprotected audio files that can be recognized by USB sticks. In general, it works at 13X faster speed while doing the conversion. By touching the top 'Converted' icon with a red spot with the number of tracks, you can find the Spotify downloads on your computer.

After that, you can move Spotify to USB flash drive for playing offline. Or, you can find the downloads in the USB drive's music folder if you have inserted and saved them to the USB stick.

Part 3. How to Transfer Downloaded Music from Spotify to USB Stick to Play in Car or Other Devices

From the above, you can insert the USB drive into your computer and save Spotify music downloads to it directly via the AudFree Spotify Music Converter. If you don't do this before, learn how to transfer Spotify playlist to USB stick without hassle. After that, you can play Spotify music in your car stereo or other devices that have a USB port via USB flash drive.

How to Put Music on a USB from Spotify on Windows or Mac Computer

Step 1. Insert the USB drive into your Windows or Mac computer's USB port and ensure that the computer recognizes the drive as a 'Removal Disk'.

Step 2. Open File Explorer on Windows computer or Finder on Mac computer. Then find and open the USB drive you insert.

Step 3. Navigate to the local Spotify music storage location on your computer. Then locate and copy Spotify playlist to the inserted USB stick folder by copying and pasting.

Step 4. Wait for the end of the transfer process. It depends on how many Spotify files you'd like to sync.

Step 5. Once done, right-click your USB pendrive in the File Explorer or Finder. Then click Eject to remove your USB drive from your computer safely.

How to Play Spotify through USB in Car/Smart TV/DJ Program/Game Console

Now, you've transferred Spotify music to USB free, it's time play music from Spotify via USB drive on various devices.

1. Play in a Car

To play Spotify in the car stereo via USB flash drive on your Tesla, BMW, etc, please follow the complete tutorial below.

Step 1. Insert your USB drive with Spotify music downloads into the car's USB port.

Step 2. Select the USB folder on the car's main interface, browse, and find your favorite Spotify songs you want to play in the car.

Step 3. Click it, then the built-in media player will be launched to play Spotify music in car one after another.

2. Play on a Smart TV

You can also play Spotify music on smart TVs like Hisense TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, Sony TV, etc. via USB stick.

Step 1. Plug your USB drive into the USB port on the back or side of your TV.

Step 2. Press the Source or Home button on your TV's remote and choose 'USB Devices' or 'Media Player'.

Step 3. After that, choose the Music folder to start playing Spotify music.

3. Use on a DJ Software

Step 1. Connect your USB drive to your computer and open a DJ software like Rekordbox, Serato, etc.

Step 2. Find the USB drive under the Files or Devices option in the program's screen.

Step 3. Choose and analyze the Spotify tracks to set BPM and Beatgrids.

4. Play on a Game Console

Step 1. Connect your USB drive to your game console such as PS5, Xbox, etc. (For PS5, please make sure files are in a folder named 'Music' in the USB root directory.)

Step 2. On PS5, press the PS button to visit the Control Center and choose Music > USB Drive. On Xbox, play music via the Media Player app.

Part 4. Troubleshooting Spotify on USB Drive Issues

Occasionally, you may encounter errors during the Spotify USB drive transfer or playback process. The following are the most common solutions:

1. Spotify Files on USB Drive Not Showing Up

Please ensure that the file is located in the root directory of the USB device and is not buried too deeply within subfolders.

2. USB Drive Not Recognized

Please try using a different USB port, or ensure that the drive is fully inserted into the slot.

Why Won't Spotify Play through My Car USB?

Sometimes you may encounter the problem that Spotify isn't playing through your car USB. Here are some common reasons and potential solutions:

1. Content Issue: Check that your USB drive contains the downloaded Spotify songs and make sure the Spotify music is intact.

2. USB Connection Issue: Make sure your USB is functioning properly. You can try to plug the USB pendrive into another USB port. Or, you can unplug and insert again.

3. USB Drive Issue: You can get a new USB drive to save Spotify music if the current one is damaged which causes Spotify music not playing.

4. Car Audio Source Issue: Ensure that your car's audio system is set to the correct audio source, which should be the USB input. This may vary depending on your car's make and model.

5. USB Drive Format: Most cars only read FAT32. If your USB drive is exFAT or NTFS, the car can't read the files. So, make sure your USB stick is formatted as FAT32 correctly. Just right-click the USB drive on a PC and choose 'Format' > 'FAT32' (Warning: this erases all data). For Mac users, ensure you choose 'MS-DOS (FAT) in Disk Utility, as the default Mac format won't work in car stereos.

6. Spotify Music File Format: Ensure that the Spotify music files are in a format compatible with your car's audio system (e.g., MP3, AAC).

7. Software Compatibility: Outdated software can sometimes cause compatibility issues. So, check for software updates for your car's audio system to fix the issue.

8. Volume and Mute Issue: Check that the volume on your car stereo isn't muted or set too low. Sometimes, the sound may be playing, but it's not audible due to volume settings.

9. Consult the Car Manual: If you've tried all of the above and are still experiencing issues, consult your car's user manual or contact the car manufacturer's customer support for specific troubleshooting steps.

If none of these solutions work, it's possible that your car's audio system or USB port may have a hardware issue. In this case, you may need to visit a professional mechanic or car audio specialist for further assistance.

Part 5. FAQs about Spotify to USB Drive

Part 6. Sum Up

Exporting Spotify playlists to USB thumb drive allows you to enjoy music anywhere. While the official offline mode is better for saving space, there are lots of limitations. In this case, you remove all these limits by using a powerful Spotify to USB converter, namely AudFree Spotify Music Converter, to download Spotify music to USB free without effort. In turn, it allows you to play Spotify through USB in the car or any other preferred USB-supported device you like. Just take action to start a free journey with Spotify music from a USB flash drive.