iPod is favored by users for streaming music because it's more convenient than carrying around a giant smartphone. If you try to use iPod with Spotify music directly, you fail to do that due to Spotify's strict encryption.
So, to cater to all iPod users, this article presents an effective solution to get Spotify on iPod, no matter which iPod model you're using.
Part 1. Can You Get Spotify on iPod?
Can you download Spotify on iPod? No. Now, Spotify requires iOS 16.1 or higher for the native app. That means it won't work with older versions of iPod Touch, Classic, Nano, Shuffle or else.
Here you can refer to the table below to know more about iPod devices and iPod Spotify compatibility.
| Device | iPod Touch | iPod Classic | iPod Nano | iPod Shuffle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 4-7 inches | 2.5 inches | 1.5 inches | No screen |
| Storage Capacity | 32 GB - 256 GB | 80 GB - 160 GB | 8 GB - 16 GB | 2 GB - 4 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning Connector | USB 2.0, Dock Connector | USB 2.0, Dock Connector | USB 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Offline Playback | ✅️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Discontinued | ✅️ | ✅️ | ✅️ | ✅️ |
| Support Spotify App | ✅️ Spotify legacy version (7th generation with iOS 12 - 15) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Part 2. How to Get Spotify on iPod Touch 7th Generation
If you're using an iPod Touch, you may encounter the 'Spotify is not compatible with this device' error in the App Store. But if your iPod Touch 7th generation is running iOS 12 to 15, you can still get Spotify on it for playing music. You can download the older version of Spotify app.
If you have an iPod Touch 5th or 6th Generation, you can't get the Spotify app on it. You can skip to Part 3 to sync Spotify music to your iPod device for playback.
What You Will Also Need In Advance:
1. You need to connect your iPod Touch device to a strong and stable WiFi network.
2. You need to have a valid Spotify Premium account.
3. You need to have an Apple ID and password to access App Store.
How to Install Spotify on iPod Touch
Step 1. Open the "App Store" app on your iPod Touch device.
Step 2. Tap the Profile icon or Purchased option. Do not type and search for Spotify in the search bar as it will only show you the latest version you can't download.
Step 3. Find the Spotify app option from the list of previously downloaded apps and click the 'Cloud' icon.
Step 4. Now, confirm 'Download' within the 'Download an older version of this app' pop-up. Then it will install the Spotify app on your iPod Touch.
If you have never downloaded Spotify app on your iPod with your Apple ID before, you can use your iPhone or computer with an older version of iTunes to 'purchase' the Spotify app in advance. After that, you can see the app in your iPod's Purchased history.
How to Play Spotify on iPod Touch 7th Generation
Step 1. Once the iPod Touch Spotify app is installed, open it and sign in to your Spotify account.
Step 2. You can then use the "Search" bar to search for music and playlists.
Step 3. Later, tap on a song or playlist to start playing it.
Step 4. Click on the "Shuffle Play" button to play the Spotify songs in a random order.
View also: How to Shuffle Play on Spotify
How to Download Music from Spotify in iPod Touch
Step 1. Launch the Spotify app on iPod Touch, browse and select the Spotify song, playlist or album you want to download.
Step 2. Hit on the "Download" icon to download Spotify songs on your iPod Touch for offline listening.
Step 3. Now, go back to the "Library > Settings" section of the Home screen to enable "Offline Mode". This way, you can enjoy Spotify on iPod Touch offline with freedom.
View also: How to Listen to Spotify Music Offline
Part 3. How to Get Spotify on iPod Classic/Nano/Shuffle/Mini
Unlike the iPod Touch, there is no internet chip or App Store in iPod Nano, Shuffle, Mini and Classic. But you can put songs from Spotify on old iPod devices and even iPod Touch, as long as the Spotify tracks are local files and compatible with iPod device. Here, we can meet AudFree Spotify Music Downloader, carefully designed to remove DRM from Spotify and download Spotify music to your computer for iPod locally.
Since iPod supports MP3, M4A and WAV files, and this professional program can convert Spotify music to MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, Lossless, M4B and AIFF. In this case, you are entitled to use Spotify on iPod Nano, Classic, Shuffle and other models. More importantly, there is no need to worry about the listening experience on iPod because it maintains 100% lossless output quality. What's more, it will keep all ID3 tags of the songs.
AudFree Music Converter for Spotify
- Download any content from Spotify, like songs, playlists, etc.
- Convert Spotify OGG Vorbis to MP3, WAV, M4A, etc. for iPod
- Use Spotify on iPod Touch/Nano/Shuffle/Classic
- Work at a faster speed and keep original music quality and ID3 tags
How to Download Spotify to iPod Compatible Files
AudFree Spotify Music Converter is available for Windows and Mac operating systems. You can choose the appropriate version to install it on your computer. Then you can refer to the tutorial below to download music from Spotify for iPod. By the way, this solution works for both Spotify Free and Premium users.
- Step 1. Import Spotify Songs into AudFree Spotify Music Converter
- Launch this smart tool, then you will get the built-in Spotify web player on the screen. You can discover your favorite Spotify songs, playlists and albums in the Spotify web player. Next, choose the track, hit the '+ ♫' icon and tap the 'Add to list' button to load them.
- Step 2. Select Spotify Output Format for iPod
- You can touch the top "Menu > Preferences > Conversion" button to get the format window. In the new window, you can set the output format to MP3, WAV, M4A, etc. so that iPod will recognize it without any problems. In addition, it is possible to change the bit rate, sample rate, etc. to customize the output Spotify audio quality.
For the best balance of storage and quality on an iPod, you should set output format as MP3, bit rate at 320kbps and sample rate at 44,100Hz.
- Step 3. Download Music from Spotify for iPod
- You can personalize the target folder by clicking on the "Output Directory" section in the Conversion window. Or just skip this step and touch the "Convert" button on the Converting window to convert the added Spotify tracks for iPod. Once done, you can find the Spotify downloads in the destination folder you set up earlier in order to import them to any of your iPod device, even iPod Touch older models.
To download Spotify music for iPod, AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder is another helper. It support to download music from Spotify for playback on any device. Moreover, it can download music from Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer Music, SoundCloud, etc., which is best for users who stream music from multiple music services.
Part 4. How to Sync Spotify to iPod Classic/Nano/Shuffle
Now, it is time to put music from Spotify on iPod Nano, Shuffle, Classic, Touch and Mini. To meet the needs of different devices, here are three ways for you.
Way 1. Sync iPod with Spotify via iTunes on PC
If you're running a Windows PC, macOS Mojave or earlier, you can use iTunes to transfer your local Spotify music to iPod Classic, Nano, Touch, and Shuffle for free.
Step 1. Launch the iTunes app, then enter the top menu to click on "File > Add Files to Library" and select Spotify songs to upload. If you don't know clearly, visit this helpful page: How to Transfer Spotify Music to iTunes Library.
Step 2. Connect your iPod device to your computer via the USB cable. Once fully connected, there is a device icon from the top of the main interface of iTunes.
Step 3. Simply touch the "device" icon and you will see the iPod and media files on iTunes appear in the sidebar.
Step 4. Select the imported Spotify music and click the "Sync" button to start syncing Spotify to iPod Classic or other models automatically.
Step 5. After that, you can play Spotify music offline without Premium on iPod with the Music app.
Way 2. Put Spotify on iPod on Mac (For macOS Catalina to macOS Tahoe)
1. Via Finder
Similar to the syncing with iTunes above, it is possible to use Finder to get Spotify on iPod with macOS Catalina or above.
Step 1. Connect your iPod device to your Mac computer with a USB cable.
Step 2. Open the "Finder" window from your Mac, then tap the "iPod" icon in the sidebar.
Step 3. Hit on "Music" at the top of the Finder window, and in turn check the checkbox next to "Sync Music onto your iPod".
Step 4. Find and select the Spotify song file from your computer that you want to sync to iPod.
Step 5. Then touch the "Apply" button to transfer Spotify songs to iPod Shuffle or other models.
2. Via Apple Music App
Once you've subscribed to Apple Music, you can transfer Spotify music to Apple Music library. In turn, it's easy to access Spotify music on iPod Nano and other iPod devices.
Step 1. Open Apple Music on your Mac, then select the "Music > Preferences" section from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 2. Go to the "General" option and enable the "Sync Library" button.
Step 3. Now, it will be able to transfer Spotify music to Apple Music, allowing Spotify songs to be synced to all your devices.
Step 4. Select the "Settings > Music" icon on your iPod, then tap the "Sync Library" button.
Step 5. This way, you can download your favorite Spotify songs from Apple Music to iPod.
Part 5. FAQs about Spotify in iPod
Can I Get Spotify on iPod with macOS Sonoma/Sequoia?
Yes, you can use Finder on your Mac device to transfer and sync the converted Spotify music to your iPod device.
How Many Spotify Songs Can I Sync to an iPod?
If you have an 8GB iPod Nano, you can transfer and save about 1500 songs at 128kbps, but only about 500 at 320kbps.
Is It Legal to Convert Spotify Music for iPod?
These tools are intended for personal use only. Under the principles of 'fair use', converting music to which you already possess access rights, specifically into playback formats compatible with your personal legacy hardware, is a common practice within the retro-tech enthusiast community, provided that you do not distribute these files.
Why Can't I Log in to Spotify on iPod?
This typically occurs on older devices because their security protocols are outdated. Please ensure that your iPod's date and time are set to 'Automatic' by going to iPod's Settings > General > Date & Time. Also, try logging in using your 'Device Password' (which must be pre-configured in your Spotify account's web settings) instead of your standard password.
Why Does My iPod Say 'Format Not Suppoted' while Syncing Spotify Music?
This usually happens when you try to sync Spotify WAV files or Apple Lossless to the iPod device. It is noted that most iPods can't play WAV files higher than 16-bit / 48kHz. Also, iPod Shuffle and Nano devices struggle to buffer larger Apple Lossless (ALAC) or WAV files.
Why Is iPod Not Syncing for Spotify Songs with iTunes?
You need to make sure your iPod is properly connected to your computer with a working USB cable. Or, try using a new USB cable to re-connect. Also, try restarting your iPod and computer, and updating iTunes to the latest version.
Part 6. In Conclusion
Here are simple ways to use Spotify on iPod Touch, Classic, Nano and Shuffle with/without Spotify Premium or the Spotify app. If you have an iPod Touch that works with Spotify directly, then you can install it and use it to enjoy music.
However, if you have other iPod devices like iPod Nano/Shuffle/Classic, you can seek help from AudFree Spotify Music Converter. By using this tool, you can download Spotify music for iPod and listen to Spotify songs on any iPod device without any limits.
Charles Davis
Chief Editor
