Quick Answer: You can't upload Spotify's offline downloads to Google Drive directly as they are protected audio files. So, if you want to save Spotify songs to Google Drive for backup, first you need to convert Spotify music as local audio files via tools like AudFree Spotify Music Converter, etc., then you can transfer them to Google Drive.
As one of the most popular file storage and synchronization services, Google Drive allows users to upload up to 15GB media files for backup and sync with no cost. Users can access to added files across devices, such as Windows, Mac, Android, Chromebook, iOS, etc. But to Spotify fans' disappointment, Google Drive doesn't support Spotify songs and playlists directly. But please don't worry. In this article, we will show you how to transfer Spotify playlist to Google Drive. Also, you will learn how to fix common problems among them and move music from Google Drive back to Spotify.
Part 1. Why Spotify Playlists Can't Be Uploaded to Google Drive
There is no doubt that Spotify is the undisputed largest music streaming service in the music industry. One of the most special features of Spotify could be Spotify offers free access to its music library. Although free subscribers can listen to songs, playlists or albums online, to enjoy the offline playback feature, you need to upgrade to Spotify Premium. Then will you be able to play Spotify files on any device offline or back up and sync them to favorite cloud services, such as Google Drive? Not really. Let's see why.
Google Drive supports for a wide variety of audio formats, such as MP3, M4A, WAV and Ogg. Here, you will be more confused that why you can't sync music from Spotify to Google Drive as Spotify tracks are encoded in Ogg Vorbis format that is compatible with Google Drive. However, it's important to note that Spotify music tracks are encrypted by Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. That's to say, Spotify content is protected Ogg files that can't be recognized by Google Drive.
Due to DRM protection, even if you have Spotify Premium subscription, which enables you to download Spotify playlists, you can only get cache files but not the local files that you can locate. So, you can only use tracks and playlists in Spotify app only. To get rid of this hassle, you should look for a powerful and excellent third-party Spotify solution, which can download Spotify songs to computer while removing DRM protection from Spotify tracks.
Part 2. How to Download Music from Spotify to Google Drive via AudFree Spotify Converter
For users who want to save Spotify music as local audio files for Google Drive with high quality and full ID3 tags, you can try AudFree Spotify Music Converter.
AudFree Spotify Music Converter for Windows is designed for free and paid Spotify users to remove DRM from Spotify songs, podcasts, audiobooks, albums and playlists. What's more, it can batch download Spotify files to computer with 100% original quality with ease. Besides, it's also an extraordinary music converter, which can convert Spotify music to MP3, FLAC and other Google Drive compatible audio formats with a few clicks.
With this AudFree tool, you can own the Spotify music permanently and use them on any other device or platform without restrictions. In a word, you can backup Spotify playlists on Google Drive with ease.
AudFree Spotify Music Converter
- Losslessly remove DRM lock from Spotify OGG Vorbis music
- Download and convert Spotify music to MP3, WAV, etc.
- Upload Spotify music to Google Drive, Dropbox, Roku, etc.
- Work at 13X faster speed, edit music quality and parameters
AudFree Spotify Music Converter is not also available for Windows OS, but also for Mac OS. You can choose the right version from the above download button and install it on your computer. If you are a free subscriber on Spotify, you don't need to update to Premium account, since it works for Spotify free users.
- Step 1. Import Spotify music to AudFree
- Start the AudFree Spotify Music Converter on your computer and log in to your Spotify account. Find and add the Spotify audio content into the program's Converting list by clicking '+' > 'Add to list'.
- Step 2. Customize output settings
- Since Google Drive supports Ogg format, you can keep all output settings by default. If you are a free user, you'd better to click the top menu bar and choose 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' option to customize the bit rate as 320 kbps to enhance the output audio quality.
Which Audio Format Is Best for Spotify to Google Drive?
| Format | File Size | Quality | Numbers of Songs that Can Be Stored in Google Drive (10GB) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Small | Good | 1200 songs in 320 kbps | Most users |
| FLAC | Large | Lossless | about 350 songs | Music backup |
| WAV | Very large | Uncompressed | 250 songs | Audio editing and production |
| M4A | Medium | Good | 1500 songs | General playback |
- Step 3. Remove DRM and download Spotify playlist offline
- Now, please simply press the 'Convert' button to start downloading and converting process. AudFree will work at up to 13X faster speed to remove DRM from Spotify tracks and download them to local computer without quality loss. After the conversion, you can transfer all Spotify files to Google Drive with ease.
Besides, you can use AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder to download Spotify music for Google Drive. In addition, you can use it to download music from Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Qobuz, Deezer, etc. as well as Audible audiobooks for Google Drive and other platforms.
Part 3. How to Record Spotify Music for Google Drive for Free
For users who don't want a dedicated Spotify converter, you can record Spotify audio with free audio recording tool like Audacity. However, it will take a long time for recording if you have a large Spotify playlist as it records in real time.
Step 1. Install Audacity on your computer and customize the recording settings.
Step 2. Open the Spotify app on your computer, choose a track and start playing.
Step 3. Back to the Audacity tool, tap the Record button to start recording.
Step 4. After recording, stop the process and edit the recorded audio. Then tap 'File' > 'Export' to save Spotify music as MP3 or WAV for Google Drive.
AudFree Spotify Music Converter vs Audacity: Which Is Better to Save Spotify Songs for Google Drive
| Feature | Via AudFree Spotify Music Converter | Via Audacity |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible OS | Mac/Windows | Mac/Windows/Linux |
| Batch Process | ✅ | ❌ |
| Speed | Fast | Real time |
| Keep ID3 Tags | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ease of Use | High | Moderate |
| Best For | Large music library | Occasional / free recording |
Part 4. How to Transfer Spotify Playlist to Google Drive for Backup
Now, you can be free to put Spotify music on Google Drive. You can locate the folder included converted unprotected Spotify playlists on your computer. And then there are two easy ways to store Spotify downloads to Google Drive, respectively using the Google Drive app or the web browser.
Way 1. How to Upload Spotify Music to Google Drive Online
If you want to quickly upload the local Spotify music files to your Google Drive account, you can use the Google Drive website.
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome web browser, navigate to Google Drive website and login your account details. If you don't have an account, please register one.
Step 2. Please click the big '+ New' button at the left-side menu bar to choose 'Folder upload' to upload your converted Spotify folder to Google Drive. Or choose 'File upload' if you just want to upload a few songs.
Step 3. Now, Spotify files will be synced to Google Drive automatically. After that, open the folder and check that the files are present on Google Drive.
Way 2. How to Sync Spotify Music with Google Drive on Desktop App
If you don't want to manually move Spotify music to Google Drive, the Google Drive for Desktop app supports to back up your local Spotify songs automatically.
Step 1. Open the Google Drive program on your computer and log in to your account.
Step 2. Tap the 'Add folder' button on the screen and select the converted Spotify music folder.
Step 3. In the pop-up window, choose 'Sync with Google Drive' and tap 'Done'.
After that, the Google Drive app will automatically sync and upload any new converted Spotify files in that folder to your Google Drive account.
Besides, you can directly open the Google Drive platform, locate the converted Spotify music files on your computer, then drag and drop the file to Google Drive for backup.
Part 5. How to Access Spotify Music in Google Drive on Other Devices
After uploading Spotify music to Google Drive, you can access the local files on the Google Drive platform from other devices by signing into the same Google account.
Step 1. Open the Google Drive platform on your Windows or Mac computer, Android or iOS device.
Step 2. Locate the folder that contains the uploaded Spotify music files.
Step 3. Tap the file you want and play it. Then Google Drive will open the built-in audio player.
Step 4. If you want to listen to Spotify music offline, you can tap the Download button on Google Drive to save the file for offline playback without using the Spotify app.
Also, you can share the local Spotify music file from Google Drive by right-clicking the file.
Part 6. How to Fix Spotify to Google Drive Common Issues
You may encounter some problems when uploading Spotify music to Google Drive. Don't worry. You can follow the solutions below to solve the issues.
Issue 1: Spotify Songs to Google Drive Upload So Slow
Fix: You can try to connect to a stable internet connection, upload smaller batches, close unnecessary network-heavy programs, or use Google Drive for Desktop for a large folder.
Issue 2: Google Drive Says 'Upload Failed' When Uploading Spotify Music
Fix: First, check your internet connection and connect your device to a strong network. If you are on Google Drive website, you can open it in Incognito or Private window and try uploading the same file again. Also, try to use another web browser, and clear the web browser's cache or cookies. What's more, you should check your Google Drive account storage in advance.
Part 7. Extra Tips: How to Move Music from Google Drive to Spotify
For users who still prefer to listen to Spotify music offline within the Spotify app, you can transfer music from Google Drive to Spotify.
Step 1. On the Google Drive for Desktop app, locate the audio file, right-click on the file and tap 'Download' to download it to your computer.
Step 2. Launch the Spotify desktop app, tap the profile icon, and choose 'Settings'.
Step 3. Scroll down to 'Local Files' and press 'Add a Source'.
Step 4. Locate the downloded Google Drive music file, choose it and hit 'Open'. Then turn on the toggle for the source.
Step 5. Go to 'Your Library' > 'Local Files' and you will find the uploaded Google Drive music. Then you can start to play it within the Spotify app.
View also: How to Add Local Files to Spotify
Part 8. Bottom Line
Congratulations! You have successfully synced Spotify files to Google Drive for backup and you won't loss Spotify music anymore even canceling Spotify Premium. But before that, you need to change Spotify music as local files via AudFree Spotify Music Converter or other tools.
If you would like to play Spotify music on other devices via Google Drive, please download and install the Google Drive app on the target device and login your Google Drive account that must be the same as the one you used above. After that, you can choose the favorite Spotify songs to play offline through Google Drive.
Chief Editor
