The Ultimate Guide: How to Add Custom Songs to Spotify

We’ve all been there: you’re curating the ultimate, meticulously organized Spotify playlist—the vibes are immaculate, the transitions are smooth—and then you realize the one rare remix, unreleased mixtape track, or indie Bandcamp gem you live for is missing.

Because Spotify’s streaming library, while massive, isn’t infinite, you might think you have to leave your favorite local audio files behind. But you don’t! Spotify has a hidden superpower called Local Files, which lets you seamlessly bridge the gap between your personal music collection and your cloud-synced Spotify playlists.

Whether you’re trying to add a podcast not on the platform, a nostalgic MP3 from 2012, or an exclusive Soundcloud drop, here is the complete, step-by-step guide on how to add custom songs to Spotify across desktop and mobile devices.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

1. A Spotify Premium Subscription: While free desktop users can sometimes play local files depending on the platform, syncing local files to mobile devices and streaming them on-the-go requires a Spotify Premium account.
2. The Audio Files: Make sure your custom songs are downloaded on your computer in a compatible format. Spotify officially supports MP3, M4P (unless protected by DRM), and MP4 formats. (Note: Apple Music’s .m4a files purchased with FairPlay DRM won’t work, but standard unprotected MP3s and AAC files work swimmingly).
3. The Same Wi-Fi Network: To sync your custom songs to your phone or tablet, both your computer and your mobile device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 1: Set Up Local Files on Your Desktop (Mac & Windows)

The easiest way to import custom music into Spotify is through the desktop app. Once you set it up on your computer, your tracks become the gateway to syncing them everywhere else.

1. Open the Spotify Desktop App on your Mac or PC.
2. Click on your Profile Picture in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down until you see the Local Files section.
4. Toggle Show Local Files to ON.
5. Under “Show songs from,” click Add a source.
6. A window will pop up allowing you to select a folder on your computer. Choose the folder where you have saved your custom MP3s or audio files (