Why Does My Spotify Keep Pausing? (Causes & Fixes)

If you’re asking “why does my Spotify keep pausing?”, you’re not alone. Spotify randomly stopping or pausing music is one of the most common playback issues users face on mobile phones, desktops, cars, and smart devices.

The good news? In most cases, the problem is easy to fix once you know the cause. Below, we’ll break down all possible reasons Spotify keeps pausing and explain how to fix each one step by step.

1. Spotify Is Playing on Another Device

Spotify only allows one active stream per account. If your account is open on another device, Spotify may pause your music automatically.

How to fix:

1. Open Spotify
2. Tap Connect to a device
3. Make sure no other device is selected
4. Go to Spotify Account → Sign out everywhere
5. Log back in only on your main device

This is one of the most common reasons Spotify keeps pausing randomly.

2. Unstable Internet Connection

Spotify requires a stable internet connection for streaming. Even brief network drops can cause playback to stop.

Common triggers:

1. Weak Wi-Fi signal
2. Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
3. VPN connection enabled

How to fix:

1. Turn off VPN
2. Disable “Smart Network Switch” or “Wi-Fi Assist”
3. Switch to a stronger network
4. Download songs and listen in Offline Mode

3. Battery Optimization or Background Restrictions

On many phones, Spotify gets restricted to save battery, which causes it to pause in the background.

How to fix:

1. Battery settings → Spotify
2. Set to No restrictions
3. Allow background activity
4. Disable Low Power Mode / Battery Saver

This issue is especially common on Android devices.

4. Bluetooth or Car Connection Issues

Spotify may pause when:

1. Bluetooth reconnects
2. Car infotainment system connects
3. Wireless headphones switch devices

How to fix:

1. Turn Bluetooth off and test playback
2. Forget and re-pair your Bluetooth device
3. Disable auto-connect on unused devices

Car systems and smartwatches are frequent hidden causes.

5. Corrupted Cache or App Bugs

A corrupted Spotify cache can cause playback interruptions.

How to fix:

1. Spotify Settings → Storage → Clear cache
2. Update the Spotify app
3. If needed, uninstall and reinstall Spotify

This often resolves Spotify keeps stopping issues instantly.

6. Account Restrictions or Family Plan Controls

If you’re using Spotify Family:

1. Explicit content filters
2. Playback limits
3. Device restrictions

These can interfere with playback.

How to fix:

1. Check Family Plan settings
2. Disable content restrictions if needed

Quick Fix Checklist

If Spotify keeps pausing, try these in order:

1. Sign out everywhere
2. Turn off VPN
3. Disable battery optimization
4. Test offline playback
5. Reinstall Spotify

Final Thoughts

So, why does Spotify keep pausing?

In most cases, it’s caused by another connected device, unstable internet, battery restrictions, Bluetooth conflicts, or app cache issues.

Once you identify the root cause, Spotify should work smoothly again without interruptions.