How to Hide and Unhide Songs on Spotify

<p><img alt="Spotify app in an app folder" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-901386" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/52862274326_3f14319606_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>To hide a song in Spotify, find the song in the iPhone or Android app, tap three dots next to it, and choose "Hide This Song." To unhide a song, tap three dots next to a hidden song and select "Hidden." </p><p>If you don’t wish to listen to certain songs while playing Spotify, hide those songs so they don’t play when you’re using the app. We’ll show you how to do that as well as how to unhide your songs in the future, if you change your mind.</p> <blockquote class="admonishment_note"><strong>Note:</strong> You can’t hide songs in your own playlists. If you <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/714084/how-to-clear-your-queue-on-spotify/">don’t want a specific song in your playlist</a>, simply remove it from the list.</blockquote> <div class="autotoc_wrapper"><strong class="moka_autotoc_heading">Table of Contents</strong><p></p><blockquote class="moka_autotoc"><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/901385/how-to-hide-and-unhide-songs-on-spotify/#autotoc_anchor_0">How to Hide Songs on Spotify</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/901385/how-to-hide-and-unhide-songs-on-spotify/#autotoc_anchor_1">How to Unhide Songs on Spotify</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/901385/how-to-hide-and-unhide-songs-on-spotify/#autotoc_anchor_2">Can You Hide Songs in Spotify for Desktop or Web?</a><br /></p></blockquote></div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_0"></a>How to Hide Songs on Spotify</h2> <p>To <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/797916/make-spotify-playlist-private/">hide a song</a> so it doesn’t play when you’re listening to your music, use the following steps in the Spotify app on your iPhone or Android phone.</p> <p>Launch Spotify on your phone and find the music track to hide. Then, next to the song, tap the three dots.</p><p><img alt="Select the three dots next to a song." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901489" height="416" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1-spotify-song-menu.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>In the menu that opens, select “Hide This Song.” </p><p><img alt="Choose "Hide This Song" in the menu." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901490" height="390" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2-spotify-hide-song.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />And Spotify will immediately hide your song in your list.</p><p><img alt="Spotify's hidden song." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901491" height="412" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3-spotify-song-hidden.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />You’ll continue to see your song on your list, but it won’t be playable.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">How to Unhide Songs on Spotify</h2> <p>If you’ve changed your mind about a song and want to unhide that song, follow the following steps to see your hidden songs and unhide them in Spotify’s mobile app.</p> <p>First, open Spotify on your phone. Then, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/788308/how-to-view-your-spotify-listening-history/">find the playlist or album</a> where you hid your song.</p><p>Find your hidden song (which will be grayed out), and next to the song, tap the three dots.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-62" id="bordeaux-static-slot-26" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><img alt="Choose the three dots next to the hidden song." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901492" height="410" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/4-spotify-hidden-song-menu.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>In the open menu, select “Hidden.”</p><p> <img alt="Choose "Hidden" in the menu." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901493" height="384" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/5-spotify-unhide-song.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />And Spotify will unhide your song, allowing you to tap and play it.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Can You Hide Songs in Spotify for Desktop or Web?</h2> <p>No, you can’t hide songs in Spotify’s desktop and <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/811415/how-to-use-the-spotify-web-player/">web versions</a>. Only the platform’s mobile app allows you to hide and unhide songs, as of the writing in June 2023.</p> <p>If you have an unwanted song in your playlist, remove the song from your list and the app won’t play it. To do that, access your playlist and find that song. Next to the song, click the three dots and choose “Remove From This Playlist.”</p><p><img alt="Select "Remove From This Playlist" in the menu." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-901494" height="337" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/6-spotify-remove-song-from-playlist.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><p>Spotify will remove the selected song from your playlist, and you’re all done.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-28" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <hr /> <p>And that’s how you hide unwanted songs on Spotify as well as how to bring back the music tracks for which you’ve changed your mind. Happy listening!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

How to Hide and Unhide Songs on Spotify

  To hide a song in Spotify, find the song in the iPhone or Android app, tap three dots next to it, and choose "Hide This Song." ...

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Microsoft 365 Apps Are Getting a New Default Font

<p><img alt="Microsoft 365 logo" class="type:primaryImage aligncenter size-full wp-image-888941" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/microsoft-365-2.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Microsoft has been using Calibri as the default font across Office applications and services since 2007, replacing Times New Roman and Arial. Now there’s a new default font coming to a Word document near you: Aptos.</p><p>Back in 2021, Microsoft <a href="https://medium.com/microsoft-design/beyond-calibri-finding-the-next-microsoft-365-default-font-5ef83f028be2">released five new fonts</a> it commissioned as possible replacements for Calibri. The new fonts — Tenorite, Bierstadt, Skeena, Seaford, and Grandview — have been available for use in Microsoft 365 applications and services since then. Bierstadt was apparently the most popular out of those options, and it now becoming the default font, but with a name change to Aptos. The font will become the default for new Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents, and it will also be used in Outlook.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-61" id="bordeaux-static-slot-24" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Microsoft explained in a blog post, “The typeface was created by Steve Matteson, one of the world’s leading type designers. His previous work includes the development of the original Windows TrueType core fonts and the creation of Segoe. Steve renamed the typeface he designed from Bierstadt to Aptos after his favorite unincorporated town in Santa Cruz, California, whose widely ranging landscape and climate epitomizes the font’s versatility. The fog, beaches, redwood trees, and mountains of Aptos summed up everything that he loved about California. Getting away from digital and evoking the outdoors was akin to getting back to pencil and paper. Drawing letters by hand would play a pivotal role in Steve’s creative process.”</p><p><img alt="Aptos font image" class="size-full wp-image-904322" height="347" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1_N6Br2BGVIJnuWwL2lCQBRQ.jpeg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><p>The font’s new name comes from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptos,_California">Aptos, California</a>, with the town’s “widely ranging landscape and climate epitomizes the font’s versatility,” according to Microsoft. The previous name came from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Bierstadt">Mount Bierstadt</a> in Colorado, which in turn was named after painter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Bierstadt">Albert Bierstadt</a> who climbed the mountain in 1863. The name can translate to “Beer Town” in English. Microsoft’s blog post didn’t give a specific reason for the change from Bierstadt to Aptos, except “as there was a change of guard so too the name.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-63" id="bordeaux-static-slot-26" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>You’ll still be able to change the default font in all Microsoft 365 applications, just as you can right now, if you’re not a fan of the new look. It also won’t be automatically applied to any existing documents, so you don’t need to worry about sudden formatting changes or other potential issues.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-27" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><small>Source: <a href="https://medium.com/@MicrosoftDesign/a-change-of-typeface-microsofts-new-default-font-has-arrived-f200eb16718d">Microsoft Design Blog</a><br /> Via: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/13/23793428/microsoft-aptos-new-default-font-office-365">The Verge</a></small></p><p> </p><p> </p>

Microsoft 365 Apps Are Getting a New Default Font

Microsoft has been using Calibri as the default font across Office applications and services since 2007, replacing Times New Roman and Ari...

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You Can Now Try iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma in Public Beta

<p><img alt="" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-904083" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52421212029_3d27651a19_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Earlier this year at WWDC, Apple revealed the next major updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Now those updates have reached public beta status, so they are ready for wider testing — and you can try them today.</p><p>Apple has released the public betas for <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897049/whats-new-in-ios-17-and-ipados-17/">iOS 17</a> for iPhone, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897049/whats-new-in-ios-17-and-ipados-17/">iPadOS 17</a> for iPad, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897051/whats-new-in-macos-14-sonoma/">macOS Sonoma</a> for Mac, tvOS 17 for the Apple TV and <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897007/the-apple-watch-is-getting-a-software-overhaul/">watchOS 10</a> for the Apple Watch, following a few months of betas aimed exclusively at app developers. The new public betas should, at least in theory, be stable enough for use on a device you use every day. You can <a href="https://beta.apple.com/welcome">sign up for the public beta on Apple’s website</a>, but we won’t have a clear idea about the stability until people have used it for at least a few days, and some software (especially on macOS) is probably still broken.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-61" id="bordeaux-static-slot-24" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>The iOS 17 update for iPhone won’t completely change the way you use your phone, but it does include personalized lock screens for calls from your contacts, live transcription of incoming voicemails, updates to iMessage like stickers and improved location sharing, the <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/896986/your-iphone-is-getting-a-journal-app-from-apple/">Journal app</a>, interactive widgets, improvements to AirDrop, and much more. It also has a new <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897143/standby-will-turn-your-iphone-into-a-smart-display/">StandBy mode</a>, which turns your phone into something closer to a smart clock or smart display when it’s charging and not in use.</p><p><img alt="" class="wp-image-897077 size-full" data-credittext="Apple" height="358" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/standby_mode_iphone.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><p>The iPadOS 17 update includes most of the same features, but with the addition of Stage Manager improvements and other upgrades. The macOS Sonoma release is relatively minor, but it does have new widgets features, new modes for the camera, more powerful web apps in Safari, a Game Mode that optimizes performance, and other changes. Installing macOS preview builds is usually more risky than the other platforms, though.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-63" id="bordeaux-static-slot-26" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>If you don’t feel comfortable installing the public betas right now — which is usually a good idea for devices you rely on — you probably won’t have to wait long for the final stable release. Last year’s iOS 16 update arrived on September 12, 2022, and iOS 15 before that was released on September 20, 2021. Another release in September seems likely, which is only two months away.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-27" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Source: <a href="https://beta.apple.com/welcome">Apple</a></p><p> </p><p> </p>

You Can Now Try iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma in Public Beta

Earlier this year at WWDC, Apple revealed the next major updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Now those updates have reached...

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What Is the Character Limit for ChatGPT?

<p><img alt="ChatGPT Plus RG" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-895930" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/52753098091_b8ae3de061_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>The character limit for ChatGPT text prompts is 4096 characters, and there's also a limit of 4096 tokens per conversation. If you aren't sure how many tokens your prompt uses, you can calculate that with OpenAI's <a href="https://platform.openai.com/tokenizer">Tokenizer tool</a>.</p><p>Are you getting a character limit error on <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/871071/what-is-chatgpt/">ChatGPT</a>, or are you just curious to find out if this AI tool imposes any restrictions on the number of characters you can use in your queries or conversations? Let’s find out the answers to those questions in this guide.</p> <div class="autotoc_wrapper"><strong class="moka_autotoc_heading">Table of Contents</strong><p></p><blockquote class="moka_autotoc"><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_0">What's the ChatGPT Text Limit?</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_1">How to Convert Characters to Tokens on ChatGPT</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_2">How to Get Around ChatGPT's Character Limit</a><br /><small><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_3" style="margin-left: 10px;">Be Specific in Your Query</a></small><br /><small><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_4" style="margin-left: 10px;">Break Down Your Tasks</a></small><br /><small><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895929/what-is-the-character-limit-for-chatgpt/#autotoc_anchor_5" style="margin-left: 10px;">Regenerate the Response</a></small><br /></p></blockquote></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_0"></a>What’s the ChatGPT Text Limit?</h2> <p>When it comes to text queries on ChatGPT, OpenAI imposes two different restrictions.</p> <p>The first restriction is on the characters that you can enter using the input query box: you can’t enter a query longer than 4096 characters. If your query exceeds that number, truncate it so that it’s within the allowed limit.</p><p>The second limit is on your conversations with ChatGPT. For this, OpenAI imposes a restriction of 4096 tokens per conversation. If your chat exceeds this limit, you’ll get <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/874410/fix-chatgpt-internal-server-error-and-other-common-errors/">an error message on the site</a>.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-60" id="bordeaux-static-slot-24" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Note that one ChatGPT token isn’t necessarily one character. Tokens are calculated in a different ways, but generally, four characters equal one token.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-61" id="bordeaux-static-slot-25" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_1"></a>How to Convert Characters to Tokens on ChatGPT</h2> <p>If you have a query that you wish to <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/884077/best-uses-for-chatgpt-4/">use on ChatGPT</a>, but you aren’t sure how many tokens it will use, utilize ChatGPT’s online Tokenizer to perform the character-to-token conversion.</p> <p>To do that, open a web browser on your device and access the <a href="https://platform.openai.com/tokenizer" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tokenizer</a> page. On this page, in the large text box, enter your full query.</p><p><img alt="Enter the text in the box." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-895938" height="444" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1-chatgpt-enter-text.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Right beneath the text box, you’ll find the number of tokens that your query will use. You’ll also see the total number of characters in your query.</p><p><img alt="ChatGPT's token count." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-895939" height="373" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2-chatgpt-token-count.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><p>That gives you an idea of whether or not you should be shrinking your prompt.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-28" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_2"></a>How to Get Around ChatGPT’s Character Limit</h2> <p>If your text query goes beyond ChatGPT’s allowed limit, but <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/871065/chatgpt-how-to-use-the-ai-chatbot-for-free/">you’d still like the chatbot to answer your query</a>, tweak your query in a few different ways to ensure it’s within the limit. Here are a few ideas on how to do that.</p><h3>Be Specific in Your Query</h3> <p>If you ask ChatGPT a broad question, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/884058/reasons-chatgpt-is-giving-you-the-wrong-answers/">the site will provide you with a broad answer</a>, increasing the chance of exceeding the allowed character limit. To fix this, try to be as specific in your query as possible. This way, the site will also be very specific in its answer to your questions.</p><p>For example, instead of asking ChatGPT to write an article on elephants, ask it to write a 500-word article on Asian elephants. Since you’re being more specific here, ChatGPT will have a narrow-downed answer for your query.</p><h3>Break Down Your Tasks</h3> <p>Another way to ensure you’re within ChatGPT’s character limit is to break down your large task into multiple smaller tasks. Even <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/882308/how-to-fix-a-chatgpt-error-in-body-stream/">if you receive an error</a> in this case, you can start a new conversation and use your smaller tasks to get your queries answered.</p> <p>For example, instead of asking ChatGPT to write an entire article, ask it to write the content for the introduction. Go one section at a time, and even if you run into issues, you can always start a new chat and keep going with your article headers.</p><h3>Regenerate the Response</h3> <p>If <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/883092/fixed-there-was-an-error-generating-a-response-on-chatgpt/">ChatGPT has stopped responding to your query abruptly</a> and you see a character limit error, get the site to generate a new response for your query by selecting the “Regenerate Response” option.</p> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-895941" height="254" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/3-chatgpt-regenerate-response.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>That will force the site to come up with an answer to your query again.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-66" id="bordeaux-static-slot-30" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <hr /> <p>And those are the restrictions ChatGPT imposes on its users! If you want to level-up your ChatGPT game, consider getting <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/895374/what-is-chatgpt-plus/">a ChatGPT Plus subscription</a>, or learn <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/885918/how-to-get-an-openai-api-key/">how to get an OpenAI API key</a> which you can use to <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/882858/how-to-use-chatgpt-with-siri-and-your-iphone/">replace Siri with with ChatGPT on iPhone</a> or <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/889200/how-to-run-chatgpt-using-shellgpt-from-the-ubuntu-terminal/">run ChatGPT in your Ubuntu terminal</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

What Is the Character Limit for ChatGPT?

  The character limit for ChatGPT text prompts is 4096 characters, and there's also a limit of 4096 tokens per conversation. If you are...

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How to Make GIFs on iPhone

<p><img alt="" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-902129" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/52420929046_ef30d9692a_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Share Live Photos that have been looped or bounced directly to apps or construct a workflow using iOS Shortcuts to export a GIF. Alternatively, download a third-party app like GIPHY and shoot, convert, and dress-up GIFs ready for export.</p><p>Looping animated GIFs became popular during the early days of the internet when slow connection speeds made streaming video prohibitive. The format never really went away, so it’s handy to know how to produce GIFs right on your iPhone.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Share Live Photos as GIFs</h2> <p>Live Photos are still images that capture a small amount of motion in a small video file every time you hit the shutter. You can peruse your collection of Live Photos by launching Photos and then heading to Albums > Live Photos.</p><p><img alt="Find the Live Photos album in the Photos app" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902108" height="394" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/live_photos_album.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>To make sure you’re capturing a Live Photo when you take a picture, look for the Live Photos icon above or to the side of the viewfinder. It looks like three circles. If you see a line through the middle of it, that means the feature is off. Tap it to turn it on. </p><p><img alt="Enable Live Photos in Camera app" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902109" height="190" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/live_photo_camera.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Live Photos will be converted into GIFs automatically, depending on where you share them. The first thing you need to do is locate a Live Photo within the Photos app. Open it and you should see a “Live” button appear in the top-left corner of the image with a drop-down arrow.</p><p><img alt="Live Photo drop-down selector" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902110" height="157" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/live_photo_button.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>Tap on the arrow and choose “Loop” or “Bounce” from the menu that appears. Loop will attempt to seamlessly loop your Live Photo, with varying degrees of success. Loop works best for repetitive motions that blend well, shot from a relatively static perspective. Bounce simply plays then reverses the whole Live Photo.</p><p><img alt="Choose between Live, Loop, and Bounce" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902111" height="516" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/live_loop_bounce.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Pick one and preview the effect, then when you’re ready to share hit the “Share” button (which looks like a box with an arrow pointing upwards). Now pick a destination app, like WhatsApp, and your Live Photo should send as a GIF. In some apps, the loop will be sent as a video, in which case you might want to use Shortcuts instead.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Turn Live Photos or Videos into GIFs with Shortcuts</h2> <p>If your Live Photo isn’t sharing as a GIF, you can force your iPhone to create a GIF using the Shortcuts app instead. This technique is also ideal for videos. For Live Photos you should follow the instructions above to “Loop” or “Bounce” the animation before you begin.</p> <p>For videos, you should trim your clip down to size before you attempt to convert it to a GIF. To do this, find the video in your Photos app then tap on “Edit” in the top-right corner of the screen. You can now grab the start and stop points on the video timeline that appears to trim your clip to size, then preview it with the “Play” button. Hit “Done” to save.</p><p><img alt="Trim a video to size on your iPhone" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902114" height="259" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/trim_video.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />With your Live Photo or video ready to go, it’s time to build a shortcut that will export it to GIF and save it to your Photos app. To do this, launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone or re-download it from the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shortcuts/id915249334?at=1010l392g&ct=htg902042">App Store</a> if you have previously deleted it. <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/764636/mac-shortcuts-actions-youll-actually-use/">Shortcuts is an app that lets you create time-saving workflows</a>, and it has all sorts of uses.</p><p><strong>Note: </strong>If you’d rather just download this Shortcut there’s a link at the end of this section. Understanding how the shortcut is built and what options you have available to you is useful for editing and making your own in the future.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-66" id="bordeaux-static-slot-30" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Open Shortcuts and hit the “+” plus icon in the top-right corner of the screen to create a new workflow.</p><p><img alt="Create new shortcut in Shortcuts for iPhone" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902115" height="327" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shortcuts_new.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>Tap the “Add Action” button to reveal a list of categories. </p><p><img alt="Add Action to iPhone shortcut" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902116" height="301" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/add_action.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Search for “GIF” and choose “Make GIF” from the results that appear.</p><p><img alt="Add the "Make GIF" action to your shortcut" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902120" height="409" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/search_gif.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>The action will be added to your workflow. Next, tap on the “Content” button that appears and choose “Shortcut Input” from the list. We’re doing this so that the shortcut targets the video or Live Photo you have open whenever it is triggered. </p><p><img alt="Make GIF from "Shortcut Input" in Shortcuts" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902122" height="393" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shortcut_input.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>Tap the arrow that appears within the action to reveal some options, including timing under “Seconds per Photo” and an “Auto Size” toggle. Be aware that turning off auto-sizing will cause your GIFs to be massive. You can always edit these settings later if you’re unhappy with the results.</p><p><img alt="Change GIF parameters in the action field" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902121" height="371" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/gif_settings.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>A new action will appear above the “Make GIF” action you added. This allows you to limit the shortcut to set categories of media and dictate where it appears across the operating system.</p><p>To keep things tidy, tap on the “Images and XX More” variable. Disable any categories you don’t want. We limited it to Images, Media, and Files.</p><p><img alt="Limit your shortcut to certain content" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902123" height="369" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/images_media_files.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />Now tap on the “Nowhere” variable and make sure “Show in Share Sheet” is enabled. This will allow you to trigger the shortcut from the “Share” option you see when viewing media.</p><p>Finally, use the search box at the bottom of the screen to search for “quick look” and add a Quick Look action to the end of your workflow. This will preview the GIF you just made and makes it easy to share or save the output.</p><p><img alt="Add the "Quick Look" action to your shortcut" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902125" height="157" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/add_quick_look.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>All that’s left to do is give your new shortcut a name and icon at the top of the screen. Hit “Done” and save your shortcut. It will appear in the Shortcuts app alongside your other workflows. </p><p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902126" height="205" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/name_shortcut.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>To use your new shortcut, find a Live Photo or video and hit the “Share” button. From the list of actions that appears, choose “Make GIF” or whatever name you gave your shortcut. Wait a second and your iPhone will convert your media into GIF format. You’ll then see a preview of the GIF. </p><p><img alt="Trigger your shortcut from the Share Sheet" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902127" height="334" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/share_sheet_shortcut.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>Use the “Share” button in the bottom-left corner to save, share, AirDrop, and more. When you hit “Done” your GIF will be discarded. </p><p>The GIF above was created from a Live Photo using “Loop” with “Auto Size” enabled. We used a “Seconds per Photo” value of 0.1 seconds to achieve slightly faster motion. <a href="https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/2fef5aa70c9d4974a36c8405720953ee">Download this shortcut</a> and add it to your Shortcuts app.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-79" id="bordeaux-static-slot-43" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Capture GIFs with Your Camera using GIPHY</h2> <p>When all else fails, third-party apps come to the rescue. <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/giphy-the-gif-search-engine/id974748812?at=1010l392g&ct=htg902042">GIPHY for iPhone</a> isn’t just a repository of memes but a fully-fledged GIF camera and converter. You can use the app to shoot GIFs using your iPhone camera and convert existing videos and Live Photos while adding filters, stickers, and effects. The app has a pretty self-explanatory interface, and most functions appear under the “Create” button.</p><p><img alt="Create GIFs with GIPHY's "Create" feature" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902128" height="411" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/giphy_create.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />GIPHY lets you save videos and GIFs, and there’s no need to upload your files to the internet either. Best of all there are no watermarks to contend with. It’s a solid choice if you’re not getting on with built-in apps like Photos and Shortcuts.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">GIFs that Keep on Giving</h2> <p>Animated GIFs are synonymous with the early internet for many. By using an ungodly amount of compression and a handful of frames you could put up a pretty “under construction” image on your GeoCities page, or stand out among a sea of affiliate sites in a website’s sidebar.</p> <p>Despite its relatively poor quality, stuttery animation, and <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/745906/what-is-dithering-in-computer-graphics/">heavy use of dithering</a> the GIF is still alive and well. If you’re as charmed by GIFs as we are, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/793929/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-gifs/">learn more about one of the web’s best-loved format</a>s.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

How to Make GIFs on iPhone

Share Live Photos that have been looped or bounced directly to apps or construct a workflow using iOS Shortcuts to export a GIF. Alternativ...

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What is Instagram Threads, and How Do You Use It?

<p><img alt="" class="type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-903309" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Instagram-Threads-1.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><div class="keytakeaways">Instagram Threads is a new text-based social network similar to Twitter. It was created by Meta, the parent company of Facebook.</div><p>Social media companies are rushing to capture people who are fleeing Twitter in the wake of <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/897897/rss-readers-are-better-than-ever-thanks-to-twitter-reddit/">Elon Musk’s many changes</a>. Meta (Facebook) is hoping Threads—a new text-based branch of Instagram—is the answer, but is it just more of the same?</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">What is Threads by Instagram?</h2> <p>Instagram Threads is a social media app that revolves around writing short text posts of up to 500 characters. Posts can also include photos, short videos, and links. If that sounds a lot like Twitter, you would be correct—and that’s the goal.</p> <p>Meta—the company that owns Facebook and Instagram—was originally planning to launch the app in late July 2023, but it was <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/903282/threads-is-the-new-social-media-app-from-the-makers-of-facebook-instagram/">moved up to July 6th in 100 countries</a>. The app is not available in the European Union due to strict privacy rules and the upcoming <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6423">Digital Markets Act</a>.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-60" id="bordeaux-static-slot-24" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">How to Use Instagram Threads</h2> <p>The Threads experience is most easily described as a mix between Instagram and Twitter. Some features have clearly been “inspired” by Twitter, and others have been ported over straight from Instagram. To get started, download the app from the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads-an-instagram-app/id6446901002?at=1010l392g&ct=htg903274">App Store for iPhone</a> or <a data-trxnetwork="vg" href="https://redirect.viglink.com/?key=e7eab128eb8d1c53e14db14f4c632447&u=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dcom.instagram.barcelona&cuid=xid:fr1688972827aaa">Google Play Store for Android</a>.</p> <p>You can write text posts up to 500 characters, string together multiple text posts, add photos and videos up to 5 minutes long, mention other users, and share links.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-61" id="bordeaux-static-slot-25" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Threads have a number of familiar options as well. Just like on Instagram, you can tap the heart icon to “like” a post, reply to it, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/289685/what-are-instagrams-stories-and-how-do-i-use-them/">add it to your story</a>, or post it on your feed. New for Threads is the ability to “Repost” and “Quote.” A “Repost” is essentially a retweet, and quoting allows you to share the post with your own caption attached to it.</p><p><img alt="Instagram Threads images." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903349" height="444" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/threads-screenshots.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>The home feed is purely algorithmic—there’s no chronological option like there is on Twitter or Instagram. You are forced to see what Meta thinks you should see. At launch, that doesn’t include ads or promoted posts, but it certainly will in the future.</p><p>Beyond the home feed, there is also a search tab, activity tab (replies, mentions, etc), and a profile tab. It’s pretty standard fare for a modern social media app. That’s one of the reasons why many people are flocking to it—it’s simple and familiar.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-28" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Do I Need an Instagram Account to Use Threads?</h2><div aria-level="2" role="heading" style="text-align: left;"><img alt="Instagram Threads sign up." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903348" height="443" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-07-06_13-18-58.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /><p>You must log in to Threads with an Instagram account—it can’t be used without one. Threads may be a separate app, but it is tightly tied to Instagram. Your Instagram account and Threads account are essentially the same. All of your personal information can easily be synced over from Instagram during the sign-up process.</p> <p>If you don’t have an Instagram account, you’ll need to create one to use Threads. Furthermore, if you usually sign in to Instagram with your Facebook account, you’ll need to decouple it by creating a specific password for Instagram in order to sign in to Threads.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Is Instagram Threads Decentralized?</h2> <p><img alt="Instagram Threads Fediverse." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903347" height="344" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/threads-fediverse.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>As of July 2023, Threads is not decentralized, and Meta has not given a specific timeline for when it plans to do so.</p><p> During the Threads sign-up process, one of the introductory pages mentions “The Fediverse.” It explains that future versions of Threads will work with a “new type of social media network that allows people to follow and interact with each other on different platforms.” What’s that all about?</p><p>Meta is talking about “decentralization,” which is the ability to communicate with different social media apps without needing to have accounts on those specific platforms. It’s the same concept as email—you can email someone with a Yahoo address from Gmail, for example.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-67" id="bordeaux-static-slot-31" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/801927/a-twitter-alternative-how-does-mastodon-work/">Mastodon</a> is the most popular decentralized social network at the moment. It’s part of the Fediverse as well, which is a large ensemble of servers that share the same protocols. Meta says it plans to make Threads compatible with the Fediverse, which would mean you could follow a Threads account from Mastodon, and vice versa.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-68" id="bordeaux-static-slot-32" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">What Data Does Instagram Threads Collect?</h2> <p><img alt="Instagram Threads data." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903346" height="344" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/threads-data.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>As you might expect from the company behind Facebook, Threads collects quite a bit of data about you. According to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store listings, Threads collects and links the following data to your identity:</p> <ul><li>Health & Fitness</li><li>Purchases</li><li>Financial Info</li><li>Location</li><li>Contact Info</li><li>Contacts</li><li>User Content</li><li>Search History</li><li>Browsing History</li><li>Identifiers</li><li>Usage Data</li><li>Sensitive Info</li><li>Diagnostics</li><li>Photos & Videos</li><li>Audio</li><li>Calendar</li></ul> <p>It’s important to note that not all of these permissions are required. Long permission lists like this are sadly not uncommon. However, it’s not the case for every social networking app.</p><p>For example, here are the permissions lists for Threads vs. the aforementioned Mastodon. Normally we don’t post such lengthy screenshots, but you really get a sense of the difference between the two services when you see the screenshots side by side.</p><p><img alt="Threads vs Mastodon data collection." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903352" height="640" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/threads-vs-mastodon.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="443" /> <br /></p><p>As always, make sure you know what you’re getting into when signing up for a new app.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">How to Delete Threads Account</h2> <p><img alt="Deactivate Instagram Threads." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-903350" height="242" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-07-06_15-27-20.jpg?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>Since Threads is so tightly connected to Instagram, you can’t delete your Threads account without also <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/408995/how-to-delete-your-instagram-account/">deleting your Instagram account</a>. As of July 2023, once you sign up for Threads, you are stuck with it as long as you have an Instagram account.</p> <p>It is possible to deactivate your Threads account, though. This hides your profile and content from other Threads and Instagram users. To do so, go to the profile tab > menu icon in top right > Account > Deactivate Profile.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-72" id="bordeaux-static-slot-36" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Meta may change course and allow you to delete your Threads account separately in the future, but this is the best option for now. You’ll need to <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/758637/how-to-use-multiple-accounts-on-instagram/">create a new Instagram account</a> if you want to use Threads independently from your main account.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Can I Use Instagram Threads on Desktop?</h2> <p>Instagram Threads is not available on the desktop—it is only available on iPhone and Android through the mobile apps. As of July 2023, the <a href="https://threads.net">threads.net</a> website simply has a QR code that directs you to download the app.</p> <p>It took a while for Instagram to launch a desktop version—and even longer for it to get the ability to post photos and videos. Since Twitter is used on the desktop quite a bit, there will most likely be a Threads desktop experience in the future.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-73" id="bordeaux-static-slot-37" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <hr /> <p>That’s the story on Instagram Threads. It’s Mark Zuckerberg’s answer to Twitter, but with Meta’s more likeable brand behind it. With over 2 billion monthly users already on Instagram, Threads has the potential to be a massive success for the company.</p><p> </p><p> </p> </div><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

What is Instagram Threads, and How Do You Use It?

Instagram Threads is a new text-based social network similar to Twitter. It was created by Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Social medi...

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How to Fix When Spotify Won’t Download Your Local Songs

<p><img alt="Apple music an Spotify apps on an iPhone" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-902606" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/52988001177_5f27c3f06b_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><div class="keytakeaways">When Spotify doesn't show your local music tracks, make sure the music exists on your device, turn on app's local files option, give Spotify required app permissions, check if your music is in supported format, log out and back into your Spotify account, or uninstall and reinstall your Spotify app.</div><p>Don’t see your device’s local music files in your Spotify for iPhone or Android app? There are various reasons the app won’t list your local music tracks. We’ll what you can do about it so you can stream your local music with the Spotify app.</p><div class="autotoc_wrapper"><strong class="moka_autotoc_heading">Table of Contents</strong><p></p><blockquote class="moka_autotoc"><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_0">PSA: Spotify Won't Sync Your Computer's Music With Your Phone</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_1">Enable Spotify's Local Files Option</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_2">Check Spotify's App Permission on Your Phone</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_3">Make Sure Your Music File Format is a Spotify-Supported</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_4">Sign Out and Back Into Your Spotify Account</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902604/how-to-fix-when-spotify-wont-download-your-local-songs/#autotoc_anchor_5">Remove and Reinstall Spotify on Your Phone</a><br /></p></blockquote></div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_0"></a>PSA: Spotify Won’t Sync Your Computer’s Music With Your Phone</h2> <p>If you’re trying to locate your Windows or Mac machine’s local music files in Spotify on your phone, you’ll be disappointed to know that Spotify no longer lets you sync your computer music with your mobile device. It was possible to do that before, but that feature is now gone.</p><p>This means, if you want to play your computer’s <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/728832/how-to-transfer-spotify-playlists-to-apple-music/">music files in Spotify on your iPhone</a> or Android phone, you’ll have to <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/437966/how-to-copy-music-to-your-android-phone/">transfer those files from your computer to your smartphone</a>. Spotify only displays the music files that it can locally find on your device.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Enable Spotify’s Local Files Option</h2> <p>Even if you do have local music tracks on your phone, to make Spotify display them, you must turn on an option in the app on your phone. If the option is disabled, you won’t see your local songs.</p> <p>To turn on that option on an Android phone, head into Spotify > Settings. In the “Local Files” section, toggle on “Show Audio Files From This Device.”</p><p><img alt="Enable "Show Audio Files From This Device."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902645" height="368" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1-enable-local-files-spotify.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>On an iPhone, head into Spotify > Settings > Local Files. Here, turn on the “Show Audio Files From This Device” option. </p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Check Spotify’s App Permission on Your Phone</h2> <p>Spotify requires access to your phone’s local storage to scan and add your files into the app. If you’ve denied that permission on your phone, that may be why you can’t see your local files in the app.</p> <p>Review your Spotify app permissions on your phone and ensure the app has all the permissions it needs.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-63" id="bordeaux-static-slot-26" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>To do that <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/230683/how-to-manage-app-permissions-on-android-6.0/">on an Android phone</a>, head into Settings > Apps > Spotify > Permissions > Music and Audio on your phone. Here, enable the “Allow” option.</p><p><img alt="Select "Allow."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902646" height="500" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2-spotify-app-permission-android.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="421" /> </p><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/211623/how-to-manage-app-permissions-on-your-iphone-or-ipad/">If you’re an iPhone user</a>, navigate to Settings > Spotify and let the app have all the required permissions.</p><p>Then, launch Spotify and see if you can find your local music files.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Make Sure Your Music File Format is a Spotify-Supported</h2> <p>To have a file show up in the Spotify app, that file must be in <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/361516/what-is-an-mp3-file-and-how-do-i-open-one/">MP3</a>, M4P, or <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/365037/what-is-an-mp4-file-and-how-do-i-open-one/">MP4</a> format. The MP4 file must not contain video.</p> <p>Check and ensure your local music files are in one of the supported formats. If not, you’ll have to <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/434475/how-to-convert-a-video-or-audio-file-using-vlc/">convert your audio files</a> to a supported format to use them in your app.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-66" id="bordeaux-static-slot-29" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_4"></a>Sign Out and Back Into Your Spotify Account</h2> <p>Sometimes, your app’s faulty login sessions cause your local files not to show up in the app. In this case, resolve those issues by logging out and back into your account in the Spotify app.</p> <p>To do that, open Spotify app on your phone and access “Settings.” Scroll down the page and choose “Log Out.”</p><p><img alt="Select "Log Out."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902647" height="381" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3-log-out-spotify.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />After logging out, sign back into your account using your preferred method.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Remove and Reinstall Spotify on Your Phone</h2> <p>If your local files still don’t show up in your app, Spotify’s core app files might be corrupted. Such corruption can break many features of the app, including the one that displays the local files.</p> <p>In this case, fix the issue by uninstalling and reinstalling the app on your phone. You don’t lose your playlists or other data when you do this. However, you’ll have to sign back into your account in the app.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-69" id="bordeaux-static-slot-32" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/712069/how-to-uninstall-android-apps-from-your-smartphone-or-tablet/">To do that on an Android phone</a>, tap and hold on Spotify in your phone’s app drawer and choose “Uninstall.” Select “OK” in the prompt. Then, open Google Play Store, find “Spotify”, and select “Install.”</p><p><img alt="Select "Uninstall."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902648" height="500" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/4-remove-spotify-android.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="596" /></p><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/757567/how-to-delete-apps-on-iphone-and-ipad/">If you’re an iPhone user</a>, tap and hold on Spotify on your home screen and choose Remove App > Delete App. Then, launch App Store, find “Spotify”, and tap the download icon.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-71" id="bordeaux-static-slot-34" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>And that should resolve your local files not appearing in Spotify issue. Enjoy listening to your favorite music on your phone!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

How to Fix When Spotify Won’t Download Your Local Songs

When Spotify doesn't show your local music tracks, make sure the music exists on your device, turn on app's local files option, gi...

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How to Fix a “Spotify Can’t Play This Right Now” Error (8 Methods)

<p><img alt="" class="type:primaryImage size-medium wp-image-902542" data-pagespeed-no-defer="" height="360" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/52675190912_85b4656df8_o.jpg?width=1198&trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />When you get a "Spotify Can't Play This Right Now" error, reboot your devices, make sure yours isn't an unavailable song, update the app on your devices, disable app's hardware acceleration on desktop, delete the app cache, sign out and back into your account, or reinstall the app.</p><div class="autotoc_wrapper"><strong class="moka_autotoc_heading">Table of Contents</strong><p></p><blockquote class="moka_autotoc"><p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_0">Check If Spotify Is Down</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_1">Restart Your Mobile or Desktop Device</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_2">Check the Song Is Unavailable</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_3">Update Spotify on Your Mobile or Desktop Device</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_4">Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Spotify</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_5">Delete Your Spotify Cache</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_6">Log Out and Back Into Your Spotify Account</a><br /><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/902540/how-to-fix-a-spotify-cant-play-this-right-now-error-8-methods/#autotoc_anchor_7">Uninstall and Reinstall Spotify</a><br /></p></blockquote></div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <h2 aria-level="2" role="heading"><a name="autotoc_anchor_0"></a>Check If Spotify Is Down</h2> <p>One reason you get a “Spotify Can’t Play This Right Now” error is that the platform is down. If the platform’s servers are facing an outage, you can’t stream all or certain songs (the ones hosted on the faulty server).</p> <p>In this case, check if Spotify is down using the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpotifyStatus">Spotify Status</a> account on Twitter or the <a href="https://downdetector.com/status/spotify/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Downdetector</a> site. Both these items will tell you if Spotify is experiencing issues on its end. And if that’s the case, you’ll have to wait until the company fixes the issue.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Restart Your Mobile or Desktop Device</h2> <p>Now that you know Spotify isn’t down, ensure your desktop or mobile device doesn’t have minor glitches that are causing the app not to play your songs. You can <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/173760/htg-explains-why-does-rebooting-a-computer-fix-so-many-problems/">resolve most minor issues</a> with your devices by simply rebooting your devices.</p> <p>It’s easy to restart an <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/841724/how-to-restart-an-iphone/">iPhone</a>, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/437701/how-to-restart-an-android-smartphone-or-tablet/">Android</a>, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/754945/how-to-restart-a-windows-11-pc/">Windows 11</a>, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/811420/how-to-restart-windows-10/">Windows 10</a>, or <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/661717/how-to-restart-your-mac/">Mac</a> device. Once you’ve done that, launch your Spotify app and see if you can listen to your favorite songs.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Check the Song Is Unavailable</h2> <p>One reason you can’t play your song on Spotify is that your song is unavailable. Spotify sometimes still displays these songs in your lists even when you can’t play them. You’ll find that these songs are grayed out in your albums or playlists.</p> <p>If this is the case with your song, you can’t play it no matter what you do. If you really wish to listen to that specific music track, consider <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/877817/youtube-music-vs-spotify-which-is-better-for-streaming/">using an alternate music streaming service</a> like YouTube Music.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Update Spotify on Your Mobile or Desktop Device</h2> <p>The Spotify app’s minor glitches can prevent you from playing your favorite songs. In this case, try to fix those issues by updating your app. Most updates often contain bug fixes, which allow you to patch the existing problems in your apps.</p> <p>How you update Spotify depends on the device you’re using.</p><p>If you’re a <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/5529/how-to-keep-your-new-windows-7-computer-updated-and-secure/">Windows</a> or <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/686766/how-to-update-all-your-mac-apps/">Mac</a> user, then from the app’s menu bar, select Help > About Spotify. If an update is available, select “Click Here to Download.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-64" id="bordeaux-static-slot-27" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902557" height="348" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1-update-spotify-desktop.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>If you’re on an <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/725348/how-to-update-apps-and-games-on-android/">Android phone</a>, open Play Store, find “Spotify”, and tap “Update.”</p><p><img alt="Select "Update."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902558" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2-update-spotify-android.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" /></p> <p>If you’re an <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/441179/how-to-update-iphone-and-ipad-apps/">iPhone</a> user, access App Store, tap “Updates,” and choose “Update” next to “Spotify.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-66" id="bordeaux-static-slot-29" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Then, launch your updated app and see if you can access your favorite music tracks.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Spotify</h2> <p><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/783236/how-and-why-to-enable-hardware-acceleration-on-spotify/">Spotify’s hardware acceleration feature</a> uses your Windows or Mac machine’s components besides just your CPU to improve the app performance. When you have trouble using a feature in the app, especially when you can’t play a song, it’s a good idea to turn off that feature to see if that fixes your issue.</p> <p>To disable the feature in Spotify’s Windows version, from the app’s menu bar, select View > Hardware Acceleration.</p><p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902559" height="367" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3-turn-off-spotify-desktop-hardware-acceleration.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p><p>If you’re on a Mac, from the app’s menu bar, choose Spotify > Hardware Acceleration.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-68" id="bordeaux-static-slot-31" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Then, relaunch the app and see if you can play your songs.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Log Out and Back Into Your Spotify Account</h2> <p>If your app has a login session problem, <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/712900/how-to-sign-out-of-all-devices-on-spotify-at-once/">sign out and then back in to your account</a> to potentially fix that problem. Keep your Spotify login details handy as you’ll need them to sign in to your account.</p> <p>To start, if you’re on an iPhone or Android phone, open the app and tap the gear icon in the top-right corner. Scroll down the page and choose “Log Out.”</p><p><img alt="Select "Log Out" at the bottom." class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902562" height="414" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/6-log-out-spotify-mobile.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /> </p><p>On a Windows or Mac computer, in Spotify’s top-right corner, click the down-arrow icon and choose “Log Out.” </p><p><img alt="Select "Log Out."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902563" height="431" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/7-sign-out-spotify-desktop.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" />After signing out, log back in using your preferred login method. Then, try to play your favorite music tracks.</p><h2 aria-level="2" role="heading">Uninstall and Reinstall Spotify</h2> <p>If you’ve had no success fixing the “can’t play this right now” issue using the above methods, your app may be faulty from its core. In this case, the best way to resolve your problem is by removing and reinstalling the app.</p> <p>You don’t lose your playlists or other account data when you do this. However, you’ll be required to sign back into your account, so keep your Spotify login credentials ready.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-73" id="bordeaux-static-slot-36" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>To remove Spotify on an <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/712069/how-to-uninstall-android-apps-from-your-smartphone-or-tablet/">Android phone</a>, tap and hold on Spotify in your app drawer and choose “Uninstall.” Select “OK” in the prompt. Then, visit Google Play Store, find “Spotify”, and tap “Install” to reinstall the app.</p><p><img alt="Tap "Uninstall."" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902564" height="500" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/7-uninstall-spotify-android.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="605" /> </p><p>If you’re an <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/757567/how-to-delete-apps-on-iphone-and-ipad/">iPhone</a> user, tap and hold on Spotify on your home screen and choose Remove App > Delete App. Reinstall the app by visiting App Store, finding “Spotify”, and tapping the download icon.</p><p>On <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/749585/how-to-uninstall-an-application-on-windows-11/">Windows 11</a>, you’ll head into Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Next to Spotify, click the three dots, choose “Uninstall,” and select “Uninstall.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-76" id="bordeaux-static-slot-39" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-902565" height="278" src="https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/8-uninstall-spotify-desktop.png?trim=1,1&bg-color=000&pad=1,1" width="640" /></p> <p>On <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/700150/how-to-uninstall-an-application-on-windows-10/">Windows 10</a>, navigate to Settings > Apps. Find Spotify, click “Uninstall,” and choose “Uninstall.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-77" id="bordeaux-static-slot-40" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>On a <a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/231496/how-to-uninstall-applications-on-a-mac-everything-you-need-to-know/">Mac</a>, open Finder and access the “Applications” folder. Right-click Spotify and choose “Move to Trash.”</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-78" id="bordeaux-static-slot-41" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>Then, visit the <a data-trxnetwork="vg" href="https://redirect.viglink.com/?key=e7eab128eb8d1c53e14db14f4c632447&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spotify.com%2Fus%2Fdownload%2F&cuid=xid:fr1688546921aaa" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Spotify website</a> to download and install a fresh copy of the app on your computer.</p><div class="future_hybrid_paragraph"><div class="bordeaux-slot" data-feat-ref="bordeaux-feat-id-79" id="bordeaux-static-slot-42" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: auto;"></div></div> <p>And that’s how you resolve an error that prevents you from accessing your favorite music tracks on this streaming service. Happy listening!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

How to Fix a “Spotify Can’t Play This Right Now” Error (8 Methods)

When you get a "Spotify Can't Play This Right Now" error, reboot your devices, make sure yours isn't an unavailable song,...

Read more »