How to Add Your Own Music to Spotify: The Complete Guide

Ever finished recording a track, polished a remix, or put together a compilation of rare local audio files and thought, “I wish I could just listen to this right alongside my favorite streaming tracks?”

The good news is: you can.

While Spotify is famous for hosting millions of tracks from signed artists and major labels, it also has a secret weapon for music lovers, bedroom producers, and independent artists: Local Files. By using this feature, you can seamlessly integrate your own audio files (MP3s, FLACs, WAVs, and M4As) into your Spotify library, add them to custom playlists, download them to your phone, and listen on the go—all without needing a formal distribution deal.

Whether you’re an independent artist looking to test out unreleased mixes in your everyday rotation or a fan with a collection of rare live bootlegs, here is the complete step-by-step guide to adding your own music to Spotify.

Part 1: The Golden Rule (Before You Start)

Before diving into the steps, there is one non-negotiable requirement you need to meet: You must have Spotify Premium.

While free users can access Spotify on their desktop and mobile apps, the ability to sync, download, and stream local files across devices is a Premium-exclusive feature.

You will also need:

• A desktop computer (Windows or Mac) to set up the files initially.
• Your mobile device (iOS or Android) if you want to sync those tracks to your phone.
• Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Part 2: Step-by-Step Guide for Desktop (PC & Mac)

The Spotify desktop app acts as the command center for your local audio. Here is how to configure it.

Step 1: Organize Your Music Folder

Don’t just scatter your audio files across your desktop or downloads folder. Create a dedicated folder on your computer named something clear, like Spotify Local Music. Place all the MP3, M4A, or FLAC files you want to add inside this folder.

Pro-Tip: Make sure your files have clean metadata (Song Title, Artist Name, Album Art) embedded in them. If a file is labeled track_final_v2_FINAL.mp3, that is exactly how it will appear on Spotify unless you edit the metadata beforehand using software like iTunes/Music, Mp3tag, or Audacity.

Step 2: Enable Local Files in Spotify Settings

1. Open the Spotify desktop app.
2. Click on your Profile Picture in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down until you see the section labeled Local Files.
4. Toggle the switch for Show audio files from this computer to ON.
5. Once turned on, a section called Show songs from will appear, displaying default folders (like your Music or Downloads folder). Click Add a source and select the dedicated Spotify Local Music folder you created in Step 1.

Step 3: Find and Play Your Music

1. In the left-hand sidebar of Spotify, look for a playlist or filter called Local Files. (If you don’t see it immediately, you can search for “Local Files” in your search bar, or find it in your Library).
2. Click into Local Files, and you will see all the compatible audio tracks from your designated folder.
3. You can now play these tracks just like any other song on Spotify!

Part 3: How to Put Your Local Music on Your Phone (iOS & Android)

Now that your tracks are playing on your computer, you probably want to listen to them during your commute or workout. Here is how to sync them to your mobile device:

1. Check Your Wi-Fi: Ensure your computer and your phone/tablet are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network.
2. Create a Playlist: On your desktop app, create a new playlist (