Spotify Error Code 13: How to Fix It

Easy 5-20 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
13
Brand
Spotify
Product Type
music_streaming
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
5-20 minutes
Spotify Error Code 13 means the app is preventing you from downloading songs or podcasts for offline listening. This typically happens when your Premium subscription has lapsed, you've exceeded the device or download limit, or there's an account or connectivity issue preventing Spotify from verifying your license. The good news is that this error is almost always fixable with a few straightforward steps.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code 13

  1. Verify Your Spotify Premium Subscription

  2. Connect to the Internet and Sync Your Account

    Make sure you are on a stable Wi-Fi connection during this step. A weak or intermittent connection may not fully verify your subscription.

  3. Check Your Device Limit

  4. Log Out and Log Back In

    Logging out will remove all locally cached and downloaded songs from the device until you re-download them on a Premium account.

  5. Clear the Spotify App Cache

  6. Update the Spotify App

  7. Check the Download Storage Location

    Changing the download storage location will delete all existing offline downloads. You will need to re-download your content.

  8. Reinstall Spotify

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When to Call a Professional

If you have confirmed your Premium subscription is active, have fewer than 5 devices and 10,000 downloads, have reinstalled the app, and Error Code 13 still persists, contact Spotify Support directly at support.spotify.com. A Spotify support agent can inspect your account backend for billing anomalies, regional restrictions, or account flags that you cannot resolve on your own. You can reach them via live chat or by submitting a support ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Spotify show Error Code 13 even though I have Premium?
Even with an active Premium subscription, Error Code 13 can appear if your app hasn't connected to the internet recently to verify your license (required every 30 days), if you've hit the 5-device or 10,000-song download limit, or if your app cache is corrupted. Try connecting to Wi-Fi, logging out and back in, or clearing the cache to resolve it.
Can I fix Spotify Error Code 13 without an internet connection?
Unfortunately, no. Spotify requires periodic internet access to verify your Premium subscription before allowing offline downloads. If you've been offline for more than 30 days or the app cannot validate your account, you must connect to the internet at least once to reset the license verification and re-enable downloads.
How many devices can I download Spotify music on?
Spotify Premium allows offline downloads on up to 5 different devices. If you try to download on a 6th device, you'll need to remove one of the existing devices first. You can manage your offline devices by visiting spotify.com/account/offline-devices and revoking access to devices you no longer use.
Will clearing the Spotify cache delete my downloaded songs?
Yes, clearing the cache will remove your locally stored offline downloads. However, your playlists, liked songs, and account data are all saved to Spotify's servers, so nothing is permanently lost. Once you clear the cache and relaunch the app on a Premium account with an internet connection, you can re-download your content.
Does Spotify Error Code 13 mean my account has been banned?
No, Error Code 13 specifically refers to a download permission issue, not an account ban. It usually means there's a subscription verification problem, a device limit has been reached, or the app needs a refresh. If your account were suspended, you would receive a different error message when trying to log in. Follow the troubleshooting steps above to resolve Error Code 13.

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