Completely Uninstall Spotify: A Comprehensive Guide for All Devices
Spotify is a popular music streaming service, but there might come a time when you want to uninstall it from your computer or mobile device. Whether you’re switching to a different service, freeing up storage space, or troubleshooting issues, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the complete uninstallation process for various platforms. This guide covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, ensuring that no residual files are left behind. Let’s dive in!
## Why Uninstall Spotify?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of uninstalling, let’s quickly cover why you might want to remove Spotify from your devices:
* **Switching to a Different Service:** Perhaps you’ve discovered a new music streaming platform like Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Tidal and no longer need Spotify.
* **Freeing Up Storage Space:** Spotify can consume a significant amount of storage space, especially if you download music for offline listening. Uninstalling it can help reclaim valuable space on your device.
* **Troubleshooting Issues:** Sometimes, uninstalling and reinstalling Spotify can resolve persistent problems like crashes, playback errors, or login issues.
* **Privacy Concerns:** Some users may be concerned about Spotify’s data collection practices and prefer to remove the application altogether.
* **Account Closure:** If you’ve decided to permanently close your Spotify account, uninstalling the app is a logical next step.
## Uninstalling Spotify from Windows
Here’s how to completely uninstall Spotify from your Windows computer, ensuring that all associated files and data are removed.
### Step 1: Close Spotify
Before you begin the uninstallation process, make sure that Spotify is completely closed. Check the system tray (the area near the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen). If you see the Spotify icon, right-click on it and select “Exit” or “Quit.” You can also use the Task Manager to ensure the application is not running in the background.
* **Using Task Manager:**
* Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open the Task Manager.
* In the “Processes” tab, look for any processes related to Spotify.
* If you find any, select them and click “End Task.”
### Step 2: Uninstall Spotify via the Control Panel
The most common way to uninstall software in Windows is through the Control Panel. Here’s how to do it:
* **Open the Control Panel:**
* Click the Windows Start button.
* Type “Control Panel” and press Enter.
* **Navigate to Programs and Features:**
* In the Control Panel, click on “Programs.”
* Then, click on “Programs and Features.”
* **Find Spotify in the List:**
* Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find “Spotify.”
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* Select “Spotify” and click the “Uninstall” button at the top of the list.
* A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click “Yes” to proceed with the uninstallation.
* Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process.
### Step 3: Uninstall Spotify via Settings App (Windows 10 and 11)
Alternatively, you can uninstall Spotify through the Settings app, which is a more modern approach, especially on Windows 10 and 11.
* **Open the Settings App:**
* Click the Windows Start button.
* Click the gear icon to open the Settings app, or type “Settings” and press Enter.
* **Navigate to Apps:**
* Click on “Apps.”
* **Apps & Features:**
* Select “Apps & features” from the left-hand menu.
* **Find Spotify in the List:**
* Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find “Spotify.”
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* Click on “Spotify.” An “Uninstall” button will appear.
* Click the “Uninstall” button.
* A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click “Uninstall” again to proceed.
* Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process.
### Step 4: Delete Remaining Spotify Files and Folders
After uninstalling Spotify through the Control Panel or Settings app, some residual files and folders may remain on your system. It’s important to remove these to ensure a clean uninstallation.
* **Show Hidden Files and Folders:** By default, Windows hides some system files and folders. You need to enable the display of these hidden items to find all Spotify-related files.
* Open File Explorer.
* Click on the “View” tab at the top of the window.
* In the “Show/hide” group, check the box next to “Hidden items.”
* **Navigate to the AppData Folder:** The AppData folder contains application-specific data and settings. Spotify often stores data in this folder.
* Open File Explorer.
* Type `%appdata%` in the address bar and press Enter. This will take you to your Roaming AppData folder.
* Look for a folder named “Spotify.”
* If you find it, right-click on the “Spotify” folder and select “Delete.”
* **Navigate to the LocalAppData Folder:** Similar to the AppData folder, LocalAppData can also contain Spotify-related files.
* Open File Explorer.
* Type `%localappdata%` in the address bar and press Enter. This will take you to your Local AppData folder.
* Look for a folder named “Spotify.”
* If you find it, right-click on the “Spotify” folder and select “Delete.”
* **Check Program Files:** Sometimes, remnants of the installation folder can remain.
* Open File Explorer.
* Navigate to `C:\Program Files` and `C:\Program Files (x86)`.
* Look for a folder named “Spotify” in either of these locations.
* If you find it, right-click on the “Spotify” folder and select “Delete.”
* **Empty the Recycle Bin:** After deleting the Spotify folders, empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files from your system. Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin.”
### Step 5: Remove Spotify from Startup (Optional)
If Spotify was set to launch automatically when you start your computer, you might want to disable this setting to prevent it from launching after you uninstall it.
* **Open Task Manager:** Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open the Task Manager.
* **Go to the Startup Tab:** Click on the “Startup” tab.
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Look for “Spotify” in the list of startup programs.
* **Disable Spotify:** If you find Spotify, select it and click the “Disable” button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
## Uninstalling Spotify from macOS
Here’s how to completely uninstall Spotify from your macOS computer, ensuring a clean removal of the application and its associated files.
### Step 1: Quit Spotify
Before uninstalling, make sure Spotify is not running. Look for the Spotify icon in the Dock or the menu bar. If you see it, right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the icon and select “Quit.” You can also use Activity Monitor to ensure the application is not running in the background.
* **Using Activity Monitor:**
* Open Finder.
* Go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
* In Activity Monitor, search for “Spotify.”
* If you find any Spotify processes, select them and click the “X” button in the top-left corner to force quit the application.
### Step 2: Uninstall Spotify via Finder
The standard way to uninstall applications on macOS is through Finder.
* **Open Finder:** Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
* **Navigate to the Applications Folder:** Click on “Applications” in the sidebar.
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Scroll through the list of applications until you find “Spotify.”
* **Move Spotify to the Trash:** Drag the “Spotify” icon to the Trash icon in the Dock. Alternatively, you can right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the “Spotify” icon and select “Move to Trash.”
* **Empty the Trash:** To permanently remove Spotify, empty the Trash. Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” Confirm the action when prompted.
### Step 3: Remove Spotify Library Files
Spotify stores library files and preferences in the user’s Library folder. These files need to be removed to completely uninstall Spotify.
* **Open Finder:** Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
* **Go to the Library Folder:** The Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, click on “Go” in the menu bar while holding down the Option (Alt) key. The “Library” option will appear in the menu. Click on it.
* **Remove Spotify Cache:** Navigate to the `~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client` folder.
* Delete the contents of this folder by dragging them to the Trash.
* **Remove Spotify Preferences:** Navigate to the `~/Library/Preferences/com.spotify.client.plist` file.
* Drag this file to the Trash.
* **Remove Spotify Application Support:** Navigate to the `~/Library/Application Support/Spotify` folder.
* Drag this folder to the Trash.
* **Remove Spotify Saved Application State:** Navigate to the `~/Library/Saved Application State/com.spotify.client.savedState` folder
* Drag this folder to the Trash.
* **Empty the Trash:** After deleting the Spotify files, empty the Trash to permanently remove them from your system. Right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.”
### Step 4: Remove Spotify from Login Items (Optional)
If Spotify was set to open automatically when you log in to your macOS account, you might want to remove it from the login items.
* **Open System Preferences:** Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.”
* **Go to Users & Groups:** Click on “Users & Groups.”
* **Select Your User Account:** Select your user account from the list on the left.
* **Click on Login Items:** Click on the “Login Items” tab.
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Look for “Spotify” in the list of login items.
* **Remove Spotify:** If you find Spotify, select it and click the “-” (minus) button below the list to remove it.
## Uninstalling Spotify from Android
Here’s how to uninstall Spotify from your Android device. There are a few methods you can use, depending on your preferences and device settings.
### Method 1: Uninstall via the App Drawer
This is the simplest and most common way to uninstall apps on Android.
* **Open the App Drawer:** Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or tap the app drawer icon to open the list of installed apps.
* **Find the Spotify App:** Scroll through the list of apps until you find “Spotify.”
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* **Long Press Method:** Long-press the Spotify icon. A menu will appear with options like “Uninstall,” “Remove,” or “App Info.”
* Tap “Uninstall.” A confirmation dialog will appear.
* Tap “OK” to proceed with the uninstallation.
* **Drag to Uninstall Method:** Some Android launchers allow you to drag the app icon to an “Uninstall” or “Remove” area on the screen.
* Long-press the Spotify icon and drag it to the “Uninstall” or “Remove” area.
* Release the icon. A confirmation dialog will appear.
* Tap “OK” to proceed with the uninstallation.
### Method 2: Uninstall via the Google Play Store
You can also uninstall Spotify through the Google Play Store.
* **Open the Google Play Store:** Tap the Play Store icon on your home screen or in the app drawer.
* **Search for Spotify:** Tap the search bar at the top of the screen and type “Spotify.”
* **Go to the Spotify App Page:** Tap on the “Spotify” app in the search results.
* **Uninstall Spotify:** On the Spotify app page, you will see an “Uninstall” button.
* Tap the “Uninstall” button.
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “Uninstall” to proceed.
### Method 3: Uninstall via the Settings App
This method involves uninstalling Spotify through the device’s settings.
* **Open the Settings App:** Tap the Settings icon on your home screen or in the app drawer.
* **Navigate to Apps or Applications:** The exact wording may vary depending on your Android version and device manufacturer. Look for an option like “Apps,” “Applications,” or “Apps & notifications.”
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find “Spotify.”
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* Tap on “Spotify” to open the app info page.
* Tap the “Uninstall” button.
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “OK” to proceed with the uninstallation.
### Step 4: Clear Cache and Data (Optional)
Before uninstalling Spotify, you might want to clear the app’s cache and data to remove any stored information. This step is optional but can be helpful for troubleshooting purposes.
* **Open the Settings App:** Tap the Settings icon on your home screen or in the app drawer.
* **Navigate to Apps or Applications:** The exact wording may vary depending on your Android version and device manufacturer. Look for an option like “Apps,” “Applications,” or “Apps & notifications.”
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find “Spotify.”
* **Go to Storage:** Tap on “Spotify” to open the app info page, then tap on “Storage.”
* **Clear Cache and Data:**
* Tap the “Clear Cache” button to remove temporary files.
* Tap the “Clear Data” button to remove all app data (this will reset the app to its default state).
* **Note:** Clearing data will remove your login information and any downloaded music.
* **Uninstall Spotify:** After clearing the cache and data, follow one of the uninstall methods described above to remove Spotify from your device.
## Uninstalling Spotify from iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Uninstalling Spotify from an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad is straightforward.
### Method 1: Uninstall from the Home Screen
This is the quickest and easiest way to remove an app on iOS.
* **Find the Spotify App Icon:** Locate the Spotify app icon on your home screen or in the App Library.
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* **Long Press Method:**
* Touch and hold the Spotify app icon until a menu appears.
* Tap “Remove App” or “Delete App” (depending on your iOS version).
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “Delete” to confirm the uninstallation.
* **Jiggle Mode Method:**
* Touch and hold the Spotify app icon until the icons start to jiggle.
* Tap the “X” that appears in the top-left corner of the Spotify app icon.
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “Delete” to confirm the uninstallation.
### Method 2: Uninstall from Settings
You can also uninstall Spotify through the Settings app.
* **Open the Settings App:** Tap the Settings icon on your home screen.
* **Navigate to General:** Scroll down and tap on “General.”
* **Tap iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage):** Tap on “iPhone Storage” (or “iPad Storage” on an iPad).
* **Find Spotify in the List:** Scroll through the list of installed apps until you find “Spotify.”
* **Uninstall Spotify:**
* Tap on “Spotify” to open the app details page.
* Tap the “Delete App” button.
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Tap “Delete App” to confirm the uninstallation.
### Offload App vs. Delete App
In the iPhone Storage settings, you might see an option called “Offload App.” Offloading an app removes the app itself but keeps its documents and data on your device. This is useful if you want to temporarily free up space but still retain your app data for when you reinstall the app later.
To completely uninstall Spotify and remove all associated data, you should choose “Delete App” instead of “Offload App.”
## Final Thoughts
Uninstalling Spotify is a simple process, but ensuring a complete removal involves taking a few extra steps, such as deleting residual files and folders. Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS, following the instructions outlined in this guide will help you completely remove Spotify from your devices. Remember to back up any important data before uninstalling, although Spotify stores most data on its servers.
By following these steps, you can confidently uninstall Spotify and move on to other music streaming services or simply free up valuable storage space on your devices. If you encounter any issues during the uninstallation process, consult the official Spotify support website or seek assistance from online forums or communities.