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How to Recover a Deleted Playlist on Spotify for Windows, Mac, and Linux
Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
SpotifyWindowsMacLinuxPlaylistRecoveryMusicLibraryPCDesktopUserAccountSettings
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Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms, offering a vast library of songs, albums, and playlists for users to discover. People often spend a lot of time creating personalized playlists based on their preferences and moods. However, accidentally deleting a playlist can be frustrating and inconvenient. Fortunately, Spotify provides a way to recover deleted playlists. This guide will detail step-by-step instructions for doing so on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
Understanding how to delete playlists on Spotify
Before diving into recovery techniques, it's important to understand what happens when you delete a playlist in Spotify. When a playlist is deleted, it is not removed from Spotify's servers immediately. Instead, Spotify retains it for a limited period of time. This retention allows us to recover the playlist within a specific time frame.
Spotify keeps deleted playlists for 90 days, giving users time to restore them without losing their music selections. After this period, playlists may be permanently deleted and become inaccessible. So, if you discover that you have deleted a playlist, try to recover it as soon as possible.
Recover deleted playlists on Spotify: Step-by-step
Now, let's take a look at the step-by-step process of recovering playlists in different operating systems. Whether you are on Windows, Mac or Linux, the process is pretty much the same. Spotify is a web-based service, and the recovery is done through the Spotify website rather than the desktop client of the application.
Step 1: Access your Spotify account online
Open a web browser on your computer. This can be Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any browser you prefer. In the address bar, type https://www.spotify.com and press Enter. This will take you to the Spotify homepage. Look for the "Log In" button, usually found in the upper right corner of the page.
Click “Log In” to proceed. If you have an account, enter your credentials (email and password). If your account relies on social media login (such as Facebook), click the corresponding option and follow the authentication steps to access your account.
Step 2: Go to the Recover Playlists section
After logging in, you will be directed to your account overview page. This page contains various settings and account details. Look for a menu on the left side of the screen.
In this menu, you will see several options such as Account Overview, Receipts, and Manage Apps. Click on “Account Overview.” Scroll down in the list of items until you find the option labeled “Recover Playlists.” Click on this option to proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Viewing deleted playlists
In the "Recover Playlists" section, you'll see a list of recently deleted playlists. Each entry will include the name of the playlist, the date it was deleted, and a "Restore" button.
Review the list carefully to make sure you've selected the correct playlist, especially if it contains multiple entries. If there's a specific playlist you want to recover, note the deletion date to avoid confusion.
Step 4: Restoring the playlist
Find the playlist you want to restore from the list and click the “Restore” button next to it. The restore process is instant, and the playlist will reappear in your Spotify library almost immediately.
Once restored, the playlist will return to your library with all of its contents intact. Your full selection of songs in the playlist will be restored, and any custom ordered arrangements will be preserved as well.
Step 5: Verifying your recovered playlist
To make sure your playlists have been successfully restored, open the Spotify app on your desktop (or mobile) device. In the left sidebar, go to the Your Playlists section. This area displays all of your existing playlists.
Look for the playlist you just restored. You should find it in the list, and you can click to view and play all the tracks in it. If the playlist doesn't appear, make sure you have a stable internet connection and refresh the app or webpage. It should update after some time.
Solutions if playlists don't appear
In some cases, users may face challenges viewing restored playlists. Here are some possible solutions:
- Refresh the app: Close and reopen Spotify to refresh the playlist sidebar.
- Log out and log back in: Sometimes logging out and then logging back in can resolve synchronization issues.
- Recheck the website: Recheck the Spotify website to make sure the restore process was successful.
- Clear the cache: Sometimes clearing the app cache can help if the problem persists (check online for specific steps for your operating system).
What to do if you can't find the playlist?
If too much time has passed and the playlist is not available for restoration on the website, Spotify may have permanently deleted it. In this case, recreating the playlist from memory is an option. Alternatively, if you have previously shared the playlist link with others, the link may still work, allowing you to recreate it manually.
Additionally, contacting Spotify's customer service may provide additional options, though their ability to restore permanently deleted data may be limited.
Sometimes, a playlist may have been set to private by mistake or may not be visible due to account issues (for example, if there was an unexpected log out or if multiple accounts are in use). Make sure you're logged into the correct account, and check your playlist settings from a browser.
Special considerations for Linux users
Linux users, while following a similar process via the browser, may encounter some differences due to the lack of official Spotify client support for Linux distributions. Linux users rely heavily on web applications or community-developed solutions.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that your browser is updated to avoid compatibility issues with Spotify's web interface, as this can minimize problems arising from browser-based errors. Additionally, consider using a cross-platform browser such as Firefox or Chrome for a seamless experience across operating systems.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted playlists on Spotify is a straightforward process, provided it is done within the 90-day period given by Spotify. Users on Windows, Mac, and even Linux can easily restore playlists by leveraging the online web interface. Although this is an online process, it is imperative to ensure proper login credentials and stable internet connectivity to recover efficiently.
By following the steps mentioned, you will be able to restore your playlists without any hassle. In case of any discrepancy or long-lasting issue, Spotify's support team can assist further with some limitations after the retention period.
Exercise caution when modifying your playlists, and consider periodically backing up links or content to minimize the need for these recovery steps in the future.
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