How to Get Custom Songs on Spotify: The Ultimate Guide

We’ve all been there: you’re curating the ultimate playlist, only to realize that an unreleased remix, a rare video game soundtrack, an independent Bandcamp gem, or your own original music isn’t available on Spotify.

Fortunately, Spotify has a built-in feature called Local Files that bridges this gap. It lets you import audio files stored on your computer or phone directly into your Spotify library, mix them seamlessly with mainstream tracks, and even sync them to your mobile devices.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up custom songs on desktop and mobile, formatting your files correctly, and troubleshooting common roadblocks.

Step 1: Prep Your Audio Files and Metadata

Before opening Spotify, you need to make sure your audio files are compatible and organized.

• Supported Formats: Spotify officially supports .mp3, .mp4, and .m4p files. Note that .mp4 files cannot contain video, and lossless formats like standard .flac or Apple’s default .m4a can sometimes be finicky depending on your operating system. Sticking to standard MP3s is your safest bet.
• Tidy Up Your Metadata: There’s nothing more annoying than a custom song showing up as Track 01 – Unknown Artist. Use a tag editor like Mp3tag (Windows/Mac) or iTunes/Music app to clean up the song title, artist name, album, and album art beforehand. Clean metadata makes searching and organizing your custom tracks a breeze.

Step 2: Import Custom Songs on Desktop (PC & Mac)

The desktop app is the command center for custom songs. You must use the desktop client rather than the web player to set this up.

1. Put all your custom audio files into a dedicated folder on your computer (