Spotify Update Failed on Windows: Fix the Endless Update Loop and Error 13

If Spotify says the update failed, keeps restarting to update or shows Error 13 during installation, the cause is almost always a damaged Spotify folder, a blocked installer or a mix of two installed versions. Close Spotify completely, uninstall it, remove its leftover folders and install the current version from Spotify's own download page. Your playlists and account are stored online and stay intact.

What you see when Spotify cannot update

Three situations come up again and again on Windows. In the first, Spotify launches, shows a small updating window, closes and starts again, forever. In the second, Spotify says it could not update and asks you to download the latest version. In the third, the installer itself fails and displays an error, with Error 13 being a frequent number. Spotify does not publish a full list of what each number means, so treat any specific meaning as community-reported. Spotify Community threads describe Error 13 as the installer being unable to create the files it needs, which usually means leftover files or a folder it could not write to.

Likely causes at a glance

Cause	How to recognise it	Fix section
Spotify still running in the background	Update never finishes; process visible in Task Manager	Step 1
Damaged or locked Spotify folder	Error 13 or a loop that survives restarts	Steps 3 and 4
Store and desktop versions both installed	Two Spotify entries in Installed apps; different behaviour on each	Step 2
Installer launch method	Error 13 or a refusal to run; community reports differ on whether Run as administrator helps	Step 4
Firewall, antivirus or proxy	Download of the update stalls; works on other network	Step 5
Full disk or wrong clock	Install fails early; certificate or storage messages	Step 6

Step 1: Stop every Spotify process

An old Spotify process can keep files open and block the updater. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, select every entry named Spotify and choose End task. Or open Command Prompt and run:

taskkill /f /im spotify.exe

Check the hidden icons in the tray too. Start Spotify again. If it was only a stuck process, the update now completes, and you can stop here.

Step 2: Find out which version you have

Open Settings, Apps, Installed apps and search for Spotify. The Microsoft Store version and the desktop version from Spotify's website can both exist on one PC. They update in different ways: the Store version through the Microsoft Store, the desktop version through its own updater. If you see two, choose one. Most people keep the version they can sign in to and uninstall the other. To update the Store version, open the Microsoft Store, go to Library, and press Get updates. If the Store itself refuses to update apps, our Windows Update repair guide covers shared components that both rely on.

Step 3: Uninstall Spotify properly

Before you start, write down which version you are removing and make sure you remember your Spotify login, since you will sign in again afterwards. If you use Facebook, Google or Apple to sign in, have that account ready. Offline downloads will need to be downloaded again after a reinstall, which is normal and does not affect your library.

1. Open Settings, Apps, Installed apps, find Spotify and choose Uninstall.
2. Restart the PC so Windows releases any locked files.
3. Press Win+R and type %APPDATA%. If you see a Spotify folder, rename it to Spotify.old.
4. Press Win+R again and type %LOCALAPPDATA%. Rename the Spotify folder there to Spotify.old too.

These two folders apply to the desktop version. The Microsoft Store version keeps its own data, and uninstalling it from Settings is enough. Renaming is safer than deleting, because you can restore the folder if something goes wrong. The local folder holds the cache and offline downloads, so after this you will have to download offline music again. Your playlists, followed artists and settings are tied to your account and come back after sign-in.

Step 4: Install a fresh copy

Download the installer from Spotify's official download page (Spotify also documents the steps on its reinstall Spotify support page) and start it with a plain double-click, because the desktop installer places Spotify in your own user profile. Community reports are mixed on Run as administrator: some say it helped, some say the installer refuses to run elevated. If a normal double-click fails with Error 13, try the other method once, and do not repeat it. If you are signed in to Windows with an administrator account, a normal double-click still works. If you are not allowed to run it at all, this may be a managed PC that blocks installers, and your IT administrator must allow it.

If the installer itself reports Error 13 again, check whether a Spotify entry or folder remained after step 3, then try once more after a restart. If a leftover folder cannot be renamed because it is in use, restart in a fresh session and repeat before opening anything else.

Step 5: Check the firewall, antivirus and proxy

The update is downloaded in the background. Security software that scans or filters web traffic can break that download. As a test, temporarily pause the web protection feature of your antivirus (not the whole product), run the installer, and turn protection back on. Windows Defender Firewall rarely blocks it, but a third-party firewall may. Next, open Settings, Network and Internet, Proxy and confirm that no old proxy is set. Spotify also has its own proxy setting inside its Settings under Show advanced settings; if the app opens but cannot connect, check it is set to autodetect.

Testing on a phone hotspot is a quick way to separate a network filter from a PC fault.

Step 6: Check disk space, the clock and system files

Spotify needs room to unpack. If your system drive is almost full, free a few gigabytes first. Then confirm that the date and time are correct under Settings, Time and language, Date and time, because a wrong clock breaks secure downloads. If other installers also fail, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Restart afterwards. An installer that fails for several programs points at Windows, not at Spotify, and the access denied error 0x80070005 guide explains the permission problems behind many of them.

If Spotify installs but the loop returns

A loop that comes back after a clean install usually has an outside cause. The two most common are a security product that quarantines part of the update, and a work or school policy that resets the Spotify folder at each sign-in. Check your antivirus quarantine or protection history for Spotify entries and restore or allow them. On a managed PC, ask the administrator if software installs in user folders are allowed. Another small clue: if the loop only appears after Windows wakes from sleep or fast startup, a full shutdown and a cold boot before the next try can release locked files. Note that Windows Restart, unlike Shut down, bypasses Fast Startup, so a Restart is also a quick way to get a clean session.

What not to do

• Do not download Spotify from "modded" or "premium" sites. These are unsafe, and they are a common cause of broken installs and malware.
• Do not keep switching launch methods. Try a plain double-click first, try Run as administrator at most once if Error 13 persists, and then go back to checking leftover folders.
• Do not delete your whole AppData folder. Only the Spotify folders are involved.
• Do not copy Spotify files from another computer to replace the update. Versions and permissions do not transfer.

When to call a professional

Ask for help if installers for other programs fail as well, if Windows Security reports threats you cannot remove, or if the PC is slow and unstable together with the update trouble. Those signs may point to disk, permission or malware problems that are risky to fix by trial and error. We can look at the machine through a secure remote session: see remote computer repair or our Windows support page. If Spotify installs fine but the music stops or skips, that is a separate problem covered by our Spotify keeps stopping fix.

How to avoid update trouble in the future

• Keep a single Spotify install, either Store or desktop, and note which one it is.
• Restart Spotify now and then so pending updates apply, instead of leaving it open for weeks.
• Leave a few gigabytes free on the system drive.
• Avoid running two real-time antivirus products at once.
• Keep Windows updated; a comparable loop in another app is covered in our Discord update failed guide.

FAQ

Why does Spotify say the update failed?

The updater could not replace Spotify's files, typically because of a running process, a damaged folder, a blocked download or two conflicting installs.

What is Spotify Error 13?

Spotify does not document every code publicly. Spotify Community threads describe Error 13 as the installer being unable to create the files it needs, often from leftover files or permission problems in the Spotify folder. A clean uninstall and reinstall is the usual fix.

Will I lose my playlists if I reinstall Spotify?

No. Playlists, liked songs and followed artists belong to your account. Only offline downloads and the local cache are removed.

Should I use the Microsoft Store version or the website version?

Either works. Use only one at a time. The Store version updates through the Store, while the website version has its own updater.

Is it safe to delete the Spotify folders in AppData?

Yes, after you uninstall, as long as you only touch the Spotify folders. Renaming them is safer than deleting them.

Should I run the Spotify installer as administrator?

Start with a plain double-click, because the desktop installer places Spotify in your own user profile. Community reports are mixed: some say Run as administrator helped, others say the installer refuses to run elevated. If a normal launch fails with Error 13, try the other method once.

Does this fix songs that will not play?

No. This page covers updates and installs. For playback problems, use the Spotify keeps stopping guide.