How to Install Spotify on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

This guide will use the command-line terminal to install Spotify on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS. You can choose from three different methods: APT via Spotify’s official APT repository or utilizing one of the third-party package managers, Snap or Flatpak, with the Flathub repository.

Spotify stands as a beacon in the music streaming service industry, offering millions of tracks and podcasts at your fingertips. Its user-friendly interface, vast library, and personalized playlists make it a favorite among music enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you’re a casual listener or a music aficionado, Spotify ensures your audio experience is seamless and tailored to your tastes. This service revolutionizes how we discover and enjoy music and supports artists by providing a platform to showcase their work globally.

Here are some key features of the Spotify desktop application:

  • Ease of Access: Spotify brings your favorite music and podcasts to your desktop.
  • Personalization: Discover new music through personalized playlists and recommendations.
  • High-Quality Streaming: Enjoy music in high-quality audio formats.
  • Cross-Platform Support: Access your Spotify account on any device, anytime.
  • Offline Listening: Download your favorite tracks and podcasts for offline enjoyment.
  • User-Friendly: Navigate through a clean and intuitive interface.
  • Social Sharing: Share your favorite music and playlists with friends.
  • Continuous Updates: Stay up-to-date with the latest features and music releases.

With these points in mind, let’s move on to the installation process.

Now, let’s dive into the technical steps to get Spotify up and running on your Ubuntu system.

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via APT

Installing Spotify on Ubuntu is first by using the APT package manager and importing the official Spotify repository. This option is ideal for most users as it allows for easy updates.

Update Ubuntu Before Spotify Installation

Begin by ensuring that your system is up-to-date to avoid any conflicts. Run the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Initial Packages For Spotify Installation

Install the necessary dependencies required for installing Spotify using the APT method with the following command:

sudo apt install curl libcanberra-gtk-module software-properties-common apt-transport-https

Import Spotify APT Repository

Import the GPG key using the following command:

curl -sS https://download.spotify.com/debian/pubkey_7A3A762FAFD4A51F.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/spotify.gpg > /dev/null

Add the official repository by running the following command:

echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/spotify.gpg] http://repository.spotify.com stable non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via APT Command

Update your system to reflect the newly imported repository by running the following:

sudo apt update

Finally, install Spotify by running the following command:

sudo apt install spotify-client

Note: You might need to restart your computer after installing Spotify if the necessary system paths haven’t been created immediately. Rebooting your computer should resolve this issue.

reboot

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via Flatpak and Flathub

Another method for installing Spotify on Ubuntu is using the Flatpak package manager. However, it’s worth noting that Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu distributions due to Snap, which is Flatpak’s rival, owned by Canonical and Ubuntu.

Note: If you don’t have Flatpak installed on your Ubuntu machine, refer to our installation guide. The guide utilizes a LaunchPAD PPA from the Flatpak team to ensure you get the latest version of Flatpak for all versions of Ubuntu.

Ensure Flathub is Enabled on Ubuntu for Spotify

The first task is to ensure Flathub is enabled; this should be the case if you have installed Flatpak already beforehand, but still worth running to ensure it is:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via Flatpak Command

Next, install the Spotify client using the following command:

flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via Snapcraft

The third way to install Spotify on Ubuntu is by using the Snapcraft package manager. By default, Snapcraft should already be installed on Ubuntu systems unless it was removed previously.

Snap Core

The snap core needs to be installed to avoid any conflicts, which can be done with the following command:

sudo snap install core

Install Spotify on Ubuntu via Snap Command

Install the Spotify snap package using the following command:

sudo snap install spotify

Launch Spotify on Ubuntu via CLI or GUI Methods

Once you successfully installed Spotify on Ubuntu using one of the three methods (APT, Flatpak, or Snapcraft), you can quickly launch the application through cli commands or the application icon.

CLI Commands to Open Spotify UI

APT Command:

spotify

Flatpak Command:

flatpak run com.spotify.Client

Snap Command:

snap run spotify

Graphical Launch Method with Spotify Application Icon

If you prefer to launch the Spotify application using the icon on Ubuntu, here are the steps:

  1. Click on the “Activities” button in the top left corner of the screen.
  2. Search for “Spotify” in the search bar and click the Spotify icon to launch the application.
Launching Spotify from the application icon on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, and 20.04.
Demonstrating the simple steps to launch Spotify from the application icon on Ubuntu.

First-Time Tips with Spotify on Ubuntu

Now that you have successfully installed Spotify on Ubuntu, here are some first-time tips on getting started with the software:

General Spotify Tips

  • Explore Spotify’s Library: Explore the extensive library of over 70 million songs, podcasts, and other audio content on Spotify. Familiarize yourself with the interface and discover new music, artists, and genres.
  • Create and Organize Playlists: Start creating playlists to organize your favorite tracks. You can create playlists for different moods, genres, or occasions, making finding and playing the music you love easier.

Spotify Customization Tips

  • Adjust Playback Settings: Navigate to the settings menu to adjust playback preferences. You can enable or disable features like crossfade, gapless playback, and normalized volume to enhance your listening experience.
  • Select Streaming Quality: Spotify allows you to select the streaming quality based on your internet connection. For premium users, you can enjoy higher quality streaming, while free users can adjust the quality to manage data usage.

Other Spotify Tips

  • Utilize Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn and use Spotify’s keyboard shortcuts for quicker navigation and control. For instance, use Ctrl + Left Arrow and Ctrl + Right Arrow to skip tracks, and Space to play or pause.
  • Search Efficiently: Use Spotify’s advanced search operators to find music more efficiently. For example, type artist:Taylor Swift to search for songs by Taylor Swift, or genre:rock to find rock music.
  • Offline Listening for Premium Users: If you have a Premium subscription, you can download and listen to your favorite playlists offline. This feature is especially useful when you don’t have access to the Internet.
First-time launch of Spotify on Ubuntu showing successful installation and readiness.
Showcasing the first-time launch of Spotify on Ubuntu, indicating a successful installation.

Additional Spotify Commands on Ubuntu

Remove Spotify

If you no longer need Spotify on your Ubuntu machine, you can easily remove it using the following methods, depending on the installation method you used:

APT Remove Method For Spotify

Open the terminal and run the following command to remove Spotify:

sudo apt remove spotify-client

If you don’t plan on reinstalling Spotify in the future, you can remove the repository by running the following command:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list

Lastly, remove the GPG key with the following command:

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/spotify.gpg

Flatpak Remove Method For Spotify

Open the terminal and run the following command to remove Spotify:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data flathub com.spotify.Client

Snap Remove Method For Spotify

Open the terminal and run the following command to remove Spotify:

sudo snap remove spotify

With these steps, you can successfully uninstall Spotify from your Ubuntu machine, regardless of the installation method you used.

Conclusion

In this guide, we walked through the process of installing Spotify on Ubuntu, covering three installation methods to suit different preferences. We also shared tips for first-time users on optimizing performance, customizing the experience, and enhancing functionality, ensuring you get the most out of Spotify on your Ubuntu system. Remember, the key to a smooth Spotify experience on Linux is to keep experimenting with settings and community resources. There’s plenty to explore, whether it’s tweaking the appearance or diving into command-line controls. Happy listening, and here’s to many enjoyable moments with your favorite tracks and podcasts on Spotify!

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