How to Fix Spotify No Healthy Upstream on Windows and Mac

If you’ve encountered the puzzling “No Healthy Upstream” error while trying to use Spotify on your Windows or Mac device, you’re not alone. This error typically appears when the Spotify desktop app is unable to connect properly to its servers, leaving you stuck without music. Although it sounds technical, the good news is that this issue can often be solved with a few manageable steps. In this article, we’ll walk you through various potential fixes—ranging from basic checks to more advanced solutions—all designed to get your music streaming smoothly again in no time.

What Does “No Healthy Upstream” Mean?

The error usually originates from a connectivity issue between Spotify and its remote servers. The term “upstream” refers to the direction of data going from the client (your device) to the server. If there’s a “No Healthy Upstream” error, Spotify cannot properly communicate with its back-end systems, most often due to poor internet connection, a misconfigured proxy, or firewall interference.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Before diving into deep troubleshooting, try these basic steps that often solve the issue quickly:

• Restart Spotify: Close the app completely and open it again to see if the error persists.
• Check Your Internet Connection: Spotify depends heavily on strong connectivity. Test your internet by browsing other websites or using another streaming platform.
• Restart Your Device: A simple reboot can solve many frustrating app errors.

Disable Any VPN or Proxy

One of the main culprits behind the “No Healthy Upstream” error is VPN or proxy interference. Spotify tends to face issues if there’s a mismatch between your IP address and region.

• Disable any VPNs or proxy settings running on your system.
• On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and make sure it’s turned off.
• On Mac, visit System Settings > Network > Advanced > Proxies and ensure nothing unnecessary is selected.

Pro tip: If you’re using a VPN for privacy but want to use Spotify, consider switching to a VPN service that offers split tunneling.

Clear Spotify Cache

Corrupted cache files can also interfere with the way Spotify connects to its servers. Clearing the cache is simple and often effective:

On Windows:

1. Close Spotify completely.
2. Navigate to C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Spotify.
3. Delete the Storage folder or its contents.

On Mac:

1. Open Finder and navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify.
2. Delete cache-related files or the entire folder named Storage.

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Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus software may block Spotify from accessing the internet correctly. To check this:

• Windows: Go to Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall. Make sure Spotify is on the list with both private and public network permissions.
• Mac: Navigate to System Settings > Security & Privacy > Firewall and ensure Spotify is allowed.

If your antivirus comes with its own firewall, ensure Spotify is whitelisted there as well.

Reinstall Spotify

If none of the above steps solve the issue, a clean reinstall could be your best bet. This ensures all corrupted files and problematic configurations are removed.

For Windows:

1. Uninstall Spotify from Control Panel or Windows Settings.
2. Navigate back to AppData\Roaming\Spotify and delete any leftover folders.
3. Download the latest version from the official Spotify download page and reinstall it.

For Mac:

1. Move the Spotify application to Trash.
2. Go to ~/Library/Application Support and delete the Spotify folder.
3. Download and reinstall Spotify.

Still Not Working? Try Web Player or Contact Support

If all else fails and the desktop app continues to give you trouble, you can still stream using the Spotify web player from your browser—just log in and continue your listening experience. Alternatively, contact Spotify Support for more help.

Conclusion

The “No Healthy Upstream” error in Spotify can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, it’s usually a temporary setback. From disabling proxies to clearing cache or reinstalling the application, there’s a fix for nearly every scenario. The next time Spotify throws that error your way, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Happy streaming!