Spotify is a robust music streaming app that works well for both streaming and offline playback. To enable you access your music without network, Spotify provides the download feature with some limitations, including listening to music downloads with the app. In other words, the Spotify downloads are DRM-protected and can’t be transferred to your other devices for personal usage.

Don’t worry, it’s possible to download music from Spotify to your computer as local files so that you can use them for your own projects or as your phone ringtones. In the following part, we will recommend desktop and online methods for you to save Spotify as local files onto your PC or Mac.

Part 1. Where Are Your Downloaded Spotify Songs on Your Computer

Spotify’s downloads are stored on your computer. Instead of accessible local audio, they are cache files and only can be played via the Spotify app.

You can uncover their location by heading to Settings in the Spotify desktop app. Then, look for the Local Storage section and you’ll find the precise file path where these cached files are kept.

When you access the folder where saves the Spotify downloads, you will see a chaotic collection of files with randomized names.

Part 2. How to Download Spotify Music as Local Files on Computer

We’ll cover two practical approaches to download Spotify music to your computer’s storage: desktop software and quick online tools. Let’s dive into them one by one.

Way 1. Use Desktop Music Downloader

On Mac or Windows, StreamFox for Music, the Eassiy All-in-one Music Converter, is all you need to download high-quality Spotify tracks as local files.

The local Spotify songs downloaded by StreamFox could be in MP3, AAC, M4A, WAV or FLAC. Every track download is the same as it on the native Spotify from the sound quality to metadata. Song titles, album names, artist details, every ID3 tag stays intact, down to the last pixel of the album cover, while audio quality reaches up to 320kbps. 

StreamFox gives you the freedom to download as much music as you want. There are no limits. You don’t even need a Spotify Premium account to make it happen. Plus, the integrated Spotify browser allows you to login with your own Spotify account, so you can pick and save your tracks directly within StreamFox.

How to Download Music from Spotify to Local Computer Using StreamFox for Music:

Step 1. Download and install StreamFox for Music on your Windows or Mac device. Launch the app and select Spotify from the main dashboard.

Step 2. Log in with your Spotify account, free or premium, to make your library accessible within the app.

Step 3. Drag and drop your chosen playlists, albums, or songs onto the plus icon at the top right. Whether it’s your personal collection or Spotify-curated playlists, you can add everything with ease.

Step 4. The songs will be lined up on the Converting tab. At the bottom left, you’ll find the Output option: click on Browse to select your preferred folder for saving the downloaded files. You can also adjust the format for all tracks by using the Convert all files to option, or modify the format for individual tracks as needed.

Step 5. When ready, click on Convert All to start exporting your Spotify songs to your computer.

Head over to the Finished tab at the top. Click on View Output File to quickly access your downloads, or navigate directly to the folder you specified earlier.

Way 2. Use Online Music Downloader

SpotMate is one of the popular online Spotify music downloaders.It downloads Spotify music in clear and stable sound quality. However, it can’t retain the full song tags and can’t process the song downloads efficiently. Yet, every track must be downloaded one at a time and there’s no batch processing to faster the downloading process. Besides, the site itself is ad-heavy, just like other online converters.

Key Features

• Deliver audio quality, ranging from 128kbps to 320kbps.
• Bypass Spotify’s DRM by sourcing tracks from YouTube and YouTube Music, making it ideal for one-time use.
• Free to use, with no hidden cost or subscriptions.
• Feature a dedicated Android app on the Play Store.

How to Download Music from Spotify to Local Computer Using Online Converter:

Step 1. Open the Spotify playlist or song and copy its link to your clipboard.

Step 2. Head over to spotmate.online in your browser. Drop the playlist or song link into the input bar at the center of the page. When you’re ready, click the Start button to kick things off.

Step 3. On the next screen, the playlist banner or song cover will appear up top, with tracks waiting below, each paired with its own Convert button. Hit the button to proceed. 

Step 4. After clicking Convert, the button will changed to Download. Save each song individually by clicking its corresponding button.

Step 5. A prompt will ask where to store the music. Choose a folder on your computer and confirm.

Step 6. The tracks can be downloaded at 320 kbps, depending on the original quality. Keep in mind: only the song names will be saved. Cover art and metadata won’t be included.

Part 3. How to Export Spotify Music to Local Computer Without Downloading

Recording tools offer another way to export Spotify music as local files and save it to your computer storage. As the audio plays, you can record each track individually in the same quality you hear. Remember, you cannot remove interruptions in a song like ads. Plus, the process will require manual effort. However, for those who are unwilling to rely on downloading, recording is a dependable option.

Let’s explore two audio recording tools for save Spotify music locally. One runs entirely online and the other is a more powerful option, sits on your desktop.

Way 1. Use Desktop Audio Recorder

Audacity extends far beyond simple audio recording. Still, at its heart, it’s a benchmark for capturing system audio.

Recording on Windows is straightforward. It taps into the WASAPI (Windows Audio Session API) to route audio directly from your speakers into the software. macOS setup requires a bit more work. You’ll need virtual drivers like Soundflower or Loopback to get the system audio into Audacity. On Linux, it’s the same story, you’ll need additional tools to make it happen.

Coming to the recording features: a lot of features come with the installation and there’s plugins to increase the functionality. You can schedule recordings, adjust audio effects, or monitor inputs in real time. However, make note that the final quality will depend on your device’s sound card or chipset. So, don’t expect miracles if you’re using an older system.

How to Use Audacity to Export Spotify Music on Windows:

Step 1. Before you can record, set up Audacity. Go to Edit > Preferences. In the Preferences window, find the Host drop-down under the Interface section. Select Windows WASAPI and click OK to save.

Step 2. Hit the red circle at the top to begin recording and start playing the song on Spotify. When the song finishes, stop the Spotify music recording by clicking the rectangular stop button.

Step 3. Click File, choose Export, and set your preferences. Save the recording to your computer by choosing an output format.

Way 2. Use Online Audio Recorder

Apowersoft’s audio recorder comes with two versions of its recorder: a desktop app for offline use and an online tool for quick captures. The online version, in particular, keeps things lightweight yet efficient. It uses HTML5 technology to ensure precise and high-quality results, making it perfect to record via browsers on any operating system.

There’s more to it than just recording. This online audio recorder can export your tracks in formats like MP3, WAV, or even Spotify’s OGG. Editing ID3 tags is baked into the exporting process, so organizing your library will be somewhat easy. To sum up, it lacks the depth of Audacity, that’s also where its charm lies. Apowersoft trims away the complexity and focuses on being simpler. Here’s the overview of the process:

Step 1. Go to ApowerSoft’s Audio Recorder and open the audio recording tool.

Step 2. Select System Sound as the recording source, then hit Start Recording. Play the Spotify song and the tool will capture the audio.

Step 3. Stop the recording and save the file to your computer.

Conclusion

All the above methods allow you to download or export music from Spotify to your PC or Mac storage easily. Each method has its own merits. Online converters provide a quick fix, but they lack consistency in audio quality and metadata.

Eassiy All-in-one Music Converter, however, stands apart. It delivers the best of both worlds: unmatched speed, lossless quality, and meticulous attention to detail even in aspects like metadata. StreamFox doesn't even require you to have a Spotify Premium account to download songs without limitations.