How to Play Spotify on Apple TV [Step-by-Step]

Playing Spotify on Apple TV boasts your listening experience with its loud and three-dimensional sound or big screen displaying beautiful song covers. If you are new to Apple TV or Spotify and looking for ways to listen to Spotify on your Apple TV, then this post must be what you want. No matter the model of your Apple TV, we will walk you through the steps to enjoy Spotify music on it. You’ll also learn how to turn on background play and even display Spotify lyrics on Apple TV.

The Spotify app can be found on both Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD via the App Store. However, the app comes with basic functionality. You can only play music online and see an album cover while streaming. The features like dark mode, lyrics, video options, audio quality adjustments are absent on the Apple TV version of Spotify.

Still, what stands out is the independence of Spotify app on Apple TV. You won’t need your phone, tablet, or computer to play Spotify music, as the TV itself handles it all.

Here are the steps to download and use Spotify on Apple TV:

Step 1. Grab your Apple TV remote and use it to navigate to the App Store from the main screen.

Step 2. Type “Spotify” into the search bar and select it from the results.

Step 3. Click the download icon. Wait for the app to install.

Step 4. Open the app and press on the Log in option.

Step 5. Instead of the regular login screen, an activation code will appear on your TV screen.

Step 6. Navigate to spotify.com/pair with another device and enter the activation code displayed on your Apple TV into the pairing page on the device. And select Pair Now to confirm.

Step 7. Once paired, you can browse playlists, albums, and your library to play music on Spotify.

Spotify app doesn’t work on Apple TV Generation 1 to 3. These TV models were never built for it. Don’t worry, you can try 3 methods here to play Spotify music on any Apple TV model, including Apple TV Gen 4. Before proceeding, ensure the device installed with the latest Spotify app and Apple TV both share the same Wi-Fi.

Way 1. Use Spotify Connect

Spotify Connect lets you transfer audio output to other devices that are on the same network. Your Spotify app remains the controller, meaning that song selection, playlist management, and volume adjustments stay in your hands. The audio, however, plays through the Apple TV or its connected speakers. Here are the steps to use it:

Step 1. Open Spotify app on your phone or computer and start playing any song. Go to the Now Playing screen on your app.

Step 2. Look for the Devices icon (a small speaker symbol) in the bottom-left and tap it. This will show you all the devices connected to your network.

Step 3. Select your Apple TV from the device list. Music will now play directly through Apple TV.

Way 2. Through AirPlay

If your are using an Apple device like iPhone, then you can use the inbuilt AirPlay feature to complete the Spotify playback on Apple TV. To use AirPlay, you must enable it on your Apple TV first. For older Apple TV models, like Generation 1, this feature will not appear without a system update. Update your Apple TV if required.

Steps to Enable AirPlay on Apple TV

Step 1. Open the Settings menu on your Apple TV.

Step 2. Select AirPlay and HomeKit from the options available.

Step 3. Turn on AirPlay using your Apple TV remote. Once AirPlay is set up, you won’t need to enable it again.

Listen to Spotify via AirPlay

Step 1. Play a song or playlist on Spotify from your iPhone or another Apple device.

Step 2. Access the Control Center.

Step 3. On the audio card, find the AirPlay icon.

Step 4. A menu of available devices will appear. Select your Apple TV from the devices listed.

Way 3. Via Home Sharing

Another option to play Spotify music on Apple TV is by converting Spotify tracks to MP3 files with StreamFox for Music on a Mac or Windows PC and share offline music to Apple TV through Home Sharing. This approach integrates smoothly with Apple’s ecosystem and eliminates the need for the Spotify app entirely.

With StreamFox for Music, you can convert songs, playlists, or albums from Spotify as MP3 in 320kbps. Besides MP3, StreamFox also supports other popular formats like M4A, WAV, and FLAC.

StreamFox will also retain metadata when converting music. Details like album art, artist names, and track titles are preserved. This way, you can conveniently identify each song on Apple TV and have the same listening experience of playing Spotify on Apple TV with the app.

StreamFox for Music

• Song are converted at 10x speed, allowing you to exporting large playlists or multiple albums quickly.
• Inbuilt Spotify web player enables you to convert Spotify songs without copying song links.
• Downloading music from Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
• Spotify Premium is not required to save songs.

Download Download

Steps to Use StreamFox to Download Spotify Music as MP3

Step 1. Download StreamFox for Music to your Windows or Mac and install it. Once installed, launch the app and select Spotify from the main menu.

Step 2. A Spotify browser will appear within the app. Enter your Spotify credentials to access your music library.

Step 3. Add the songs, playlists, or albums you want to convert by dragging them to the + button on the right-hand side.

Step 4. Hit the Convert All button. Your music will be saved directly to your computer in default 320kbps MP3. You can access the converted files via the Downloads > StreamFox directory on your computer.

Use Home Sharing to Play StreamFox Downloads via Apple TV

Once the Spotify music is exported to your local computer, you can add it to your iTunes or Music app and enable Home Sharing. 

Steps for Mac:

Step 1. Set Up Media Folder in Music App

• Open the Music app on your Mac.
• In the top menu bar, click Music and select Preferences.
• Navigate to the Files tab.
• Under the Music Media folder location, click Change and choose the folder where StreamFox converted songs are saved.
• Click OK to import the local media to the Music app.

Step 2. Enable Home Sharing on Your Mac

• Open System Settings and click on the Sharing option.



• Within the Media Sharing section, check the box assigned for Home Sharing.
• Then, enter your Apple ID and password. And click Turn On Home Sharing.

Step 3. Set up Home Sharing on Apple TV

• On your Apple TV, open Settings and go to Accounts.



• Select Home Sharing and log in using the same Apple ID credentials.



• Open the Computer app from your Apple TV home screen.



• Go to the Music tab at the top. Select the Spotify songs added to your Mac’s Music app before. Then, enjoy your Spotify music.

Steps for Windows:

On Windows devices or older Mac devices with iTunes support, you can add music to your iTunes library and enable Home Sharing to transfer the audio on Apple TV. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Add Downloaded Songs to Your Library

• Open the iTunes app.
• Click on File in the top menu bar.
• Choose Add Folder to Library and add the StreamFox folder.

Step 2. Turn on Home Sharing

• From the File drop-down, hover over Home Sharing to choose Turn On Home Sharing.
• Enter your Apple ID and password.
• Confirm to activate Home Sharing.

Step 3. Accessing Music on Apple TV

Once the Home Sharing option is enabled, your Apple TV can automatically recognize the downloads on your iTunes library when on the same network.

To access the music via Apple TV: Open the Computers app, navigate to the Music tab, and start listening to the home-shared playlists or albums.

Spotify’s Apple TV app doesn’t support for background play initially. The music will stop if you switch apps. Yet, you can override this via third-party app settings or Apple’s TV settings. For instance, some apps like Zwift allow you to use Spotify or Music apps in the background.

Beyond that, you can also use native Screen Saver features. With this feature, you can set the Apple TV screen to black, just like Spotify is playing in the background. Here’s how it works:

Step 1. Open the Settings app on your Apple TV. Navigate to General and select Screen Saver.

Step 2. Choose Apple Photos as the screen saver type and select a black image.

Step 3. Choose 2 minutes for the screensaver to activate after music plays.

Step 4. Enable Show During Music and Podcasts. This will ensure the screensaver starts automatically after the set wait period when music or podcasts are playing.

Connection issues between Spotify and your Apple TV usually stem from network discrepancies, disabled permissions, or minor system glitches. Let’s fix them step by step.

Fix 1: Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

Make sure that your Apple TV is connected to an active Wi-Fi network. So that the Spotify app can recognize the TV. Here are how to quickly check:

• Press and hold the Home button on the Siri remote of your Apple TV.
• The usual control center will open in the upper-right corner.
• Check if network connection is active. If not, rejoin your Wi-Fi network and try again.

Fix 2: Enable Local Network for Spotify on Settings

Spotify Connect requires local network access to detect devices like Apple TV. Here’s how to enable it:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Select Privacy & Security.
• Choose Spotify from the list and ensure the Local Network toggle is turned on.

Fix 3: Restart Your Apple TV

A quick restart will resolve glitches on your Apple TV that may block Spotify from connecting. Here are the steps to do it:

• Navigate to the Apple TV’s Settings menu.
• Select System and then choose Restart.
• Once restarted, retry connecting Spotify to Apple TV via Spotify Connect. 

When the Spotify app on your Apple TV refuses to play music, it’s often due to technical glitches. Below are some fixes you can try:

Fix 1: Force Quit and Restart Spotify

App errors like Error Code 202 are common and often resolved by restarting Spotify. Follow these steps to force quit:

• Press the Home button quickly twice on your Apple TV remote. This will open the app switcher.
• Locate Spotify by swiping left.
• Push the app off the screen by swiping up.
• Return to the home screen and restart Spotify.

Fix 2: Delete and Reinstall Spotify

If restarting doesn’t do the trick, you can simply delete and install Spotify again. This will allow you to remove any app glitches and also update the Spotify app. Follow these:

• Go to the Spotify icon using your Apple TV remote.
• Press and hold the touch surface or clickpad center until the app begins to jiggle.



• Select Delete App from the menu by pressing the Play/Pause button. Confirm the deletion.
• Open the App Store and install the Spotify app again.

Fix 3: Reset Apple TV

For persistent issues across multiple apps, resetting your Apple TV could help. Keep in mind that this will restore your Apple TV to its factory settings. Here are the steps:

• Open the Settings app on your Apple TV.
• Navigate to System.



• Select Reset and follow the on-screen instructions. Upon reset, install Spotify and link with your account.

The Spotify app on Apple TV currently lacks a lyrics option. As a workaround, you can use Screen Mirroring from your iPhone. This will allow you to display lyrics on your iPhone screen onto your TV. Here are the steps:

• Access the Control Center.
• Tap for the Screen Mirroring icon (two overlapping rectangles).



• Select your Apple TV from the list of devices.



• Launch the Spotify app on your iPhone. Then, play the song you want. Go to the Now Playing screen. Next, swipe up on the lyric card to display full lyrics. All media (including audio) will naturally play via the Apple TV.

Note that all Notifications and other on-screen activities on your iPhone will also appear in real time on the TV.

Conclusion

So, that’s everything about playing Spotify on Apple TV. The best way to enjoy Spotify on Apple TV is by making the songs part of the Apple ecosystem itself. StreamFox for Music allows you to do just that. You can use it to convert Spotify tracks to regular audio formats in original quality. Once done, you can add these tracks to your music app and play them via Home Sharing on the Apple TV.