From Studio to Stream: How to Add Your Own Music to Spotify

Have you ever dreamed of searching for your own name on Spotify and seeing your track pop up right alongside your favorite artists? Whether you are an independent musician ready to share your art with the world, or just a creator wanting to listen to your unreleased demos and custom mashups on the go, getting your music onto Spotify is entirely possible.

Depending on what you want to achieve, there are two distinct paths: listening to your own files privately on your devices, or publishing your music globally for everyone to stream. Let’s dive into both methods.

Method 1: The Personal Route (Local Files)

Best for: Listening to your own demos, rare bootlegs, or custom mixes on your phone and computer without distributing them publicly.

If you just want to play your personal audio files through the Spotify app, Spotify has a built-in feature called Local Files. Here is how to set it up:

Step 1: Prep your files on your Desktop

1. Open the Spotify desktop app on your Mac or PC.
2. Click on your Profile Picture in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down until you see the Local Files section and toggle Show audio files from this device to ON.
4. Click Add a source and select the folder on your computer where your music files (MP3, M4A, or FLAC) are saved.

Step 2: Create a Playlist

1. Go to Your Library in the desktop app and create a new playlist (