How to Stream Spotify Audio on Discord (Step-by-Step)

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Streaming music on Discord is a great way to liven up your server conversations or simply chill with friends, and Spotify—the world’s largest music streaming service—is one of the most popular platforms for this. Whether you’re hosting a virtual party or just want to share your tunes with your online community, integrating Spotify with Discord makes the experience smoother and more enjoyable. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly how to stream Spotify audio on Discord seamlessly.

Why Stream Spotify Audio on Discord?

Before we dive into the ‘how,’ it’s worth exploring the ‘why.’ Here are a few reasons why you might want to stream Spotify audio on Discord:

  • Shared listening sessions: Bond with friends over music.
  • Background music for voice chats: Enhance your gaming or chatting experience.
  • DJ in a group setting: Take turns playing songs and discover new tracks.

Discord and Spotify have a built-in integration that makes music sharing relatively simple. However, broadcasting actual audio to others requires a few extra steps beyond just linking accounts. Let’s break it down.

Step-by-Step Guide to Streaming Spotify on Discord

Step 1: Link Your Spotify Account to Discord

This is the essential first step if you want others to see what you’re listening to or to use Spotify within your profile.

  1. Open Discord and go to User Settings (gear icon next to your username).
  2. Click on Connections from the menu list.
  3. Click on the Spotify icon to begin linking your account.
  4. Log in to your Spotify account in the new window and authorize access.

Once connected, you’ll see your Spotify username in your Discord profile. You can also choose whether others can see what you’re listening to.

Step 2: Enable “Display Spotify as Your Status”

Once you’ve linked your account, you’ll want to make sure your friends can see the music you’re playing.

  1. Stay in the Connections menu in Discord.
  2. Ensure the box labeled “Display Spotify as your status” is checked.

This allows people in your server or friends list to see which song you’re currently listening to, and they can “Listen Along” if they also have Spotify Premium.

Step 3: Enable Experimental Audio Sharing (For Listening Together via Voice Channels)

If you want to actually play Spotify music through a Discord voice channel so everyone hears it, things get a bit more technical because Discord does not directly allow audio sharing from Spotify due to DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions. However, there are still workarounds.

Option 1: Use ‘Listen Along’ with Spotify Premium
If everyone in the voice chat has a paid Spotify account, Discord offers a Native “Listen Along” feature:

  1. Play any song on Spotify through your linked account.
  2. Your friends can view your profile in Discord and click “Listen Along”.

Note: This only works for Premium users and doesn’t allow actual audio broadcast in a voice channel—everyone listens individually but stays synced.

Option 2: Stream Spotify Audio Using Screen Sharing (with Audio)
This method lets you broadcast Spotify’s audio to a voice channel just like streaming a game:

  1. Open Spotify and start playing music.
  2. Go back to Discord and join a voice channel.
  3. Click on the “Share Your Screen” or “Stream” option next to your name in the voice channel.
  4. Choose the window running Spotify or your entire screen (with sound).
  5. Make sure “Sound” is enabled before sharing.

This method requires proper setup and possibly additional audio tools on Windows or Mac to capture system audio successfully.

Step 4: Enhance Sound with Audio Cables (Optional)

If you’re aiming for high-quality audio and fewer interruptions, using virtual audio cables can improve the listening experience.

What You’ll Need:

Setup Overview:

  1. Install the audio routing software.
  2. Set Spotify’s output device to the virtual audio cable.
  3. Configure Discord’s input to receive that same audio feed.

This setup may take a bit more effort but is more reliable for high-fidelity streams. You can also balance volumes, apply filters, and even connect with streaming software like OBS for better control.

Step 5: Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are common hiccups users encounter and how to fix them:

  • No audio in stream: Ensure “Sound” is selected when screen sharing. Check if you’re using the correct audio source.
  • Laggy audio or disconnects: Consider using Discord’s dedicated audio server region or switching to a lower bitrate voice channel.
  • Spotify pauses automatically: This may happen if Spotify detects that you are trying to stream with a virtual cable or other workaround tricking the DRM.

When in doubt, log out and back into both services and test your audio setup.

Tips to Make Your Spotify-Discord Experience Better

Here’s how to make the most of your synced Spotify and Discord accounts:

  • Create collaborative playlists: So friends can contribute their favorite tracks during shared sessions.
  • Use music bots (where allowed): Although most bots can’t stream Spotify properly due to licensing, some can fetch metadata that enriches the experience.
  • Combine with a voice chat game night: Nothing boosts morale like great background music!

Are There Any Legal Concerns?

Directly streaming music from Spotify into a public server where others can hear may walk a fine line with Spotify’s terms of service. The official “Listen Along” is permitted for Premium users, as it doesn’t share actual audio—just syncs playback across accounts. Any workaround using screen sharing or audio hijacking should be used responsibly and within the bounds of fair use, especially in larger, public servers.

Conclusion

Streaming Spotify audio on Discord can turn an ordinary voice channel into an entertaining, shared listening space—whether you’re simply relaxing with lo-fi beats or comparing favorite tracks with friends. By following this guide, you’re equipped with all the options—from native integrations to creative workarounds.

Just remember: A good session is about the community, not just the tech. Keep the vibes positive, respect copyright rules, and enjoy the music. Discord and Spotify are powerful together—when used wisely, they can turn your music-sharing dreams into reality.