Staring at a "Login failed" or "Invalid signature blob" error? You aren't alone. We all cherish the Clementine music player, but trying to get Spotify music on Clementine recently has been a dead end.
After scouring forums, the verdict is clear: you can't "fix" the broken plugin, but you can fix the workflow. Here is the reliable workaround to play Spotify songs on Clementine Music Player in 2025.
Paet 1. Why the Clementine Spotify Plugin Won't Work Anymore
Before we try to fix it, it is crucial to understand why you are seeing these errors so you don't waste hours trying to install the Spotify plugin for Clementine repeatedly.
The native integration relied on a piece of code called libspotify. This was an official API provided by Spotify to let third-party apps stream music. However, Spotify officially deprecated and shut down libspotify several years ago.
What this means for your Clementine music player:
- Login Failures: The server-side "handshake" that allows Clementine to talk to Spotify is gone.
- "Clementine unable to connect to Spotify": This error is permanent because the API endpoint no longer exists.
- No Simple Patch: Since the server is offline, no amount of reinstalling the plugin will bring it back.
It's a tough pill to swallow, but it's not the end of the road. Clementine was originally designed as a powerful local music manager. By leaning into that strength, we can actually create a better, more stable listening experience than the plugin ever offered.
Part 2. Play Spotify Songs on Clementine as Local Files
Since we cannot stream directly from Spotify's servers anymore, the workaround is simple: Download the music first.
If you can convert your Spotify playlists into high-quality local files (like MP3 or FLAC), you can add music to Clementine just like any other album in your library. You get zero buffering, full use of visualizers, and proper organization.
To bridge the gap between Spotify's protected stream and your Clementine music library, I use a tool called DRmare Spotify Music Converter.
It essentially acts as a "recorder" that captures your tracks and saves them as open-format files. For audiophiles who use Clementine, the best part is that DRmare can output to FLAC, which preserves the full fidelity of the music perfectly for Clementine's engine.
How to Add Spotify Music to Clementine
Here is the exact workflow I use to migrate my playlists and play Spotify music on Clementine music player.
Phase 1: Download Spotify Music with DRmare
- Step 1Configure Settings and Log In
Launch DRmare Spotify Music Converter and log into your account using the built-in Spotify web player window. Before selecting music, click the menu icon in the top-right corner and select "Preferences"
- Step 2Select and Add Spotify Track
Browse your library directly within the DRmare web player. When you find a playlist or album you want to add to Clementine, drag and drop the cover art or tracks onto the green Music icon in the bottom-right corner. Click "Add to list" to confirm your selection.
- Step 3Convert and Locate Files
Click the "Convert" button under the "Converting" tab. The software will batch download your selected tracks to your local computer. Once finished, navigate to the "Converted" tab to find your offline files, ready to be imported into your Clementine music library.
Phase 2: Import Songs to the Clementine Music Library
Now that you have the files, adding them to Clementine is straightforward.
Step 1. Open Clementine.
Step 2. Go to the menu bar and select Tools > Preferences.
Step 3. In the sidebar, click on Music Library. You will see a list of folders that Clementine watches for music.
Step 4. Click "Add new folder..." and navigate to the directory where DRmare saved your converted Spotify songs.
Step 5. Click "Apply" or "OK". Clementine will immediately scan the folder. Within seconds, your Spotify songs will appear in your library, fully tagged with cover art, artist names, and album titles.
Part 3. FAQs about Clementine Spotify Issues
Can I use the "Strawberry" Player instead?
Yes, you can. Strawberry is a fork of Clementine that is actively developed. Strawberry does have working Spotify integration, but it comes with caveats:
- It requires a Spotify Premium account.
- You often need to configure your own API keys, which can be technical.
If you find the Clementine Spotify plugin setup too difficult or unstable on Strawberry, the DRmare download method remains the most reliable backup.
Why is Clementine unable to connect to Spotify even with older versions?
Some users try installing Clementine v1.2.3 hoping the old plugin works. Unfortunately, because the issue is on Spotify's server side (the API shutdown), downgrading your version of Clementine will not fix the connection error.
Can I upload these files to the Cloud?
This is a great trick for managing music players with Clementine. Clementine supports Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive natively.
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Convert the songs using DRmare.
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Upload them to Google Drive.
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In Clementine, sign in to the Google Drive integration.
You can now stream your converted Spotify songs wirelessly, solving the storage issue!
Part 4. Final Thoughts
It is annoying when a beloved piece of software loses a key feature. But moving your Spotify music to local files fits the spirit of Clementine better than streaming ever did. You own the files, you control the quality, and no future API update can break your playlist again.
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