Spotify shows lyrics on most songs, but the feature works differently depending on which device you're using

Spotify built lyrics into the app itself — you don't need a separate tool or website. On phones and tablets, tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the now-playing screen, then tap "Lyrics" when it appears. On desktop, click the lyrics icon (it looks like lines of text) on the right side of the player. The lyrics will scroll in time with the song, and you can tap or click any line to jump to that moment in the track.

Not every song has lyrics available. Spotify gets lyrics from a company called Genius, and coverage varies by artist, language, and how new the song is. Older songs, very new releases, and music in languages outside the major ones are less likely to have lyrics. If a song doesn't have lyrics, the lyrics button simply won't appear.

Key Takeaways

  • On mobile, open the now-playing screen and tap the microphone icon, then select "Lyrics" from the menu that appears.
  • On desktop, look for the lyrics icon (text lines) on the right side of the player and click it to open the lyrics panel.
  • Lyrics scroll automatically with the song and let you jump to any section by tapping or clicking a line.
  • Lyrics are not available for every song — coverage depends on the artist, language, and how recently the song was released.

Finding lyrics on your phone or tablet

Start playing any song in Spotify. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a row of icons. Tap the microphone icon on the left side of that row. A menu will pop up with several options, including "Lyrics" — tap that option.

The lyrics will open in a full-screen view and begin scrolling automatically as the song plays. Each line is highlighted as it's sung. You can swipe down to close the lyrics and return to the regular now-playing screen, or tap outside the lyrics panel if one appears on the side.

If you want to jump to a specific part of the song, tap any line of lyrics and Spotify will skip to that moment. This is useful if you want to hear how a particular verse or chorus sounds.

Finding lyrics on your computer or web player

Open Spotify on your desktop or use the web player at open.spotify.com. Play any song. On the right side of the player, you'll see several small icons. The lyrics icon looks like three horizontal lines (similar to a text document). Click it to open the lyrics panel on the right side of your screen.

The lyrics will scroll as the song plays, and the current line will be highlighted. You can click any line to jump to that part of the song. The lyrics panel stays open until you close it by clicking the icon again or switching to a different view.

Why some songs don't have lyrics

Spotify sources lyrics from Genius, a lyrics database maintained by music fans and professionals. Not every song in Spotify's catalog has been added to Genius yet. New releases sometimes take a few days or weeks to appear. Very old recordings, independent releases, and songs in languages outside the major ones are also less likely to have lyrics available.

If a song doesn't have lyrics, the lyrics button simply won't show up on the now-playing screen. There's no way to add lyrics yourself or request them through Spotify — the process happens on Genius's side.

What to do if lyrics aren't showing up

First, make sure you're using the current version of Spotify. Lyrics are a standard feature, but older versions of the app may not have it. Check your app store for updates.

If the app is up to date and lyrics still aren't appearing for a song that should have them, try closing and reopening the app. Sometimes the lyrics data takes a moment to load. If the problem persists, restart your device. Lyrics are stored on Spotify's servers, not downloaded to your phone, so a fresh connection often fixes the issue.

If you're using a very old device or an older operating system, Spotify may not support the lyrics feature on your particular setup. In that case, you can search for the song title plus "lyrics" on Google or visit Genius.com directly to read the words while you listen.

Lyrics in different languages and regional availability

Spotify's lyrics feature works best for songs in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, and a few other major languages. Songs in less common languages, regional dialects, or transliterated scripts may have limited or no lyrics coverage.

Some countries or regions have restrictions on which lyrics are available due to licensing agreements. If you travel or use a VPN, you might notice that lyrics appear or disappear depending on your location. This is because Genius licenses lyrics differently in different parts of the world.

Using lyrics to learn songs or languages

The lyrics feature is useful for learning the words to a song you like, or for understanding what an artist is singing when the audio is unclear. You can also use it to follow along with songs in languages you're learning — the synchronized highlighting helps you match the written words to the sounds you're hearing.

If you want to save lyrics for later, take a screenshot of the lyrics screen. Spotify doesn't have a built-in way to bookmark or export lyrics, so screenshots are the most straightforward method. Some people also copy and paste lyrics into a notes app, though be aware that lyrics are copyrighted material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for songs by lyrics on Spotify?

Spotify's search bar doesn't search inside lyrics — it only searches song titles, artist names, and album names. If you remember a few words from a song but not the title, try searching those words on Google or Genius.com first to find the song name, then search for it on Spotify.

Do I need a paid subscription to see lyrics?

No. Lyrics are available to both free and paid Spotify users. The feature works the same way regardless of your subscription level.

Why do some lyrics have a different version than what I hear in the song?

Lyrics on Genius are submitted and edited by users, so occasionally there are mistakes or variations. If you notice an error, you can visit Genius.com and suggest a correction there — Spotify pulls from Genius, so fixing it there will eventually update Spotify too.

Can I download lyrics to read offline?

Spotify doesn't offer a way to download lyrics for offline use. Lyrics require an internet connection because they're pulled from Genius's servers in real time. If you want to read lyrics without internet, screenshot them or copy them into a notes app before you go offline.

What if I'm using Spotify on a smart speaker or car system?

Lyrics aren't available on Spotify's smart speaker apps (like Amazon Echo or Google Home) or on most car systems. The lyrics feature only works on phones, tablets, computers, and the web player. You can still listen to the music, but you won't see the words displayed.