How to Install Spicetify on Spotify

What Spicetify is and what it does

Spicetify is a command-line tool that modifies the Spotify desktop app to add features Spotify does not include by default. It lets you change the visual theme, add custom colors, display lyrics while songs play, show song recommendations, and install extensions built by other users. Spicetify works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, but only on the desktop version of Spotify — not the web player or mobile apps.

The tool works by injecting code into Spotify's existing files after you install it. This means Spotify must be closed while you install or update Spicetify, and you need to re-run Spicetify after each Spotify update to restore your customizations. Spicetify is free and open-source, maintained by volunteers on GitHub.

Key Takeaways

Spicetify requires the desktop version of Spotify and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, but not on the web player or mobile apps.
Installation differs by operating system: Windows users run a PowerShell script, macOS and Linux users use Homebrew or a shell script.
You must close Spotify completely before installing Spicetify, and Spotify must not be set to launch automatically at startup.
After each Spotify update, you need to run Spicetify again to restore themes and extensions, which takes one command.
Spicetify is maintained by volunteers and is not affiliated with Spotify, so updates may lag behind Spotify releases.

Install Spicetify on Windows

On Windows, the easiest method is to use PowerShell. Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click PowerShell and select "Run as administrator"), then paste this command and press Enter:

iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/cli/master/install.ps1 | iex

PowerShell will download and run the installer automatically. The process takes a minute or two. When it finishes, close PowerShell and verify the installation by opening a new PowerShell window (regular user, not administrator) and typing spicetify. If you see version information, the installation worked.

If PowerShell gives you an error about execution policy, run this command first as Administrator, then try the installer again:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Install Spicetify on macOS and Linux

On macOS and Linux, the recommended method is Homebrew, a package manager that handles installation and updates. If you do not have Homebrew installed, visit brew.sh and follow the installation instructions there first.

Once Homebrew is installed, open Terminal and run:

brew install spicetify-cli

Homebrew will download and install Spicetify. When it finishes, verify the installation by typing spicetify in Terminal. If you see version information, the installation worked.

If you prefer not to use Homebrew, you can install from source. Visit the Spicetify GitHub releases page, download the latest version for your operating system, extract the file, and follow the README instructions included in the archive.

Prepare Spotify before running Spicetify

Before you run Spicetify for the first time, close Spotify completely. Check your system tray or menu bar to make sure no Spotify process is running in the background. On Windows, you can open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and search for "Spotify" to confirm it is closed. On macOS, open Activity Monitor and search for "Spotify".

Also disable Spotify's autostart feature so it does not launch automatically when you restart your computer. On Windows, open Spotify settings, scroll to "About Spotify", and toggle off "Open Spotify automatically after you log in". On macOS, open Spotify preferences, click "About Spotify", and uncheck "Open Spotify automatically after you log in".

Once Spotify is closed and autostart is disabled, you are ready to run Spicetify.

Run Spicetify and apply a theme

Open Terminal (macOS and Linux) or PowerShell (Windows) and run:

spicetify backup apply

This command creates a backup of your original Spotify files and then applies Spicetify's default theme. The process takes 10 to 30 seconds. When it finishes, open Spotify. You should see a darker interface with Spicetify's default styling applied.

If Spotify does not look different, close it completely and run the command again. Sometimes Spotify needs a second application to register the changes.

To see what themes are available, run:

spicetify config current_theme

Then change the theme by running:

spicetify config current_theme [theme-name]

Replace [theme-name] with the actual theme name (for example, "Sleek" or "Dribbblish"), then run spicetify apply to activate it.

Install extensions and customize further

Spicetify extensions add features like lyrics display, song recommendations, and custom buttons. To see available extensions, visit the Spicetify Extensions repository on GitHub or run:

spicetify config extensions

To install an extension, download it from the repository, place the file in your Spicetify extensions folder, then run spicetify apply. The extensions folder location depends on your operating system: on Windows it is usually %APPDATA%\spicetify\Extensions, on macOS it is ~/.config/spicetify/Extensions, and on Linux it is ~/.config/spicetify/Extensions.

You can also customize colors, fonts, and other settings by editing the config file. Run spicetify config to open the configuration file in your default text editor, make your changes, save, and run spicetify apply to activate them.

Update Spicetify after Spotify updates

When Spotify releases a new version, Spicetify stops working until you update it. You will know this has happened because Spotify will look normal again (no theme or extensions). To restore Spicetify, close Spotify completely and run:

spicetify restore upgrade apply

This command restores your original Spotify files, upgrades Spicetify to the latest version, and reapplies your theme and extensions. The process takes a minute or two. Open Spotify and your customizations should be back.

If you installed Spicetify via Homebrew, you can also run brew upgrade spicetify-cli to update it, then run spicetify restore upgrade apply to restore your customizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Spicetify get me banned from Spotify?

Spotify's terms of service prohibit modifying the app, so there is a theoretical risk. In practice, Spotify has not been known to ban users for using Spicetify, but the risk exists. If you are concerned, use Spicetify at your own discretion.

What do I do if Spicetify breaks after a Spotify update?

Close Spotify completely and run spicetify restore upgrade apply. This restores your original files, updates Spicetify, and reapplies your customizations. If that does not work, run spicetify restore to return Spotify to normal, then uninstall and reinstall Spicetify from scratch.

Can I use Spicetify on the Spotify web player?

No. Spicetify only works on the desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The web player and mobile apps cannot be modified with Spicetify.

How do I uninstall Spicetify?

Run spicetify restore to return Spotify to its original state, then uninstall Spicetify itself. On Windows, use Control Panel to uninstall it like any other program. On macOS and Linux with Homebrew, run brew uninstall spicetify-cli.

Where do I find themes and extensions?

The official Spicetify GitHub repository has a list of community-made themes and extensions. Search for "Spicetify themes" or "Spicetify extensions" on GitHub to find repositories maintained by other users. Always download from trusted sources and review the code before installing.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.