How to Install and Uninstall Spotify on Linux

Spotify has cemented its position as the world’s leading music streaming platform, recently surpassing 515 million monthly active users—a remarkable 22% year-on-year growth. With Spotify’s popularity surging, many Linux users are eager to enjoy this platform on their systems. Thankfully, Spotify officially supports Linux, and installation is straightforward.

Whether you’re a Spotify Free or Premium user, this guide walks you through the steps to install Spotify on various Linux distributions. Additionally, we cover how to uninstall Spotify when needed.

Why Choose Spotify for Linux?

Spotify for Linux offers the same features as its Windows and macOS counterparts, including:

• Access to millions of songs and podcasts.
• Seamless playback and playlist syncing.
• Integration with system media controls (MPRIS).

Although Spotify for Linux lacks “official” support, it is maintained as a passion project by Spotify developers who are Linux enthusiasts. Much like a Shopify 3PL store streamlines logistics, Spotify for Linux offers a reliable, functional, and easy-to-install solution tailored to its users’ needs.

Installation Methods for Spotify on Linux

1. Flatpak Installation (Recommended for All Distros)

Flatpak offers a universal approach to installing Spotify, making it compatible with most Linux distributions, including Fedora and Linux Mint. The Flatpak package fetches the official Spotify binary and wraps it in a user-friendly format.

Steps to Install Spotify via Flatpak

1. Ensure Flatpak and the Flathub repository are set up on your system. If not, refer to your distribution’s Flatpak setup guide.
2. Run the following command in the terminal:flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client
3. Launch Spotify from your applications menu.

Advantages of Flatpak:

• Works across various Linux distributions.
• Automatically updates to the latest Spotify version.

2. Snap Installation (Recommended for Ubuntu)

Spotify provides an official Snap package for Ubuntu users. Snaps are easy to install and update, making them ideal for quick setups.

Steps to Install Spotify via Snap

1. Open the Ubuntu Software Center.
2. Search for “Spotify” and click Install.Alternatively, you can install it via the terminal with:sudo snap install spotify
3. Launch Spotify from the Applications grid.

Note: Snap packages require Snapd, which is preinstalled on Ubuntu.

3. APT Installation (For Debian/Ubuntu-Based Distros)

Spotify maintains an official APT repository for Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin OS, and Pop!_OS. This method ensures smooth updates alongside other system packages.

Steps to Install Spotify via APT

1. Add the Spotify APT repository and its GPG key:curl -sS https://download.spotify.com/debian/pubkey_6224F9941A8AA6D1.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor --yes -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/spotify.gpg
echo deb http://repository.spotify.com stable non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
2. Update your package list:sudo apt-get update

3. Install the Spotify client:sudo apt-get install spotify-client

4. Launch Spotify from your applications menu.

4. AUR Installation (For Arch-Based Distros)

Arch Linux users can install Spotify through the Arch User Repository (AUR). While not official, the AUR package is reliable and works similarly to the Flatpak version.

Steps to Install Spotify via AUR

1. For EndeavourOS, use:yay -S spotify
2. For Manjaro, use:pamac build spotify

Note: AUR helpers like yay or pamac must be installed on your system.

Uninstall Spotify on Linux

If you no longer need Spotify or wish to free up space, follow the steps below to uninstall Spotify based on your installation method.

1. Uninstall Spotify (Flatpak)

Run the following command to remove Spotify installed via Flatpak:

flatpak uninstall com.spotify.Client

To remove any residual data:

flatpak uninstall --unused

2. Uninstall Spotify (Snap)

For users who installed Spotify via Snap, run this command in the terminal:

sudo snap remove spotify

3. Uninstall Spotify (APT – Debian/Ubuntu)

Remove the Spotify client by running:

sudo apt-get remove --purge spotify-client

To clean up additional dependencies and configuration files:

sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get autoclean

Additionally, delete the Spotify repository file:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list

4. Uninstall Spotify (AUR – Arch-Based Distros)

For EndeavourOS, remove Spotify with:

yay -R spotify

For Manjaro, use:

pamac remove spotify

Wrapping Up

Installing and uninstalling Spotify on Linux is straightforward, regardless of your distribution. The various methods outlined above ensure you can easily manage Spotify’s presence on your system, whether through Flatpak, Snap, APT, or AUR.

With its seamless integration and support for free and premium accounts, Spotify remains a top choice for music streaming. If you choose to uninstall, you can always reinstall it following the same simple steps!