How to Deal With Spotify Error Code 17 on Mac

Spotify is a popular music streaming app that has been around for over 10 years. It has over 207 million users globally and provides access to millions of songs and podcasts across various genres, including pop, rock, oldies, and KPop.

You can listen to your favorite music from your computer or from your smartphone. Spotify supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and other major operating systems.

To get access to Spotify’s huge collection of music, all you need to do is sign up for an account and download the app on your device. However, several users have recently reported experiencing sign in problems with the music streaming platform. They were unable to log into their account and instead got an error code 17.

What Is Spotify Error Code 17 on Mac?

This error occurs during login and is usually followed by the Spotify app crashing. Spotify Error code 17 on Mac is usually associated with the following message:

Spotify has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Spotify could not be started (Error code 17)

You might also encounter an error message that says your Firewall might be blocking Spotify and you need to change your proxy settings to fix the problem.

The error message might look intimidating, but the solutions to this problem are not that complicated. This guide will discuss why Spotify on Mac gets error code 17 and what to do about it.

What Is the Cause of Error Code 17 on Spotify?

There are many factors that cause Spotify error code 17 on Mac, including incomplete installation, deleted Spotify-related files, and malware infection.

However, if you’ve been to a different country for more than 14 days and you’re using a free Spotify account, then you’ll likely encounter this error. You need a Premium account to be able to access your Spotify abroad for an unlimited period of time.

Signing up for a Premium account, though, does not guarantee that the error will go away. Spotify’s pricing structures, content offerings, and features vary per country. In some countries, Spotify is not even available at all. Traveling to another country results in a conflict between the IP address you use for your Spotify account and your current location, hence the error.

So if Spotify error code 17 on Mac is preventing you from enjoying your favorite music, read ahead to find out how to make this error go away.

How to Fix Spotify Error Code 17

Before you try some hardcore troubleshooting, try these simple fixes first in case you’re dealing with a temporary issue.

1. 1. Close other apps that are running.
   2. Delete junk files on your Mac that might be messing with your apps and processes. Use a reliable tool such as Outbyte macAries to completely clean up your Mac.
   3. Delete the Spotify app’s cache files. Press Shift + Command + G and copy this path to the address bar: ~/Library/Caches/com.spotify.client/. Press Command + A to select everything inside that folder, then move the items to the Trash. Empty the Trash afterwards.
   4. Scan your Mac using an antivirus app to make sure that the problem is not caused by any malicious software.
   5. Restart your Mac to refresh your macOS.

If you still can’t log in after doing the steps above, then you might need a more serious approach to resolve the error.

Solution #1: Change Your Location Settings.

This fix is for Spotify users who are currently away from their home country for more than 14 days. The only way to prevent Spotify from getting confused about your location is to match the country on your Spotify account with your actual whereabouts.

Follow the steps below to edit your Spotify location settings:

1. Since you can’t log in using the Spotify app, open your browser and go to www.spotify.com to access your account.
2. Click Log In, then type in your Spotify email address and password.
3. Hit the Log In button.
4. Click Profile in the upper-right corner of the screen, then select Account. This will give you an overview of your account details.
5. Click Edit Profile, then click the dropdown menu under Country to select your current location.
6. Click the Save Profile button.

Once your location information is consistent, try logging in again using the app. If, for some reason, you can’t change your country information, an alternative would be to use a reliable VPN service. Set your VPN to use your home country’s server, so that Spotify won’t be able to detect that you’ve changed locations.

Solution #2: Allow Spotify Through Your Firewall.

If you didn’t travel abroad when you encountered Spotify error code 17 on Mac, you should make sure that the application is not being blocked by your Firewall.

To allow Spotify to receive incoming connections, you need to add it using Firewall Options. To do this:

1. Click the Apple menu, then click on System Preferences.
2. Navigate to Security & Privacy, and click on the Firewall tab.
3. Click the lock icon at the bottom of the window to make changes to your Firewall settings. Type in your admin username and password in the dialog box then hit Enter.
4. Click Firewall Options.
5. Click Add Application, then select Spotify.
6. Click the Add button, then OK.

Try logging in again on Spotify to see if it worked.

Solution #3: Uninstall and Reinstall the Spotify App.

If Spotify error code 17 is caused by an incomplete or corrupted installation, the best fix is to uninstall the app and then reinstall a fresh copy of it.

To uninstall Spotify, just go to Finder > Go > Applications, then look for the Spotify app. Drag the app directly to the Trash to remove it. Next, download a clean copy of the app installer from the Spotify website. Click the installer and let it do its work. Once installed, log in using your username and password. This should resolve the error caused by faulty Spotify installation.

Final Thoughts

Not being able to access Spotify and listen to your favorite music is a major hassle these days. Although you can use other music streaming apps to replace Spotify, spending lots of hours re-building your music database and re-arranging your playlists is not worth it. You might as well use that time to find solutions, like the ones above, to fix the error and enjoy Spotify music once again.