How to Install Spotify on Ubuntu 20.04

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services worldwide, giving you instant access to millions of songs, playlists, and podcasts. If you’re using Ubuntu 20.04 and want to listen to your favourite music without any fuss, this guide will take you through two easy ways to install Spotify on your computer. You can choose between installing it as a Snap package or through the apt repository, whichever suits you better.

Installing Spotify via Snap Package

The Snap package is the simplest way to get Spotify running on Ubuntu 20.04. Snap packages come with everything they need bundled inside, so you don’t have to worry about missing dependencies. Plus, Snap updates the app automatically in the background, which means you’ll always have the latest features without lifting a finger.

One thing to keep in mind is that Snap packages might take up a bit more space on your hard drive and sometimes take a little longer to start. But for most people, the convenience outweighs these small downsides.

To install Spotify with Snap, open your terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T) and enter:

sudo snap install spotify

Once it’s installed, you can open Spotify from your applications menu or by searching for it in the Activities overview. If you prefer a graphical way, just open the Ubuntu Software Centre, search for “Spotify,” and click install. Snap will take care of keeping the app up to date for you.

Installing Spotify Using the apt Repository

If you’d rather install Spotify the traditional way and keep it managed through Ubuntu’s package system, you can add Spotify’s official repository to your system. This method lets you update Spotify alongside all your other software using standard commands.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

Step 1: Add Spotify’s GPG key to make sure the packages are trusted.

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys 4773BD5E130D1D45

Step 2: Add the Spotify repository to your sources list.

echo "deb https://repository.spotify.com stable non-free" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list

Step 3: Update your package list and install Spotify.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install spotify-client

To keep Spotify up to date using this method, just run sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade regularly, just like with any other software on your system.

Launching Spotify

After you’ve installed Spotify, open the Activities search bar, type “Spotify,” and click on the icon to launch the app. The first time you open it, you’ll need to log in with your existing Spotify account or create a new one if you don’t have an account yet. Then you’re all set to start streaming music.

Final Thoughts

Getting Spotify on Ubuntu 20.04 is quick and easy whether you use Snap or the apt repository. Snap is great if you want an effortless installation with automatic updates. On the other hand, the apt method integrates Spotify neatly into your system’s update process. Choose the way that suits you best and enjoy your music without any hassle.