Spotify VPN: Account Country, Downloads and Connect
Most Spotify problems aren't about getting connected — they're about the account itself: which country it belongs to, how long you can be abroad before Spotify asks you to update it, when offline playlists stop playing, and whether Family members must live together. This page goes through what a VPN can and can't do for each.
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When Spotify listeners think about a VPN
Spotify uses your account country to decide which music, podcasts, audiobooks and prices you get. Travel, long stays abroad and listening on public networks are the three common situations.
A VPN can encrypt your connection on public networks. It can't — and shouldn't be used to — change the country Spotify has on your account.
Short trips abroad: keep listening
Spotify lets you keep using your account while abroad, but Free accounts have a time limit outside their country, after which Spotify may ask you to update it. Check the Spotify help centre for the exact rules. On hotel and airport Wi-Fi, connect HZVPN to encrypt the connection.
Download playlists before you leave
Premium lets you download playlists for offline listening, but the device has to go online regularly — Spotify says at least once every 30 days — to keep them playable. Before a long trip, download on a trusted network and check you've synced recently.
Sign in safely on shared networks
On shared office, campus or hotel networks, connecting HZVPN puts your Spotify sign-in and streaming inside an encrypted tunnel; the network admin only sees a VPN connection.
Phone, computer and tablet
One HZVPN account signs in on several devices: 3 online at once on VIP, 5 on SVIP. Spotify itself only plays on one device at a time per account — that's Spotify's rule.
Spotify and VPNs: three common traps
All three are written into Spotify's rules. Changing your IP doesn't get round them, and we don't suggest trying.
Account country isn't just your IP
Spotify looks at your payment method, account details and where you use the app. Using a VPN to subscribe to cheaper Premium in another country can lead Spotify to ask you to update your country or cancel the subscription.
Family and Duo require the same address
Premium Family and Duo members must live at the same address, and Spotify may check it. A VPN changes your IP, not your home address, and shouldn't be used to get round this.
A little extra data
Encryption adds a small amount of overhead. On mobile data, turn on Data Saver in Spotify's settings, or only download playlists over Wi-Fi.
Spotify on different devices
Spotify runs almost everywhere; HZVPN covers part of that.
Phone app
HZVPN runs on Android 9+ and iOS 13+. When you move between Wi-Fi and mobile data, the VPN reconnects and playback may pause for a second or two.
Desktop app
On Windows and macOS, the Spotify desktop app's traffic goes through the encrypted tunnel while HZVPN is connected — handy on office or library networks.
Speakers and Spotify Connect
When you control a speaker on the same network from your phone, some devices may not find the speaker while a VPN is on. At home on a trusted network, disconnect HZVPN and then connect to the speaker.
Web player
In the browser-based web player, your browser traffic is encrypted too while HZVPN is connected.
Get started in 3 steps
Sign up and download
Create an HZVPN account on our website, then download the app for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS or Linux.
Pick a server location
Choose one of 43 server locations in the app and tap connect. If it doesn't feel right, switch to another any time.
Open the app you want to use
Open Spotify and play a track to check it loads; if it's slower than usual, switch to a server location closer to you.
Before a long stay abroad: check these on your Spotify account
1. Your account country. You can see it on your Spotify account page. If you're moving to another country for good, update it through Spotify's own process instead of keeping the old one with a VPN.
2. Your payment method. Premium prices and accepted payment methods differ by country. A payment method that doesn't match the account country can make renewals fail.
3. Offline playlists — and remember to go online. Downloaded content needs the device to check in regularly (Spotify says at least once every 30 days), or it may stop playing for a while.
4. Family plan members. If you're on someone's Family plan and move away from their address, you may no longer meet the plan's requirements. Follow Spotify's rules.
With that sorted, the VPN's job is simple: encrypting your connection on networks you don't trust. Travelling in Japan, for example, you could pick a nearby location such as Japan (41 servers) for a smoother encrypted connection.
HZVPN features that help with Spotify
We only list features HZVPN actually has today. If a feature isn't listed here, please don't assume it exists.
One account, several devices
Your phone, tablet and computer can all sign in with the same HZVPN account. Devices online at the same time: 3 on VIP, 5 on SVIP (the app shows the current limit).
Switch locations any time, no limit
If one location is slow, switch to another in the app — no limit. At home with Connect, you can disconnect at any time.
43 server locations, 265 servers
43 server locations and 265 servers, so you can pick one near you when you're away.
Free servers once you sign up
Free routes come with sign-up — try them on your commute first.
Where the free servers are today
United States
Japan
Hong Kong
Singapore
Germany
Canada
France
Thailand
United Kingdom
Frequently asked questions
Does Spotify still work when I travel abroad?
Usually yes, but Free accounts have a time limit outside their country, after which Spotify may ask you to update the account country. Check the Spotify help centre for the exact rules.
Can I use a VPN to subscribe to cheaper Premium in another country?
We don't recommend it. Spotify checks your payment method and where you use it, and may cancel subscriptions that don't follow its rules. HZVPN doesn't promise to change the country Spotify sees.
Why did my downloaded songs suddenly stop playing?
Spotify needs devices with offline content to go online regularly (at least once every 30 days, it says). Opening Spotify once while online usually fixes it.
Spotify Connect can't find my speaker while HZVPN is on. What now?
Some devices may not find speakers on the same network while a VPN is running. At home on a trusted network, disconnect HZVPN and then connect to the speaker.
Can Family plan members use a VPN?
You can use a VPN to encrypt your connection, but it doesn't change where you live. Family and Duo plans require members to share an address — please follow Spotify's rules.
Ready when you are
Sign up for an HZVPN account to use the free servers. Upgrade later if you need more server locations or more devices online at once.
Server numbers come from our server list (43 locations, 265 servers). They change with maintenance; the app always shows the current list.