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How to Unblock Spotify in 2025 and Get Worldwide Coverage

Spotify is the go-to streaming platform for employees and students who rely on the motivational boost of music to get tasks done. However, Spotify isn’t available in all countries, plus some workplaces and schools use firewalls to limit its access. That’s the reason we compiled this guide to show you how to get Spotify unblocked, so read on.

Samson KiarieJackie Leavitt

Written by Samson Kiarie (Writer)

Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)

Last Updated: 2025-02-11T13:19:34+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

How to Unblock Spotify1
Key Takeaways: How to Unblock Spotify
  1. Browse to nordvpn.com and grab a 72% discounted plan.
  2. Download the app.
  3. Choose a server and connect.

Best VPNs to Access Spotify

  1. NordVPN — Cutting-edge security meets fast speeds. NordVPN’s best deal is available at a 72% discount.
  2. Surfshark — Affordable protection for the whole family. New Surfshark subscribers get up to 66% (plus 3 months free) reduced rates on long-term commitments.
  3. ExpressVPN — Intuitive protection for VPN newcomers. Get 25% off the first year with ExpressVPN, covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Facts & Expert Analysis on Unblocking Spotify

  • Spotify uses geo-restrictions to lock out residents of restricted countries and limit access to the music library in some regions. 
  • Some learning institutions and workplaces configure firewall rules that make Spotify inaccessible. 
  • A VPN like NordVPN enables you to bypass school or office firewalls and Spotify country restrictions to enjoy music anywhere, anytime, regardless of whether you have a Spotify premium account or a free one. 
Best VPN to Unblock Spotify

Listening to background music on Spotify while working or studying may boost motivation and mood, improving focus on a task. Yet, despite these benefits, some schools and workplaces block one of the most popular music streaming services. If this applies to you, you’ll need a VPN to get Spotify unblocked. 

Maybe you can’t listen to your productivity playlist on Spotify at school or office, but fret not. If Spotify is blocked in your country or you want to access Spotify’s library in a different region, we got you covered. 

In this article, we’ll discuss a workaround to help you unblock Spotify today (hint: It involves using a virtual private network). Read on to also find out the best VPNs for Spotify. 

  • 10/26/2021

    Cloudwards.net updated the article to include a step-by-step guide on how to unblock Spotify. 

  • 10/01/2024

    We updated this tutorial and reassessed the VPN positions based on our latest testing.

  • 10/22/2024

    Updated to add PrivadoVPN as the best free option for Spotify.

  • 02/11/2025 Facts checked

    Added more details for the best VPNs to unblock Spotify.

How to Get Spotify Unblocked for School or Work

If you can’t access Spotify at school or the office, the network administrator might have configured the firewall to block the app. That happens for several reasons, including:

The administrator blocklists Spotify on the network firewall such that any outbound traffic to the website or downloaded app is blocked. To do so, the firewall inspects the data packets you send out over the internet to know their web destination. If it finds any IP address or source headed to Spotify, it automatically blocks that request. 

Unblock Spotify today
Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, Android or iOS devices, it’s easy to
install a VPN to bypass firewall restrictions.

A VPN scrambles your internet traffic in an encrypted tunnel, which means the firewall won’t be aware that you’re accessing Spotify. As a result, you’ll be able to listen to your Spotify playlists regardless of the firewall rules.

If you want to get Spotify unblocked at school or work, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to circumvent the firewall Spotify block. We’ll use NordVPN — the best VPN service — to demonstrate the steps. 

  1. Go to NordVPN’s website

    Visit NordVPN’s website and create an account. Then select and purchase a plan. The longer plans are offer the most value for money. Follow the prompts until you get to the download page.

    NordVPN step 1
  2. Install NordVPN’s app on your device

    Install NordVPN app on your device and login.

    NordVPN step 2
  3. Choose a Server

    Select a location where Spotify is available and connect to it.

    NordVPN US

How to Bypass the Spotify Region Lock & Country Restrictions

Spotify has approximately 365 million monthly active users in over 180 countries in the world. Despite the extensive global coverage, there are some countries where you can’t access Spotify, including China, Ethiopia, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Cuba and Venezuela. 

If you’re a resident of one of these countries, you’ll get the error message “Spotify is currently not available in your country” when you try to access the platform. Spotify checks your IP address to determine your actual location. If your IP address is related to one of the restricted countries, the system automatically blocks your access. 

Besides that, Spotify offers a unique library for each region. For example, Spotify users in grayed-out areas like Belarus won’t be able to access some songs and albums available to their counterparts in the U.S. The service does this to abide by the copyright and licensing agreements it signs with artists and music labels.

Spotify geoblocks
Spotify may prevent users in certain countries from accessing
some tunes and albums for copyright reasons. 

How to Change Spotify Country to Access Any Spotify Library

Since the system uses your IP address to determine which songs to serve up or to block you if you’re in a restricted country, using a VPN may be the perfect workaround. A VPN assigns you an IP address different from the country you’re in. For example, if you’re in China, connecting to a server in the U.S. tricks Spotify into thinking you’re accessing it from the U.S. This means you can access the Spotify library in any country and unlock a world of diverse music, podcasts and artists that may be restricted elsewhere.

Spotify Free Account Restrictions

Using a VPN is beneficial to both Spotify premium and free account users. If you use the premium service, the VPN enables you to access your music and podcasts anywhere in the world — even in restricted countries.

Typically, free account users can access their Spotify accounts for 14 days when they travel abroad. When that period is over, you’ll be required to change the location settings in your Spotify account and log in again.

A VPN removes the hassle of changing your location every time you travel abroad — you only need to connect to a server in your home country. Here’s how to listen to region-locked songs on Spotify using a VPN.  

The 3 Best Spotify VPN Services to Listen to Blocked Songs

We examined various VPNs through the lens of speed, bandwidth and online privacy and security to determine the most suitable services for Spotify. Three VPNs came out on top, and we’ll discuss their strengths (and weaknesses, if any), starting with NordVPN— our best VPN for streaming music on Spotify. 

1. NordVPN — Best for Countries Where Spotify Is Restricted

NordVPN desktop
Besides solid digital security and privacy, NordVPN offers excellent
speeds to enjoy lag-free music on Spotify. 

Pros

  • Fast speeds
  • Ten simultaneous connections
  • Robust security features

Cons

  • No split tunneling on Apple devices

Protect your digital life now — sign up for NordVPN with a [text-var id=”8425″ slug=”discount”] discount and try it risk-free for 30 days.

Download
90 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

NordVPN is the top VPN for accessing Spotify as it has a network of over 5,200 servers to unblock the music service. It is one of the fastest VPN and is not that expensive compared to services like ExpressVPN. You’ll find more reasons why its better in our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison guide.

NordVPN also offers solid digital privacy and security, which you can learn more about in our NordVPN review. It has an automatic kill switch, strict no-logs policy, secure protocols and encryption and DNS leak protection. The tools work in unison to encrypt your traffic and cloak your IP address to bypass Spotify geo-restrictions and firewalls. 

2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Unblocking Spotify

Surfshark is a wallet-friendly VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

Pros

  • Strong security
  • Fast speeds
  • Unlimited device connections

Cons

  • Split tunneling is unavailable for Mac/iOS devices

Sign up now for Surfshark’s best deal at 66% (plus 3 months free) off.

Download
93 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

Surfshark is able to unblock Spotify from 100 countries. With fast speeds and unlimited simultaneous connections, you can share an account with your whole family and you won’t experience any buffering or random disconnects. Surfshark is also one of the most secure VPNs and has a full security suite plan to protect your data.

As one of the most affordable VPNs, you won’t break the bank with Surfshark. This premium VPN costs just $2.19 per month on the two-year plan. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind. Read our Surfshark review to learn more.

Surfshark Starter
  • Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
  • Yes
Surfshark One
  • Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best Easy-to-Use VPN for Accessing Spotify

ExpressVPN app uk
ExpressVPN offers the speed, security and unlimited bandwidth
you need to enjoy uninterrupted music on Spotify.

Pros

  • Multiple ad-free countries
  • Built-in ad blocker
  • Impressive speeds

Cons

  • Expensive

Don’t miss out on ExpressVPN’s limited-time offer: 25% discount and a risk-free refund period for 30 days.

Download
84 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/21/25 to 02/18/25
Data for region:

ExpressVPN is another excellent VPN for Spotify for a good reason. It’s a high-speed VPN with an unparalleled ability to bypass geo-restrictions — the perfect combination for a Spotify VPN. Besides getting you into Spotify regardless of your country of residence, it ensures seamless music streams. 

You can read more about why we like this service so much in our ExpressVPN review. However, its biggest issue is the price — its more expensive than many similar VPNs. There isn’t a monthly plan so you’ll need to commit for at least a year, though we recommend the two-year plan to get the best deal. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee for testing it out.

ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

Can I Unblock Spotify With a Free VPN?

We don’t recommend free VPNs because most of them aren’t trustworthy. They’ll claim to offer their services free of charge, but often engage in unscrupulous activities to turn a profit behind that facade. Some sell your data to third parties, whereas others are honeypots for hackers and snoopers. 

That said, PrivadoVPN — our best free VPN — defies the odds. Despite being free, it offers solid online privacy and security and has 13 free server locations to help you bypass Spotify geoblocks.

In addition, it includes 10GB of data per month, which should be enough for streaming Spotify. Even when you pass 10GB, you’ll still be able to use the VPN for Spotify but with reduced speeds and random server selection.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to unblock Spotify and access your playlists at school, work or in countries where the music streaming service is restricted. The key to unblocking Spotify is to find a secure and reliable VPN.

While our top three VPNs for Spotify get the job done, we recommend getting started with NordVPN for its all-round performance. Take NordVPN for a test drive with peace of mind, knowing you can request a full refund within 30 days if it doesn’t meet your expectations.

Have you tried unblocking Spotify using a VPN? Which VPN services did you use? Do you listen to music while working or studying? Do you prefer instrumental music or tunes with lyrics to boost your productivity? We’d like to hear about it. As always, thanks for reading.

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