How to install Spicy Lyrics

Spicy Lyrics replaces Spotify's standard lyrics view with animated lyrics, dynamic backgrounds, romanization, and customization options.

It runs through Spicetify, a customization tool for the Spotify desktop app.

What you'll need

• The Spotify desktop app

• An internet connection

• About five minutes

Spicy Lyrics is made for Spotify on desktop. It cannot be installed in the Spotify mobile app.

1. Install Spicetify

If you already use Spicetify, skip to Check for Marketplace.

If you have only just installed Spotify, open it, sign in, and leave it running for at least 60 seconds before installing Spicetify. This allows Spotify to create the files Spicetify needs.

Windows

Open PowerShell and run:

iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/cli/main/install.ps1 | iex

Follow the instructions shown in PowerShell.

macOS/Linux

Open Terminal and run:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/cli/main/install.sh | sh

Some Linux installations require extra setup depending on how Spotify was installed. Snap installations of Spotify cannot be modified by Spicetify.

For operating-system-specific help, see the official Spicetify installation guide.

A successful Spicetify installation in the Windows Terminal

2. Check for Marketplace

Marketplace lets you install and update Spicy Lyrics directly from Spotify.

Reopen Spotify and look for the Marketplace button in the top-left corner of Spotify.

Marketplace button in Spotify's top-left corner

If Marketplace is there, continue to the next step.

If it is missing, install it using the command for your operating system.

Windows

Open PowerShell and run:

iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/marketplace/main/resources/install.ps1 | iex

macOS/Linux

Open a terminal and run:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/spicetify/marketplace/main/resources/install.sh | sh

When the installation finishes, fully close and reopen Spotify.

3. Install Spicy Lyrics

1. Open Marketplace from Spotify's top-left corner.

2. Select Extensions.

3. Search for Spicy Lyrics.

   

   Search result for "Spicy Lyrics" in Marketplace

   
   

4. Open the Spicy Lyrics result.

5. Select Install.

   

   Spicy Lyrics extension page with the "Install" button

   
   

6. Select Reload now if Spotify asks you to reload.

4. Check that it works

Play a song with lyrics and open Spicy Lyrics using its button next to Spotify's standard lyrics button.

If the Spicy Lyrics interface appears, installation is complete.

Spicy Lyrics page open while a song is playing

Useful things to know

• Spotify Free works. Spicy Lyrics does not require Spotify Premium, although behavior can vary by Spotify version, platform, account, or region.

• Marketplace installations normally update automatically. If an update does not appear or the extension stops loading, restart Spotify and check the Spicy Lyrics status page before reinstalling anything.

• Online lyric lookup needs an internet connection. Lyrics saved through the Lyrics Manager's persistent local library remain available on that device, but this does not make the full online catalog available offline.

• Available lyrics vary by track. A different release of the same song may have different lyrics or a different synchronization type.

Troubleshooting

Marketplace is not showing

Run:

spicetify apply

Then fully close and reopen Spotify. If Marketplace is still missing, reinstall it using the command in Check for Marketplace.

Spicy Lyrics is installed but does not appear

Fully close and reopen Spotify. Then open Marketplace, check your installed extensions, and confirm that Spicy Lyrics is installed and enabled.

If it still does not appear, run:

spicetify apply

If Spicy Lyrics shows a connection error or never finishes loading, see Spicy Lyrics can't connect.

Spicy Lyrics can't connect

This means Spicy Lyrics can't reach its servers.

1. Check the status page for an outage.

2. Open api.spicylyrics.org/version in your web browser. It should show only a version number, such as 6.3.98.

3. If that page doesn't load or is blocked, something on your connection is blocking Spicy Lyrics. Try a VPN or Cloudflare WARP and see whether that fixes it.

4. Antivirus software sometimes blocks Spicy Lyrics' domains. If so, add *.spicylyrics.org and *.spikerko.org as exceptions in your antivirus.

If the page loads but Spicy Lyrics still can't connect, check the console for errors:

1. Open the developer tools with Ctrl + Alt + I (Cmd + Option + I on macOS). If they don't open, run spicetify enable-devtools first.

2. Open the Console tab and type spicy in the filter bar.

3. Include those messages when you ask for help.

Spicetify disappeared after Spotify updated

Spotify updates can remove Spicetify's modifications. Run:

spicetify backup apply

If that does not work, update Spicetify:

spicetify update

If the update does not fully reapply the changes, run:

spicetify restore backup apply

Tip: reapply Spicetify automatically (Windows). Open Spotify with a shortcut that runs spicetify auto instead of Spotify's own shortcut. Each time, Spicetify checks whether Spotify has updated, reapplies itself if needed, and then opens Spotify.

1. Right-click your desktop and select New → Shortcut.

2. Enter spicetify auto as the location, then select Next.

3. Name it Spotify and select Finish.

Use this shortcut to open Spotify from now on. You can pin it to the taskbar or Start menu. It only helps when your Spicetify version already supports the new Spotify version.

If no compatible Spicetify update is available yet, either wait for support for the new Spotify version or downgrade Spotify.

Spotify version not supported by Spicetify

Spotify sometimes releases an update before Spicetify supports it. When that happens, Spicetify, Marketplace, and Spicy Lyrics can stop loading until Spicetify catches up.

Update Spicetify first. This fixes most cases, and you won't need to downgrade:

spicetify update

Then run spicetify backup apply and reopen Spotify.

If it still doesn't work, check which Spotify versions the latest Spicetify supports. The notes for the latest stable Spicetify release list the supported range for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The same list is posted in the #compatibility channel of the Spicetify Discord server.

If your Spotify version is newer than the newest supported one, you can install an older Spotify version and block Spotify updates until Spicetify adds support.

Download a supported Spotify version

1. Open LoadSpot, an unofficial archive of Spotify's desktop installers. It isn't run by Spotify or Spicy Lyrics.

2. Select your operating system.

3. Download the newest version that Spicetify supports. Most Windows PCs and Intel Macs use x64. Apple silicon Macs (M1 and newer) use arm64.

On Windows, you can check that the installer is genuine by right-clicking it and opening Properties → Digital Signatures. It should be signed by Spotify.

Windows

1. Fully close Spotify, including from the system tray.

2. Run the installer you downloaded. You don't need to uninstall your current version first.

3. When the older version opens, fully close Spotify again.

4. Open Command Prompt (not PowerShell) and run these commands one at a time:

   The rmdir command may fail or say that the folder can’t be found; ignore it and continue.

rmdir /s /q "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update"
mkdir "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update"
icacls "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update" /deny "%username%":D
icacls "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update" /deny "%username%":R

5. Apply Spicetify again. This works in Command Prompt or PowerShell:

spicetify backup apply

6. Open Spotify and check that Spicy Lyrics loads.

The spicetify spotify-updates block command doesn't currently work on Windows, so use the manual steps above.

macOS

1. Quit Spotify completely (Cmd + Q).

2. Unpack the downloaded archive until you get a folder named Contents.

3. In Finder, go to Applications, right-click Spotify, and select Show Package Contents.

4. Delete the Contents folder you see there and replace it with the Contents folder you unpacked.

5. Open Terminal and block updates:

spicetify spotify-updates block

If that command doesn't work, empty the ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify/PersistentCache/Update folder in Finder, then run:

chflags uchg ~/Library/Application\ Support/Spotify/PersistentCache/Update

6. Apply Spicetify again:

spicetify backup apply

7. Open Spotify and check that Spicy Lyrics loads.

Linux

On Linux, Spotify is updated by your package manager, not by Spotify itself. Install a supported version and hold it using your package manager. Snap installations of Spotify can't be modified by Spicetify. After installing, run spicetify backup apply.

If playback breaks after downgrading

Spicetify's FAQ recommends deleting Spotify's local data and reopening Spotify:

• Windows: everything in %localappdata%\Spotify except the Update folder

• macOS: everything in ~/Library/Application Support/Spotify except PersistentCache/Update

This clears Spotify's cache, including songs downloaded for offline listening.

Turning Spotify updates back on

Leave updates blocked until Spicetify supports a newer Spotify version. Then remove the block.

Windows (Command Prompt):

icacls "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update" /remove:d "%username%"
rmdir /s /q "%localappdata%\Spotify\Update"

The first command removes the block; without it, the folder can't be deleted.

macOS (Terminal):

spicetify spotify-updates unblock

If you used chflags instead, run chflags nouchg ~/Library/Application\ Support/Spotify/PersistentCache/Update.

Then let Spotify update (or install the newest supported version from LoadSpot), update Spicetify with spicetify update, and run spicetify backup apply.

Spicy Lyrics opens but lyrics do not load

Try another song first. If the Spicy Lyrics interface opens, the extension itself is installed.

If the problem affects one song, confirm that you opened the intended version or try another release of the same recording. Different releases can have different lyric availability.

If lyrics are missing, outdated, or wrong:

1. Open Spicy Lyrics settings and clear the lyrics cache.

2. Reopen the song.

3. Check the status page for an outage.

4. Search #lyric-issues before reporting it.

Include the exact Spotify song link when asking for help. If several unrelated songs fail, check the status page before reinstalling anything.

Manual installation (advanced)

1. Make sure Spicetify is installed.

2. Download the latest spicy-lyrics.mjs file.

3. Put the file in your Spicetify Extensions directory.

4. Run:

spicetify config extensions spicy-lyrics.mjs

5. Apply Spicetify:

spicetify apply

6. Reopen Spotify.

Still having problems?

Check the status page first, then search #general-support and #extension-bugs. If the problem has not already been reported, ask in the Spicy Lyrics Discord server.

Include:

• Your operating system

• Your Spotify, Spicetify, and Spicy Lyrics versions

• The exact step that failed

• What you expected and what happened instead

• The complete error message

• The affected Spotify song link, when relevant

• A screenshot, video, console error, or log that is safe to share

Do not share account tokens, cookies, authorization headers, or other secrets. These details make it much easier to identify what went wrong.