Spotify's feature for importing music stored on a device is called Local Files.
Local Files lets Spotify display and play legally stored audio files alongside music from its streaming catalog. On desktop, users can enable “Show Local Files” in Settings and choose folders for Spotify to scan. On mobile devices, the feature appears in the library after local-audio access is enabled and supported files are available.
The feature is useful for music that Spotify does not offer, such as personal recordings, rare releases, independent tracks, or music purchased elsewhere. It does not upload those files to Spotify’s catalog or give other listeners access to them; playback depends on the files remaining available on the device.
A frequent confusion is between Local Files and offline downloads. Offline downloads are Spotify-streamed tracks saved temporarily for Premium listening, while Local Files are the listener’s own audio files. The feature has also appeared under related settings labels such as “Show Local Files,” but the library section is named Local Files.