Spotify Error Code 18 – Explained and Fixed

Spotify error code 18 occurs when a user tries to install its desktop version. There are Spotify installation files already present on your computer. This error occurs when the Installer is unable to modify these installation files because they are either already in use or the installer doesn’t have enough permissions.

This issue is most common amongst Windows users of Spotify.

Why Does this Occur?

Before getting to its solution, let’s check the reasons for this issue because they will help in a better understanding of this error message.

• This issue mostly occurs because of the leftover Spotify files from a different Spotify version.
• Third-party applications conflict with the Spotify installer, which might cause this issue.
• Corrupted Windows services can also cause this error message.

How to Fix Spotify Error Code 18?

Before applying the solutions, we recommend checking the tips mentioned in the ‘Prerequisites’ section. If the prerequisite tips prove useless, try the main solutions.

Pre-requisites

1. Check whether any Spotify process is running in the background or not. If yes, then end all the Spotify-related processes and re-launch the Spotify installer to check whether this technique has fixed your issue or not.
2. You can also check for Spotify’s residuals in the ‘AppData’ directory by typing ‘%appdata%’ in the ‘Run’ dialog box.
3. Try running the installation as an administrator. This will help start the installer process with elevated privileges.

1. Deleting Spotify Residuals in ‘Safe Mode with Networking’

For Windows Users

If you face the ‘Spotify won’t download error code 18’ issue while trying to download Spotify, we recommend removing the residuals of Spotify first. First, you will have to remove the residuals by booting your computer in ‘Safe Mode with Networking.’

1. First, boot your computer into ‘Safe Mode with Networking.’

Important: We have already created a comprehensive guide on different techniques to boot a computer into Safe Mode. So, whichever method you select, you must choose the ‘Safe Mode with Networking’ option.

2. Once your computer boots into the Safe Mode with Networking, search for Spotify-related files on your system and delete them.

   

Important: Alternatively, you can also check the ‘AppData’ directory for Spotify.

3. After deleting all the Spotify-related files, boot your computer in normal mode.
4. Then, download and install Spotify again from the Windows Store to check whether the error message persists or not.

   

After following the steps of this solution, if you have successfully downloaded and installed Spotify, then good for you. Otherwise, try the next solution.

2. Removing the Conflicting Third-Party Application(s)

Tested for Windows Users

If you face the ‘Spotify error code 18′ issue and it is related to your Firewall, it might be due to some conflict with a third-party application. So, we recommend removing the conflicting application(s) before downloading and installing Spotify again. We found the following applications that are tagged as conflicting:

• iTunes
• Comodo

Steps for Removing the Traces of Spotify

1. First, open the ‘Run’ dialog box (by pressing the ‘Windows+R’ keys).
2. Then, type ‘%appdata%’ in the search box and click on the ‘OK’ button to open the ‘AppData’ directory.

   

3. Now, locate the ‘Spotify’ folder in the ‘AppData’ directory and delete it.

   

Steps for Removing the Conflicting Application(s)

4. Open the‘ Control Panel’ and choose the ‘Uninstall a program’ option under the ‘Programs’ category.

   

5. Then, locate the conflicting application(s) (‘iTunes,’ ‘Comodo,’ etc.) and select it.
6. After that, click on the ‘Uninstall’ option.

   

7. The system will display a confirmation message. So, click on the ‘Yes’ button to confirm the uninstallation procedure.

   

8. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.

Important: You can follow the same procedure for uninstalling some other conflicting application(s) as well

Steps for Rebooting the System

9. Once you have uninstalled the conflicting application(s), restart your system by clicking on the ‘Start’ < ‘Power’ < ‘Restart’ options.

   

Steps for Installing Spotify

10. Now, download and install the Spotify application again from Windows Store.

    

11. After that, install the (uninstalled) conflicting application.

Check whether Spotify is working fine or not. If Spotify is not working fine, try the next solution.

3. Exiting Steam and Installing Spotify again

For Steam Users

Both Steam and Spotify use the same technology to prevent a system from hacking attempts. So, if you are trying to install Spotify while some Steam process is running in the background, you will face the Spotify download error code 18. This issue occurs because the ‘Steam Client Service’ might be using the ‘SpotifyWebHelper’ and ‘SpotifyHelper’ files in the background. We recommend closing the Steam application completely and installing the Spotify application afterwards.

1. First, open the ‘Task Manager’ and check whether any Steam-related process is running in the background or not.

   

2. If yes, then close all the Steam-related processes.

Note: If no Steam-related process is running in the ‘Task Manager,’ this solution is not for you. So, try some other solution

3. Now, ‘follow the first two steps of Solution # 2’ to reach the ‘AppData’ directory.
4. Then, locate the ‘SpotifyWebHelper’ and ‘SpotifyHelper’ folders in the ‘AppData < Roaming’ directory and delete them.
5. After that, try to install the ‘Spotify’ application again.

Check whether the error message persists or not. If yes, try the next solution.

4. Restarting Related Services

As mentioned earlier, corrupted services might be the reason for the Spotify error code 18. So, if this is your case, we recommend re-enabling all the ‘Services’ and trying to install the ‘Spotify’ application again.

1. First, open the ‘System Configuration’ application on your system.

   

2. Then, switch to the ‘Services’ tab and click on the ‘Disable all’ button.

   

3. Now, apply the changes by clicking on the ‘Apply’ < ‘OK’ buttons.

   

4. The ‘System Configuration’ application will prompt you to restart the system. So, click on the ‘Restart’ button.

   

5. Now, your computer will act a bit weird after boot up as it won’t have any internet access. So, this behavior is entirely fine.
6. Then, repeat the first two steps of this solution. However, click on the ‘Enable all’ button this time.

   

7. After that, apply the changes again by clicking on the ‘Apply’ < ‘OK’ buttons.

   

8. Again, the ‘System Configuration’ application will prompt you to restart the system. So, click on the ‘Restart’ button.

   

9. Doing this will enable all the disabled services. So, when your computer boots up (normally), try to install the Spotify application and check whether the problem persists or not.

If the problem persists, read the ‘Conclusion’ section. Otherwise, good for you.