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Spotify equalizer settings reset every time phone restarts

A fairly common complaint shows up after a phone reboot: Spotify opens normally, music plays fine, but the equalizer sounds completely different. When you check the settings, the EQ has returned to default or switched itself off. You adjust it again, it works — until the next restart, when everything resets again.

This usually isn’t a Spotify bug in the traditional sense. In most cases, the equalizer you adjusted isn’t actually stored inside Spotify. Many Android devices link Spotify’s EQ button to the system audio equalizer or a manufacturer sound service. When the phone restarts, that audio service reloads with default values, and Spotify simply follows whatever the system provides.

Check Which Equalizer Spotify Is Using

First confirm whether you’re editing Spotify’s internal EQ or the phone’s system EQ.

  1. Open Spotify.
  2. Go to Settings → Playback → Equalizer.
  3. If another app or system panel opens instead of Spotify’s interface, you’re using the device equalizer.

System equalizers often reset after reboot because they are controlled by battery optimization or sound enhancement services.

Disable Battery Optimization for Spotify and Audio Services

Background restrictions can prevent sound profiles from saving correctly.

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Spotify.
  2. Tap Battery.
  3. Select Unrestricted or Don’t optimize.
  4. Repeat this for apps like SoundAlive, Dolby Atmos, Audio Wizard, or MusicFX if they exist on your device.

After changing this, reboot once and test again.

Set the Equalizer From System Sound Settings Instead

On Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and similar devices, saving EQ profiles directly in system sound settings is more reliable.

  1. Open Settings → Sound & Vibration → Sound Quality / Effects (name varies).
  2. Adjust the equalizer there instead of inside Spotify.
  3. Play music afterward to confirm Spotify follows the same profile.

System-level profiles usually persist through restarts because they load during audio driver initialization.

Clear Spotify Cache

If Spotify keeps requesting a temporary EQ session, clearing cached configuration files can help.

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → Spotify → Storage.
  2. Tap Clear Cache only.
  3. Restart Spotify and reapply your EQ.

Turn Off Adaptive Sound or Audio Enhancements

Features like Adaptive Sound, AI Audio, or automatic sound tuning sometimes override manual equalizer values during boot.

  1. Open phone Sound settings.
  2. Disable adaptive or automatic audio enhancements.
  3. Restart the device once more.

Alternative Fix: Use a Dedicated Equalizer App

If the manufacturer EQ continues resetting, installing a third-party equalizer that runs as a persistent audio service can stabilize settings across restarts. These apps apply sound processing after the system audio layer loads, preventing resets triggered during boot.

Once the equalizer profile survives one full restart without changing, the issue is resolved.