Spotify showing a track as playing with no actual sound is almost always an output device mismatch, not a problem with the app itself or your account.
1. Check the Connect device list
Click the device icon in the bottom-right of the Spotify desktop app (or swipe up on mobile) and check what's listed as the active output. Spotify sometimes stays connected to a previously used device — a Bluetooth speaker, another computer, a smart TV — even after you've switched contexts, and will play silently to a device you're not near.
2. Check your system's audio output separately
Spotify uses your operating system's default audio output. If you've recently plugged in headphones, connected to a different display with audio, or switched Bluetooth devices, your system default may not match what you expect. Check Windows' volume mixer or Mac's Sound settings directly.
3. Check Spotify isn't muted independently
On Windows, open the Volume Mixer (right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar) and confirm Spotify specifically isn't muted there — apps can have independent volume/mute states separate from your overall system volume.
Tip: if audio cuts in and out rather than being completely silent, this is more often a network issue (for streaming) than a device problem — check your internet connection stability, especially on WiFi.
4. Restart the Spotify app fully
Quit Spotify completely (not just close the window — check your system tray or menu bar to confirm it's fully closed) and reopen it. This resets its connection to your audio devices and resolves a fair number of one-off silent-playback issues.
5. Check Audio Quality / Crossfade settings aren't the cause
Rarely, a corrupted local setting in Spotify's own preferences can cause playback issues. Try toggling settings like Crossfade or Audio Normalization off temporarily to see if that resolves cutting in and out.
6. Clear Spotify's cache
Go to Settings > Storage within Spotify and click Clear Cache. A bloated or corrupted cache can occasionally cause playback glitches, particularly on desktop.
The bottom line
Silent playback in Spotify is almost always about which device it thinks it's playing to, not a deeper app problem. Check the Connect device list first — it's the most common, fastest fix.