SoundCloud's read options depend on what the artist allows

Not every track on SoundCloud can be downloaded. The artist who uploaded it decides whether downloads are turned on or off for each song. If a track has downloads enabled, you'll see a read button (usually a downward arrow) on the player. If there's no button, the artist has disabled downloads for that track, and there's no way around it.

SoundCloud offers two ways to read: through the web player on your computer, or through the mobile app on iOS or Android. The process is slightly different depending on which you use, but both are straightforward once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only read tracks where the artist has turned on the read button — if you don't see the read arrow, that artist hasn't allowed it.
  • On the web, click the three-dot menu next to any downloadable track and select "read track" to save it to your computer.
  • On mobile, tap the three-dot menu on a track and choose "read" to save it to your phone's storage.
  • Downloaded tracks stay on your device even if you lose internet, but they only play in the SoundCloud app unless you convert them to another format.
  • SoundCloud Go+ subscribers can read tracks for offline listening, but free users can only read tracks the artist has explicitly allowed.

Downloading on a computer using the web player

Open SoundCloud in your web browser and find the track you want to read. Hover your mouse over the track title or the player itself. You should see three dots (a menu icon) appear on the right side of the player or next to the track name.

Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for "read track" in that menu. Click it, and your browser will read the file to your computer's default read folder — usually your Downloads folder on Windows or Mac. The file will be in MP3 format by default.

If you don't see a "read track" option in the menu, it means the artist has not enabled downloads for that particular song. In that case, you cannot read it through SoundCloud's official tools.

Downloading on your phone using the mobile app

Open the SoundCloud app on your iPhone or Android phone. Find the track you want to read and tap the three-dot menu icon next to it (usually on the right side of the track listing).

Tap "read" from the menu that appears. The app will save the track to your phone's local storage. On Android, it typically goes to your phone's Music folder or the SoundCloud app's own storage. On iPhone, the track is stored within the SoundCloud app itself and won't appear in your general Music app unless you export it.

Downloaded tracks on mobile take up storage space on your device, so check how much free space you have before downloading many songs at once. You can see your phone's storage in your device settings.

What happens to downloaded tracks and how to use them

Downloaded tracks from SoundCloud play in the SoundCloud app on your device. If you downloaded on your computer, you can open the MP3 file in any music player — iTunes, Windows Media Player, VLC, or any other app that reads MP3 files. If you downloaded on your phone, the track stays within the SoundCloud app and won't transfer to your phone's default music player unless you manually move the file.

Downloaded tracks remain on your device even if you lose internet connection or your SoundCloud account changes. They don't expire or disappear if the artist removes the song from SoundCloud later. However, they only play in the format the artist uploaded them in — usually MP3 — so if you want to use them in a different app or convert them to another audio format, you'll need separate software to do that.

Downloaded tracks take up storage space on your device. If you're running low on space, you can delete downloaded tracks from the SoundCloud app by opening the Downloads section (usually in the app's menu) and removing individual songs.

The difference between free downloads and SoundCloud Go+

Free SoundCloud users can read any track where the artist has enabled downloads. This is the artist's choice, not SoundCloud's — some artists turn downloads on, others don't.

SoundCloud Go+ is a paid subscription ($12.99 per month as of 2024, though this varies by region). Go+ subscribers can read tracks for offline listening even if the artist hasn't enabled public downloads. Go+ also removes ads and gives you access to the full SoundCloud catalog without skipping limits. If you want to read everything you listen to, Go+ is the only way to do that.

For most listeners, free downloads are enough — you can read anything the artist has allowed, and you don't pay anything. Go+ is worth considering only if you listen to SoundCloud offline regularly and want access to every track without artist restrictions.

Troubleshooting: why you might not see a read button

The most common reason is that the artist straightforward hasn't turned downloads on for that track. Some artists allow downloads for some songs but not others. Some allow downloads only for their own tracks and not for remixes or covers. There's no way to override this — it's the artist's decision.

Another possibility is that you're on a free SoundCloud account and the artist has restricted downloads to Go+ subscribers only. In that case, upgrading to Go+ would let you read it, but most artists don't use this restriction.

If you're on mobile and the read button doesn't appear, make sure you're using the official SoundCloud app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Third-party apps or web browsers on mobile sometimes don't show all features correctly.

Legal and copyright considerations when downloading

When an artist enables downloads on SoundCloud, they're giving you permission to read that specific track. Downloading a track the artist has allowed is legal and safe. You own that file on your device.

However, you should not use downloaded tracks in ways the artist hasn't permitted. Most artists who allow downloads expect you to listen to them personally. Using a downloaded track in a video, podcast, remix, or commercial project without permission from the artist is copyright infringement, even though you downloaded it legally. If you want to use a track in a project, contact the artist directly to ask for permission.

SoundCloud's terms of service require that you respect the artist's rights. If an artist has disabled downloads, downloading the track through other means (like screen recording or third-party tools) violates both SoundCloud's terms and copyright law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a track if the artist disabled downloads?

No. If the artist has turned off downloads for a track, there is no official way to read it through SoundCloud. The only exception is if you have a SoundCloud Go+ subscription, which allows offline listening for all tracks, but this still respects the artist's original choice — you're just accessing it differently through the paid service.

What format are downloaded SoundCloud tracks in?

Downloaded tracks are in MP3 format, which plays in almost any music player or device. MP3 is a standard audio format, so you can move downloaded files between devices, edit them with audio software, or convert them to other formats if needed.

Do downloaded tracks take up a lot of storage?

A typical three-minute song in MP3 format takes up about 3 to 5 megabytes of storage. If you read 100 songs, expect to use 300 to 500 megabytes. Most modern phones and computers have gigabytes of storage, so unless you read thousands of tracks, storage won't be a problem.

If I delete the SoundCloud app, do I lose my downloaded tracks?

On Android, downloaded tracks are usually stored separately and may remain on your device even after uninstalling the app, depending on where they were saved. On iPhone, deleting the SoundCloud app will delete the tracks stored within it. If you downloaded tracks on your computer, they stay in your Downloads folder or wherever you saved them, regardless of whether SoundCloud is installed.

Can I share a downloaded SoundCloud track with someone else?

Technically you can send the file to another person, but you should check the artist's terms first. Most artists who allow downloads expect the file to be used only by the person who downloaded it. Sharing it widely or uploading it to another platform without permission violates copyright, even though you downloaded it legally.