How to Import Your Full Spotify Listening History (Lifetime Stats)
The Problem with Spotify's Default Stats
When you connect a Spotify stats tool to your account, it accesses data through Spotify's official API. This API provides your top artists and tracks across three time ranges:
- Last 4 weeks
- Last 6 months
- All time (a weighted score, not raw data)
That "all time" range is misleading. It's not a complete history of everything you've ever played. It's a calculated ranking based on Spotify's internal algorithm, biased toward recent listening. An artist you obsessed over three years ago might not appear at all.
For actual all-time stats with exact play counts and dates, you need your extended streaming history - and you need to import it.
What Is Extended Streaming History?
Spotify stores a complete record of every track you've ever played on their platform. This data includes:
- Track name, artist, and album for every play
- Exact timestamp of when you played it
- Duration of how long you listened (in milliseconds)
- Platform you used (mobile, desktop, web)
- Shuffle and skip data - whether the track was shuffled or skipped
This data can go back to the day you created your Spotify account. It's the most complete picture of your listening history possible.
Standard History vs. Extended History
| Standard (API) | Extended (Data Export) | |
|---|---|---|
| Time range | ~Last year | Your entire Spotify lifetime |
| Detail | Rankings only | Every individual play |
| Play counts | No | Yes |
| Timestamps | No | Yes, down to the second |
| Skipped tracks | No | Yes |
| How to get it | Automatic via app connection | Manual request from Spotify |
| Wait time | Instant | Up to 30 days |
Step 1: Request Your Data from Spotify
- Log in to your Spotify account at spotify.com/account
- Navigate to Privacy Settings or go directly to spotify.com/account/privacy
- Scroll to the "Download your data" section
- Check the box for "Extended streaming history"
- Click "Request data"
- Confirm via the email Spotify sends you
Important: Make sure you select "Extended streaming history," not just "Account data." The basic account data export includes a limited recent history. The extended version is the complete one.
Step 2: Wait for Your Data
Spotify says delivery can take up to 30 days, though many users receive it sooner (often 5-14 days). You'll get an email when it's ready.
The data arrives as a .zip file containing multiple JSON files named like Streaming_History_Audio_2023-2024_0.json. The number of files depends on how long you've had your account and how much you listen.
Step 3: Import into rigtch.fm
Once you have your data:
- Go to rigtch.fm and sign in with your Spotify account
- Open Settings
- Find the "Import listening history" section
- Upload your streaming history JSON files
- rigtch.fm processes the data and merges it with your existing stats
After import, your stats will reflect your entire Spotify lifetime - not just what the API provides.
What Changes After Import
Once your lifetime history is imported, your rigtch.fm experience transforms:
Before import:
- Top artists/tracks based on Spotify's limited API data
- Listening history starting from when you connected the app
- No historical play counts
After import:
- True all-time rankings based on every play ever
- Complete listening timeline going back years
- Exact play counts and playtime for every artist, album, and track
- Historical weekly reports (retroactively generated)
- Genre trends showing how your taste evolved over your entire Spotify life
FAQ
Is it safe to share my streaming data?
Your streaming history contains what you listened to and when - no passwords, payment info, or personal details beyond your listening activity. rigtch.fm uses this data only to generate your stats.
Can I import data from multiple time periods?
Yes. If you've requested your data before and request it again later, you can import both files. rigtch.fm deduplicates plays automatically.
What if I don't want to wait 30 days?
You can start using rigtch.fm immediately with Spotify's API data. The import is optional and adds historical depth. Your current listening is tracked in real time from the moment you connect.
Does the import include podcasts?
The extended streaming history includes podcast plays, but rigtch.fm focuses on music stats. Podcast data is filtered out during import.
Get Your Full Picture
Your Spotify stats are incomplete without your history. Request your data today, and in a few weeks you'll have the most comprehensive view of your listening life possible.