Trouble with Spotify API Authentication using Spotipy

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1

I’m having issues with the Spotify API authentication flow using the Spotipy library. I want users to log in and create playlists, but it’s not working as expected.

Here’s what I’m trying to do:

  1. Get the user’s Spotify username
  2. Authenticate using Spotipy
  3. Create a playlist
  4. Add tracks to the playlist
  5. Display the playlist in an embedded player

When users log in, multiple windows open up instead of just one, which leads me to suspect that the error is in the token acquisition process.

Below is a simplified version of my code:

import spotipy
import spotipy.util as util

def authenticate_spotify(username):
    scope = 'playlist-modify-public'
    client_id = 'your_client_id'
    client_secret = 'your_client_secret'
    redirect_uri = 'http://localhost:8000/callback'

    try:
        token = util.prompt_for_user_token(username, scope, client_id, client_secret, redirect_uri)
        return spotipy.Spotify(auth=token)
    except Exception as e:
        print(f'Error: {e}')
        return None


def create_playlist(sp, username, tracks):
    playlist = sp.user_playlist_create(username, 'My Cool Playlist')
    sp.user_playlist_add_tracks(username, playlist['id'], tracks)
    return playlist['id']

# Usage
username = 'your_username'
sp = authenticate_spotify(username)
if sp:
    playlist_id = create_playlist(sp, username, ['spotify:track:1234', 'spotify:track:5678'])
    print(f'Playlist created: {playlist_id}')
else:
    print('Authentication failed')

I’ve set the redirect URI in the Spotify developer console to match the one in my code. Any ideas on what might be causing this issue?

2

I’ve worked extensively with the Spotify API, and I can share some insights that might help you resolve this issue. First, ensure you’re using the latest version of Spotipy, as older versions can sometimes cause authentication problems. Additionally, try implementing a custom cache handler to manage your tokens more effectively. This can help prevent the multiple window issue you’re experiencing.

Another tip is to use the Authorization Code Flow instead of the Implicit Grant flow. It’s more secure and tends to be more reliable for this type of application. You might also want to consider using environment variables to store your client_id and client_secret, rather than hardcoding them in your script.

Lastly, make sure your redirect URI is exactly the same in both your code and the Spotify Developer Dashboard. Even a small discrepancy can cause authentication failures. If you’re still having trouble after trying these suggestions, you might want to look into using a different library or implementing the authentication flow manually using requests.

3

hey pete, i had similar issues. try using spotipy.SpotifyOAuth instead of util.prompt_for_user_token. it’s more reliable for handling tokens. also, make sure ur redirect uri exactly matches whats in ur spotify dev console. that tripped me up before. good luck!

4

I’ve encountered this issue before. The problem likely stems from token caching. Try clearing your .cache file in your working directory. If that doesn’t work, implement a custom cache handler to manage token storage more effectively. Also, ensure you’re using the latest version of Spotipy, as older versions had authentication quirks. Lastly, double-check your client_id and client_secret - even a small typo can cause multiple authentication windows. If you’re still stuck, consider using the Authorization Code Flow instead of the Implicit Grant flow for more robust authentication handling.