Highlights
- Spotify is finally launching 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC lossless audio, bundled into its Premium plan at no extra cost.
- Lossless audio requires Spotify Connect or wired headphones while Bluetooth isn’t supported due to bandwidth limitations.
- It is available now in select regions including the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia
After years of anticipation, Spotify is officially rolling out lossless audio streaming. The feature was first promised back in 2021 and the best part is it is available to Premium subscribers at no extra cost.
Spotify Rolls Out Free Lossless Audio
In a new announcement, Spotify confirmed that lossless audio quality is now rolling out in select regions. To enjoy the feature, listeners will need to use Spotify Connect or wired headphones (analogue or USB). Bluetooth isn’t supported for lossless playback.
According to the company, “many devices” already support lossless via Spotify Connect including those from Sony, Samsung, Bose, and Sennheiser, with more brands like Sonos and Amazon expected to gain support “next month.”
Spotify writes, “For the smoothest and best listening experience, we recommend streaming lossless music on Wi-Fi using wired headphones or speakers on a non-Bluetooth connection, like Spotify Connect. Currently, Bluetooth doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to transmit lossless audio, so the signal has to be compressed before being sent.”
When enabled, music streams in 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, which is a major step up from current audio quality options. However, it still falls short of rival services like Tidal, which supports 24-bit/192 kHz FLAC in HiRes streaming.
How to Enable Lossless Audio on Spotify?
Lossless audio must be enabled per device with an indicator showing whether tracks are streaming in lossless quality on Spotify Connect devices. On mobile, users can turn it on through the following steps –
- Tap profile icon (top left).
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy → Media Quality.
- Choose where to enable lossless audio (Wi-Fi, cellular, or downloads).
As for now, the feature is gradually rolling out to Premium subscribers in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the US, and the UK.
Why the Delay in Rollout?
This upgrade has been a long time coming. Spotify initially announced the feature under the name “HiFi” in 2021, and it was reportedly ready for launch years ago. At the time, it was expected to come as a $5/month add-on, but in a surprising shift, Spotify has now bundled it directly into its existing Premium plan. While it’s not free on its own, Premium users won’t pay anything extra beyond their current subscription fees.
About the delay in rollout, Spotify’s VP of Subscriptions Gustav Gyllenhammar says, “The wait is finally over; we’re so excited lossless sound is rolling out to Premium subscribers. We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritises quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step, so you always know what’s happening under the hood. With Lossless, our premium users will now have an even better listening experience.”
FAQs
Q1. What is Spotify’s new lossless audio feature and who can access it?
Answer. Spotify now offers 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC lossless streaming for Premium subscribers at no extra cost. The feature is rolling out gradually in select regions.
Q2. How can users enable lossless audio on Spotify?
Answer. Go to your profile → Settings & Privacy → Media Quality, then choose where to enable lossless audio (Wi-Fi, cellular, or downloads). It must be enabled per device.
Q3. What devices support Spotify’s lossless audio?
Answer. Lossless playback works via Spotify Connect or wired headphones. Bluetooth isn’t supported. Compatible brands include Sony, Samsung, Bose, and Sennheiser, with more coming soon.
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