Spotify Lossless Audio Finally Arrives for Premium Subscribers
After four years of anticipation, Spotify has finally brought lossless audio quality to its platform. The new feature is now rolling out to Premium subscribers in select regions, and here’s everything you need to know about it.
What is Spotify Lossless?
Spotify lossless is a high-quality tier that allows users to listen to songs at lossless, CD-quality resolution. With lossless, you can stream music on Spotify at 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, which is a minimally compressed format offering the highest-quality music listening experience on the app. This format retains all the original information of a song, captured during recording, providing rich details of every instrument and clear percussion.
How Good is Spotify’s Audio Quality with Lossless?
Lossless audio offers unparalleled sound quality compared to Spotify’s current highest setting, which plays songs at 320kbit/s (a lossy format). For instance, when you listen to a song on "Very high" quality option, it will not be as rich and detailed as lossless. To put this into perspective, Spotify’s lossless streams at 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, while the current highest setting plays songs at 320kbit/s.
Is Spotify Lossless Included with Premium?
Lossless listening is included with Spotify Premium at no additional cost. This means that users can enjoy excellent sound quality without having to upgrade to a higher-priced tier or purchase a separate subscription plan. Despite initial speculation, Spotify has opted not to bundle lossless with its Supremium or Music Pro tiers, making it available to all Premium subscribers.
How to Enable and Use Spotify Lossless Audio?
To enable lossless audio on your device, follow these steps:
- Tap the profile icon in the top-left corner of the Spotify mobile app.
- Go to Settings and privacy > Media quality.
- Select the Lossless option where you want to enable it. This feature is available under Wi-Fi, cellular, and download streaming qualities.
Please note that lossless audio is a device-specific setting, so changes won’t carry over automatically to other devices. You’ll need to enable it on each device separately.
Does Spotify’s Lossless Streaming Consume More Data?
Yes, lossless streaming consumes more data due to its higher quality and larger file sizes. A single 3-4 minute song can take up almost 30-40 MB of data, while an hour of lossless audio adds up to roughly 1 GB. To mitigate this, Spotify recommends listening to lossless quality over Wi-Fi.
Where is Spotify Lossless Available Now?
Spotify Lossless began rolling out in September 2025 to Premium users in select countries and will expand to more than 50 markets through October. Eligible users will receive an in-app notification when Lossless is available for them, with the company gradually rolling out the feature to additional regions.
Which Devices Support Lossless on Spotify?
The Spotify lossless experience is available on the app on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. You can also try it on any other device that supports Spotify Connect, including Sony, Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, and more.
Do You Need Special Hardware to Enjoy Lossless?
While lossless does not require specialized hardware, you may need the following to truly experience its benefits:
- Wired headphones or IEMs instead of Bluetooth earbuds to avoid compression.
- A DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) when paired with a wired headphone.
- Spotify Connect devices like speakers or amps from Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser.
If you are using Bluetooth earbuds, they should support high-res codecs like LDAC, LHDC, SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec), or lossless audio.
Is Spotify Lossless Better than Apple Music?
Spotify lossless streams music at 24-bit / 44.1 kHz FLAC, which is basically CD-quality audio. However, it’s not quite as good as the Hi-Res quality offered by Apple Music, which can go up to 24-bit / 192 kHz and includes support for Dolby Atmos. This makes Apple Music a more suitable choice for those seeking ultra-high quality sound or have a Dolby Atmos stereo setup.
Conclusion
Spotify lossless has finally arrived after years of anticipation, offering users unparalleled sound quality at no additional cost. With its minimally compressed format and ability to retain all original information of a song, Spotify lossless is an excellent choice for music enthusiasts seeking the best listening experience on the app.