Spotify has officially begun rolling out its long-awaited lossless audio feature to Premium subscribers, promising studio-quality sound across millions of tracks.
The Long Wait Is Over
After years of anticipation, Premium users in select markets—including the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia—are now receiving notifications to enable lossless playback. Spotify confirmed that the rollout will expand to more than 50 countries through October.
“The wait is finally over; we’re so excited lossless sound is rolling out to Premium subscribers,” said Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s VP of Subscriptions. “We’ve taken time to build this feature in a way that prioritizes quality, ease of use, and clarity at every step.”
What Lossless Means for Listeners
With the update, Premium users can stream music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, unlocking more detail and clarity in their favorite songs. Users can select streaming quality separately for Wi-Fi, cellular, and downloads, choosing between Low, Normal, High, Very High, and Lossless.
Spotify recommends using wired headphones or speakers via Spotify Connect for the best experience, since Bluetooth compresses the signal and cannot transmit lossless audio.
How to Enable Lossless
To turn on the feature:
- Open the Spotify app and tap your profile icon
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Media Quality
- Select Lossless for Wi-Fi, cellular, or downloads
When activated, a Lossless indicator appears in the Now Playing bar or Connect Picker.
Competition Heats Up
Spotify’s move comes years after rivals Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music introduced lossless audio at no additional cost. Apple Music has been offering CD-quality and high-resolution streaming since 2021, while Tidal and Amazon have long pushed HiFi features to attract audiophiles.
Spotify’s Controversial Moment
The rollout comes as Spotify faces criticism from artists pulling their catalogs, citing CEO Daniel Ek’s military-linked investments. Bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and Hotline TNT have publicly cut ties with the platform, raising questions about its future relationship with musicians.
Still, for the millions who remain on Spotify, lossless is a long-awaited upgrade that promises to change how fans experience music.
