Spotify launches lossless audio: how to make the most of it in 2025

Spotify has surprised its users by announcing the launch of a lossless audio feature, a commitment it made four years ago that has finally come to fruition. This new option, which improves sound quality compared to the existing “very high” quality setting, will begin to be available to Spotify Premium subscribers next month.

An important step in audio quality

The launch of lossless audio comes at a time when Spotify, as the world's most popular streaming service, was lagging behind competitors like Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music, which have already offered this option since 2021. Apple Music, Spotify's main competitor, implemented this feature just a few months after Spotify announced its plans to include it on its platform.

What is lossless audio?

Lossless audio refers to a type of file used to share music that reproduces songs more faithfully to their original recording. Music enthusiasts value lossless audio files for the richness and depth of their sound, which offers a much more detailed and immersive experience compared to standard compressed audio files.

Every digital music file can be classified into two types of formats: lossy and lossless. Lossy formats, like MP3 and AAC, are compressed to be more efficient, meaning they do not sound as good as their original versions, but are easier to stream over an internet connection and take up less space on devices. More specifically, lossy files eliminate some audio frequencies that are less perceptible to the human ear. This results in playback that can sound thinner, especially when compared to a studio recording or a live concert.

On the other hand, lossless audio file formats like FLAC and ALAC contain all the musical information from the master recordings. These formats truly represent the recordings as they were created by the artists. Spotify has introduced a lossless audio setting that plays FLAC files with a quality of 24 bits and 44.1 kHz, which is significantly higher than the lossy formats that the platform typically uses, even in the “very high quality” option.

Who can enjoy lossless audio?

Technology experts, such as specialized writers, often refer to lossless files as being for “audiophiles.” This is because this audio quality is not always suitable for every situation. While any moderately fast internet service and a wireless router can stream lossless audio, the benefits may not be audible if played through a sound system incapable of handling such quality. Just as filling a 20-year-old car with premium gasoline wouldn’t make sense, it would also be a waste to play high-quality music on a low-end speaker that cannot break down the full range of sounds these files generate.

To ensure that your surround sound system or headphones are compatible with lossless audio formats, it is essential that they support FLAC and ALAC, as well as 24-bit/48 kHz, 24-bit/96 kHz, or 24-bit/192 kHz audio.

Connectivity considerations for lossless audio

It is important to clarify that most streaming services cannot stream lossless audio through Bluetooth headphones or speakers without compressing it. Therefore, users will need to opt for wired headphones or wireless headphones compatible with high-resolution audio that connect to devices via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. These devices often include an audio hub or a small USB dongle that plugs into their equipment.

While it may seem cumbersome to prepare your listening device to enjoy lossless audio, many music enthusiasts will find that the clarity and quality of more pure audio is worth the effort.

Activating the lossless audio feature on Spotify

To activate lossless audio on Spotify, users must go to the settings menu in the desktop or mobile app and select “media quality,” then choose the “lossless” option, which should be located alongside “very high.” It is important to note that a Spotify Premium subscription is required, which costs $12 per month for an individual plan. If the option is not available, it is possible that Spotify has not yet implemented the feature in your region. It is expected to be available to all subscribers by the end of October 2025.

In conclusion, the launch of lossless audio by Spotify will mark a new chapter in the listening experience for music lovers. As the possibilities of this new feature are explored, being prepared and having the right equipment will be key to making the most of this exciting enhancement. Stay tuned to our blog for more updates!