Spotify’s Big Audio Glow-Up: Lossless Finally Lands

• Spotify Premium now offers Lossless Listening in 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC across most of its music catalog.
• The rollout started in 12 countries and will expand to over 50 by October.
• Lossless works on mobile, desktop, and Spotify Connect devices, but Bluetooth still compresses the signal.
• You must enable it manually in settings, and it uses far more data and storage than other quality tiers.

After years of waiting, rumors, leaks, and endless speculation, Spotify has finally flicked the switch on its long-promised Lossless Listening for Premium subscribers. The company’s biggest audio upgrade yet is here, delivering music in FLAC at 24-bit/44.1 kHz.

It’s a big moment for the world’s most popular music streaming platform. Since Spotify first teased a HiFi tier back in 2021, users have been left scratching their heads wondering if the company had quietly abandoned the plan. Instead, Spotify just took its sweet time. And now, subscribers are getting the richer, more detailed sound that so many rival platforms have already been offering.

Let’s break it down, reporter-style — and with a little bit of humour, because this is Spotify we’re talking about.

Who Gets to Hear It First? Call Them the VIP Earbuds Club

Spotify isn’t flipping the switch everywhere all at once. The rollout started in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan, Austria, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, and Czechia. That’s a solid starting lineup, but not yet the whole world.

The company says Lossless will reach over 50 countries by October, so more regions will be added gradually in the coming weeks. If you’re in a country that’s part of the first wave, you may already see the option in your app. For everyone else, keep an eye out — your ears will get their upgrade soon enough.

This staggered rollout is classic Spotify. The company has a habit of teasing features in select markets before going global. Frustrating? A little. But at least it’s happening for real this time.

Is It Magic? Not Exactly, But Pretty Close

So what does Spotify Lossless actually mean? Here’s the plain-English version.

• The format is FLAC at 24-bit depth and 44.1 kHz sampling rate. That’s technically better than CD quality (CDs are 16-bit/44.1 kHz).
• Spotify says it will cover “nearly every song” in its catalog, which means most of your playlists will sound richer right away.
• You’ll be able to access Lossless across Spotify’s apps on mobile, desktop, and tablet.
• It will also work on devices that support Spotify Connect — including popular hardware from Sony, Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser. Support for Sonos and Amazon devices is on the way.

In short, if you’ve got the right gear and a decent connection, your favorite songs are about to get a noticeable upgrade.

Bluetooth Blues: When Your Headphones Become the Weak Link

Now for the buzzkill. While Spotify has done its part to deliver Lossless audio, Bluetooth hasn’t quite caught up. The wireless standard still doesn’t have enough bandwidth to transmit true lossless streams. That means if you’re listening on Bluetooth earbuds or headphones, the audio has to be compressed again before it reaches your ears.

Translation: your shiny “lossless” setting may not sound all that different on your daily commute with Bluetooth buds. To really notice the difference, you’ll need wired headphones, a quality DAC, or speakers connected via Wi-Fi or Spotify Connect.

Spotify isn’t shy about admitting this limitation. The company flat-out says that “Bluetooth doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to transmit lossless audio.” It’s not their fault — it’s just the reality of the technology.

So for now, the biggest winners are listeners with wired setups or high-end Wi-Fi speakers. Everyone else will notice some improvement, but probably not the full extent of what Lossless can do.

Turning It On: Not Auto-Magic, You’ve Got Homework

Unlike some rivals that make high-quality audio the default, Spotify is putting you in control. Lossless is an option you’ll need to enable manually.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Spotify and tap your profile icon.
2. Go into Settings & Privacy.
3. Select Media Quality.
4. There you’ll see Lossless listed alongside Low, Normal, High, and Very High. You can set it separately for Wi-Fi, mobile data, and downloads.

And here’s an important detail: the setting applies per device. So if you turn it on in your phone, it won’t automatically be enabled on your laptop or tablet. You’ll have to repeat the process everywhere you use Spotify.

Spotify says the reason for keeping it optional is flexibility. Some listeners prioritize data and storage savings, while others want maximum fidelity. This way, everyone gets to choose.

The Fine Print: What Lossless Really Costs You

No, Spotify isn’t charging extra for Lossless — it’s included in the regular Premium subscription. But there’s still a cost, and it shows up in your data and storage.

Lossless streams are big. Roughly one gigabyte per hour, depending on the track and connection. If you’re on cellular data, that can chew through your monthly allowance faster than you’d expect. Downloads also take up more storage space on your device.

Spotify tries to make this clear in its settings by showing you how much data each quality tier uses. It’s smart to enable Lossless only on Wi-Fi if you don’t have an unlimited data plan.

Another bit of fine print: not every track will instantly be available in Lossless. The company says “nearly every song,” which leaves room for exceptions. And don’t expect your low-fi 2008 demo tape to suddenly sound like a studio masterpiece, Lossless preserves quality, but it can’t fix poor recordings.

The Big Comparison: Spotify vs Its Rivals

Now the obvious question: how does Spotify Lossless stack up against other services?

• Apple Music streams lossless tracks up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
• Tidal offers similar hi-res tiers, also topping out at 192 kHz.
• Amazon Music Unlimited delivers tracks in both CD quality and hi-res up to 192 kHz.
• Qobuz, beloved by audiophiles, focuses entirely on hi-res FLAC.

So yes, Spotify’s ceiling of 24-bit/44.1 kHz looks modest in comparison. On paper, rivals offer higher sample rates and a broader hi-res range.

But here’s the twist: for the average listener, that difference may not matter. Most people won’t hear a dramatic improvement between 44.1 kHz and 96 kHz, let alone 192 kHz — especially not on everyday headphones. The fact that Spotify included Lossless in Premium without adding a new pricing tier could actually give it the edge for mainstream users.

Tiny Details That Still Matter

There are a few other quirks worth noting:

• Lossless applies to music only. Podcasts and audiobooks still use standard compression.
• Playback might take a second longer to start, since larger files need a bit of buffering.
• Not all hardware handles FLAC equally well, so older devices may struggle.
• For audiophiles, Lossless on Spotify may not replace higher-end platforms, but it finally closes the quality gap for the everyday listener.

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