Listen to lossless music on iPhone (2024)

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iPhone User Guide

In the Music app Listen to lossless music on iPhone (1), Apple Music subscribers can access millions of tracks encoded using lossless audio compression.

Lossless compression is a form of compression that preserves all of the original data. Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). The entire AppleMusic catalog is encoded using ALAC in resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

What you need to know about lossless in AppleMusic

  • Streaming lossless audio over a cellular or Wi-Fi network consumes significantly more data. And downloading lossless audio uses significantly more space on your device. Higher resolutions use more data than lower ones.

  • AirPods, AirPodsPro, AirPodsMax, and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth connections aren’t lossless.

  • To get a lossless version of music that you already downloaded from AppleMusic, just delete the music and redownload it from the AppleMusic catalog.

  • To listen to songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz on iPhone, you need an external digital-to-analog converter.

Note: AppleMusic and lossless aren’t available in all countries or regions. See the Apple Support article Availability of Apple Media Services.

Turn on Lossless Audio and choose audio quality settings

You can choose audio quality settings for cellular streaming, Wi-Fi streaming, and downloads.

  1. Go to SettingsListen to lossless music on iPhone (2)> Music.

  2. Tap Audio Quality, then tap Lossless Audio to turn it on or off.

  3. Choose the audio quality for streaming and downloading audio.

    • Choose Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz.

    • Choose Hi-Res Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz.

The audio quality of streamed music depends on song availability, network conditions, and the capability of connected headphones or speakers.

Identify lossless music

If music is available in lossless, Listen to lossless music on iPhone (3) appears on album pages. When you turn on Lossless Audio in SettingsListen to lossless music on iPhone (4)> Music> Audio Quality, the Lossless badge also appears in Now Playing. To learn more about a song’s lossless encoding, tap Listen to lossless music on iPhone (5) on an album page or in Now Playing.

For more information, see the Apple Support article About lossless audio in AppleMusic.

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Listen to lossless music on iPhone (2024)

FAQs

Can you listen to lossless music on iPhone? ›

You can listen to lossless on an iPhone or iPad updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS using: A wired connection to headphones, receivers, or powered speakers. The built-in speakers. An external digital-to-analog converter to listen to songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz.

Can you really hear lossless audio? ›

Apple Music Boss Admits Most People Can't Hear a Difference Between Lossless and Compressed Audio.

How do I enjoy Apple lossless audio? ›

Go to Settings > Music. Tap Audio Quality, then tap Lossless Audio to turn it on or off. Choose the audio quality for streaming and downloading audio. Choose Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz.

How do I listen to lossless music on my phone? ›

Go to Settings > Music. Tap Audio Quality. Tap Lossless Audio to turn it on or off. From here, you can choose the audio quality for streaming and downloading audio.

How to get the best sound quality on iPhone? ›

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations, then turn on Headphone Accommodations. Tap Custom Audio Setup, then follow the onscreen instructions. Or manually set any of the following: Frequencies: Below Tune Audio For, choose an option to boost different frequencies.

Is Apple Music lossless worth it? ›

In the vast majority of cases, yes, it's worth enabling lossless audio for Apple Music. You may not always notice an enormous difference in sound quality, but there are some songs where almost anyone will notice the compression artifacts, and you don't have to worry about that with lossless audio.

Will Spotify get lossless audio? ›

The code samples indicate that lossless audio will be included in an optional “Music Pro” add-on that will also include the DJ remix features that my colleague Jess Weatherbed covered earlier today. Those will let Spotify subscribers tinker with tracks in a whole new way.

Does Spotify use lossless audio? ›

Spotify HiFi will deliver music in CD-quality, lossless audio format to your device and Spotify Connect-enabled speakers, which means fans will be able to experience more depth and clarity while enjoying their favorite tracks.

Is Apple Music quality better than Spotify? ›

Apple's tracks are currently encoded with 24-bit/192kHz (hi-res quality). Spotify's 320kbps simply can't compete with Apple's “Lossless Audio,” which incorporates special surround sound technology to immerse you in the music fully.

Can you hear lossless with Bluetooth? ›

However, Bluetooth connections don't support lossless audio.

Can you listen to lossless audio through Bluetooth? ›

How does lossless audio work with Bluetooth? To experience lossless audio through Bluetooth, you will need a device that supports Qualcomm aptX Lossless. Your device must use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound technology to transmit true CD-quality audio to your Bluetooth Denon PerL Pro earbuds .

Can phones play lossless? ›

You can listen to lossless on an Android device with the latest version of the Apple Music app using: A wired connection to headphones, receivers or powered speakers. To listen to songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz, you may need an external digital-to-analogue converter.

Can you listen to lossless on Bluetooth? ›

On the contrary, lossless audio is a much more faithful reproduction of the original audio recording. It can be transmitted wirelessly, but the bandwidth isn't sustainable to do this over Bluetooth.

Can you play lossless on iTunes? ›

Lossless audio is available in all the Apple Music apps. Here's how to get lossless Apple Music on your iPhone, Android, or Mac. Quick tip: There's no official Apple Music app for Windows, and lossless music isn't available in iTunes.

Does Spotify support lossless audio? ›

The lossless mentions are very direct — “lossless has arrived” is one snippet — with Spotify supporting “up to 24-bit/44.1kHz” FLAC files.

Is apple lossless better than tidal? ›

Sound Quality: Tidal vs Apple Music

By contrast, Apple Music maxes out at 256 kbps AAC, which is still compressed despite the “Lossless” branding. So, Tidal's lossless tiers reveal more detail and nuance, with better depth and clarity for high-end audio gear.

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