Spotify Finally Brings Lossless Audio After Years of Promises

Spotify has announced the rollout of its long-awaited Spotify HiFi lossless audio feature for Premium subscribers. The feature is now available in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, the US, and the UK. The company confirmed that the rollout will expand to more than 50 countries, hopefully including Pakistan, by October 2025.

Spotify first revealed plans for a HiFi tier in 2021, at a time when rivals such as Tidal, Amazon Music, and Qobuz were charging more for high-resolution audio. The plan was delayed indefinitely after Apple Music introduced lossless and spatial audio at no extra cost, shifting consumer expectations and forcing Spotify to reconsider its approach.

The new Lossless option appears in the media quality settings for eligible users. Spotify is offering files in up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, a significant improvement over its previous maximum of 320kbps Ogg Vorbis. However, the offering lags behind competitors, with Apple and Tidal supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz and providing spatial audio content, which Spotify does not currently offer.

While the introduction of lossless streaming has been welcomed, some users view the move as “too little, too late,” given how long Spotify delayed its launch. Analysts suggest that high-resolution and spatial audio could eventually be reserved for a new, higher-priced tier.

Although not every Premium user will receive the feature immediately, Spotify has confirmed that most eligible markets will gain access within the next month. The announcement follows recent indications of the feature’s existence, including references found in Spotify’s desktop app code earlier this year.