Last updated on September 27th, 2026 at 09:08 am
Look, I get it. You have noticed Lossless Audio in your Spotify settings and wondered: Is this really worth turning on? This is the question that I had when Spotify finally implemented this in September 2025- four years after they had initially promised.
This is what I discovered after putting it to the test.
Table of Contents
What Spotify Lossless really Means.
Spotify streams lossless audio, which delivers music in a 24-bit/44.1 FLAC format. That is pretty much CD-quality sound. Your music goes from the regular 320 kbps (which is actually the more listenable version) to full lossless, where nothing is crowded in or shoved out.
The difference? Imagine watching a 480p video on YouTube and a 1080p video on YouTube. You are not getting the full version of what is going on; rather, you are getting the watered-down version.
Also, you don’t need to pay out of pocket since you already have Spotify Premium. It’s included. None of the surprise fees or level upgrades.
The Catch Nobody Talks About
Here’s where things get real. My phone has a lossless option that I had turned on as I was getting to work, and by lunch, I was almost through 2GB of data. Lossless uses about 1GB/hour, compared with about /hour1inh the “Very High” mode.
This will destroy your month in case you are on a low-data plan.
The other thing? Bluetooth kills lossless quality. I have tried it on my AirPods, my car’s Bluetooth system, and my expensive, lovely wireless earbuds. It doesn’t matter- Bluetooth is not capable of the bandwidth. It automatically reduces your sound to compressed sound.
Then, with anything wireless, you don’t get lossless. You must use either wired headphones or a speaker with a Spotify connection.
Who Should Actually Turn This On?
I don’t mean lossless is a hoax. But it’s not for everyone.
Turn it on if:
- You listen at home using Wi-Fi and decent wired headphones.
- You want to catch subtleties in classical, jazz, or acoustic music.
- You are a musician who looks into the sound of your mixes on Spotify.
Skip it if:
- You’re mostly on your way to work, streaming wirelessly with earbuds.
- You have got rudimentary earbuds (they will not show the difference) that cost 20 dollars.
- You’ve got a tight data plan.
I kept lossless at home but switched to Very High when I was on the move. That didn’t waste my data limit, since I got the quality boost when I needed it.
How to Set It Up Right
And now that you are willing to give it a go, here’s the easy setup:
Open Spotify, go to Settings and Privacy, and find the Media Quality section. You’ll see separate options for Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Downloads.
My recommendation? Turn off everything but Lossless on Wi-Fiings, everything but Very High on Cellular, and download any lossless tracks you have when storage exists. Both fresh songs consume 36-50MB as compared to standard 5-10MB.
Another reason: make sure you are on either the desktop or mobile app. The web player does not support lossless at all.
The Bottom Line
After spending a few weeks with Spotify Lossless, this is my personal opinion: the upgrade is nice, provided you have the right setup. At the same time, I am sitting at home with my wired headphones on, listening to, say, one of the live jazz records; I can tell the difference. The instrument separation is more evident; the vocals stand out more.
But when I commute with Bluetooth earbuds every day? Zero difference. And the data consumption is impractical for mobile streaming either.
Turn it on for home listening. Keep it off when you’re out. That’s the sweet spot.
FAQ’s
Q: Do I need expensive headphones to hear the difference?
It is about quality, not necessarily. It doesn’t require expensive headphones, but gas-station earbuds won’t work either. Lossless will actually be enjoyable with something in the hundred- to two hundred-dollar range, such as Sennheiser HD 599s. You need to give yourself–they must be wired.
Q: Why doesn’t lossless work with my Bluetooth headphones?
Lossless audio can not be physically transmitted using Bluetooth. The wireless protocol compresses everything to fit within bandwidth constraints. Even costly Bluetooth headphones, such as aptX HD, can not achieve any form of a lossless signal.
Your headphones have nothing to do with it: it is a limitation of the technology.
Q: How much data does lossless actually use per song?
A standard 3-4 minute song occupies about 40-50MB in lossless compression, compared to 5-10 in “Very High” quality. An entire album? Around 400-500MB. With a 10GB data plan per month, you can stream lossless for about 10 hours before exhausting your plan.
Unless you are willing to pay a huge phone bill, Wi-Fi streaming is basically necessary.
Read:
How to See Your Stats on Spotify: Free vs Premium Options That Actually Matter
I’m a technology writer passionate about AI and digital marketing. I create engaging and useful content that bridges the gap between complex technology concepts and digital technologies. My writing makes the process easy and engaging. I encourage participation I continue to research innovation and technology. Let’s connect and talk technology!
