Spotify’s long-awaited lossless audio tier — first promised back in 2021 — may finally be nearing launch. Recent discoveries within Spotify’s latest desktop app update suggest the company is quietly laying the groundwork for this long-delayed feature.
According to a report by TechCrunch, reverse engineer Chris Messina found new code references to “lossless” in Spotify’s desktop client. These include help cards containing phrases such as “Lossless music, now in premium” and “the best sound quality on Spotify for music up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.” The inclusion of such guidance strongly implies Spotify is preparing to roll out the tier soon.
There are caveats, however. Some code snippets warn that not all tracks will support lossless playback, and that a stable internet connection is required for uninterrupted streaming. Another tip suggests users will get the best experience with Spotify Connect–enabled or wired devices, which aligns with the high bandwidth demands of lossless audio.
Adding to the speculation, the popular modding tool Spicetify uncovered hidden lossless options within Spotify’s streaming-quality settings, as well as mentions of the feature in Spotify Connect and the web player.
While there’s no official launch date yet, these backend developments coincide with earlier reports from Bloomberg, which suggested Spotify is planning a new “Music Pro” subscription tier. This premium tier is rumored to include not just CD-quality streaming, but also features like remix tools and enhanced audio controls.
Spotify originally announced its lossless “HiFi” tier in February 2021 but shelved it indefinitely, reportedly due to licensing complications. Executives acknowledged the delays in subsequent earnings calls, citing challenges with securing the necessary rights.
Now, with updated licensing terms likely in place and signs of rollout preparation appearing across multiple platforms, Spotify’s long-promised high-fidelity audio upgrade may finally be imminent — giving audiophiles and premium subscribers reason to get excited again.
