Apple Music subscribers can access millions of tracks encoded using lossless audio compression, a form of compression that preserves all of the original data.
Apple developed its own lossless technology, Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), and the entire Apple Music catalog is encoded with it in resolutions from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Streaming lossless audio uses significantly more data, though, and downloads take up more space. Bluetooth® connections, like AirPods, aren’t lossless, and to play songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz, you need an external digital-to-analog converter.
What you need to know about lossless in Apple Music
- 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, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, 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 Apple Music, just delete the music and redownload it from the Apple Music catalog.
- To play songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz on iPad, you need an external digital-to-analog converter.
Note: Apple Music and lossless aren’t available in all countries or regions.
Turn on Lossless Audio and choose audio quality settings
Cellular streaming, Wi-Fi streaming, and downloads each have audio quality settings you can choose.
- Open Settings, tap Apps, and then tap Music.
- Tap Audio Quality and tap Lossless Audio to turn it on or off.
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Choose the audio quality for streaming and downloading audio.
- Choose Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz.
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Choose Hi-Res Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz.
Note: Automix and Crossfade are not available while Hi-Res Lossless is turned on. To use Automix or Crossfade, select Lossless or another audio quality setting.
Several things affect the audio quality of streamed music: song availability, the capability of connected headphones or speakers, and network conditions.
Identify lossless music
When music is available in lossless audio, you’ll see the Lossless icon on album pages.
To see the Lossless icon for music on the Now Playing screen, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality, then turn on Lossless Audio.
See also
- Adjust the sound quality in Music on iPad
- Play music on iPad
- Play music in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on iPad
