If Apple Music lossless audio is missing or you are not hearing it, check the Lossless Audio setting, the selected streaming or download quality, and how your device is connected to your headphones or speakers. Bluetooth playback is not lossless; for standard Lossless, use a supported wired or built-in audio path. A song downloaded before you enabled Lossless may also need to be downloaded again.
1. Turn on Lossless Audio and check quality settings
Apple Music has device-level audio quality controls. Enabling Lossless Audio does not necessarily replace a copy of a song that was downloaded earlier, so check both the overall setting and the quality chosen for streaming or downloads.
- iPhone or iPad: Open Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality, then turn on Lossless Audio. Check the streaming and download quality options relevant to how you listen.
- Mac: In the Music app, open Music > Settings > Playback and enable Lossless audio. Some macOS versions label Settings as Preferences.
- Android: In Apple Music, open More > Settings > Audio Quality. Check the quality settings for streaming or downloads.
- Apple Music for Windows: Open Sidebar Actions > Settings > Playback and check the lossless and quality options.
Apple’s current instructions are in About lossless audio in Apple Music. Menu names can differ by operating-system version and locale.
2. Check whether your audio connection can carry Lossless
Apple says Bluetooth connections do not support lossless audio. Bluetooth headphones or speakers will still play Apple Music, but the Bluetooth link is not a lossless transmission. For lossless playback, try a wired connection to headphones, a receiver, or powered speakers, or a supported built-in speaker output.
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Special Apple device pairings do not make ordinary Bluetooth playback lossless, so do not assume that a Bluetooth connection qualifies because the headphones or speakers are Apple products.
3. Match the requested quality to your device
Apple’s format limits are up to 24-bit/48 kHz for Lossless and up to 24-bit/192 kHz for Hi-Res Lossless. These are format specifications; the playback path must also support the selected resolution.
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- Up to 48 kHz: An external DAC is not a universal requirement for standard Lossless. A supported wired or built-in output may be sufficient.
- Above 48 kHz: Apple says iPhone and iPad need an external digital-to-analogue converter (DAC). Windows and Android setups may also need one; device-manufacturer guidance determines what a particular device supports.
- Mac: Apple says 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models support native playback up to 96 kHz. Other Mac computers need an external DAC for playback above 48 kHz.
If Lossless works but Hi-Res Lossless does not reach the selected sample rate, the limitation may be the device or audio output rather than the Apple Music setting. A DAC is relevant to higher-resolution playback where required, not a fix everyone needs.
4. Replace an older downloaded copy
If the problem affects a song already stored on your device, Apple’s recommended remedy is to remove that downloaded music, enable Lossless for the device, and download the song again from the Apple Music catalogue. This applies to previously downloaded tracks; it is not a general fix for every streaming issue.
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- Delete the downloaded track from your device.
- Turn on Lossless Audio and select the desired download quality in the device’s Apple Music audio settings.
- Find the track in the Apple Music catalogue and download it again.
Apple’s download guidance is included in its lossless audio support article.
5. Confirm the item is available in Lossless
Not every Apple Music item is offered in Lossless. Apple lists these exclusions:
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- Broadcast radio
- Live radio and on-demand content from Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country
- Music videos
A Lossless badge should not be expected for those content types.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Consider data use and storage
Apple says lossless streaming over cellular or Wi-Fi uses significantly more data, and lossless downloads use significantly more device storage. Higher resolutions use more data than lower ones. Apple does not publish a universal per-hour data figure, so actual usage should not be inferred from a single estimate.
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If it still is not working
If the settings, content type, download, and output connection all check out, consult current Apple Support guidance for the specific device and operating-system version. Apple’s published lossless instructions do not establish one universal remedy for app crashes, account or subscription entitlement issues, network interruptions, or model-specific audio routing problems.
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