Spotify is preparing to launch its long-awaited lossless tier

Spotify has been teasing lossless audio for what feels like forever. The feature, first announced all the way back in 2021 as “Spotify HiFi,” promised CD-quality, high-fidelity music streaming—but it never actually showed up. Now, four years and many delays later, new clues suggest that the long-promised tier might finally be inching toward reality.

Over the past few days, tech detectives have spotted a bunch of new references to “lossless” in Spotify’s desktop and mobile app code. These aren’t just tiny throwaway lines; some are fully designed help cards that explain what lossless is, what devices support it, and even troubleshoot playback issues. There are mentions of 24-bit/44.1 kHz audio, compatibility with Spotify Connect, and warnings that some tracks or devices might not support it. Basically, it looks like Spotify has built the skeleton for lossless streaming; it’s just not live yet.

This isn't the first time we’ve seen something like this. Lossless audio references have popped up in the past, only to lead nowhere. But this time, there’s reason to think it’s different. Spotify recently signed new licensing deals with major labels like Universal Music and Warner Music, potentially clearing the roadblocks that delayed the original HiFi rollout.

Plus, Bloomberg reported earlier this year that a premium “Music Pro” tier, including higher-quality audio and even remix tools, could launch by the end of 2025. If all the puzzle pieces are falling into place, these latest app updates might be a quiet setup for a big release later this year.

While Spotify’s taking its sweet time, competitors have surged ahead. Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal all offer lossless (or better) streaming already, with Apple even bundling it into the regular subscription at no extra cost. Spotify, by contrast, is expected to charge extra for its lossless tier, rumored to be about $5.99/month on top of Premium.

Still, with over 626 million monthly active users, Spotify remains the world’s most popular music streaming platform by a mile, with the closest being Tencent Music, which has over 500 million monthly active users. Maybe it hasn’t needed lossless to stay on top. But with all these signs pointing to a release, it looks like the streaming giant is finally ready to deliver the sound quality fans have been waiting for.

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TechloyLouis Eriakha