Apple Music Lossless Audio: Complete Setup Guide for Crystal-Clear Sound (2025)

Apple Music Lossless Audio delivers CD-quality sound by preserving audio details that standard streaming discards—but only if your device and setup support it. This guide walks you through enabling lossless audio and understanding what hardware you actually need to hear the difference.

What Is Apple Music Lossless Audio?

Apple Music Lossless Audio removes the compression used in standard streaming, preserving every detail of the original recording. Unlike AAC lossy compression (which discards data to reduce file size), lossless formats keep all audio information intact—giving you studio-quality sound with subtle instrument separation and deeper audio depth.

Apple Music offers three quality tiers:

• CD Quality (16-bit/44.1kHz): The standard lossless format, matching CD audio quality. All 100 million+ Apple Music tracks are available at this tier or higher.
• Lossless Audio (up to 24-bit/48kHz): Enhanced lossless with studio-grade quality. Available on all current Apple devices natively (iPhone 15+, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K).
• Hi-Res Lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz): Premium studio master quality. Requires an external USB-C DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) on all Apple devices, including Macs. Less than 10% of Apple Music’s catalog is currently available in Hi-Res formats.

To put this in perspective: standard AAC streaming at 256 kbps uses approximately 2MB per minute of audio, while lossless (16-bit/44.1kHz) uses roughly 8MB per minute—a 4x increase in data consumption.

Current as of: iOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18 (2025)

Why Use This Feature?

• Hear every detail: Lossless audio preserves subtle instruments, vocal layers, and production nuances that lossy compression removes—especially noticeable with acoustically recorded music, orchestras, and well-mastered albums.
• No Bluetooth compromise: If you use wired connections (USB-C DAC or headphone adapter), you’re getting authentic studio sound without wireless codec limitations degrading quality.
• All devices compatible: iPhone 15+, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K all support at least standard lossless (16-bit/48kHz) without additional hardware for everyday listening.
• Your existing library improves: All Apple Music tracks you currently listen to are automatically available in lossless—no catalog gaps or re-purchasing required.

Things to Consider

• Bluetooth can’t deliver lossless: No Bluetooth codec (including aptX, LDAC, or LHDC) can transmit the 1,411 kbps minimum bitrate lossless requires. If you use wireless headphones or AirPods, you’ll receive lossy audio regardless of your settings. AirPods Max will support wired USB-C lossless in iOS 18.4+, but only via direct USB-C cable—not wirelessly.
• Lossless and Spatial Audio are mutually exclusive: You cannot use Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio and lossless simultaneously. Spatial Audio is lossy compression; you must choose one or the other.
• Data consumption increases significantly: Lossless uses 4-6x more cellular data than AAC. On a typical 3-minute song: AAC uses ~6MB, standard lossless uses ~24MB, and Hi-Res lossless uses ~36-145MB depending on resolution. Download lossless only on Wi-Fi to avoid unexpected data charges.
• Hi-Res requires external hardware: Only 24-bit/48kHz lossless works natively on current iPhones and iPads. For Hi-Res (24-bit/192kHz), you need an external USB-C DAC—a separate device that costs $50–$300+ depending on quality.

How to Enable Lossless Audio in 3 Minutes

For iPhone and iPad (iOS 14.6+ / iPadOS 14.6+):

1. Open the Music app and tap the Listen Now tab at the bottom of the screen.

2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner (displays your initials or profile photo).

3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

4. Scroll down and tap Audio Quality.

5. You’ll see three options. Choose based on your setup:

   • For wireless listening (AirPods, Bluetooth speakers): Select Lossy (AAC) — lossless won’t work over Bluetooth regardless of settings.
   • For wired connections on iPhone/iPad: Select Lossless (16-bit/44.1kHz) — this works natively without external DAC.
   • For Hi-Res Lossless playback: Select High Resolution Lossless (24-bit/192kHz) — requires USB-C DAC connected.

6. Important: Toggle Download on Cellular to OFF if using lossless or Hi-Res. This prevents accidental high-bandwidth downloads on your cellular plan. You can re-enable it later for Wi-Fi-only downloads.

7. Open any album and verify a quality badge appears next to the song title (shows “Lossless” or “Hi-Res”). Try albums known for excellent production: Steely Dan’s Aja, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, or Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.

For Mac (macOS 11.1+):

1. Open the Music app and click the Music menu at the top.

2. Select Settings → Files tab.

3. Check the Apple Music Lossless Audio checkbox.

4. Optional: Check Hi-Resolution Lossless if your Mac’s audio output or external DAC supports 24-bit/192kHz.

For Apple TV 4K (tvOS 14.6+):

1. Open Settings → Apps → Music.

2. Toggle Lossless Audio to ON.

3. Optional: Toggle High Resolution Lossless to ON if your audio system supports it.

Need an External DAC for Hi-Res?

If you selected Hi-Res Lossless (24-bit/192kHz), you’ll need a USB-C DAC. Popular options for 2025:

• Budget-friendly ($50–$150): Fiio KA13, Astell&Kern PEE51
• Mid-range ($150–$300): Dragonfly Cobalt, Chord Mojo 2
• Premium ($300+): Astell&Kern HiFi Cube, Sony HAP-Z1ES

Connect the DAC to your device via USB-C, select it as your audio output in Music settings, and you’re ready for Hi-Res streaming.

Enabling Apple Music Lossless Audio takes three minutes and immediately improves sound quality on wired connections—but only if your device and hardware support it. Start with standard lossless (16-bit/44.1kHz) on your existing equipment; upgrade to Hi-Res only if you invest in external audio gear and want studio-master quality.