New code in Spotify's app references the long-awaited ‘lossless' tier
It's been over four years since Spotify first announced its plans to launch a lossless audio tier that has yet to arrive.
After numerous leaks and teases from company execs, we know better than to start hoping that the long-delayed service could be finally nearing arrival.
But newly added references in the music app's code suggest the lossless service is at least still under development and could even be getting closer to launch.
According to technologist and reverse engineer Chris Messina, a number of references to 'lossless' have popped up in Wednesday's build of the Spotify desktop app.
These code snippets mainly refer to help cards that would appear to inform the end user about what the lossless tier offers and how to use or troubleshoot the service.
For instance, one card says, 'Lossless music, now in premium,' while another describes it as the 'best sound quality on Spotify for music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.'
Some of the cards warn users that particular songs aren't available in lossless or when their device has bad connectivity, which could affect playback. Another notes that lossless music is 'best enjoyed on devices compatible with Spotify Connect and/or wired devices.'
In addition, Reddit user u/bendotlc noted that other changes were seen in the latest version of the mobile app, where the code now mentions lossless: 'Say hello to the best sound quality on Spotify. Listen to high-fidelity music in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.' The Redditor claims the feature is actually present in the app, but is currently disabled.
Of course, code references don't mean the lossless feature is coming anytime soon.
As we've seen in previous years, leaks and code references have appeared before, and yet the high-quality audio tier never arrived.
When asked directly about lossless and other plans for premium tiers on recent earnings calls with investors, Spotify execs, including CEO Daniel Ek, would only hint that the company was investing in premium products for 'super fans.' They wouldn't give a time frame on when these or any other higher-quality streaming options would finally launch.
Most recently, Spotify Chief Business Officer Alex Norstrom told investors on the Q1 2025 call that Spotify was still investing in more premium tiers.
'Now, with regards to higher tiers, we see great potential in them as we've mentioned before,' he said. 'So creating higher tiers around new offerings is something we are working towards as it really opens up new opportunities to delight users,' Norstrom said at the time.
When Spotify first announced its plans for Spotify HiFi, as it was then called, in 2021, it said that the service would offer users music in 'CD-quality, lossless audio format.' It had run tests of a lossless option in the years before this, however.
Eventually, Spotify pointed to licensing issues as the reason for its delay in launching.
In what could be promising news on that front, the streamer signed new deals with labels including Warner Music and Universal Music Group in early 2025, which could pave the way for the lossless tier — or so music fans hope.
Bloomberg also reported earlier this year that a premium Music Pro tier would launch later in 2025, which would include high-quality streaming, remixing, and other features.
Spotify declined to comment on this report.
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