Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Some songs not downloading in lossless quality in Apple Music for iPhone

I just noticed that some of the songs that I downloaded in my library aren't downloaded in lossless quality even though I have lossless downloads turned on. When I erase these songs from my library and stream them using internet they play in lossless quality, and the difference when listening to them is pretty noticeable. I've tried downloading these songs again after deleting them and being able to stream them with lossless audio, but they downloaded in bad quality again. Why is this happening? (In the first picture, a downloaded song, the lossless badge is missing. In the second pictured, the same song being streamed with wi-fi, showing the lossless badge)


iPhone XS Max

Posted on Dec 18, 2022 3:11 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 13, 2023 6:53 AM

If I got this right I found the solution to this same problem (though I was having it on my Mac since I only listen to Lossless there). It's not a bug, it's a poorly thought out design flaw in Apple Music. If you have "Download Dolby Atmos" ON, but you have disabled the Dolby Atmos playback feature, even if you have downloaded the Lossless version of a song, Music will prioritise the AAC format because it tries to play the Dolby Atmos version (which you have disabled, so it only plays in AAC Stereo).

What you need to do is turn "Download Dolby Atmos" OFF and re-download all songs in the Lossless format, then you'll be able to listen to them in full quality.

7 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 13, 2023 6:53 AM in response to AIDANsystem

If I got this right I found the solution to this same problem (though I was having it on my Mac since I only listen to Lossless there). It's not a bug, it's a poorly thought out design flaw in Apple Music. If you have "Download Dolby Atmos" ON, but you have disabled the Dolby Atmos playback feature, even if you have downloaded the Lossless version of a song, Music will prioritise the AAC format because it tries to play the Dolby Atmos version (which you have disabled, so it only plays in AAC Stereo).

What you need to do is turn "Download Dolby Atmos" OFF and re-download all songs in the Lossless format, then you'll be able to listen to them in full quality.

Reply

Dec 18, 2022 9:07 AM in response to AIDANsystem

Apple Music has different sound quality options for streaming and downloading. Are you sure your settings are set to download the music in lossless? To check it go to Settings > Music > Audio Quality. Make sure lossless audio is turned on. And make sure you choose downloads to be done either in lossless or in hi-res lossless, and not in high quality.

Reply

Dec 18, 2022 12:11 PM in response to AIDANsystem

Ok just one suggestion then. Maybe you are downloading some of your songs using your cellular connection. I suggest checking it from Settings > Music > Downloads. If the download over cellular is turned on, maybe this is causing your problems. So if it is turned on, I suggest turning that off and then redownloading some songs to check. If that is not the source of your problem, then I am also out of ideas.

Reply

Dec 18, 2022 11:20 AM in response to mrtcnyzr

Yes, I do have the lossless option turned on. If fact, not all of the songs in my library have this problem, a lot of other songs are correctly downloaded in lossless quality. The songs that have this problem are only a few, and I should be able to download them in lossless quality because their albums show the lossless badge (for example the song I showed in the images of my original question). I've already tried to undownload and download the songs again, but it has had no effect.

Reply

Some songs not downloading in lossless quality in Apple Music for iPhone

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.