Heard about Dolby Atmos on Apple Music? It’s one of those features that shows how Apple keeps delivering a new level of sound immersion that’s turning heads. While many streaming services offer big music libraries, Apple Music goes further by adding select tracks with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio.
What’s cool is that you can try it out on your favorite songs and hear how the sound changes—no need to just take posts like this at face value. But if you’re not sure how to get started, we’re here to guide you through everything you need. By the end, you’ll be a pro and really know how to listen to your favorite music your way.
Part 1. Understanding Dolby Atmos on Apple Music
What Is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is a sound technology that makes music and audio feel more real and immersive. Instead of just hearing sound from the left and right speakers, Dolby Atmos surrounds you with sound — even from above — creating a 3D audio effect. It's widely used in movie theaters, TVs, and headphones. At home, it can work through ceiling speakers or by bouncing sound off the ceiling. On phones and headphones, it uses software to create that same surround experience.
In short, Dolby Atmos helps you feel like you're inside the music — not just listening to it.
What Does Dolby Atmos Mean on Apple Music?
On Apple Music, some songs are mixed in Dolby Atmos to sound wider and more detailed. These tracks show a Dolby Atmos label. Not every song supports it, but Apple adds more over time and curates a Spatial Audio section with featured playlists to help you find them. There's also an Automatic setting: when enabled, Apple Music plays Dolby Atmos tracks only if your device supports it. Otherwise, it plays in standard stereo without any extra steps.
How Apple Music Uses Dolby Atmos
Apple Music pairs Dolby Atmos with a feature called Spatial Audio, which keeps sound fixed in space as you move your head. This works only with certain AirPods models like AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or newer.
- Only some Apple Music songs have Dolby Atmos — look for the label.
- If your device doesn't support Dolby Atmos, the songs will play in normal stereo.
Part 2. How to Enable or Disable Dolby Atmos on Apple Music
You first need to enable Dolby Atmos on your device to unlock the full experience with supported songs on Apple Music. Let's get started with the supported devices:
Get Started with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music:
- iPhone XS or later, iPad Pro (3rd generation or later), iPad Air (4th generation or later), or newer Mac running macOS Big Sur or later
- AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats headphones with Apple's H1 or W1 chip
- HomePod or HomePod mini with the latest software update
- iOS 14.6 or later on iPhone/iPad, or macOS Big Sur or later on Mac
- The latest version of the Apple Music app
On iPhone and iPad:
- Make sure your device is updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS.
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Music.
- Tap Dolby Atmos under the Audio section.
- Choose Automatic, Always On, or Off.
On Mac:
- Update your Mac to the latest macOS version.
- Open the Music app.
- In the menu bar, go to Music > Settings (or Preferences).
- Click the Playback tab.
- Select Automatic, Always On, or Off under Dolby Atmos.
On Android:
- Update the Apple Music app to the latest version.
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Tap the More button (three dots).
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Dolby Atmos and turn it on or off.
On Windows:
- Make sure your PC supports Dolby Atmos and update the Apple Music app.
- Open Apple Music.
- Click the sidebar button, then choose Settings.
- Go to the Playback tab.
- Select Automatic, Always On, or Off under Dolby Atmos.
On Apple TV 4K:
- Update your Apple TV 4K to the latest tvOS version.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Music.
- Select Dolby Atmos.
- Choose Automatic or Off.
On HomePod:
- Update your HomePod to the latest software.
- Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the Home button, then tap More.
- Tap Home Settings > Your Name > Apple Music.
- Turn Dolby Atmos on or off.
On Apple Vision Pro:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Music > Dolby Atmos.
- Choose Automatic, Always On, or Off.
- Use the Automatic Setting: Set Dolby Atmos to Automatic to let Apple Music pick the best playback based on your device and headphones.
- Turn On Sound Check: Helps balance volume differences between Dolby Atmos and regular tracks.
- Use Supported Headphones: For the full effect, use AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or other spatial audio-compatible headphones. Stereo headphones still play Atmos tracks, but with less immersive experience.
- Keep Devices Updated: Make sure your devices and headphones have the latest software updates for best Dolby Atmos support.
- Restart or Toggle Dolby Atmos: If you have audio issues, try restarting your device or turning Dolby Atmos off and on again to fix problems.
Part 3. How to Find Dolby Atmos Tracks on Apple Music
Once you've enabled Dolby Atmos, it's easy to find tracks that support this immersive sound. Apple Music offers two main ways to discover Dolby Atmos songs.
Some Dolby Atmos tracks might sound different from regular stereo versions. Sometimes they sound better, sometimes a bit unusual, depending on the mix. Volume levels can also differ between Atmos and regular songs. Turning on "Sound Check" helps even out volume but might not fix all differences.
Option 1: Find Tracks by Dolby Atmos Label
- Open the Apple Music app on your device.
- Search or browse for songs, albums, or artists.
- Look for the Dolby Atmos label next to album names.
- For specific tracks, tap the three-dot icon next to the song, select View Credits, and scroll down to check if Dolby Atmos is listed among the audio qualities.
- Tap any track with the label to listen in Dolby Atmos.
Option 2: Explore the Spatial Audio Section
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Tap the Browse or Search button at the bottom.
- Look for the Spatial Audio section—usually near the top or within playlists.
- Tap this section to see playlists and songs made for Dolby Atmos.
- Choose any playlist or song to start listening.
Part 4. Best Ways to Play Dolby Atmos Tracks on Apple Music
If you want to keep Dolby Atmos songs from Apple Music and play them anywhere—without the Apple Music app or a subscription—ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a great solution. It lets you convert your Apple Music tracks into regular audio files that you can play on any device or player.
With ViWizard, you can save your songs in popular formats like MP3, M4A, FLAC, or WAV, and still enjoy the same listening experience. This means you can keep the immersive sound—including lossless and Dolby Atmos (if supported in the source)—even when playing the files locally in apps like WMP, VLC, or Foobar, or on any device that doesn't support Apple Music directly.
It's easy to use. Just open the app, sign in with your Apple ID, make sure Dolby Atmos is enabled, choose the songs or albums you want to keep, select a format like FLAC for the best sound output, and click Convert. ViWizard will remove the DRM and save the files to your computer with all the track info, including album art and metadata.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
Step 1 Download and Open ViWizard
First, download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your computer. Open the app and sign in with your Apple ID. This will let you access your Apple Music library, including any Dolby Atmos songs. Make sure you've already turned on Dolby Atmos in your Apple Music settings before starting.
Step 2 Pick the Songs and Output Format
Click the "+" button to choose the songs, albums, or playlists you want to convert. For the best sound quality, pick a format like FLAC, WAV, or AAC. You can also change settings like sample rate and bit rate by clicking the gear icon at the top. When you're done, click "OK" to save.
Step 3 Convert Your Music
After selecting your songs and format, click "Convert" to start. ViWizard will download and convert your music into regular audio files without DRM. This means you can listen to them offline and without needing an Apple Music subscription.
Step 4 Find and Play Your Converted Dolby Atmos Songs
When the conversion finishes, click the "History" button to see your files. Open the folder where they're saved, then you can move the songs to any device or app you like. Now you can play your Dolby Atmos tracks anywhere, anytime—no internet or subscription needed.
Part 5. FAQs of Apple Music Dolby Atmos
Why Do Some Songs Sound Weird with Dolby Atmos?
Some songs just don't sound right in Dolby Atmos. The vocals might be too loud, or the instruments might seem too soft or far away. This often happens with older songs that were changed to Atmos instead of being made that way from the start. Many users on Reddit say they prefer the regular stereo version for those tracks.
What Does the "Automatic" Setting Do?
The "Automatic" setting plays Dolby Atmos songs only if your device and headphones support it. If not, Apple Music will just play the regular stereo version. It's the safest option if you're not sure what your setup can do.
Is Dolby Atmos Lossless?
No. Dolby Atmos tracks on Apple Music are not lossless. They're a little compressed to support the 3D sound. Even if you download them, they won't be truly lossless. If you care more about sound quality than the 3D effect, you might want to turn Atmos off and use the Lossless setting instead.
Can I Turn Dolby Atmos Off for One Song?
No. You can't turn Dolby Atmos on or off for just one song. If you don't like how a track sounds in Atmos, you'll need to turn it off completely in your settings.
Why Are Dolby Atmos Songs Quieter?
Dolby Atmos songs can sound quieter because they have more space and less compression. This is normal, but it can make the volume go up and down between songs. You can turn on Sound Check in settings to help keep the volume more consistent.
Can I Use Dolby Atmos on Windows?
Yes, but it doesn't always work perfectly. Some users say it plays in Atmos, while others only hear stereo. It depends on your headphones, sound settings, and whether your computer supports Atmos. If it doesn't sound different, it might not be working.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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