For years, Spotify users have wanted true lossless audio. The good news is that Spotify now offers FLAC lossless streaming for Premium users in supported regions like the U.S., with quality up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz.
But this does not mean you can download FLAC files. Spotify downloads stay inside the app. They cannot be exported or used as real FLAC files. This becomes a problem if you want to move music to a Hi-Fi player, USB drive, or local music library, or play it outside Spotify. In these cases, you will need actual FLAC files instead.
A tool like ViWizard Spotify Music Converter can help. It can decode Spotify’s FLAC audio streams and export them as standard FLAC files while preserving the original quality. In this guide, you will learn how to play, download, and convert your favorite Spotify music into FLAC files for any device.
Part 1. Can You Download FLAC Directly from Spotify?
The short answer is no, not officially. Even with Spotify’s 2026 Lossless update, you cannot download real FLAC files as standalone music files. Spotify only offers its built-in download feature for offline listening. You can choose Lossless quality, but everything stays linked to your Spotify account and subscription. Downloads may stop working if a track is removed, licensing changes, or your account status changes.
In use, Lossless downloads work more like offline streaming than real file downloads. You can listen without internet, but the music stays inside the Spotify app. It cannot be opened, copied, or moved to other players or devices.
Some users use third-party tools like ViWizard Spotify Music Converter to convert Spotify tracks into formats such as FLAC. These tools are not part of Spotify’s official system, and the exported files are meant for personal use only.
| Quality | Format | Approx. bit rates |
| Low | OGG Vorbis | ~24 kbps |
| Normal | OGG Vorbis | ~96 kbps |
| High | OGG Vorbis | ~160 kbps |
| Very High | OGG Vorbis | ~320 kbps |
| Lossless | FLAC | Up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz |
Part 2. How to Convert Spotify Music to Lossless FLAC Files
ViWizard Spotify Music Converter is a desktop app that converts and downloads Spotify songs, playlists, and albums into lossless FLAC files, as well as formats like MP3, M4A, AIFF, and WAV. It supports adjustable settings such as bit rate, sample rate, and channels. After signing in with your Spotify account, the app provides a built-in web player to access and browse your Spotify library directly.
You can select tracks, add them to the conversion list, and let the software process everything automatically. ViWizard works for both Premium and free users while keeping original audio quality during conversion. For free users, the ad-removal feature also improves playback. The conversion speed can reach up to 15x faster than normal, and a built-in media player allows quick previews.
The interface is kept clean and simple, making it easy to use for both beginners and advanced users who want to convert Spotify music to FLAC in a safe and efficient way.
Key Features of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
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- Convert Spotify songs, playlists, albums, podcasts, and audiobooks
- Export Spotify music in 6 formats for different devices and players
- Support Spotify Premium and free accounts for music conversion
- Preserve music metadata when organizing converted collections
- Batch download Spotify playlists and large music libraries
Step 1: Download and Install ViWizard Spotify Music Converter
Download ViWizard Spotify Music Converter for Windows or Mac and install it by following the on-screen instructions. Once installed, launch the program to begin the conversion process.
Step 2: Log In and Add Spotify Tracks for Conversion
Log in with your Spotify account to access your library. Browse playlists, albums, or search for songs, then click the + button to add them to the conversion list inside ViWizard.
Step 3: Choose FLAC as the Output Format
Open Preferences from the top-right menu, then select FLAC in the Conversion section. Adjust bitrate, sample rate, and channels as needed for best audio quality before saving your settings.
Step 4: Convert and Download Spotify Music
Click Convert to start processing your Spotify tracks. ViWizard will convert them to FLAC at high speed. Once finished, open the output folder to access your converted files.
Part 3. How to Transfer and Play Spotify Music as FLAC Files
Once the files are available locally, they can be moved between devices and used in different players depending on the setup. Playback depends on the device or software being used, since support for lossless formats varies across systems and players.
01Play FLAC Files on Computer Devices
On Windows and macOS, FLAC files play through apps like VLC or foobar2000. Built-in support depends on the app you use. In general, desktop systems support FLAC well. Android devices and dedicated music players are still the easiest, while Apple devices depend more on extra apps.
VLC Media Player (Desktop)
01Install VLC Media Player from the official website.
02Open VLC on your computer.
03Click Media in the top menu.
04Select Open File.
05Choose your FLAC file.
06Click Open to start playback.
foobar2000 (Desktop)
01Install foobar2000 from the official website.
02Open foobar2000 on your computer.
03Drag and drop FLAC files into the playlist window.
04Or click File > Open and select your FLAC file.
05Double-click the track to start playback.
06Optional: Right-click the track to access playback or file options.
02Play FLAC Files on Apple Devices
On Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, FLAC is not part of the default music system. It does not play in the Apple Music app like AAC or ALAC. You need third-party apps like VLC, VOX, or Foobar2000 to play FLAC files.
01Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to your computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
02Drag your converted files into iTunes (or Finder). Select your device from the list, then click “Sync Music” to transfer the files to your device.
03After syncing, open the Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. You will find your converted tracks ready to play.
03Play FLAC Files on Android Devices
Devices running Android support FLAC more directly. Most Android phones can play FLAC in system players, file managers, or music apps. No conversion is needed. This makes Android simple for lossless audio.
01Use a USB cable to connect your Android device to your computer and enable File Transfer mode on your device when prompted.
02Open your Android storage folder on the computer and locate the Music folder (or create one if needed).
03Copy your converted FLAC files into the Music folder or another folder of your choice.
04Open your preferred music player on Android and start playing your transferred FLAC tracks.
04Play FLAC Files on Hi-Fi Devices
Dedicated music players give the best FLAC experience. Devices like Sony Walkman, FiiO, and Astell&Kern are built for high-quality audio. They support lossless formats and use better sound hardware. These devices are best for users who care about sound quality.
Part 4. How to Download Spotify Music in Lossless FLAC Format
To enable Lossless audio in Spotify, open the app and go to Settings > Audio Quality (or Settings & Privacy > Media Quality, depending on your device). You will see separate options for streaming and downloads. Once Lossless is available on your account, you can select it for Wi-Fi, mobile data, and downloads. After it is enabled, Spotify automatically streams and downloads supported tracks in FLAC-quality audio. The setting applies system-wide to music, while podcasts and audiobooks remain unchanged.
01Open the Spotify app on your phone or tablet. Make sure it is updated.
02Go to Profile > Settings & Privacy > Media Quality.
03Under Download, choose Lossless.
04Find the album or playlist you want to download, or add songs to a playlist first.
05Open it and tap Download. Spotify will save it for offline listening.
06Wait for the download to finish. A green arrow will show when it is ready.
07To remove downloads, tap Download again. The files will be deleted, but the items stay in your library.
Bonus: Best Spotify to FLAC Downloaders and Converters
Some tools focus on lossless audio, while others focus on speed, batch conversion, or simple use. Besides ViWizard Spotify Music Converter, other options on the market include ViWizard All-in-One Music Converter, NoteBurner Spotify Music Converter, ViWizard Audio Capture, Deezloader Remix, Apowersoft Streaming Audio Recorder, and more.
01ViWizard Audio Capture (Window/Mac) #Audio Stream Capture Tool
ViWizard Audio Capture is a great tool if you want to record Spotify music in FLAC or other formats. It works by capturing audio from a wide range of sources, including Spotify's desktop app or Web Player. You can choose to save your music as FLAC, WAV, MP3, M4A, WMA, AAC, and more.
The tool records music in real-time, which means it might take longer for large playlists or albums, but it's still fast for single songs. It's easy to use and gives you good quality sound without having to mess with complicated settings. ViWizard Audio Capture is a solid choice for anyone who wants to rip their Spotify music into FLAC with minimal effort.
- Albums: Supports a wide range of albums from popular streaming services.
- Price: $14.95 (monthly license, with free trial available)
- FLAC Support: Yes (supports FLAC and MP3 with adjustable bitrate and sample rate)
- Genres: All genres available across streaming services
- Device Support: Desktop (Windows and Mac), files transferable to mobile devices
- DRM-Free: Yes (removes DRM protection during conversion)
Key Features of ViWizard Audio Capture
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- Record streaming audio and system audio from different sources
- Capture music, podcasts, and online audio content
- Export recorded audio in 17 formats for different devices and platforms
- Record audio automatically without saving tracks individually
- Organize captured audio files with customizable output options
- Converts audio to multiple formats, including FLAC and MP3.
- User-friendly interface and simple setup.
- Remove ads automatically.
- Ease-to-Use splitting tools.
- Customizable audio settings.
- Desktop-only (no mobile support).
- Slower conversion speed compared to some alternatives.
- Free trial captures a limited portion of tracks.
02Deezloader Remix [Window/Mac/Linux] #Open-Source Download Tool
Deezloader Remix is a popular tool that can convert music from platforms like Deezer, YouTube, and others into FLAC. It used to have some issues in 2020, but it's back now and still works well for ripping music.
However, Deezloader Remix doesn't work directly with Spotify, so it's not as specialized for Spotify users. If you mainly use Spotify, ViWizard Audio Capture or ViWizard Spotify Music Converter would be better options. But if you need to convert music from other platforms too, Deezloader Remix is worth checking out.
- Albums: Includes a large catalog from Deezer, featuring popular artists.
- Price: Free (open-source software, donations encouraged)
- FLAC Support: Yes (FLAC downloads from Deezer)
- Genres: Supports all genres on Deezer
- Device Support: Desktop (Windows), mobile support with additional apps.
- DRM-Free: Yes (no DRM on downloaded files)
- Free to use and offers a wide variety of tracks and albums.
- FLAC downloads supported directly.
- Open-source with regular community updates.
- Allows downloading full albums and playlists.
- May be blocked or restricted in some regions.
- Unofficial, which may present security risks.
- Not beginner-friendly; can be difficult to navigate.
- Legal concerns due to its unofficial nature.
03Apowersoft Streaming Audio Recorder (Window/Mac) #Audio Recorder
Apowersoft Streaming Audio Recorder is another option for recording Spotify music in FLAC. This app lets you capture audio from Spotify as well as other sources like system sound or a microphone. It supports FLAC, MP3, OGG, WMA, and WAV, offering flexibility in file formats.
However, Apowersoft requires you to set up your audio sources first, which can sometimes cause audio quality issues if not done right. ViWizard Audio Capture doesn't require these adjustments, making it a simpler and more reliable choice for recording Spotify. Instead, ViWizard is a good option if you don't mind a little setup.
- Album: Works with major streaming platforms.
- Price: $59.95 (lifetime license)
- FLAC Support: Yes (captures and converts to FLAC based on system settings)
- Genres: All genres available across streaming services
- Device Support: Desktop (Windows and Mac), FLAC files can be transferred to mobile.
- DRM-Free: Yes (captures audio without DRM)
- Records streaming audio in real-time from any service.
- Converts captured audio to various formats, including FLAC.
- Built-in editor for trimming and adjusting tracks.
- Easy-to-use interface for beginners.
- Real-time recording process is slower than direct downloads.
- More expensive than some alternatives.
- No direct batch or playlist downloads.
- Free trial limits recordings to 3 minutes.
- Can't skip or fast-forward during the recording process.
04Joyoshare VidiKit (Window/Mac) #Audio Recorder
Joyoshare VidiKit is an all-in-one tool that works for both audio and video conversion. It can also capture and convert Spotify music to FLAC, MP3, WAV, and other formats. While it's a versatile tool, it's not as specialized for audio conversion as ViWizard Audio Capture. If you only need to rip Spotify music to FLAC, ViWizard is likely the better choice.
- Album: Works with major streaming platforms.
- Price: $15.95 (monthly license, with free trial available)
- FLAC Support: Yes (supports FLAC with customizable settings)
- Genres: Available for all genres available on supported services.
- Device Support: Desktop (Windows and Mac), files transferable to mobile devices.
- DRM-Free: Yes (removes DRM during the conversion process)
- Captures streaming audio in real-time and converts it to FLAC.
- Supports various audio formats for output, including FLAC.
- High customization options for bitrate and sample rate.
- Intuitive, beginner-friendly interface.
- Real-time recording process is slower than direct downloads.
- Free trial limits usage to a certain number of recordings.
- Doesn't support batch downloads or playlist downloads in one action.
- Resource-intensive on the computer during recording.
| Tool | Price | FLAC Support | Genres | Device Support | DRM-Free | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Stream Capture Tool | $29.95 | Yes | All genres from Spotify | Desktop (Windows, Mac) | Yes | Easy-to-use, customizable, batch support | Slow conversion speed, no mobile support |
| Open-Source Download Tool | Free | Yes | All genres from Deezer | Desktop (Windows) | Yes | Free, open-source, FLAC downloads | Region blocks, security risks, difficult setup |
| Streaming Audio Recorder | $39.95 | Yes | All genres | Desktop (Windows, Mac) | Yes | Real-time capture, editing tools | Slow (real-time), no batch downloads |
| Audio Recorder & Converter | $39.95 | Yes | All genres | Desktop (Windows, Mac) | Yes | High customization, easy-to-use | Real-time, no batch downloads, resource-heavy |
Conclusion
Nowadays, FLAC files can be played on almost all devices. Well, with the help of ViWizard Spotify Music Converter, you can download and convert your liked Spotify songs to lossless FLAC for listening anywhere and anytime. Then you can listen to Spotify songs on an audio player with FLAC capability, including VLC Media Player, Winamp, iTunes, and more.
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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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