topic Re: No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings in Other (Podcasts, Partners, etc.)

Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

GusJake — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 22:03:38 GMT

Plan

Premium

Country

Portugal

Device

Samsung A53

Operating System

Android

My Question or Issue

I have had this issue for a while now, at first I thought it would solve itself, maybe it was a bug, or maybe I needed to update the app or something, but none of that was the case.

The audio quality settings are greyed-out, as well as the canvas settings. I already reinstalled the app, I deleted the cache, I made a clean reinstall.

tried it on my sister's device and it lets her change the settings, but there is no way my device is the issue because it used to work perfectly fine a few months ago (I also updated the software to see if maybe that was the issue, but it didn't help either)

I do not care about the canvas setting that much, but the quality one is annoying cause I do want to listen to my music in the highest quality even when i'm using mobile data, but it automatically changed itself to low and i cannot change it back, please help 😞

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

Prague — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 05:07:23 GMT

Welcoming you with a waggy tail GusJake!

The listening quality setting being greyed out and set to low on Spotify over cellular could be due to restricted data settings on your device or a potential network issue. Check your device's data usage settings to ensure that Spotify is allowed to use cellular data. Additionally, ensure you have a stable and strong cellular connection and are not controlling any devices through your phone.

If the issue persists give me a howl and I’ll try to get you back on track,

-Prague the Dog

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

GusJake — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:49:38 GMT

Hey there, thank you for replying. Problem's solved 👍🏻

I kinda feel dumb now hahaha, I did have some data settings turned off for Spotify for some reason, but now it's solved and I can turn Canvas on and also change the quality of the audio again! thank you so much! 😁

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

Prague — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:56:37 GMT

Yay! Glad those settings are unlocked again.

Nahhhhh it’s a super common occurrence, don’t sweat it dood!

Pawsitively delighted to assist,

-Prague the Dog

Very low quality on the Android app

dave_stewart — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 15:19:06 GMT

Plan

Premium

Country

Device

Pixel 9 Pro + Bose QC

Operating System

Android

My Question or Issue

I bought myself some new headphones for Black Friday (Bose QC, and Bowers & Wilkins PX8) but was shocked at how bad they sounded. After some experimentation I realised that it was not the headphones, but Spotify!

If I listen through the Android app, songs sound very muddy indeed. If I listen through the Mac app they sound bright and crisp (as one would expect). On the same song on Tidal the difference to Spotify certainly noticeable. From an uncompressed file on my computer, everything sounds great; crisp, clear, detailed.

I've gone into settings and set everything to High Quality, and deleted all the data from the app and re-downloaded, but it still sounds muddy.

I've tried to do some experiments to see if it's just a volume issue, but either way, it still sounds rubbish.

What's going on?

No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings

mahervelous — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:48:13 GMT

Plan

Premium

Country

Canada

Device

Pixel 7 pro

Operating System

Spotify version 9.0.18.604

My Question or Issue

There is a new UI for adjusting quality of playback. Ok, whatever.

However:

Streaming over cellular data is blocked on "low" and it says android data saver is on so I cannot adjust it. This is untrue, data saver is not on.

This is a big problem. Bring back the ability to adjust this however I want, first and foremost. Secondarily, fix**bleep** so that if it's going to force me into using less data, only do so when data saver actually is on.

Re: No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings

JasperJ — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 06:20:41 GMT

Heya,

I am using a pixel 8 and experiencing the exact same problem: data saver is not on but the settings cannot be changed still and are stuck to low.

Any solution so far?

Re: No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings

Yordan — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:43:24 GMT

Hey there, folks,

Could you make sure the Data Saver for Spotify is set specifically to Off? You can do this in the app's settings > Data-saving and offline.

I'd also recommend you turn off any data saving or battery optimization options for Spotify in your Android settings as well. If you have several battery modes to choose from, select the one that offers the best performance to see if that does the trick.

Cheers 🤘

Re: No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings

JasperJ — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:16:07 GMT

Hey Yordan,

Thank you so much! I didn't know about the specific data saver setting within the app, was only looking in the android settings itself.😅

I turned it from automatic to off now and that worked! Now able to switch previous greyed out options again.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Re: No way to adjust cellular streaming quality settings

mahervelous — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:24:23 GMT

I managed to get it working by scouring settings for app specific overrides
and enabling them for Spotify

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

Athenablu — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 19:05:22 GMT

Hey! I'm having the same problem.

Battery saving is off

I've cleared the cache

Data saver is set to automatic and I can't change it.

Audio streaming quality is also not changeable.

What am I missing?

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

Athenablu — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 19:06:54 GMT

I also Uninstalled and reinstalled Spotify

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

AlejaR — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 23:41:24 GMT

Hey there @Athenablu,

Thanks for posting here and welcome.

Just to confirm, are you using Connect to cast content to a different device while controlling the playback from a mobile device? If yes, keep in mind it's expected to see some settings grayed out (such as the Data Saver or Audio quality ones) while using the Connect feature. If this is your case, we'd suggest checking if you can change these settings while not using Connect.

It's also worth checking the internal settings of the affected device, as mentioned by @Yordan here, to make sure Spotify has no battery-saving restrictions.

Now, if you're not using Connect and this behavior persists, we'd like to gather some additional info. Please send us:

The make/model and OS of the affected device.
The exact Spotify version you're running.
Did you notice if this started to happen after a specific event such as an OS update? If yes, please send us the details.
Some screenshots of what you see on your side. Note: Be aware this is a public space, so please don't share any personal info on the screenshot you'll send us.

Keep us in the loop!

Re: Spotify won't let me change the audio quality

saligaraki — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 11:04:33 GMT

After the upgrade of lossless feature two of my active speakers cannot change the quality settings

My kef lsx stay on normal , 96 kbps and my b&w zeppellin lock on " auto ´

The answer of the support team was " use bluetooth and not spotify connect "

This is a un acceptable answer from Spotify

Customers must be informed that many speakers may cannot use high quality steaming settings

Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

findaswer — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:09:58 GMT

Plan

Premium

Device
Speak:Sony HT-Z9f
Spotify app: iPhone 15, ipad mini7, desktop(win)

Operating System

(iOS 26.2, Windows 11,etc.)

My Question or Issue

When using Spotify Connect with my Sony HT-Z9F, I noticed that the audio quality is always stuck at Normal. No matter which audio quality I select, it does not change.

The HT-Z9F supports Auto, Low, Normal, High, and Very High audio quality settings. I have tried multiple troubleshooting steps, including restarting my router, logging in and out of Spotify, resetting the HT-Z9F, and using both an iPad and an iPhone to connect via Spotify Connect. However, the audio quality remains stuck at Normal. Has anyone else experienced a similar issue or found a solution? Thanks in advance.

Re: Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

findaswer — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:45:20 GMT

I had already turned off Spotify’s Data Saver before you mentioned it. Therefore, this is not the solution.

Re: Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

Yordan — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:52:29 GMT

Hi, @findaswer,

Does this occur only when using cellular data or with Wi-Fi as well? Could you check if you have Low Data Mode / Low Power Mode activated in your device's settings and disable it to see if that does the trick? You'll find the relevant steps below:

Let us know how it goes 👍

Re: Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

findaswer — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:03:36 GMT

Hi, Yordan,

1.My iOS devices are not set to Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode.

2.All of my devices—my Windows 11 PC, iPad, iPhone, and Sony HT-Z9F—are
connected to the same home Wi-Fi router.

3.iOS devices and the Windows 11 PC can play audio at Normal, High, Very
High, and Lossless quality through their built-in speakers without any
issues.

However, when using Spotify Connect to play music on the Sony HT-Z9F, the
audio quality is fixed at Normal (96 kbps), regardless of the audio quality
setting selected in Spotify.
For example:

Open the Spotify app on an iPad → use Spotify Connect to select
the Sony HT-Z9F → play music → check audio quality → 96 kbps.

Thanks

Re: Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

Yordan — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:27:57 GMT

Thanks for the reply, @findaswer.

Could you check if there are any firmware updates for your Sony HT-Z9F and install them to see if that does the trick? I'd also be very helpful if you could test with another speaker like a friend's or a relative's, but it's absolutely okay if that's not possible.

Cheers 🤘

Re: Spotify Connect Audio Quality Won’t Change from Normal (96 kbps)

findaswer — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:08:36 GMT

I have updated to the latest firmware version. I want to contact Spotify
because it was able to play at 320 kbps just a few days ago. I don’t
understand why the audio quality is suddenly stuck at 96 kbps. However, the
Spotify app shows that this speaker supports up to 320 kbps audio quality.

I also have Sonos speakers, it works without any problems.

Thank you.