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Audio file formats for Spotify

We strongly prefer the Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) for audio delivery. WAV is also accepted if it meets the same technical requirements.

Deliver your highest-quality native stereo master. Don’t downsample, reduce bit depth, or apply any processing that changes quality before delivery. We handle all format conversions.

Audio requirements

Your audio files must meet these requirements:

  • Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or higher
  • Bit depth:
    • 24-bit if this is the native master
    • 16-bit only if no higher bit depth master exists
  • Channels: Stereo (2-channel)

Deliver your audio exactly as it was mastered. Keep the original sample rate and bit depth.

We support 1 stereo master per track, so send a single version at the native resolution.

WAV-specific requirements

If you deliver WAV files, they must:

  • Use format code 0x0001 (WAVE_FORMAT_PCM)
  • Not use 0xFFFE (WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE)
  • Contain valid fmt and data subchunks
  • Contain only audio data after the start of the data subchunk
  • Represent full tracks only (sample clips aren’t accepted)

How Spotify processes audio

If you deliver WAV files, we losslessly convert them to FLAC before playback.

We handle all format optimization internally, including:

  • Downsampling from higher sample rates (e.g., 48 kHz, 96 kHz)
  • Bit‑depth reduction where required for playback compatibility

How this affects your delivery:

  • Tracks delivered above 24‑bit will be reduced internally to a maximum of 44.1 kHz / 24‑bit FLAC.
  • Tracks delivered below 16‑bit or below 44.1 kHz will be upconverted to 44.1 kHz / 16‑bit, but will not be eligible for lossless playback.

Don’t perform these conversions yourself. Handling conversions on our side helps ensure consistent quality across all playback environments.

Delivering the right bit depth

Follow these guidelines when delivering your audio:

  • If a track was mastered in 24‑bit, deliver 24‑bit
  • If a track was mastered only in 16‑bit, deliver 16‑bit
  • If the track was mastered in sample rates higher than 44.1 kHz don't apply downsampling
  • Don’t create a 16‑bit version from a 24‑bit master for delivery
  • Don’t deliver both 16‑bit and 24‑bit versions of the same track

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