Spotify adds Exclusive Mode for bit-perfect audio on Windows
Spotify is launching a new feature called “Exclusive Mode” for its Windows application, aimed at delivering “bit-perfect” playback of audio tracks. This mode allows Spotify to have sole control over the audio hardware, ensuring that tracks are played back exactly as they were mastered, without any alterations.
The introduction of Exclusive Mode addresses issues where the computer may modify audio signals before they reach the digital-to-analog converter (DAC). According to Spotify, without this mode, audio can be resampled or mixed with other system sounds, which compromises overall sound quality. With Exclusive Mode enabled, all other audio outputs from the computer are disabled, allowing for an optimal listening experience and maintaining audio fidelity.
To achieve the best sound quality, Spotify recommends that users connect wired headphones to a DAC and use the platform’s lossless streaming option. Currently, Exclusive Mode is available only for Windows users. A version for macOS is expected in a future update.
Users can activate Exclusive Mode by opening Spotify, navigating to Settings, scrolling to Playback, and toggling the feature to “On” in the Output section. This feature is part of Spotify’s recent efforts to enhance audio quality for Premium subscribers, which also include the newly launched Lossless streaming service available since September 2025.
The development of Spotify’s lossless audio feature has been in the works since at least 2017, and it was officially announced as Spotify HiFi in 2021. While there were speculations that this could lead to a higher subscription fee, both lossless audio and Exclusive Mode are currently bundled in the standard $13 monthly subscription for Spotify Premium.