How to listen to Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music

Songs on Apple Music can now be heard in Spatial Audio at no extra cost. 

Spatial Audio uses Dolby Atmos tech and plays by default in iOS 14.6 or later on all Apple AirPods and Beats wireless headphones with an H1 or W1 chip. It also plays on the built-in speakers on the latest Macs, iPhones, and iPads.

What is Spatial Audio

On May 17, 2020, Apple announced that Apple Music is bringing “industry-leading sound quality” to subscribers with the addition of Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos. Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio is available to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost. The company says Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity. 

Listening to Spatial Audio

To hear Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, enable the feature in your device’s audio settings, use compatible headphones or speakers, and look for the Dolby Atmos badge on supported tracks. 

Setup on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro

1. Open Settings > Apps (or scroll directly down on older iOS versions) > Music. 
2. Tap Dolby Atmos under the Audio section. 
3. Choose Automatic or Always On:
   • Automatic: Plays Atmos automatically when connected to compatible Apple or Beats headphones (like AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max) or certified receivers/speakers.
   • Always On: Forces Atmos playback on any connected headphones or speakers, including standard wired or third-party Bluetooth options

Setup on Mac

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Click the Sidebar Actions button at the top of the sidebar and choose Settings.
3. Select Playback, then choose Automatic or Always On from the Dolby Atmos pop-up menu. 

Setup on Apple TV

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Music.
2. Set Dolby Atmos to Automatic or On.
3. Note: Your Apple TV must be connected to an Atmos-compatible soundbar, AV receiver, or spatial-audio capable speakers (such as a pair of HomePods set as the default audio output). 

Finding and Playing Content

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Search for albums or tracks and look for the Dolby Atmos badge directly on the song or album detail page.
3. Open the Now Playing screen to verify the badge is active.

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