How to Make Spotify Louder (Volume Level and Equalizer)

If Spotify sounds quiet next to your other apps, you're not imagining it. Whether you're playing music in a studio, a market stall, a workshop or the car on the way to a meeting, it helps to know which dials really change the loudness and which ones only change the tone.

Everything below comes from Spotify's help pages for volume normalization, the equalizer and sound problems. Spotify doesn't offer a magic boost button, so I'll be straight about what it does and doesn't cover.

Checking your device volume before changing Spotify

This sounds obvious, but Spotify's own sound troubleshooting starts here. It says to check your device's sound or volume settings and make sure the correct audio output is selected, for example your laptop's speakers. On a phone, there can be separate volume levels for different sounds, such as media and phone calls, so be sure to raise the one for media.

It also suggests playing audio from somewhere other than Spotify. If another app sounds quiet too, the problem is your device, and your device maker's support site is the place to look.

Setting the Spotify volume level to Loud

This is the closest thing to a louder Spotify. Spotify's help explains that volume normalization balances soft and loud songs, so everything plays at a more even level, and the volume level setting lets you adjust the overall level for your surroundings. The choices are:

• Loud: handy for noisy environments, and you'll hear less dynamic levels.
• Normal: the default setting.
• Quiet: handy for quieter environments.

Note the trade-off. Spotify says Loud means less dynamic levels, so the gap between the quietest and loudest moments in a track gets smaller. For background music in a busy place, that's usually what you want. For careful listening, you might prefer Normal.

Turning up the volume level on iPhone

1. Tap your profile picture at the top.
2. Tap Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Playback.
4. Make sure Enable Audio Normalization is on.
5. Next to Volume level, choose Loud.

Turning up the volume level on Android

1. Tap your profile picture at the top.
2. Tap Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Playback.
4. Under Volume controls, make sure Volume normalization is on.
5. Next to Volume level, choose Loud.

Turning up the volume level on a computer

1. Click your profile picture at the top and select Settings.
2. Under Audio Quality, make sure Normalize volume is on.
3. Next to Volume level, choose Loud.

Spotify's page for this feature is marked as being for Premium, so if you can't see the volume level option, that's the first thing to check about your plan.

Why you can't change Spotify's volume setting

Spotify's help warns that you can't change audio settings while you're using Spotify Connect to play on another device. If your music is playing through a speaker, a TV or another computer, the setting may not respond. Switch back to the device you're holding, or change the volume on the speaker itself.

Spotify's sound troubleshooting makes the same point from the other side: you might be sending the sound somewhere else, for example by Spotify Connect, Bluetooth or another wireless connection. Check where the audio is going before blaming the settings.

Using the Spotify equalizer to make music sound fuller

The equalizer won't raise the overall volume the way Loud does, but it can make quiet tracks sound fuller. Spotify says it adjusts bass and treble for both music and podcasts. To find it:

• iPhone: profile picture, Settings and privacy, Playback, then turn Equalizer on.
• Android: profile picture, Settings and privacy, Playback, then under Listening controls turn Equalizer on.
• Computer: profile picture, Settings, then under Playback turn Equalizer on.

Choose a preset, or move the dots until the sound suits you. Spotify adds that on Android, if your device has a built-in equalizer, your changes also affect the sound in other apps. The same warning applies: you can't change these audio settings while you're using Spotify Connect.

Does Spotify audio quality change loudness?

Short answer from Spotify's help: audio quality is about detail and data use, not loudness. The page says you can turn music quality up to hear the finer details or turn it down to save data, and it doesn't describe any volume or loudness setting. Quality is under Media Quality on mobile and Audio Quality on desktop. Spotify also says you can't adjust music quality in the web player.

So if you're hoping a higher quality setting will make music louder, don't count on it. Use the volume level instead.

Making Spotify podcasts and playlists easier to hear

A few practical ideas, all built on the settings above:

• Choose Loud when you're playing through a speaker in a noisy room or workspace.
• Switch back to Normal for quiet evenings, so you keep the full range of the music.
• If a few tracks are always too quiet, collect them in one place. My guide to making a playlist on Spotify shows how, so you can play that group through your best speaker.
• Check your download setting too. My walkthrough for downloading songs on Spotify covers offline listening, and Spotify has a separate download quality choice on mobile.

If Spotify is still too quiet after changing the volume level

1. Raise your device's media volume to the top and test it with another app.
2. Check you aren't connected to Bluetooth earbuds or a speaker you forgot about.
3. Confirm Spotify Connect isn't sending the music to another device.
4. Turn volume normalization on, then pick Loud.
5. Try the equalizer for a fuller sound.
6. Update the app and restart it. If sound is missing altogether, follow Spotify's page for no sound.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make Spotify louder?

Open Spotify's playback settings, make sure volume normalization is on, and set Volume level to Loud. Also turn up your device's media volume.

Is the Loud setting available to everyone?

Spotify's volume normalization help page is marked as being for Premium. If you can't see the option, check your plan.

What does Loud mean in Spotify?

Spotify says Loud is handy for noisy environments and gives you less dynamic levels.

Why can't I change Spotify's volume settings?

Spotify says you can't change audio settings while using Spotify Connect to play on another device.

Does the Spotify equalizer make music louder?

Spotify describes it as adjusting bass and treble. It can change how full the music sounds, but the volume level setting is the one for loudness.