Spotify Equalizer: Best Settings and Sound Options
Where Spotify's equalizer is on iPhone, Android and desktop, how to find your best setting, and what normalization, crossfade, Automix and gapless playback do.
Spotify's equalizer lets you "adjust the levels of bass and treble in music and podcasts." It's off by default. You'll find it under Settings and privacy, then Playback in the mobile apps, and under Settings, then Playback on a computer. Pick a preset, or drag the dots until it sounds right to you.
We read five Spotify Support articles on the equalizer and Spotify's other sound settings on October 24, 2026.
About 18,100 people search "spotify equalizer" each month, and searches for "spotify gapless playback" are up 159%.
How do you turn on the Spotify equalizer?
On iPhone: tap your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Playback. Switch on Equalizer.
On Android: tap your profile picture, then Settings and privacy, then Playback. Under Listening controls, switch on Equalizer.
On a computer: click your profile picture and pick Settings. Under Playback, switch on Equalizer.
Then "choose a preset, or drag the dots on the equalizer to find a sound you like," Spotify says.
One Android note: if your phone has a built-in equalizer, Spotify warns that "changes you apply also affect the sound of other apps."
What are the best Spotify equalizer settings?
There isn't one setting that's best for everyone, and Spotify doesn't publish one. Your headphones, your speakers and your music all change what sounds good. A simple way to find yours:
- Start with a preset that fits what you listen to most.
- Play a song you know well on the headphones you use most.
- Move one dot at a time. Raise the low end for more bass, the high end for more treble.
- Turn it off and back on to compare. If the flat sound is better, leave it off.
Why can't I use the equalizer with Spotify Connect?
Because it isn't available there. "You can't change audio settings when using Spotify Connect to play on another device," Spotify says. The same goes for crossfade and the other transition settings. Use the speaker's own sound settings in that case.
What do Spotify's other sound settings do?
| Setting | What it does | Where | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equalizer | Adjusts bass and treble, with presets | Settings, Playback | No plan limit listed |
| Volume normalization | "Balances soft and loud songs" | Settings, Playback (desktop: Audio Quality) | Premium |
| Crossfade | Fades one song out as the next fades in | Settings, Playback | Premium |
| Automix | "Beat-matched" transitions on select playlists | Settings, Playback | Premium |
| Gapless playback | "Removes any gaps or pauses" between tracks | Settings, Playback | No plan limit listed |
| Exclusive mode | Gives Spotify full control of an audio device | Windows desktop app, Playback | Premium |
Spotify Support, "Equalizer," "Volume normalization," "Transitions between tracks" and "Exclusive mode," read October 24, 2026.
Normalization has three levels. Spotify describes Loud as "handy for noisy environments," though "you'll hear less dynamic levels." Normal is the default. Quiet suits quiet rooms.
Automix "works even on Shuffle," Spotify says. It's only on select Spotify playlists.
Exclusive mode is for listeners with a DAC or an audio interface. While it's on, "other apps will be unable to play sound through that device." For the purest sound, Spotify suggests turning off normalization, the equalizer, Automix and crossfade at the same time.
How does the equalizer fit with sound quality?
Sound quality is its own setting. Spotify's quality settings run from about 24 kbit/s up to about 320 kbit/s, plus lossless on Premium. Our Spotify lossless guide covers that side. For the purest sound in exclusive mode, Spotify suggests keeping the equalizer off.
Spotify's equalizer steps cover the iPhone, Android and desktop apps. On the web player, "You can't adjust music quality."
Frequently asked questions
Where is the equalizer on Spotify?
On phones: Settings and privacy, then Playback. On Android, it's under Listening controls. On computers: Settings, then Playback.
What are the best Spotify equalizer settings?
Spotify doesn't publish one. Start from a preset that fits your music, then move one dot at a time on your usual headphones.
How do I turn on gapless playback on Spotify?
Go to Settings and privacy, then Playback, and switch on Gapless playback under Track transitions.
What is Spotify Automix?
A Premium setting that blends songs with beat-matched transitions on select Spotify playlists, even on shuffle.
Should I turn on Normalize volume on Spotify?
If loud and quiet songs keep jumping out, yes. Normal is the default level. It's a Premium setting.
Why can't I use the equalizer with Spotify Connect?
Spotify doesn't allow audio settings changes while it plays on another device through Connect.
Hclout sells Spotify plays, followers and monthly listeners on its Spotify page, so weigh our advice the way you'd weigh any seller's.
Sources
- Spotify Support, "Equalizer," "Volume normalization," "Transitions between tracks," "Exclusive mode" and "Audio quality," read October 24, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 24, 2026
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