Spotify adds ‘Exclusive Mode’ feature for audiophiles for Windows PC

Starting Tuesday, Spotify users will have access to “Exclusive mode” A new feature in the streaming service’s Windows app that can help maximize audio quality by giving Spotify full control over your device’s audio processing. According to Spotify, “Your computer may change the sound before it reaches your DAC by resampling it, mixing in other system sounds, and changing the volume.” Turning on Exclusive Mode prevents this, which Spotify says allows “Bit Perfect playback.”

Exclusive Mode is currently only available to Spotify Premium users on Windows, but Spotify says it will also be coming to the Mac app “in a future release.” To try it, go to Settings in the Windows Spotify app and select Turn On. In this menu, select your audio device from the Output options and then switch to Exclusive Mode. Keep in mind that audio from other apps, as well as Spotify’s auto-mixing and cross-fading features, will not play while Exclusive Mode is on.