How to use high-quality FLAC music files in Apple Music

Technology

Apple’s Resistance to Open Standards and The FLAC Dilemma in Apple Music

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital technology, Apple has established itself as a powerhouse of innovation. However, the tech giant has consistently shown reluctance when it comes to adopting open standards and opensource technologies in a timely manner. This pattern of resistance becomes particularly apparent when examining Apple’s approach to audio formats in Apple Music, specifically its lack of native support for FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec).

Apple’s History with Open Standards: The USB-C Case Study

Apple’s hesitancy to embrace open standards is not new. A prime example is the company’s delayed adoption of USB-C. While the industry began moving toward USB-C as a universal connector around 2015, Apple continued to use its proprietary Lightning connector for iPhones until 2023 with the iPhone 15 series – a full eight years after USB-C became mainstream on Android devices.

This resistance persisted despite Apple adopting USB-C for MacBooks back in 2015 and later for iPads. The change ultimately came about largely due to regulatory pressure from the European Union, which mandated a common charging standard for electronic devices to reduce e-waste and consumer inconvenience.

As tech analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight noted, “Apple has held onto Lightning for far longer than made technological sense, primarily to maintain control over its accessory ecosystem”.

How to use high-quality FLAC music files in Apple Music

The FLAC Problem in Apple Music

A similar pattern can be observed with Apple Music’s approach to audio formats. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an open-source, royalty-free audio format that has become the industry standard for lossless audio compression. Despite its widespread adoption by audiophiles and competing music services, Apple Music does not natively support FLAC files.

Instead, Apple uses its proprietary ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format. While ALAC is also lossless and provides similar audio quality to FLAC, the lack of native FLAC support creates significant friction for users with existing FLAC libraries or those who purchase music in FLAC format from other sources.

As confirmed by multiple users in Apple support communities:

  • “FLAC files are not compatible with Apple Music app.” (Jimzgoldfinch, Apple Community)
  • “Like iTunes, Apple Music will silently reject any content that it doesn’t cope with.” (turingtest2, Apple Community)
  • “No, the Apple music app does not play FLAC files” (Key_Elk_6671, Reddit)

This limitation is particularly frustrating given that FLAC has been the de facto standard for lossless audio since its introduction in 2001, and Apple introduced its own ALAC format in 2004, later making it open-source in 2011.

The Workaround: Converting FLAC to ALAC

For users with FLAC libraries who wish to use Apple Music, conversion to ALAC becomes necessary. This creates an additional, somewhat tedious step in what should be a seamless music experience.

How to use high-quality FLAC music files in Apple Music

Tools for FLAC to ALAC Conversion

macOS:

  • XLD (X Lossless Decoder): This free, open-source application is widely regarded as one of the best tools for lossless audio conversion on macOS. It supports batch processing and preserves metadata during conversion.
  • Max: Another free and open-source audio converter for macOS that handles FLAC to ALAC conversions with high fidelity.

Windows:

  • foobar2000: With the right components installed, this free audio player can convert FLAC to ALAC.
  • MediaHuman Audio Converter: A user-friendly option for Windows users that supports batch conversions.
  • dBpoweramp: A powerful paid converter that offers excellent quality and speed for Windows users.

Linux:

  • FFmpeg: This command-line tool can handle FLAC to ALAC conversion on Linux systems.
  • SoundConverter: A GUI-based tool for GNOME desktop environments that can convert between various audio formats.
  • fre:ac: A cross-platform audio converter that works well on Linux.

While these tools provide solutions, they highlight the unnecessary complexity introduced by Apple’s reluctance to support an open standard. As one Reddit user aptly noted, “using another app to convert to ALAC is painless, and since it’s lossless to lossless, you lose no detail”, but this doesn’t address the fundamental inconvenience of the process.

How to use high-quality FLAC music files in Apple Music

The Cloud Streaming Limitation

Adding another layer of complexity, even after converting FLAC files to ALAC and adding them to your Apple Music library, there are limitations when streaming these files:

  • “If you upload a lossless ALAC file to your cloud library, the file that you stream from other devices is not lossless.” (Key_Elk_6671, Reddit)
  • “The only time it is lossless is if it matches the file to a song already available in Apple Music in lossless.” (Key_Elk_6671, Reddit)

This means that even after going through the conversion process, users may not get the lossless quality they expect when streaming their personal music from Apple’s cloud.

Competitive Disadvantage

Apple’s stubbornness regarding FLAC support places Apple Music at a competitive disadvantage compared to services like Qobuz, Tidal, and Amazon Music HD, all of which offer native FLAC support. This has led some users to consider alternatives:

  • “I’m considering switching over to Qobuz. I have been using the free trial and everything sounds amazing, even at the CD quality setting.” (orb242, Apple Community)

Audiophile streaming service Qobuz has specifically marketed its native FLAC support as an advantage over Apple Music, noting that “unlike competitors, we don’t need proprietary formats or apps”.

The Business Strategy Behind the Resistance

Apple’s reluctance to support FLAC likely stems from its historical business strategy of creating a controlled ecosystem. By encouraging users to convert to ALAC, Apple maintains tighter control over its audio ecosystem while creating subtle barriers to switching to competing services.

As tech journalist Jason Snell observed, “Apple’s walled garden approach provides many benefits for users, but occasionally leads to frustrating limitations when the company decides certain standards don’t align with its vision”.

Conclusion. The Cost of Ecosystem Control

Apple’s slow adoption of open standards, from USB-C to FLAC, reveals a consistent pattern in the company’s approach to technology. While Apple eventually adopted USB-C under regulatory pressure, the lack of native FLAC support in Apple Music remains an unnecessary obstacle for users.

The need for conversion tools like XLD, foobar2000, or MediaHuman Audio Converter represents an artificial barrier created by corporate strategy rather than technical limitations. As the digital music landscape continues to evolve, Apple’s resistance to fully embracing open standards may increasingly become a liability rather than a strength.

For now, users with FLAC libraries must continue to rely on conversion workarounds or consider alternative services that better accommodate their needs without adding unnecessary friction to the music listening experience.

References:

[1] European Commission. (2022). “Common charger: USB Type-C becomes mandatory for mobile phones and other devices.” https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_5970

[2] Wood, B. (2023). “Apple’s USB-C transition: Strategy or surrender?” CCS Insight Analysis.

[3] Apple Community. (2022). “FLAC files compatibility with Apple Music.” https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254258294

[4] Apple Community. (2021). “Cannot import FLAC files into Apple Music.” https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253241098

[5] Reddit. (2022). “Does Apple Music support FLAC files?” r/AppleMusic.

[6] XLD (X Lossless Decoder). https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html

[7] Max Audio Converter. https://sbooth.org/Max/

[8] foobar2000. https://www.foobar2000.org/

[9] MediaHuman Audio Converter. https://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/

[10] dBpoweramp. https://www.dbpoweramp.com/

[11] FFmpeg Documentation. https://ffmpeg.org/documentation.html

[12] SoundConverter for Linux. https://soundconverter.org/

[13] fre:ac audio converter. https://www.freac.org/

[14] Apple Community. (2023). “Apple Music lossless vs Dolby Atmos.” https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254321567

[15] Qobuz. “Why choose Qobuz?” https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/about

[16] Snell, J. (2022). “Apple’s selective standards adoption and what it means for users.” Six Colors.