First published on October 2, 2017. Revised on June 1, 2018, upon announcement of the discontinuation of the Groove Music iOS and Android apps.
On October 2, 2017, we announced that we'd be partnering with Spotify to bring the world’s largest music streaming service to you. We know that access to the best streaming experience, the largest catalog of music, and a variety of subscriptions are top of your list.
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On January 1, 2018, the Groove Music Pass streaming service was discontinued. If your Pass subscription went beyond December 31, 2017, we will give you (or already gave you) a prorated refund or a Microsoft gift card (see timing details below). We’ll continue to update the Windows 10 Groove Music app for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone so you can play and manage the music you’ve purchased and downloaded to these devices, but the app will no longer stream or play Groove Music Pass content.
What happened to the Groove Music Pass?
The Groove Music Pass streaming service was discontinued on January 1, 2018. The Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC and Windows Phone will continue to play all the music you’ve purchased and downloaded but will no longer stream or play any Groove Music Pass content.
What's happening to the Groove Music app?
We’ll continue to update the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone so you can play your purchased music. On December 31, 2017, the option to stream, purchase, and download music from Groove Music was discontinued. If your purchased music was downloaded, you’ll still be able to listen to it.
What was Groove Music Pass content?
Groove Music Pass content was music and music videos that could be streamed or downloaded during your Groove Music Pass subscription. The Music Pass provided you with a streaming service of songs you didn’t need to own locally to play, as well as editorial playlist recommendations and the ability to create your own playlists.
I pre-paid for an annual Groove Music Pass. What were my options?
Your recurring annual Groove Music Pass continued through December 31, 2017. If your Pass subscription extended beyond December 31, 2017, then by February 1, 2018, Microsoft gave you a prorated refund from December 31, 2017 onwards (if we were able to issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If we were unable to refund your payment instrument on file, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in a Microsoft gift card in your Microsoft account to spend at the Microsoft Store.
If you canceled your annual Groove Music Pass subscription before December 31, 2017, then:
- If you canceled your subscription within 30 days of the start of your subscription, we gave you a full refund if we have your credit card/payment instrument information and it supports refunds. If we couldn’t refund your payment instrument on file, we provided 120% of that amount in Microsoft gift card value.
- If you canceled your subscription after 30 days from the start of your subscription, we gave you a prorated refund (if we could issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If we couldn’t refund your payment instrument on file, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in Store credit.
I was a monthly Groove Music Pass subscriber. What were my options?
If your subscription extended beyond December 31, 2017, then by February 1, 2018, Microsoft provided you with a prorated refund from December 31, 2017 onwards (if we could issue a refund to your credit card/payment instrument on file). If your payment instrument on file didn't support refunds, Microsoft provided 120% of that prorated amount in a Microsoft gift card.
I bought a Groove Music Pass and haven’t redeemed it. What are my options?
As of October 2, 2017, you can no longer redeem your Groove Music Pass. Microsoft will offer 120% of the value of your unused pre-paid Groove Music Pass as store credit to spend at the Microsoft Store. This offer is valid until December 31, 2018. If you haven’t redeemed your pass yet and want to get your credit, contact customer support.
I was a Groove Music Pass subscriber. Will my subscription automatically transfer to Spotify?
No. If you want access to tens of millions of streaming songs at no cost, you can try Spotify anytime with Spotify’s free offering.
I got my Groove Music Pass as part of a promotional offer. Am I eligible for a refund?
No. If you got your Groove Music Pass for free, and it didn’t come as part of another Microsoft purchase, you don’t qualify for a refund.
Will I still be able to play music I downloaded with Music Pass?
No. As of December 31, 2017, all Groove Music Pass content is unplayable, including streaming music, downloaded tracks, and music videos.
Will I still be able to play music I purchased from the Microsoft Store?
If you downloaded your purchased music to your devices before December 31, 2017, you’ll be able to play it through the Windows 10 Groove apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. Get more info about playing your music on iOS and Android devices. As of December 31, 2017, music isn't available for purchase or download in the Microsoft Store or for streaming in Groove.
Can I still download all my purchased music?
No. When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that purchased music would be available to download until December 31, 2017. Unfortunately, that window has now passed. If you've already downloaded your music, you can listen to it on your PC with the Windows 10 Groove apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. You can also transfer your purchased music from one of your devices to another device for your own personal, non-commercial use.
What happened to my purchased music if I didn't download it?
When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that music would be available to download until December 31, 2017. Unfortunately, that window has now passed. If you've already downloaded your music, you can listen to it on your PC with the Windows 10 Groove apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. You can also transfer your downloaded purchased music from one of your devices to another device for your own personal, non-commercial use.
Will I still be able to play my local music files?
Yes. Local files will still be playable with the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC and Windows Phone.
Will I still be able to play music from OneDrive?
No. On March 31, 2019, OneDrive music streaming in Groove Music will be retired. Get more info about OneDrive music streaming in Groove Music.
I wasn't a Groove Music Pass subscriber. How does this affect me?
Nothing has changed for you. You can continue to play your local, or purchased content that you have downloaded through the Windows 10 Groove Music apps for PC, Xbox, and Windows Phone. If you want access to tens of millions of streaming songs at no cost, you can try Spotify anytime with Spotify’s free offering.
Can I still move my music to Spotify?
No. When Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Groove Music Pass streaming service on October 2, 2017, we notified customers that Groove Music Pass content would be available to move to Spotify until January 31, 2018. Unfortunately, that window has now passed.
What happened to my music after I moved it to Spotify?
All the music that had a match in Spotify’s catalog now appears in your Spotify library and playlists. All your purchased or uploaded non-Groove Music Pass music will remain untouched in the Windows 10 and Xbox Groove Music apps. Music you own and that is stored locally on your hard drive or on OneDrive is untouched and will continue to be playable from your local hard drive through the Windows 10 and Xbox Groove Music apps.
When moving my music to Spotify, I was asked to give Groove access to some information. What did you ask for and why?
To effectively move your music to Spotify, there were five pieces of information we needed temporary access to. After moving your music to Spotify, all the data we accessed from Spotify was deleted.
- 'Access your subscription details' gave Groove access to your region so we could add the correct songs to your Spotify library, since song availability differs from region to region.
- 'Access your saved tracks and albums' let Groove see what was in your Spotify library at the time so we didn't add duplicate tracks or more tracks than the library can hold.
- 'Manage your saved tracks and albums' let Groove add tracks from your Groove collection to your Spotify library.
- 'Access your private playlists' let Groove see what tracks you already had in playlists in Spotify so we didn't add duplicates.
- 'Manage your private playlists' let Groove create and add songs to playlists in Spotify to replicate the playlists you created in Groove.
I can’t find all my music from Groove after moving my collection to Spotify. What happened to it?
We did our best to preserve your collection and playlists when moving, but there may have been some cases where we couldn’t find a matching song in Spotify’s collection. If you used a Windows 10 PC to move your music, we stored a list of the songs we were unable to move in a file on your computer named GrooveMigration.txt. The file is in your music library folder, which for most people is found at C:users[username]Music. Music you own and that is stored on your hard drive or OneDrive can still be played with the Windows 10 Groove Music app.
Did playlists I followed move to Spotify?
No. Playlists you created moved to Spotify, but playlists created by Groove didn't.
As a part of my Groove Music Pass subscription, I had additional OneDrive storage. What happened to that?
If OneDrive storage was included in your Groove Music Pass subscription, your storage was reduced to OneDrive’s standard free tier plan on December 31, 2017, unless you were contacted by Microsoft.
What did you do about the Groove Music Pass customers who are over their OneDrive free storage plan limit?
Microsoft followed up directly with the small number of Groove Music Pass customers in this situation and provided options to take care of their needs.
Does Spotify stream from OneDrive?
No. Spotify doesn’t stream music from OneDrive. Music you upload to your OneDrive music folder can still be downloaded to a PC for playback in the Windows 10 Groove Music app.
What’s happening to Groove Music on iOS and Android?
The Groove Music iOS and Android apps were removed from download from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store on June 1, 2018. They were retired on December 1, 2018. After that date the apps won’t work and should be uninstalled. Get more info about the Groove Music apps for iOS and Android.
What other music streaming apps are available for Windows?
Depending on your region, there are many other streaming music apps in the Microsoft Store, including Pandora, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Deezer, TuneIn Radio, and SiriusXM.
What bitrate does Spotify stream at? This is might be the first question that you may take a deep consideration before choosing Spotify music as your music streaming service. Generally speaking, you may have known that 320kbps is the highest streaming quality that you can get from Spotify, but I guess, you may be unclear on how can you get it. Don't worry, here is the full introduction of the Spotify bitrate comes for you.
In this post, we will share you with the details of the bitrate of Spotify free and Premium and the full tutorial to adjust Spotify bitrate for enjoying the lossless audio streaming service. Apart from this, you will get extra tips on how to get Spotify music downloaded with high quality. Curious, right? Let's get started with the first part: What bitrate is Spotify use?
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Part 1. What Bitrate Does Spotify Stream At?
Spotify offers automatic, low, normal, high, and very high quality with different bitrates for different users by formatting the music as OGG Vorbis format. Following is the full table about all the bitrates that Spotify streaming at.
Bitrates | Streaming Quality | Free or Premium | Platforms |
24 kbps | Low | Both | Desktop, mobile and tablet |
96 kbps | Normal | Both | Desktop, mobile and tablet |
128 kbps | Normal | Free | Web Player (AAC) Java se 6 download mac 10.10. |
160 kbps | High | Both | Desktop, mobile and tablet |
256 kbps | High | Premium | Web Player (AAC) |
320 kbps | Very High | Premium | Desktop, mobile and tablet |
Pay Attention: Low Streaming Quality isn't available on the Windows desktop app. |
According to the table above, the highest bitrate for Spotify Free users is 160kbps while the highest for premium users is 320 kbps. After learning about the Spotify bitrate, you can set about setting the Spotify bitrates to enjoy the high quality of Spotify. Keep reading.
Part 2. How to Get High Quality Streaming on Spotify?
There are two ways for you to enjoy high quality on Spotify. The first method is to set the high quality, and the second is to use Spotify equalizer. Take these 2 methods together will be better for you to get lossless audio.
Method 1. How to Set High Music Quality on Spotify
Following we will take the Windows as an example. If you want to enjoy high music quality on your Mobile devices or MacBook, you can also follow the same operation to make it. Downloading the Spotify app first to prepare the following operation.
One Step to Set Your Music Quality on Spotify
- Run the Spotify app on your computer or mobile devices, and the whole main interface of Spotify will appear. Now click to 'Down-arrow' button to enter the Settings page.
- On the Settings page, scroll down to 'Music Quality'. Under the Music Quality, there is 'Streaming quality'. Hit to the 'Down-arrow' button to choose the high quality. Spotify Free users can choose 160 kbps high quality while Premium users 320 kbps.
If the high quality doesn't suit your needs on enjoying Spotify, then you can set the Spotify Equalizer to enhance the sound quality.
Method 2. How to Set Music Equalizer for Enjoying Spotify Music
Spotify equalizer is only available on mobile devices. In this post, we will take the iPhone 7 as an example. Operations are the same on Android and other mobile devices.
Two-Step to Use Music Equalizer for Enjoying Spotify Music
![Spotify Spotify](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134151836/546568876.png)
Step 1. Open Settings page of Spotify Music
- Run the Spotify app on your Mobile. On the main interface of Spotify, hit the 'Gear' button to enter the Settings page, where you can see various settings for Spotify.
Step 2. Choose Your Favorite Music Equalizers of Spotify
- On the Spotify Settings page, click to 'Playback' for the following operation. Scroll down to 'Equalizer' then press the 'Button' to open the Spotify equalizer. As a Hip-hop fan, I will choose Hip-hop as my music equalizer of Spotify.
Spotify App Pc Windows 10
After learning how to enjoy lossless audio from Spotify, we would like to share you with an extra tips to fulfill your needs on the lossless audio streaming of Spotify. Keep reading to get the ultimate lossless audio streaming service from Spotify.
Extra Tips: How to Get Spotify Music Downloaded with High-Quality Bitrate?
As a premium users, you just need to press the button to get your music fully downloaded with the same bitrate. However, even though you have fully downloaded, the music is kept in cached files. Even harder if you are Spotify Free member. Here we would like to give you an extra tips on getting Spotify music downloaded with high and lossless audio parameter. So that Premium subscribers can enjoy 320Kbps sound quality while Free 160kbps.
![Stations Stations](/uploads/1/3/4/1/134151836/826579377.jpg)
To download Spotify Music for free, a best Spotify Music converter or downloader is required. And TuneFab Spotify Music Converter is such a handy music converter as well as high quality music downloader for both Spotify Free and Premium to download Spotify Music, playlists, albums and more with high quality (For Spotify Premium, reach up to 320 kbps, for Free users, reach up to 160 kbps) to various and common music file formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC and more. Learn more from the following features of the TuneFab Spotify Music Converter.
Features of TuneFab Spotify Music Converter:
- Cover all kinds of Spotify music: tracks, songs, playlists, albums, audiobooks, even podcasts (Mac only), and more.
- Download Spotify music and store as common audio formats: MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AIFF (Mac only).
- Superfast conversion speed to speed up the whole conversion: 5X conversion speed. (Windows Only)
- Spotify Bitrate and sample rate can be adjusted as per your need. For example, the maximum reaches up to 320 kbps, satisfy Spotify Free and Premium needs.
- Various output settings are available for options.
- Keep original audio quality with metadata and ID3 tags preserved.
- Fully compatible with Windows 10/8/7 and macOS 10.10 to 10.15.
- Dig out more.
We will take Windows as an example. If you are running the macOS system, please keep reading since the whole operation is the same.
Step 1. Run TuneFab Spotify Music Converter
- Choose the right version from the button above to download and install TuneFab Spotify Music Converter on your computer. After the installation is over, hit the 'iCon' to run it on your computer. Then you will see the main interface as follow.
Step 2. Add Spotify Music/Playlists/Albums to Spotify Music Converter
- On the main interface of Spotify Music Converter, there is an 'Add Files' button. Click to 'Add Files' button, then you can add the Spotify music by copying the Spotify URL and paste it onto the main interface or dragging the Spotify Playlists/Albums and dropping them onto the Spotify Music Converter.
- We highly recommend Spotify users to add Spotify Music via dragging and dropping methods. When all the music has successfully added, bear in mind to click on to 'Add' again.
Step 3. Set Output Folder & Output Format
- Now, click to 'Options', next to 'Add Files' to set your output settings.
- On the 'General' tag, you can choose the output folder and customize the output files. Hit the 'Select…' button, you can choose the output folder according to your need. If you don't make any changes, then all the Spotify music will be stored in the default output folder.
- Move to the below of Output Folder, you can see 'Output Files', where you can customize the way that your output files display. Besides you can choose the sorting way of the output folders like Album. More output file settings are available to select as per your needs.
- Now, move to the 'Advanced' tag, next to the 'General'. On the Advanced page, you can adjust the conversion speed, reaches up to 5X, and Spotify bitrates and more. Besides, you can choose audio formats from the drop-down list. MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG are available for selection.
Tips: We highly recommend choosing MP3 or M4A with 320Kbps bitrates and 44100 Hz for output the high audio quality.
Step 4. Download Spotify Music with High-Quality Preserved
You are one step closer to fully download Spotify Music now. Just click to 'Convert' and then to download Spotify Music with High Quality. Just waiting for several minutes, then you can enjoy Spotify Music with high quality fully downloaded.
Spotify Download Vs Windows App
That's all for today. It is time for you to make up your mind on choosing your favorite music bitrate that you want to enjoy on your Spotify Music, one of the best streaming services. However, no matter what bitrate you may be going to choose, I am sure that you can free from the problem with downloading Spotify Music with the High quality now. Thanks for reading, hope you will enjoy Spotify freely right here. See you!