Version .593 auto starts dolby equalizer

[Aaaaq]

Latest version of Spotify premium auto-enables the Dolby atmos equalizer on android 12+ when playback starts. If I turn dolby off from the phone's audio settings, spotify enables it again on the next song it plays. dolby just creates distortions and i don't like what it does to the sound, please address this in your next release,

Thank you.

[OscarDC]

Hey @Aaaaq,

Thank you for reaching out to the Community and welcome. 

To start investigating this case, and to make sure we cover all the basics, we'd recommend performing a clean reinstall of the app by following the steps in this article. 

If the issue persists, include in your next response the make, model, and OS version of your device, along with the Spotify version you're currently running to continue investigating the case.

Lastly and if possible, it would also be great if you could record a short video where we can take a better look as we couldn't replicate the behavior from our end. You can attach it to your next response by using the Insert Video option in the post editor. You can also upload it to YouTube or Google Drive and share the link with us (make sure the video has the permissions for anyone to watch it).

We'll be on the lookout. 

[Aaaaq]

Hi,

This issue occurs on all 2025 versions of Spotify.  

I uninstalled the current google play version, and installed an older APK from december 2024 (version .459) and it doesn't enable atmos on playback start.

I have a Sony xperia 1 II with android 12, and that's the only music app that auto enable dolby atmos when music starts playing. This doesn't happen with apple music or internal audio players like poweramp.

[Novy]

Hey @Aaaaq,

Thanks for the reply!

This is odd, especially since Spotify does not support Dolby Atmos at the moment. We'd suggest giving it a try with a different mobile device if possible, just to make sure the issue is not related to your specific device.

Another thing you could try is having someone else, like a friend or a relative, log in to their own account using your device to see if that makes any difference. If this is not possible, you can also create a new account for testing purposes.

Keep us posted on how it goes.

[Aaaaq]

Hi,

Dolby atmos is the default equalizer for most Sony & Samsung devices, spotify supports many external equalizers and directs to them through the playback menu settings. However, Spotify doesn't decode streaming media encoded in atmos (or "spatial sound") which is a completely different feature (think of playing an mp3 vs playing dolby formats like ac3).

Somewhere along the 2025 updates Spotify code started giving a direct command for the device to switch on the equalizer (doesn't matter which equalizer, it can be dolby or any other internal device eq).

[Dessi]

Hey @Aaaaq,

Thanks for the reply!

I tried reproducing the issue on my end, but my Dolby Atmos wasn't auto-enabled after I turned it off manually from my phone's settings. It seems like the equalizer only works when playing through an external device like headphones or a speaker, for example. Can you confirm if you have anything connected when this is happening? In case you have, it's worth disconnecting from the external device you're using to see if that makes a difference.

Let us know how it goes.

[Aaaaq]

Hi,

This happened regardless of external devices being connected or disconnected. Sony devices are capable of using the equalizer with the internal speaker.

Also, spotify 2025 versions don't seem to handle the external equalizer very well, it creates drastic volume changes when transitioning between songs and at the beginning of the playback. Again, spotify 2024 versions do not have this issue.

[Dessi]

Hey @Aaaaq,

Thanks for getting back to us!

As we haven't received any other reports about this, it's worth checking with your device's manufacturer in case they're aware of something that might be causing this.

We’re regularly looking for opportunities to enhance the user experience for everyone, so your feedback on this is greatly appreciated. In the meantime, make sure you're always running the latest version of Spotify so you don't miss out on any updates.

The Community is here if there's anything else you need assistance with.

[Aaaaq]

Hi,

it's not a device issue, already checked that. This happens only on spotify versions 2025 and up, and does not happen on 2024 or earlier versions, or any other music app.

Please forward this to your developers, I'm sure they can solve this.

Thank you.

[Zacabeb]

I'm having the exact same problem on my old Sony Xperia 1, but not on a Sony Xperia 1 IV. Dolby "Atmos" Dynamic mode is enabled automatically when opening Spotify or changing songs.

The same thing seems to have started happening with YouTube lately, so it might be related to some Android API. The problem is that Google doesn't listen to users. If Spotify forwards the issue, maybe it could get fixed.