How to check Apple Music bit depth and sample rate on Mac.
Apple Music's Lossless label is useful, but it is not the same as seeing the detected playback format and the current Mac output format side by side.
Check playback and output separately.
The useful answer is to check two things separately: what Apple Music is playing now, and what macOS is outputting now. Apple Music may show a Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless label, but that label is not the same as a live readout of codec, bit depth, sample rate, and output match.
Audex Trace's free Compatibility Check verifies whether playback detection is supported on your Mac before you buy Pro. The full playback readout is a Pro workflow: Trace Pro keeps detected codec, bit depth where applicable, sample rate, Mac output sample rate, and output match visible while you listen.
The four numbers and labels worth separating.
| Signal | What it tells you | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Codec | The detected current playback format, such as AAC or ALAC. | Lossless Apple Music playback is expected to use ALAC, not AAC. |
| Bit depth | The detected current playback bit depth when it applies to the format, such as ALAC Lossless. | Hi-Res Lossless can be 24-bit, but lossy formats do not have a useful lossless bit-depth signal in the same way. |
| Playback sample rate | The detected current Apple Music playback sample rate. | Your queue can move between 44.1, 48, 96, and 192 kHz tracks. |
| Mac output sample rate | The current output format selected for the active macOS audio device. | It may stay fixed even when Apple Music playback changes. |
A practical check before you change anything.
- Enable Lossless in Apple Music settings.Confirm streaming and download quality are set the way you expect.
- Play a known Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless track.Use a track where the Apple Music label appears clearly.
- Run Compatibility Check before buying Pro.This confirms whether Trace can detect the needed playback signals on your Mac; it does not necessarily expose the full Pro playback readout.
- Open Audio MIDI Setup.Check the Format menu for the active output device.
- Compare detected playback with Mac output in Pro.Trace Pro keeps the current playback format and Mac output sample rate visible while you listen.
A label is useful, but it is not the whole playback path.
Apple Music labels help you understand track availability and the selected quality tier, but a label alone does not tell you every layer of the playback path. It does not replace checking the current output device format in Audio MIDI Setup, and it does not guarantee bit-perfect output.
For lossy playback formats such as AAC, bit depth is not the meaningful signal in the same way it is for ALAC Lossless. Trace labels playback cautiously based on what can be detected.
Check support first, then keep the readout visible in Pro.
Audex Trace is a macOS Apple Music companion. The free download includes Compatibility Check so you can confirm support on your own Mac before buying Pro. Trace Pro keeps the current playback readout visible, including detected codec, bit depth where applicable, sample rate, Mac output sample rate, and output match status.
Run the free Compatibility Check.
Play a track in Apple Music, open Trace, and confirm detection support on your Mac before buying Pro.
Common questions.
Apple Music can show Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless labels, but for practical troubleshooting you should separate the track label, detected playback format, Audio MIDI Setup output format, and any DAC display.