Sound Booster MaxHow to Make Spotify Louder: App Settings and the Web Player
Swasthik Raj- 3 min read
To make Spotify louder, open Settings and look under Playback or Audio quality. If you see a Volume level option, set it to Loud, and try turning Normalize volume off. If you listen in the Spotify web player in Chrome, you can also raise the tab above 100% with a volume booster extension such as Sound Booster Max. An extension cannot boost the Spotify desktop or mobile app.
Spotify playing quietly is usually down to its loudness settings, not your speakers. The fixes differ depending on whether you use the app or the web player, so this guide covers both.
Why is Spotify so quiet?
Spotify evens out the loudness of tracks so that one song is not far louder than the next. It does this by turning louder tracks down. With that setting on, your overall listening level is lower than the raw recordings. On top of that, your device, the app's own volume slider and any Bluetooth speaker each have a separate volume.
Make Spotify louder in the app
- Open Settings in the Spotify app.
- Find the Playback or Audio quality section.
- Look for Normalize volume. If there is a Volume level choice beneath it, set it to Loud. Some of these options depend on your plan and device.
- Alternatively, switch Normalize volume off. Tracks then play at their mastered level, which is often louder, but the level will vary from song to song.
- Check the volume slider inside Spotify is at the top, then your device volume.
If your version of the app has an equalizer, a small lift can add presence, but an equalizer shapes tone and does not add much overall level.
Make the Spotify web player louder
The web player at open.spotify.com has fewer audio settings than the app. Because it runs in a browser tab, though, you can boost it directly.
- Open the Spotify web player in Chrome on your computer.
- Add Sound Booster Max and pin the green icon.
- Start a track, then click the green icon. A small control window opens for the Spotify tab.
- Raise the slider a little above 100%.
Music is mastered loud, so it has very little spare room. Keep the boost modest: 120% to 150% is usually the most that stays clean. If you hear crackle on loud passages, lower it. Podcasts on Spotify are a different story. Speech often takes 200% or more without trouble.
Desktop app or web player?
| Desktop app | Web player in Chrome | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume level and normalisation settings | Yes | Limited |
| Can be boosted by a Chrome extension | No | Yes |
| Best for | Everyday listening | Quiet podcasts, or when you need more than 100% |
A Chrome extension only works on browser tabs. If you want to boost Spotify, play it in the web player.
Other things to check
- Bluetooth speakers and headphones have their own volume, sometimes separate from your device.
- Windows volume mixer. Make sure Spotify or Chrome is not set lower than other apps.
- Volume limits on phones. Phones may cap headphone volume to protect your hearing. That limit is there for a reason.
- Downloaded files. For a quiet audio file rather than a stream, see the MP3 volume booster guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Spotify volume booster?
Spotify has no volume booster built in beyond the Loud setting. For the Spotify web player, a Chrome volume booster extension such as Sound Booster Max raises the tab above 100%.
Why is Spotify quieter than YouTube?
Each service normalises to its own target level, and your settings in each differ. Setting Spotify's volume level to Loud usually closes the gap. For the YouTube side, see the YouTube volume booster guide.
Does boosting Spotify reduce sound quality?
Small boosts do not. Large boosts on loud music cause clipping, which you will hear as distortion. See louder than max without distortion.
Can I make Spotify louder on my phone with this extension?
No. Chrome extensions do not run on phones. Use the app's settings there.
