How to Enable Dolby Atmos on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Quick Tips

• Apple devices support Dolby Atmos audio for apps like Music and Apple TV.
• Go to Settings > Music > enable Dolby Atmos.
• On Mac, open Apple Music > Music > Settings > Playback > enable Dolby Atmos.

Apple Devices That Support Dolby Atmos

Before we begin, it is important to know whether your current iPhone, iPad, or Mac supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. We have provided a list of all the supported devices below.

• iOS: iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 series, iPhone SE (2nd gen), iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, and later.
• iPadOS: iPad (early-2018), iPad Pro (2018 series), iPad mini (5th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad (7th gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd gen), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th gen), iPad Air (4th gen), iPad (8th gen), iPad 10.2-inch (2021), iPad mini 8-inch (2021), iPad Pro series (3rd gen), iPad Air 10.2-inch (2022), and later
• macOS: MacBook Air (2018), MacBook Pro (2018), MacBook Pro (2019), MacBook Air (2019), MacBook Air with M1 chip, MacBook Pro (with M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra), iMac 24-inch (2021) and later.

While this list is exhaustive, you can easily determine that older iPhones, iPads, or Macs don’t support this feature.

Enable Dolby Atmos on iPhone and iPad

Let’s look at how to enjoy Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on your iPhone. First, choose tracks that support Dolby Atmos. Then, follow these steps, which remain the same for iPad users as well.

Open Settings > Music > tap on Dolby Atmos > choose between Automatic or Always On.

If you switch to Always On, tap on Turn On to confirm your choice.

Enable Dolby Atmos on Mac

Apple has also extended Dolby Atmos support on Macs. Users can enjoy not only music but also their favorite movies at home in Dolby Atmos. Almost every Apple TV+ original series or film supports Dolby Atmos. Netflix and Vudu are also on the list.

You can also plug in your Dolby Atmos-supported headphones for a great audio experience. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open Apple Music > click on Music at the top Menu Bar > select Settings/Preferences.

Step 2: In the Preferences window, click on Playback > look for Dolby Atmos.

Step 3: Select Automatic or Always On as per your preference. Then, click on Ok.

If you select Always On, click Turn On to confirm your choice.

How to Download Songs in Dolby Atmos

Step 1: Go back to General > select Download Dolby Atmos.

Step 2: Close the General tab and play any song on your Mac. You should see the Dolby logo at the top.

How to Search For Dolby Atmos Songs in Apple Music

The Dolby Atmos song library on Apple Music adds new music every day. If you want to search for a list of songs of different genres mixed in Dolby Atmos, follow these steps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Step 1: In the Apple Music app, go to the search bar.

Step 2: Search for Dolby Atmos and press Return.

Step 3: Click/tap on Apple Music Spatial Audio under Top Results.

You will see all the songs from different genres listed on your screen.