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All the Apps That Support Apple's Spatial Audio Feature

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Spatial audio is a sonic feature exclusive to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that adds surround sound to Apple's premium audio wearables. By utilizing dynamic head tracking, it brings a theater-like audio experience to the movie or video you're watching, so that it seems as if the sound is coming from all around you.

spatialaudiofeature
The feature works by comparing the data from your iOS device's gyroscope and accelerometer against the data from your ‌AirPods‌ Pro or ‌AirPods Max‌, ensuring that the sound field stays anchored to the device, even if you move your head.

Unsurprisingly, spatial audio isn't universally supported by third-party apps and services. To save you spending time wondering if a particular app works with the feature, we've put together a list below of all the apps that have officially been updated to support Spatial Audio, and some popular apps that have yet to add support.

  • Air Video HD (Turn on Surround in Audio settings)
  • Apple's TV app
  • Netflix
  • Disney+
  • FE File Explorer (DTS 5.1 unsupported)

  • Foxtel Go (Australia)
  • HBO Max
  • Hulu
  • Plex (Enable old video player in Settings)
  • Peacock
  • Discovery+
  • Paramount+
  • Vudu
  • Some TIDAL songs
  • Infuse
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • VLC
  • Amazon Prime Video

We'll keep these lists updated as and when we learn of additional third-party apps and updates that come out in support of spatial audio. In the meantime, check the following details to make sure that your hardware is compatible with the feature.

airpods pro max in silver

What You Need to Use Spatial Audio

To take advantage of spatial audio on ‌AirPods Pro‌ or ‌‌AirPods Max‌‌, you need an ‌iPhone‌ 7 or later or one of the ‌iPad‌ models listed below. Note that spatial audio is not supported by any Mac model or any Apple TV models.

  • iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation) and later
  • ‌iPad Pro‌‌ 11‑inch
  • iPad Air (3rd generation)
  • ‌‌iPad‌‌ (6th generation) and later
  • iPad mini (5th generation)

You also need iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later installed on your device, as well as the latest firmware on your ‌AirPods Pro‌ or ‌‌AirPods Max‌‌. To learn more about using spatial audio, check out our dedicated how-to article.

Related Roundups: AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Neutral), AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

jclo Avatar
jclo
65 months ago
Let us know if we're missing any apps that have spatial audio support and we'll add them to the list.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
G5isAlive
65 months ago

Shame the MacBook pro does not support this.
The reason the Macs and Apple TV don't support this is Apple doesn't just positionally track the AirPod Max or Pro, but it tracks the video device as well. The necessary hardware is not in the Mac or Apple TV (yet).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Y
yegon
65 months ago
My uncle who works at Google told me YouTube will support Spatial Audio when Apple releases their car and it’s accompanying 12 foot by 12 foot AirPower charging mat.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
Seanm87
65 months ago
You mean popular apps that refuse to support spatial audio
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morgenland Avatar
Morgenland
65 months ago

I still don't understand this tech. Why wouldn't you want this to work like normal surround sound instead of virtual directional audio so it sounds like it's coming from your iPhone instead?
You can watch movies and distinguish sounds from the left, right, front and back and only need 2 sound sources.
The method uses multi-channel audio (e.g. 5.1 AC3 or 7.1/Atmos E-AC3) and Apple recalculates it.
It realistically only works with headphones though (and only in theory with 2 speakers).
Due to the gyro head movement detection of the AirPods, which Apple includes in the sound calculation in real time, the sound positions remain stationary in the room even when the head is turned. I tried it with the AirPods Pro, which is stunning.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
neoelectronaut
65 months ago
I still don't understand this tech. Why wouldn't you want this to work like normal surround sound instead of virtual directional audio so it sounds like it's coming from your iPhone instead?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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