Can FLAC be played on Android?
What is FLAC?
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. It is an audio coding format that allows for the lossless compression of digital audio [1]. This means it can reduce the size of audio files with no loss in quality.
FLAC is considered a lossless compression format because it retains all of the data from the original audio source, unlike lossy formats like MP3 and AAC which remove data in order to achieve higher levels of compression. When an audio file compressed in FLAC is decompressed, the result is a bit-for-bit identical copy of the original [2].
The main advantage of FLAC over lossy formats is that it provides substantially higher audio quality, especially for high-resolution files. However, FLAC files are typically significantly larger in size compared to lossy formats. An audio file compressed in FLAC can be 30-50% the size of the uncompressed original, whereas MP3 compression typically achieves 10-20% of the original [3].
Advantages of FLAC
One of the biggest advantages of FLAC is that it is a lossless audio format. This means that FLAC files preserve 100% of the original audio data, resulting in no loss in audio quality compared to the original source (Source). When audio is compressed into lossy formats like MP3, data is discarded to reduce file size. This results in some loss of audio fidelity. FLAC avoids this by compressing audio in a way that doesn’t discard data.
Because it maintains all the audio data, FLAC provides much higher quality than lossy formats like MP3. The sound quality is identical or nearly identical to formats like WAV or AIFF. For critical listening applications like archiving music collections, FLAC provides excellent sound quality very close to the original CD or hi-res source while taking up significantly less storage space (Source).
This makes FLAC a great format choice for anyone who wants to store large collections of music without sacrificing audio fidelity. FLAC is useful for archiving music collections because it preserves original quality in a space-efficient way.
Disadvantages of FLAC
While FLAC offers excellent audio quality in a lossless compressed format, it does have some drawbacks compared to other popular audio formats like MP3 and AAC:
One main disadvantage of FLAC is its larger file size compared to lossy formats like MP3 and AAC. Since FLAC is lossless, it retains more data and results in significantly larger file sizes than lossy formats at equivalent bitrates. This means FLAC takes up more storage space and is less ideal for portable devices or streaming compared to more compressed formats.
Another downside is that FLAC is not as widely compatible across devices and software. MP3 and AAC are supported natively on most operating systems, apps, and hardware devices like smartphones. FLAC support is more limited, often requiring third party apps for playback. This makes FLAC less convenient than MP3 for casual listening on the go.
Overall, the tradeoffs are FLAC’s superior audio fidelity versus larger files sizes and more limited compatibility compared to lossy formats. FLAC is advantageous for high quality archiving and listening but impractical for mainstream portable use where smaller files and broad device support is needed.
FLAC support on Android
Android has included native support for FLAC playback since Android 3.1 Honeycomb, which debuted in February 2011 (Wikipedia). However, playing FLAC files on Android still requires having a compatible music player or audio app installed, as the native Android music player does not support FLAC playback.
While the operating system supports FLAC decoding, the stock Android music apps like Play Music and Music Player do not. So a third-party app is needed to play FLAC files stored locally on your Android device. There are many high quality music player apps on Google Play that support FLAC, providing full lossless audio playback capabilities.
Overall, FLAC support on Android is in a good state – the capability is there at the system level, it just requires installing an app that leverages that capability to play FLACs. This is relatively easy to do and there are many options for Android users to experience Hi-Fi lossless audio.
Play FLAC files with stock apps
Some Android devices come with built-in apps that can play FLAC files without needing to download any additional apps:
Google Play Music (with subscription)
Google Play Music, Google’s premium music streaming service, has support for playing FLAC files uploaded to the cloud. With a Play Music subscription, users can upload up to 50,000 of their own song files to the cloud, including in FLAC format, and then stream the music to their Android device or any other supported device. This provides a convenient way to listen to FLAC libraries without taking up storage space on the phone. However, a Play Music subscription is required to utilize this feature (Source).
Files app (Android 10+)
On Android 10 and newer, the built-in Files app has native support for playing FLAC files. Users can navigate to their FLAC files stored locally on their device’s storage through the Files app and tap on a file to play it directly within the app. This provides basic FLAC playback functionality without needing to download any other apps. However, the Files app has limited playback controls and metadata support compared to dedicated music players (Source).
Third-party FLAC apps
While Android’s native music player does not support FLAC playback, there are several good third-party apps that can play FLAC files on Android devices:
VLC
One of the most popular and versatile media players, VLC media player has support for FLAC playback on Android. VLC plays just about any media format and works as an audio player too. It’s free and open source.
Poweramp
Poweramp is a feature-filled music player for Android focused on sound quality. It has one of the best equalizers on Android and supports gapless playback. The paid version supports FLAC playback.
JetAudio
JetAudio is an all-in-one multimedia player that supports FLACs. It has a wide range of customization options and audio enhancement tools available. The basic version is free while the Plus version unlocks additional features.
Hi-Fi Cast
Hi-Fi Cast is a lossless audio player that can play FLACs and other hi-res audio formats. It can stream music over Wi-Fi to speakers and TVs supporting Chromecast and Airplay.
Convert FLAC to MP3
Converting FLAC files to the more compatible MP3 format is a common solution for being able to play FLAC music on more devices. Here are some key things to know about converting from FLAC to MP3:
MP3 offers a smaller file size. FLAC files are typically much larger than MP3s. Converting to MP3 provides more portability and takes up less storage space on your Android device.
MP3 has increased compatibility. While FLAC support is limited on Android, MP3 playback is nearly universal. Converting FLAC to MP3 allows the files to be played on more apps and devices.
There is some loss of quality. MP3 is a “lossy” format, meaning some data is discarded during compression. This can result in reduced audio quality compared to the original FLAC files, although the difference may not always be noticeable.
There are many free online converters like FreeConvert as well as Android apps like FLAC to MP3 Converter that can quickly and easily convert FLAC files to MP3 format.
Stream FLAC over WiFi
There are a few different ways to stream FLAC files over WiFi from an Android device:
Using a DLNA media server allows streaming FLAC files to DLNA compatible receivers and speakers. Apps like BubbleUPnP can create a DLNA server on your Android device.
The now discontinued Chromecast Audio could stream FLAC over WiFi to speakers with a 3.5mm or optical input.
Some Android devices support streaming FLAC via Bluetooth using the aptX HD codec for improved audio quality. The receiving device must also support aptX HD.
FLAC on Android Auto
FLAC files can be played on Android Auto, but require a compatible third-party music app as the default Android Auto music players do not support FLAC playback. Some popular Android Auto apps that support FLAC include Poweramp, Pulsar, and DoubleTwist.
However, some users have reported issues streaming FLAC files to Android Auto wirelessly, with connectivity dropping out or songs not continuing to play when getting back in the car. Converting FLAC files to MP3 may provide a more seamless playback experience on Android Auto.
Overall, while FLAC playback is possible on Android Auto, the compatibility can be buggy compared to standard compressed formats like MP3. Check reviews of third-party apps to see if they can reliably handle FLACs before relying on them for your main music library in the car.
Conclusions
Flac files are fully supported on most modern Android devices. With the wide adoption of Android and advances in hardware capabilities, the ability to play lossless audio formats like FLAC is now commonplace. Devices from Samsung, LG, Sony, Google, and others provide out-of-the-box support for Flac playback through native music apps.
Beyond stock apps, there are numerous high quality third party apps on the Google Play store dedicated to playing Flac files. Options like VLC, Poweramp, and UAPP provide robust Flac compatibility along with playback features tailored for audiophiles. This gives Android users multiple choices for enjoying Flac music collections.
For older or lower-end Android devices that may lack native Flac support, converting Flac to MP3 can improve compatibility. While this results in loss of audio quality, it provides a workaround for accessing Flac libraries on devices unable to play the lossless files. The breadth of Android devices combined with multiple app options means Flac playback is readily achievable for most Android users.