How to Use the Spotify Equalizer Tool on Android

Spotify recognizes that not all music is not created equal and listeners may want to adjust how their music and podcasts sound. On iOS, Spotify offers a lot of control over music quality. On Android, options are more limited, but they're still there if you know where to look. Even though the Spotify equalizer isn't available on Android, Spotify can tap directly into the equalizer on your Android device.

Limitations of the Spotify Equalizer on Android

Spotify for Android doesn't come with a built in Equalizer. Instead, it offers a shortcut directly to the equalizer built into your phone's operating system.

Rather than digging into Android settings, you can go straight there to choose the audio profile that's best for you. However, adjusting the built-in equalizer for Spotify means you're also adjusting the equalizer for your Android device.

Additionally, not all Android devices have built in equalizers, meaning if your phone doesn't have one, neither does Spotify. Of course, there's still hope in the form of a third-party equalizer app, but that also means Spotify won't have an option for it.

How to Access the Equalizer Through Spotify

1. With Spotify open, tap the Settings cog in the upper right corner.

2. Scroll down to the Music Quality section and tap Equalizer.

   If the Equalizer setting isn't there, your phone doesn't have an equalizer.

3. Tap OK.

   You can optionally place a check mark in the "Don't show this again" box to skip this step in the future.

How to Adjust Equalizer Settings

From here, things will vary quite a bit. Different phone manufacturers have different equalizer settings. Most phones allow you to select different genres of music, then use preset settings for those styles.

Some will have a custom setting allowing you to adjust sliders to your taste, while others require you to plug in headphones before you can adjust equalizer settings.

The various equalization bands of frequencies go from low tones on the left to high tones on the right. They help fill out sound more to give you an overall mix suited to your taste. If you like more bass, adjust the sliders on the left. If you like more treble, adjust the sliders on the right, and so on. 

Pros and Cons of Spotify's Equalizer

The main benefit to using the equalizer is it allows you to customize your sound to get just the right tone. This feature allows you to access your equalizer settings directly from the app you're using to listen to music.

However, since the equalizer settings are your device's equalizer settings, you're affecting all of your system sounds, which don't go away when you close the app. For certain tones like notification bells, this probably won't be a big deal, but if you watch video, it might sound funny. Plus, it's an awkward implementation for phones that don't have an equalizer built in. 

If you're using Spotify, chances are it's your primary source for audio, so maybe that's not such a bad thing. Spotify wants you to have the best audio experience you can have, but there are certainly tradeoffs for the convenience. As with everything, your mileage will vary.