Why the Music app will not play FLAC
FLAC is a lossless audio format. Apple Music’s library workflow uses other supported formats, including ALAC; a third-party player such as MP95 can organise FLAC files directly. Files can preview supported audio, but a preview should not be confused with a persistent album library and queue.
FLAC can preserve the decoded samples of its input, but it cannot restore information lost before encoding. Renaming or converting an MP3 to FLAC does not recreate the original lossless recording. See the FLAC project’s FAQ.
The three steps
- Install a FLAC player. MP95 plays FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, AAC, MP3 and CAF, and is free with two of its six machines.
- Get the files onto the phone. Any of these work:
- Files app. Put the album folder in iCloud Drive, or plug in a USB drive with a USB-C adapter, and it appears in Files.
- Cable. Connect the phone to a Mac, open it in Finder, go to Files, and drop the folder into MP95's folder.
- AirDrop. Send the files from a Mac and choose MP95 as the destination.
- NAS. Connect to the server in the Files app (Connect to Server) and browse it like any folder.
- Add the folder. In MP95, open the library, tap Add folder, and pick it. Adding a folder grants access to its contents. This differs from opening a shared file, which can create a local copy. Download cloud files before relying on offline playback.
How to check it is really lossless
The player can show the source format, bitrate and sample rate. Those labels identify the file; they do not establish how it was originally recorded or prove a lossless output connection.
A lossless source describes the recording, not the whole output chain. For unprocessed playback, disable effects, EQ, ReplayGain, crossfeed and headphone correction. Check the actual output rate as well as the source rate. A matching rate alone does not prove bit-for-bit delivery through the operating system, volume control and output device.
What about hi-res?
A 24-bit/96 kHz FLAC remains a high-resolution source even if an output route converts it. With a compatible wired DAC, check the actual output rate. Bluetooth connections commonly encode the audio again; FLAC playback alone does not make the wireless link lossless.
Album art and tags
Embedded artwork and tags for title, artist, album and track number are read and used. In MP95 the artwork lands on the record label, the cassette J-card or the disc, and the album appears as a sleeve on the library shelf.
Frequently asked questions
Can iPhone play FLAC files natively?
iOS supports FLAC playback, including previews in Files for supported files. MP95 adds a persistent music-library workflow for compatible FLAC collections.
Do I need to convert FLAC to ALAC for iPhone?
Not to play supported FLAC files in MP95. Converting to ALAC can be useful for a different app’s library requirements, but is not required for this workflow.
Is FLAC playback free in MP95?
Yes. Every format plays on the free machines.