Spotify Launches Messaging Feature While HiFi Streaming Still Missing

Spotify is rolling out yet another new feature – but it’s not the long-promised HiFi lossless streaming tier that many subscribers have been waiting years for.

Instead, the platform is introducing an in-app direct messaging system, letting users send songs, podcasts, and audiobooks without leaving Spotify.

The messaging option will start rolling out this week in select regions and will be available on mobile for users aged 16 and older. Sharing works through the share menu on the Now Playing screen, but you’ll only be able to chat with people you’re already connected to via Blends, Jams, or Collaborative Playlists – or those who share your subscription plan. Every exchange will be stored in a new Messages inbox located under your profile picture. Users can react with emojis, write short replies, and accept or decline new message requests.

Spotify says conversations are protected with standard encryption but admits it will scan messages for unlawful or harmful content. Unlike messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Signal, don’t expect end-to-end encryption here.

Interestingly, this isn’t Spotify’s first attempt at messaging. The company used to have a feature called Spotify Inbox, which it shut down back in 2017 after admitting hardly anyone used it. At the time, Spotify said its data showed “very low engagement.” Fast forward to 2026, and the company believes user behavior has shifted enough to justify bringing it back.

Meanwhile, the elephant in the room remains: HiFi streaming. First rumored in 2017, the higher-quality tier has yet to materialize – even as competitors like Apple Music and Tidal have offered lossless options for years. Instead, Spotify has repeatedly raised subscription prices while keeping its standard compressed audio quality, frustrating audiophiles who have been waiting nearly a decade for an upgrade.

As one long-time user put it: Spotify feels more focused on gimmicks like AI playlists and social features than on delivering the high-quality audio and fair artist payouts that many consider essential. For fans who just want to share tracks with friends, though, this new messaging tool could be a welcome – if overdue – addition.