How to Use Qobuz-dl: Full Guide and Best Alternatives

Part 1. What Is Qobuz-dl? [Pros & Cons Explained]

Qobuz-dl is an open-source command-line (Python-based) tool designed to download Qobuz albums, tracks, or playlists in high-quality audio formats such as FLAC. You can typically find it hosted on GitHub. The tool is capable of automatically organizing files, preserving metadata (including track titles, album names, artist information), album artwork, and standard folder structures, then saving everything locally. Because Qobuz-dl is not an official Qobuz application (with a command-line interface), it requires users to sign in using their Qobuz account and operate it through a terminal or command prompt environment.

How Qobuz-dl Works

Qobuz allows users to download purchased albums in lossless or Hi-Res formats (e.g., FLAC, up to 24-bit/192kHz). Some users utilize Qobuz-dl to obtain high-quality versions of music available on their account, whether purchased or streamed.

The tool works by accessing the Qobuz API to retrieve track metadata and direct audio stream links. It then downloads the audio and organizes it into folders on your computer. If your Qobuz plan supports Hi-Res playback, Qobuz-dl can save music in the same quality.

Note: Qobuz legitimately provides downloadable purchases, but Qobuz-dl enables downloading beyond what the official app allows.

Pros and Cons of Qobuz-dl

Who Is Qobuz-dl Best For?

• Experienced users comfortable with Python, terminal, and manual configuration

• Audiophiles who prefer maintaining their own high-quality music archives

• Active open-source or GitHub community users who understand how Qobuz-dl is updated and maintained

If you want a quick, one-click downloader, Qobuz-dl may not be the easiest or best solution. That's where an alternative comes in (see Part 3).

Part 2. How to Use Qobuz-dl: Step-by-Step Guide

Below is an overview of how to use Qobuz-dl. Please make sure the necessary preparations are completed before starting.

Preparation Before Downloading Qobuz Track Using Qobuz-dl

• Ensure you have an active Qobuz account.
• Install Python (e.g., Python 3.7 or later) on your computer.
• Make sure you have enough disk space for hi-res downloads (24-bit files can be large).
• Download the latest Qobuz-dl version from GitHub.
• With a stable internet connection.

Note: The exact commands, installation steps or tool version may vary, and some regions may have limited access.

How to Download Qobuz Songs Using Qobuz-dl

Step 1. Install Python (Python 3.7+) and FFmpeg.

Note: FFmpeg is optional but recommended; not installing this is okay, but some functionality will be limited.

• Windows: Download from python.org and enable 'Add to PATH'
• Mac: Use Homebrew (brew install python)
• Linux: Install through package manager (sudo apt install python3)

Step 2. Go to official GitHub repository for Qobuz-dl, download the latest release, and unzip it.

Step 3. Install Qobuz-dl, open Command Prompt (Press Win + R, and type CMD for Windows; Or press ⌘-space and type Terminal for Mac), and run:
For Windows

pip3 install windows-curses
pip3 install --upgrade qobuz-dl

For Linux / MAC OS

pip3 install --upgrade qobuz-dl

Step 4. Start Qobuz-dl and sign in through the official login window. If needed, restart Qobuz-dl afterward.

Note: If something fails, run qobuz-dl -r to reset your config file.

Step 5. Navigate to the official website of Qobuz and click the song's, album's, or playlist's URL by clicking Share.

Step 6. Download Qobuz music using terminal commands like:

qobuz-dl dl {Qobuz song/track/playlist URL}

Take a album as an example:

qobuz-dl dl https://play.qobuz.com/album/qxjbxh1dc3xyb -q 7

Note: There are some option for you to choose the quality of Qobuz downloads, you can add the -q plus 5, 6, 7, or 27 to set the download quality.

Step 7.Your downloaded music is saved in the same directory where the command is executed. To designate a custom folder, use the -d parameter:

https://play.qobuz.com/album/ip8qjy1m6dakc -d "my music"

Now your Qobuz downloaded music is stored locally and playable in any media player freely.

Part 3. Best Qobuz-dl Alternative [Easiest Option]

If you feel that operation process of Qobuz-dl too complicated or it occasionally stops working when you using it, the most beginner-friendly option is using a clean Qobuz music downloader with a graphical interface, like AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder. This powerful and widely used alternative can convert Qobuz tracks to FLAC, WAV, MP3, M4A, AIFF, and M4B formats with 100% original sound quality and full ID3 metadata retained.

Unlike Qobuz-DL, it requires no terminal commands, API tokens, or manual configuration. Moreover, it supports up to 9 major streaming platforms, including Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder

• Losslessly download music from Qobuz and other music players
• Batch download songs at up to 65× faster speed
• Convert Qobuz to WAV, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, M4A, and more
• Preserve original ID3 tags and metadata automatically
• Fully compatible with both Windows and Mac systems

Download

Download

How to Use it:

Click the Download button above to install the best Qobuz-dl alternative on your computer. Before getting started, make sure you have an active Qobuz account.

Step 1Configure Audio Preferences

Launch the program after installation. Please click the menu icon in the top-right corner and go to Preferences > Conversion to set your preferred output format. You can choose Lossless, FLAC, or WAV, and customize the bitrate and sample rate as needed. Then switch to the Output tab to select the destination folder where your converted Qobuz songs will be saved.

Step 2Add Qobuz Music to the Conversion List

Return to the main interface and click the Qobuz icon to sign in to your account. Browse and select the tracks, playlists, or albums you want to download, then click the green + button at the bottom right to add them to the conversion list.

Step 3Download Qobuz Music

Finally, click the Convert button at the top center of the window to begin downloading. Once completed, you can access your converted Qobuz songs from the Converted List tab or directly open the output folder to play them offline at any time

Above all, the process is simple and fast, no technical skill or programming knowledge required.

Part 4. Comparison of Qobuz-dl and Its Alternative

Here's a quick comparison of the two tools above to help you decide:

Part 5. FAQs about Qobuz-dl

Is Qobuz-DL the best tool to download music from Qobuz?

Not for everyone. It is excellent in terms of quality and control, but it is designed for advanced users. Most general users prefer a converter with a visual interface.

Is Qobuz-DL still working in 2025?

It still works in some cases, but long-term maintenance is uncertain since there are few active developers updating it. You might find newer forks or versions online, but for stable and consistent performance, it's better to use a maintained alternative such as AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder.

Does Qobuz-DL preserve metadata and album artwork?

Yes, with a configuration appropriate, Qobuz DL can embed correct metadata (artist, album title, track number, etc.) and album artwork.

Is Qobuz-DL legal to use?

Downloading copyrighted music may violate Qobuz's Terms of Service or local copyright laws, depending on your region. Using it for personal offline backup might be tolerated, but it's important to proceed with caution and understand the potential legal implications.

Are there online tools similar to Qobuz-DL?

Yes, but they are quite rare and may come with limitations. For example, the website DoubleDouble allows users to download Qobuz tracks, albums, or playlists in a similar way to Qobuz-DL. In short, it has the simplest process but with a loss of quality.

Why is Qobuz-DL not working or showing authentication errors?

There can be several causes, including updates to the Qobuz API, outdated Qobuz-DL versions, incorrect token extraction, region mismatches, Qobuz's anti-abuse detection systems, or network/firewall issues. To resolve these problems, check the tool's GitHub page for recent reports, update to the latest version, verify your credentials via the Qobuz website, review logs for 'authentication failed' messages, and note that Qobuz may occasionally block bulk-download access.

Conclusion

Qobuz-dl remains one of the most powerful free tools for downloading high-quality Qobuz music - but it's not the most user-friendly, and it may stop working after Qobuz app or API updates. For users who prefer a stable, simple, and GUI-based solution, AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder is the most practical alternative, ensuring the same Hi-Res quality with less hassle.

No matter what you chase, a personal music library or simply need offline playback freedom, the tools in this article can get you a suitable and smooth solution. Hope you can enjoy your music right now!