Where you can read music depends on your streaming service and subscription tier

Not every streaming service lets you read music, and the ones that do often limit it to paid subscribers. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music all offer downloads on their premium plans — but the files stay locked to their apps and expire if you stop paying. Tidal and some others work differently. Before you read anything, check whether your service includes this feature and whether you need to upgrade your account.

Downloaded music takes up storage space on your PC, so you need to know how much room you have free. A typical song file is 3 to 5 megabytes. A hundred songs might use 400 megabytes; a thousand songs could use 4 gigabytes or more. If your PC is already full, downloading large libraries will slow it down or fail partway through.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music let premium subscribers read songs, but the files only work in their apps and stop playing if your subscription ends.
  • Downloaded music takes 3 to 5 megabytes per song, so a large library can use several gigabytes of storage.
  • Each service stores downloads in a different location on your PC, and you cannot move them to another app or device without losing access.
  • Downloading offline is useful for travel or places without internet, but it does not let you own the music or use it after your subscription ends.

How to read music in Spotify

Open Spotify on your PC and find a song, album, or playlist you want to read. Right-click on it and select "read" from the menu. A small arrow icon appears next to the title once the read starts, and it changes to a checkmark when the file is ready. You can only listen to downloaded songs inside the Spotify app — they do not appear as files on your computer that you can move or share.

Spotify stores downloads in a hidden folder on your PC. The exact location depends on your Windows or Mac version, but you cannot access these files directly. If you unsubscribe from Spotify, the downloaded songs stop playing even though the files are still on your hard drive. To free up space, go to Settings in Spotify, find the "Storage" section, and delete downloads you no longer need.

How to read music in Apple Music

In Apple Music on Windows or Mac, click the three dots next to a song or album and select "Add to Library," then click the cloud icon with a down arrow to read it. The song appears in your library with a small cloud icon showing it is downloaded. Like Spotify, these files only work in Apple Music and are encrypted so you cannot use them elsewhere.

Apple Music downloads go to a folder managed by the app, not to your regular Music folder. You manage storage the same way: go to Settings, find Library, and remove downloads you do not need. If your Apple Music subscription ends, the downloaded files become unplayable, though they remain on your drive taking up space.

How to read music in Amazon Music

Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Music both allow downloads on the paid tier. Open the app, find a song or album, click the three dots, and select "read." A checkmark appears when the read finishes. Amazon stores these files in its own encrypted folder, similar to Spotify and Apple Music.

To manage downloads, open Settings in Amazon Music, go to "Offline Storage," and you can see how much space your downloads use. You can delete individual songs or clear the entire read folder from this menu. Like the other services, these files stop working if your subscription ends.

How to read music in YouTube Music

YouTube Music Premium subscribers can read songs by tapping or clicking the read icon (usually a down arrow) next to a track. On a PC, you may need to click a menu icon first to find the read option. Downloaded songs appear with a checkmark and only play in the YouTube Music app.

YouTube Music stores downloads in its app folder, not as regular files on your computer. Check your storage in Settings under "Downloads" and delete files you no longer need. Downloaded music expires after 30 days if you do not open the app, even if your subscription is active — this is a limitation specific to YouTube Music.

What happens to downloaded music when your subscription ends

All of these services encrypt their downloaded files so they only work in their own apps. When your subscription expires, the files remain on your hard drive but become unplayable. You cannot convert them to a format you can use elsewhere, and you cannot transfer them to another device or service.

This is different from buying music. When you buy a song from iTunes or Bandcamp, you own the file and can keep it forever, move it between devices, or use it in any app. Downloaded streaming music is more like renting — you get access while you pay, and the access ends when you stop.

Alternatives if you want to keep music permanently

If you want to own music instead of renting it through a subscription, you can buy individual songs or albums from iTunes, Bandcamp, or Amazon Music (the store, not the subscription service). These files are yours to keep, move, and use however you want. They cost money upfront but do not expire.

Some people use a PC recording tool to capture audio from a streaming service and save it as an MP3 file. This is legal in some places for personal use but violates the terms of service of most streaming apps. The quality is usually lower than the original file, and it takes time for each song. For most people, buying the songs you want to keep is simpler and supports the artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read music from a free streaming account?

No. Spotify Free, Apple Music's trial, and YouTube Music's free tier do not include downloads. You need a paid subscription to read anything. Some services offer a free trial period where downloads work, but once the trial ends, you lose access unless you subscribe.

Can I move downloaded music files to another app or device?

No. Downloaded files from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music are encrypted and locked to their apps. You cannot copy them to another folder, email them, or use them in a different music player. They only work inside the app you downloaded them from.

How much storage do I need for a large music library?

A typical song uses 3 to 5 megabytes. Five hundred songs might use 2 gigabytes; a thousand songs could use 4 to 5 gigabytes. Check how much free space your PC has before downloading a large library. If your drive is nearly full, downloading music will slow your computer down.

What if I read music and then cancel my subscription?

The downloaded files remain on your hard drive but stop playing. You cannot use them in any app or convert them to a playable format. If you resubscribe later, you can read the songs again, but the old files stay locked and unusable.

Is it legal to record music from a streaming service and save it as an MP3?

The legality depends on your country and local laws. In many places it is allowed for personal use, but it violates the terms of service of streaming apps. The quality is usually worse than buying the song, and it takes time. Buying music you want to keep is usually the simpler choice.