Apple Music downloads work only inside the Apple Music app
You can read songs from Apple Music to your phone or tablet, but only to listen within the Apple Music app itself. The downloaded file stays locked to your subscription — if you stop paying for Apple Music, the downloads stop working. You cannot move the file to another app, burn it to a CD, or play it on a non-Apple device. This is different from buying a song outright on iTunes, where you own the file permanently.
Downloads are useful when you know you will be offline — on a plane, in a tunnel, or somewhere without cell service. They also save your phone's data if you stream the same songs repeatedly. But they require an active Apple Music subscription and enough storage space on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Downloaded Apple Music songs only play in the Apple Music app and only while your subscription is active.
- You need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac with enough free storage space; Android devices cannot read from Apple Music.
- To read a song, open it in Apple Music, tap the cloud icon with a down arrow, and wait for the read to finish.
- Downloaded songs take up storage space on your device, so delete them when you no longer need offline access.
- If you want to own a song permanently, buy it on iTunes instead of downloading it from Apple Music.
What you need before downloading
You must have an active Apple Music subscription. A free trial counts, but once it expires, your downloads will not play. You also need an Apple device — iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Android phones and tablets cannot read from Apple Music, though they can stream songs while connected to the internet.
Check how much free storage space your device has. A typical song takes 5 to 10 megabytes. If you want to read an entire album or playlist, you may need hundreds of megabytes or even a few gigabytes of free space. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap General, then Storage to see what is available.
How to read a single song
Open the Apple Music app and find the song you want. Tap the three dots (the menu button) next to the song title. A menu will appear with several options. Look for the cloud icon with a down arrow — this is the read button. Tap it.
The app will show a progress circle while the song downloads. Once the circle disappears and a checkmark or filled cloud appears, the read is complete. The song is now stored on your device and will play even if you have no internet connection. The downloaded version will always play instead of streaming, so it uses no data.
How to read an album or playlist
Open the album or playlist you want to read. At the top of the page, you will see a cloud icon with a down arrow. Tap it to read every song in that album or playlist at once. The app will queue them up and read them in the background, even if you close the app or use your phone for other things.
Downloading a full album or long playlist takes longer than a single song. If your internet connection is slow or drops, the read may pause. When you reconnect, it will resume where it left off. You can check progress by opening the app again — you will see a progress circle next to each song that is still downloading.
Managing your downloaded songs
Downloaded songs appear in your library with a small cloud icon next to them, so you can tell them apart from songs you have not downloaded. To see only your downloaded songs, go to the Library tab in Apple Music, tap Downloaded, and the app will show only the songs stored on your device.
Downloaded songs take up permanent storage space on your phone or tablet. If you need space back, delete them. Tap and hold a downloaded song, then tap Remove read. The song stays in your Apple Music library and you can read it again later — you are only removing the offline copy from your device.
What happens when your subscription ends
If you cancel Apple Music or let your subscription expire, all your downloaded songs will stop playing. The files remain on your device, but the app will not unlock them. You cannot convert them to a different format or move them to another app. If you resubscribe later, the downloads will work again.
This is why downloads are temporary — they are tied to your subscription, not to you owning the music. If you want to keep songs permanently, you need to buy them through iTunes instead. iTunes songs cost money upfront but remain yours forever, even if you never subscribe to Apple Music.
Alternatives if you want to own music
If you want a permanent copy of a song, buy it on iTunes. Open the Apple Music app, find the song, tap the three dots, and select Buy. The price is usually $1.29 per song or $9.99 per album. Once you buy it, the song is yours — it will play even if your Apple Music subscription ends, and you can move it to other devices or apps.
Another option is to buy music from other stores like Bandcamp or Amazon Music, which also sell permanent downloads. Some artists sell music directly from their websites. These purchases give you a file you can keep, share, or play anywhere, but you pay per song instead of paying a monthly subscription for unlimited access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Apple Music songs to my Android phone?
No. Apple Music downloads only work on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Android users can stream Apple Music songs over the internet but cannot read them for offline listening. If offline access is important to you, consider a different streaming service like Spotify or YouTube Music, which both support Android downloads.
How long does a song take to read?
Most songs read in under a minute on a fast Wi-Fi connection. On slower connections or cellular data, it may take several minutes. The time depends on the song length, your internet speed, and how many other downloads are happening at the same time. You can use your phone normally while songs read in the background.
Do downloaded songs use my phone's data?
No. Once a song is fully downloaded, playing it uses no data at all. Downloaded songs are stored on your device's storage, not streamed from the internet. This is why downloads are useful on planes or in areas without cell service, and why they help if you have a limited data plan.
What if I run out of storage space while downloading?
The read will pause or fail. Delete some downloaded songs or other files to free up space, then try downloading again. You can also delete photos, videos, or apps you no longer need. Go to Settings, General, Storage to see what is taking up the most space on your device.
Can I share downloaded songs with other people?
No. Downloaded Apple Music songs are locked to your device and your subscription. You cannot email them, text them, or move them to someone else's phone. If someone else wants to listen, they need their own Apple Music subscription and can read the songs to their own device.