How to Listen to Apple Music Offline on Any Device 2025
Summary: Tired of your music cutting out when you lose signal on a flight, the subway, or just in a dead zone? We get it. This guide gives you the fastest steps to save Apple Music songs, albums, and playlists for listening offline. It works on everything you use: iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows PC, or even your Apple Watch.
Table of Contents
We will also explain the difference between “offline” Apple Music and your old iTunes purchases. If you need music files that can play everywhere (car stereos, old MP3 players, multi-platform use), we also look at tools like MusicFab. Let’s get your Apple Music ready for no-signal moments.
Quick overview: listening Apple Music offline on each device
You can click any link in the table to skip to the specific steps of each device.
| Device | Where to tap/click | What to enable | How to download |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings › Music | Sync Library (+ Automatic Downloads, optional) | In Music, add to Library → long-press Download. Optimize space via Optimize Storage. |
| Android | Apple Music app | (Optional) Audio Quality › Lossless; Download Location if available | Add to Library → long-press Download. Wired DAC may be needed for >48 kHz. |
| Windows &Mac | Apple Music | (Optional) Playback › Lossless/Hi-Res | Add to Library → Download. |
| Apple Watch | Watch app (iPhone) › My Watch › Music | — | Add Music to sync albums/playlists for phone-free listening. |
How to listen to Apple Music offline on iPhone?
- Firstly, you need to turn on Sync Library: Settings › Music › Sync Library.
- In Music, touch-and-hold a song/album/playlist you’ve added, then Download.
- Automatic Downloads (optional): Go to Settings › Music › Automatic Downloads to enable downloading of everything you add.
- Check progress: Library › Downloading.
- Manage space: Settings › Music › Optimize Storage to auto-remove older downloads when storage is low.
Dolby Atmos downloads: If available, enable Settings › Music › Download in Dolby Atmos.
How to listen to Apple Music offline on Android?
- Install the App: If you haven't already, go to the Google Play Store, search for "Apple Music," and hit install.
- Add to Library: Find the song, album, or playlist you want. Tap the plus sign to add it to your Library. (You can only download music that is already in your Library.)
- Then long-press and choose Download.
To get lossless music on Android, turn on Settings › Audio Quality › Lossless. If you want to listen to the very high-resolution tracks (above 48 kHz), you'll likely need an external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) and a wired connection to hear the difference.
If you are worrying about running out of space, many Android builds include Settings › Download Location in Apple Music so you can store downloads on an SD card. This keeps your phone's main storage free for photos and apps! (Note: This option might not show up on all device models.)
How to listen to Apple Music offline on Windows & Mac?
- Install Apple Music.
- Open Apple Music, and add songs/albums/playlists to your Library.
- Click Download to make them available offline.
Tip: Apple also documents Lossless/Hi-Res Lossless settings on PC (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) in Apple Music for Windows Playback settings.
Can I listen to Apple Music offline on Apple Watch?
Yes. Add specific playlists/albums to Apple Watch using the Watch app on iPhone (My Watch › Music › Add Music), or add directly in the Watch Music app if you subscribe to Apple Music. Then pair Bluetooth earbuds and play offline.
How does Apple Music work offline?
When you download Apple Music content, the audio is saved locally for playback without a connection. These files are DRM-protected and tied to your Apple ID. If your Apple Music subscription ends, you can’t play downloads from the catalog; they disappear from access. (iTunes Store purchases remain available.)
How do Lossless, Hi-Res & Spatial Audio work offline?
- Lossless: Up to 24-bit/48 kHz and Hi-Res Lossless: up to 24-bit/192 kHz. You can enable it in Settings › Music › Audio Quality and choose download quality.
- Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos: Supported on many devices; turn on in Music settings and download tracks in Atmos when available.
Which audio quality should you choose for listening offline?
If you travel a lot or have limited storage, AAC 256 kbps is the best balance of size and quality for most listeners. Choose Lossless/Hi-Res only when you have the gear and space (and wired playback). Turn on Optimize Storage on iPhone if you frequently run out of space.
How to keep downloaded music offline across devices?
Reminder: This guide is for personal, lawful offline listening.
If you want to convert MP3s from Apple Music or other files (e.g., FLAC/M4A) that play on any device and preserve ID3 tags/lyrics, MusicFab Apple Music Converter can download songs/playlists/podcasts/albums from Apple Music, supporting batch conversion and high-quality output. It has a built-in browser and offers a 3-song free trial for you to experience.
For more details about MusicFab, kindly read this MusicFab review.
FAQs
No. Catalog downloads stop playing after the billing period ends. Your iTunes Store purchases remain available and can be re-downloaded.
Family Sharing lets others access Apple Music with their own accounts, but offline downloads don’t copy between accounts. Each member downloads their own content.
3. What’s the difference between iTunes purchases and Apple Music downloads?
- Apple Music downloads (from the streaming catalog) require an active subscription and can’t be played once your plan ends.
- iTunes Store purchases are yours to keep and can be re-downloaded on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows.
Confirm your subscription is active, the item is added to Library, and you’re on the latest Apple Music app version. Restart the app and check Sync Library.
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