How to Listen to Apple Music on Windows 11

To listen to Apple Music on Windows 11, install Apple’s free Apple Music app from the Microsoft Store, open it, and sign in with your Apple Account. If you’d rather not install anything, go to music.apple.com in your browser and sign in there. Both let you stream the Apple Music catalog if you subscribe, and the app also plays songs you bought from the iTunes Store or added to your library.

Applies to: Windows 11.

Option 1: Install the Apple Music app

Apple now makes a dedicated Apple Music app for Windows, and it’s the easiest way to listen on a PC.

1. Select Start, type Microsoft Store, and open it.
2. Search for Apple Music.
3. Make sure the publisher is Apple Inc., and then select Get. If the Store asks you to sign in, use your Microsoft account.
4. When it finishes installing, select Open, or find Apple Music in Start > All.

The same search also shows Apple’s Apple TV and Apple Devices apps. You only need Apple Music to listen to music.

Sign in

1. Open Apple Music.
2. Select Sign In in the sidebar (or your account at the bottom left).
3. Enter your Apple Account email and password.

If you don’t have an Apple Music subscription yet, the app offers one when you sign in. You can still use the app without a subscription to play music you own.

Option 2: Listen in your browser

The Apple Music web player works in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and other modern browsers.

1. Open your browser and go to music.apple.com.
2. Select Sign In at the top right, and sign in with your Apple Account.
3. Search for a song, album or artist, or open your library in the sidebar, and select Play.

The web player is handy on a shared or work PC where you can’t install apps. The app is better for everyday listening, because it works with your keyboard’s media keys, can run in a small window and keeps playing when your browser is closed.

Play and manage your music

Once you’re signed in, the app and web player work in much the same way:

• Search for any song, album, artist or playlist in the Apple Music catalog.
• Add to library: select More (…) next to a song or album and choose Add to Library, so it appears under Library in the sidebar.
• Lyrics: while a song plays, select the lyrics button in the playback bar to see the words. Not every song has lyrics.
• Mini player (app only): select the album artwork in the playback bar to switch to a small player that stays out of your way.
• Audio quality: the app supports lossless audio. Look for the audio quality options in the app’s settings.

If you subscribe, your library and playlists can sync with your iPhone, iPad and other devices signed in with the same Apple Account.

What about iTunes?

Apple split iTunes for Windows into three apps. Apple Music now handles music, Apple TV handles movies and TV shows, and Apple Devices updates, backs up and syncs an iPhone or iPad. iTunes is still available, but it’s now for podcasts and audiobooks. If you have both installed, iTunes won’t open your music library while Apple Music is handling it. Together with iCloud for Windows and iCloud.com, these apps cover most of what people want from a Mac, as the guide to getting macOS features on a Windows 11 PC explains. For the video side, this guide shows how to watch Apple TV on Windows 10, including where your iTunes movie purchases end up.

Still need it for podcasts or audiobooks? You can download iTunes on Windows 11 alongside Apple Music.

If Apple Music won’t install or play

• The Store won’t install it. Close and reopen the Store, check your internet connection, and install any waiting updates in Settings > Windows Update.
• The app won’t open or keeps crashing. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More options (…) next to Apple Music, select Advanced options, and then select Repair. If that doesn’t help, select Reset, which clears the app’s settings and signs you out.
• The app is out of date. Open Microsoft Store > Downloads, and select Get updates.
• No sound. Check the volume in the app, then check the output device in Settings > System > Sound.
• Songs are greyed out. The song may not be available in your country, or your subscription may have ended. Check your subscription in the app’s account menu.

If none of this works, uninstall the app, restart your PC and install it again from the Store.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Apple Music app free on Windows 11?

The app is free to download. Streaming the Apple Music catalog needs a paid subscription, but you can play music you bought or imported without one.

Can I use Apple Music on Windows without an iPhone?

Yes. All you need is an Apple Account. You can create one when you sign in.

Can I download songs to listen offline?

With a subscription, the Apple Music app can download songs you’ve added to your library. The web player streams only, so it needs an internet connection. Video services differ on this: Disney Plus downloads are not available on Windows 11, for instance.

Does Apple Music work on Windows 10 too?

Yes. Apple’s Windows apps are available on Windows 10 and Windows 11 through the Microsoft Store.

Next steps

All of Apple’s Windows apps, including Apple Music, are listed on Download Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Devices, and iTunes for Windows.

Moving an older collection over? Here’s how to transfer music from iTunes to your computer. Spotify users can also put Spotify on the desktop in Windows 11.