Can I have Apple Music subscription on Android?

Apple Music is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple. It offers access to over 90 million songs and 30,000 playlists. Apple Music comes preinstalled on all iOS devices, and is seamlessly integrated into the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV experience. While Apple Music is tightly integrated with iOS, some Android smartphone users are interested in accessing Apple Music’s extensive music library as well. This article will explore how Android users can get Apple Music on their devices, the challenges involved, and whether subscribing to Apple Music is worthwhile for Android device owners.

Apple Music Overview

Apple Music is a subscription-based music streaming service launched by Apple Inc. in 2015. It gives users access to a library of over 75 million songs that can be streamed on demand, as well as playlists curated by music experts and algorithms. Some of the key features of Apple Music include:

Access to millions of songs from the iTunes catalog that can be streamed on demand. Users can also download songs for offline listening.

Expertly curated playlists across different genres, activities, moods etc. There are also personalized playlists based on user’s taste.
Beats 1 – a 24/7 global live radio station by Apple featuring exclusive shows and interviews by popular artists and DJs.
Integration with Siri to allow voice commands for song requests.

Syncing of music libraries across devices like iPhone, iPad, Apple TV etc.

Apple Music competes directly with other music streaming services like Spotify, offering iOS users deep integration with the Apple ecosystem. It combines both an on-demand streaming catalog along with human curated radio-like stations for a complete music streaming experience.

Sources:

https://www.apple.com/apple-music/

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-apple-music/

Apple Music on iOS

Apple Music comes pre-installed on all iPhones and is deeply integrated into the iOS ecosystem. It effectively replaces and enhances the default Music app on iOS. When users subscribe to Apple Music, it syncs seamlessly with their existing music library and provides access to over 90 million songs from Apple’s catalog. The Music app gets upgraded with added features like customized playlists, artist radio stations, on-demand streaming, and more.

According to Apple’s MusicKit documentation, Apple Music is designed to “feel like a natural extension of the iOS music experience” through this deep integration. Things like personalized playlists and recommendations are conveniently built into the Music app itself. Overall, Apple Music offers iPhone users a premium music streaming experience that feels fully native to iOS.

Why Android Users May Want Apple Music

Even though Apple Music was designed for iOS devices, there are several compelling reasons why Android users may still want access to the service:

Ecosystem lock-in – Many Android users previously had iPhones and built up their Apple Music libraries and preferences over years of use. Switching to Android doesn’t necessarily mean they want to abandon their Apple Music investments.

Exclusive content – Apple Music has exclusive album releases, concert films, and other content not available on competing services. Diehard music fans may want to maintain Apple Music access just for this exclusive content.

Playlists – Longtime Apple Music users likely have created dozens of playlists perfectly tuned to their tastes. Leaving the service means losing access to these carefully curated playlists.

Continued access to favorite service – Some Android users switching from iOS may simply be so accustomed to using Apple Music that they want to continue the experience seamlessly on their new devices.

In summary, even though Apple Music is designed as an iOS companion, many Android users have perfectly valid reasons for wanting continued access given their prior history and preferences.

Challenges of Apple Music on Android

There are some key challenges to be aware of when using Apple Music on Android devices compared to iOS.

Firstly, there is no native Apple Music app built into Android like there is on iOS. The Apple Music app on Android was developed separately and lacks some of the tight integration with the operating system and core apps on iOS devices. This can lead to a less seamless experience.

Secondly, the Apple Music app on Android suffers from missing features compared to its iOS counterpart. For example, Android users cannot access lyrics, queue upcoming songs, or handoff music from their phone to other devices as seamlessly as iOS users can.

Furthermore, Apple Music integration with Siri and shortcuts is nonexistent on Android. Using voice commands or automation is much more powerful with Apple Music on iOS versus Android.

Lastly, many users cite technical issues like random crashing of the app and songs not properly downloading or streaming [1]. The stability and reliability of the Apple Music app is not as polished on Android compared to the native iOS version.

In summary, the lack of a native app, missing features, less integration with the OS, and technical issues present challenges that Android users of Apple Music must contend with.

How to Get Apple Music on Android

There are two main methods for Android users to access Apple Music:

Using the Apple Music web player at music.apple.com

Downloading the Apple Music app from the Google Play store

The Apple Music web player allows you to stream music directly in your mobile browser without installing any apps. However, the experience may not be fully optimized for mobile and lacks some features compared to the native app. The web player requires an internet connection and works on most modern Android devices running Android 5.0 or later.

For the full Apple Music experience on Android, users can download the Apple Music app from the Google Play store. The app is compatible with Android phones and tablets running Android 6.0 or later. It provides access to Apple Music’s full catalog of over 100 million songs, playlists, music videos, and more. The app also allows offline listening for subscribers. An Apple ID is required to use the Android app.

Overall, getting Apple Music on an Android device is quick and easy either through the web player or Android app. Just make sure your device meets the minimum requirements for the app, or use the web player if not. This allows Android users to enjoy Apple Music’s library of content.

Setting Up Apple Music App on Android

Setting up the Apple Music app on your Android device is straightforward. Here are the step-by-step instructions for installing the app, signing up for an account, and adding your music library:

On your Android device, open the Google Play Store app.

Search for “Apple Music”. Tap on the Apple Music app in the search results.
Tap “Install” to download and install the app.
Open the Apple Music app. If you see an offer for a free trial, tap “Start Free Trial”. If not, tap “Sign In”.

Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one.
Select the type of Apple Music membership you want. Tap “Try It Now” to start your free trial.
Once signed in, tap the “Library” tab on the bottom.

Toggle on “Sync Library” to add your Apple Music library and playlists to the Android app.
Tap “Add Music” to select songs and albums saved locally on your Android device to add to your Apple Music library.

Following these steps will get you set up with Apple Music installed, signed into your account, and your music library synced across devices. You’ll then be ready to use Apple Music on your Android phone or tablet.

Using Apple Music App on Android

Once you have the Apple Music app installed on your Android device, the overall user experience is quite similar to using Apple Music on an iPhone. The app has the same clean, intuitive interface with sections for browsing music by genre, mood, activity, and more. You can access your library of saved music, view recommendations, and manage playlists just as you would on iOS.

When playing a song, you get full playback controls like play/pause, skip track, shuffle, repeat, etc. There is also a mini-player that stays on screen for quick access while using other apps. One difference is that Android does not support Apple’s spatial audio formats, so you lose out on that more immersive listening experience.

In terms of library management, any playlists, albums, or artists you save will stay in sync across your Android device and other Apple devices connected to your Apple ID. This allows seamless switching between devices. However, uploads from your personal music collection may not always work properly when syncing across Android and iOS.

Overall, Apple Music provides a robust music streaming experience on Android that is comparable to iOS. While missing some Apple-exclusive features like spatial audio, the core functionality is there for browsing, playlists, radio, and accessing a catalog of over 90 million songs.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

While Apple Music is available on Android, there are some limitations that Android users should be aware of compared to using Apple Music on iOS. Some key limitations include:

– Less integration and missing features compared to iOS. For example, Android users can’t ask Siri to play songs, there is no seamless handoff between devices, and features like spatial audio and lossless playback have limited support.

– Increased likelihood of bugs and issues. Since Apple Music is designed primarily for iOS, the Android app can be more prone to problems like crashes, slow performance, and trouble downloading music for offline use.

– Not as seamlessly kept up to date. New Apple Music features often come to iOS first and Android updates tend to lag behind. The Android experience simply isn’t as polished.

– Limits with Android Auto integration. Functions like queue management and Siri access don’t work through Android Auto like they do with CarPlay.

While still functional, Android users may find Apple Music lacks some of the richness offered on iOS. Checking user reviews and forums like this Reddit thread can help set proper expectations.

Is Apple Music Worth It for Android Users?

Given the challenges and limitations of using Apple Music on Android, is it still worth getting a subscription? Here are some key considerations:

First, look at what you want out of a music streaming service. If you are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem with purchases tied to your Apple ID, then Apple Music will integrate most seamlessly. Your playlists, downloads, and library will transfer over nicely. However, if you don’t have much existing investment with Apple, Spotify or other streaming services may be easier to use on Android.

Second, assess what features matter most. Apple Music on Android lacks some iOS syncing functionality but retains core offerings like unlimited song streaming, customized playlists, exclusive Apple content, and more. If you can live without handoff and other Apple-specific perks, the basics of Apple Music still work.

Finally, consider pricing. Apple Music’s standard $9.99 monthly individual plan is competitive with other top streaming options. Android users can still get fair value, especially since there’s a free trial period.

In conclusion, Apple Music can still be worthwhile for Android users who don’t mind its limitations, especially those with existing Apple libraries and subscriptions. However, those without existing Apple investments may want to consider popular cross-platform options like Spotify first.