Can I still use Apple Music on Android?

Apple Music is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. The service was launched in June 2015 and is available on iOS, macOS, WatchOS and tvOS devices. In November 2015, Apple Music launched on Android as well, allowing Android users to subscribe and access Apple Music’s library of over 90 million songs.
With Apple Music for Android, users can stream tens of millions of songs ad-free, create playlists, get music recommendations, and more. So Android users do not need to miss out on Apple Music’s extensive catalog and features. However, there are some limitations to consider when using the streaming service on Android.
Accessing Apple Music on Android
Android users can access the full Apple Music library and features by downloading the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store. Here are the step-by-step instructions for installing and logging into Apple Music on an Android device:
- Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
- Search for “Apple Music” and select the app developed by Apple.
- Tap “Install” to download the Apple Music app.
- Once installed, open the Apple Music app. If prompted, allow the app to access photos, media, files, etc.
- Tap “Sign In” and enter your Apple ID and password to log in.
- You may be prompted to start an Apple Music subscription if you don’t already have one.
- Once logged in, you’ll have full access to your Apple Music library and can begin enjoying music!
The Apple Music app feels right at home on Android. The design is optimized for Android and integrates with standard features like notifications and the media player. You can stream music, listen offline, follow friends, access playlists, get intelligent recommendations, and more—just like on an iPhone.
Library and Recommendations
When using Apple Music on Android, you get full access to your Apple Music library with no limits on the number of songs you can save. Some users have reported being able to save over 100,000 songs in their library without issue (Source). The only limit is on the size of individual song files, which need to be under 200MB each (Source).
You also get Apple Music’s personalized recommendations on Android. The app uses your listening history and likes/dislikes to suggest new music tailored just for you. This includes Daily Mix playlists with songs in genres you love, New Music Mix showcasing the latest releases, and customized playlists like Favorites Mix and Chill Mix. So you don’t miss out on music discovery by using Apple Music on Android.
New Music Discovery
Apple Music offers a variety of ways to browse and find new music releases on Android devices. The browse tab lets you explore new music by genre, mood, activity, and more. You can also check out Apple Music’s editorial playlists like New Music Daily to find the latest song releases.
The search functionality makes it easy to look up songs, albums, artists, playlists and music videos. Search results are rich, including bios, playlists, albums, songs, and more related to your query. This allows you to explore and make new discoveries from each search.
The For You tab provides personalized recommendations for playlists, albums, and artists you may like. The more you use Apple Music, the better the suggestions become. The Browse tab also shows you new releases, top charts, and music videos tailored to your taste.
You can listen to any of Apple Music’s live global radio stations focused on different genres. There are also personalized stations based on your listening activity and likes. So you can always find something new with radio tuned to your preferences.
Playlists and Favorites
Apple Music allows Android users to fully access their library of playlists and favorites. You can create new playlists, add or remove songs, download playlists for offline listening, and organize your playlists into folders. Here’s how to work with playlists on Android:
To view your playlists, tap on the “Library” tab in the Apple Music app and select “Playlists.” You’ll see all of your Apple Music playlists from other devices synced here. Tapping on a playlist will show its songs and allow you to play it.
To create a new playlist, tap on the “+” icon and select “New Playlist.” Give it a name and description, then start adding songs. You can browse recommendations or your library to add tracks.
To add songs to an existing playlist, open it and tap the “…” menu icon. Choose “Add Songs” then browse to select tracks to add.
To reorder, delete, or download playlists, use the “…” menu icon next to each playlist name. From here you can also share playlists or add them to your library.
You can download playlists for offline listening by toggling the “Available Offline” switch on. Downloaded playlists will have a green arrow icon.
To organize playlists into folders, use the “Edit” option at the top of the Playlists section. Tap on a playlist then on the folder icon to move it into a folder.
Favoriting songs also syncs across devices. Tap the heart icon next to any track to favorite it. View your favorites under the “Library” tab.
Audio Quality
When it comes to audio quality, Apple Music offers a few different options on both iOS and Android devices. The highest quality is Lossless Audio, which provides CD-quality sound up to 24-bit/48 kHz resolution. This requires more data to stream, so it can only be enabled when connected to WiFi (About lossless audio in Apple Music).
To enable Lossless Audio on Android, go to Settings > Music > Audio Quality and toggle on “Lossless.” You can then select the quality level, with “Hi-Res Lossless” providing up to 24-bit/192 kHz for the highest fidelity experience. However, this requires compatible headphones to take advantage of the full resolution (Apple Music: How to listen to lossless tracks on your Android phone).
On both platforms, Apple Music defaults to AAC 256 kbps if Lossless is not enabled, which provides decent but not CD-quality sound. One advantage iOS devices have is built-in support for Apple’s proprietary ALAC codec used for Lossless Audio. On Android, the files need to be transcoded to FLAC or PCM for compatibility, which some users report leads to lower quality.
Overall, while Lossless Audio is available on both iOS and Android, the native integration and support on iOS devices can provide a slightly better listening experience. However, with the right settings and headphones, Android users can still enjoy high-fidelity sound from Apple Music.
Offline Listening
One of the key features of Apple Music is the ability to download songs, albums, and playlists for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. This capability is also available when using Apple Music on Android devices (https://www.androidauthority.com/download-songs-apple-music-offline-3166932/).
To download music for offline listening on Android, open the Apple Music app and tap on the download icon (downward arrow) next to any song, album, or playlist. The downloads will be added to the “Downloads” section in your Library. You can also go to this section and manually select content to download.
The offline download functionality works similarly on both iOS and Android. One difference is that on iOS, there is a dedicated tab for downloaded music at the bottom, whereas on Android it’s accessed through the Library tab. Overall, the ability to listen offline is seamlessly integrated on both platforms.
Family Sharing
Apple Music’s Family Sharing plan allows up to 6 people to share one Apple Music subscription through Family Sharing. This subscription sharing is available across both iOS and Android devices. However, there are some limitations when using Family Sharing on Android.
While iOS Family Sharing members can access the full Apple Music library, Android members have more limited access. Android users can only stream from the Apple Music catalog – they cannot download songs, videos or playlists for offline listening. Additionally, some exclusive content like Apple Digital Masters is unavailable to Android users.
Another downside is Android devices don’t integrate Family Sharing for Apple Music subscriptions into the main Apple Music or Google Play Music apps. Instead, Android users have to use a separate “Apple Music app for Family Sharing” to access the shared subscription. This provides a disjointed and less seamless experience compared to iOS.
Overall, Family Sharing for Apple Music does work across Android and iOS, but the functionality is more limited on Android. Users lose key features like downloading and integration with the main app. Still, it provides a way for Android users to access Apple Music through a family member’s subscription.
Limitations
While Apple Music is available on Android, there are some notable features that are limited or missing compared to the iOS version:
Apple Music on Android does not support offline listening for Apple Digital Masters recordings, which provide the highest quality lossless audio on Apple devices (Source). Offline listening is limited to 256kbps AAC files.
The ability to upload your own music to the Apple Music library is not possible on the Android app (Source). Any music purchased outside of Apple Music will not appear in your library on Android.
There is no support for iTunes Match on Android, so any songs that were not purchased through Apple Music will not be accessible (Source). This limits the ability to access your full music library seamlessly across devices.
Certain exclusive content like music videos, concerts, interviews, and other special content may not be available on Android. The experience is more tailored and integrated on Apple devices.
Features like Handoff and Continuity for transitioning playback between Apple devices do not work with the Android app. The ecosystem integration is not as robust.
The Verdict
Overall, Apple Music provides a robust experience on Android that mirrors much of the functionality available on iOS. The clean design and access to Apple’s extensive music catalog make it a compelling option for Android users who are invested in the Apple ecosystem. However, there are some limitations in terms of accessing exclusive content like lossless audio and Apple podcasts. The recommendation engine also seems better tuned to iOS users. While not perfect, Apple Music can be worth considering for Android users who want seamless integration with an iPhone or other Apple devices. However, it may not provide enough unique value over offerings like Spotify to justify switching if you aren’t already tied into Apple’s content ecosystem.
Pros of using Apple Music on Android include: seamless streaming with iPhone/iPad, Siri and HomePod support, access to full Apple music catalog, offline listening, and attractive interface. Cons are lack of lossless audio, no Apple podcasts app, and recommendations tuned for iOS.
For Android users invested in Apple services, Apple Music delivers a competitive option for music streaming. But Spotify and YouTube Music can be equally compelling choices for users not locked into the Apple world.