Can I stream music from PC to phone?
With the rise of music streaming services in recent years, more and more people are choosing to stream their music libraries from the cloud rather than store songs locally on their devices. Streaming music from a PC to a phone is a convenient way to access your entire music collection on the go without taking up storage space on your phone. According to the music streaming industry analysis by Grandview Research, the global music streaming market size was valued at $34.53 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.4% from 2023 to 2030.
Benefits of Streaming Music to Your Phone
One of the biggest benefits of streaming music to your phone is having access to your full music library while on the go. With music streaming services or apps that let you access your PC’s music library, you can listen to any artist, album, playlist, or song in your collection wherever you happen to be (1). This convenience allows you to always have your favorite music with you to listen to during your commute, while exercising, relaxing at home, traveling, and more. Basically your entire music library can be in your pocket and accessible at any time just from your phone.
Having portable access to all of your music can provide enjoyment, entertainment, and create customized listening experiences to match whatever you’re doing or your mood at the time. Streaming services even allow you to download songs, albums or playlists to your phone for offline listening just like you would with purchased music (2). So with the ability to stream or download music on demand, your phone truly becomes a portable personal listening device with access to your full catalog of songs.
(1) https://indiepulsemusic.com/2021/03/06/4-benefits-of-streaming-music-online/
(2) https://blog.hocking.edu/the-pros-and-cons-of-streaming-music
Methods for Streaming Music to Phones
One of the most popular methods for streaming music to your phone is by using a music streaming app. Services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music allow you to access millions of songs that you can stream on demand. These apps are available on both iPhone and Android devices.
To use a streaming service, you simply download the app, create an account, and log in. You can then search for artists, albums, playlists, or stations to stream. Many services offer both free, ad-supported tiers as well as paid subscriptions that provide additional features like higher audio quality, offline listening, and no ads.
The advantage of using a streaming app is that you have access to a huge music library without needing to purchase and store the audio files yourself. You can stream music from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Streaming services are continuously updated with new releases so you always have access to the latest music.
Streaming with a Music Service App
One of the most popular ways to stream music from a PC to a phone is by using a dedicated music streaming service app like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, etc. These apps allow you to stream music from their library of over 70 million songs directly to your phone.
To use them, simply download the app on your phone, create an account, and log in. On your PC, you can access the service through the app or web player and select music to play. The app on your phone will show whatever is being streamed from the PC so you can listen seamlessly.
The advantage of using a streaming service is they have vast music libraries and advanced features like playlists, radios, recommendations, and more. Many also allow offline downloading for when you don’t have an internet connection. Premium subscriptions typically unlock higher audio quality streaming and ad-free listening. Overall these services provide a robust platform for streaming music anywhere.
Streaming Music from Your PC Library
One popular method for streaming music from a PC to a phone is by using a desktop app to sync and stream your local music library. Apps like Plex and Emby allow you to manage your music files on your computer and then stream that content to your mobile devices over WiFi or cellular data.
To use Plex or Emby for music streaming, first download and install the desktop app on your Windows or Mac computer. Then point the app to your local music files and libraries that you want to stream. The desktop app will scan your music collection and allow you to browse, search, and organize it all in one place.
Next, download the Plex or Emby app on your Android or iOS device. Make sure both devices are on the same WiFi network, then login with your account. The mobile app will sync with the desktop app and give you access to stream all the music files from your PC. You can browse by albums, artists, playlists and more. Anything you play will stream directly from your computer to your phone.
An advantage of using Plex or Emby for music streaming is that it doesn’t require uploading files to the cloud. Your music stays locally stored and is streamed on-demand. This allows you to access even very large libraries without storage limits. The apps also work great for lossless audio formats. Just make sure both devices are on the same network for a smooth streaming experience.
For more details, check out this Reddit thread discussing Plex and other self-hosted streaming options.
Using Bluetooth to Stream Music
One of the easiest ways to stream music from your PC to your phone is by using Bluetooth. To get started, you first need to pair your phone and computer via Bluetooth. On your PC, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Your PC will then search for nearby Bluetooth devices.
On your phone, go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth as well. Your phone should show up under available devices on your PC. Select your phone’s name to pair the two devices. Confirm pairing on your phone if prompted. Once paired, your phone and PC will automatically connect when Bluetooth is enabled and in range on both devices (Source).
After connecting via Bluetooth, any audio playing on your PC can be streamed to your phone. This includes music libraries, videos, games, or applications with audio output. On your phone, the PC audio should automatically begin playing through your phone’s speakers or headphones when connected via Bluetooth. Some PCs may have additional Bluetooth settings to select your phone as the audio playback device.
Streaming with WiFi/Network
One of the most popular ways to stream music from a PC to a phone is by using your WiFi or local network connection. This allows you to access the music files stored on your computer and play them directly on your phone, without needing to transfer any files.
There are many apps that enable WiFi music streaming between devices. For example, Trebel, Spotify, and YouTube Music all have options to stream songs over WiFi from your personal music library on a PC. These apps detect music files on computers on the same network and allow you to add them to playlists or queue them up just like any other song.
Plex is another good option as a free media server app for PCs that lets you stream music to phones. You simply set up Plex on your computer, point it to your music folders, and then install the Plex app on your phone to access that library anywhere.
For streaming over local networks, apps like Musi and BubbleUPNP are popular. They can detect media servers on your network and give you access to stream music libraries from a WiFi-connected PC.
The main limitation for WiFi streaming is that both devices need to be on the same local network, so it won’t work remotely over the internet. But for in-home streaming, using WiFi and media apps is an easy wireless option.
Considerations and Limitations
While streaming music to your phone offers convenience and accessibility, there are some downsides to consider:
Sound Quality
The sound quality of streamed music depends on both your phone’s speakers or headphones as well as your internet connection speed. Wireless connections like mobile data or WiFi can sometimes introduce audio compression or lag which degrades the listening experience (Source).
Connectivity
You’ll need an internet or WiFi connection for streaming which may be limited or unavailable in some areas. Streaming audio can use a lot of data quickly, so you may encounter throttling or data caps if using mobile data (Source).
Subscription Costs
Many premium music streaming services require a monthly subscription fee. While free options are available, they may have advertisements or limit advanced features. Consider the monthly or annual costs for your preferred streaming service.
Optimizing Your Streaming Experience
To optimize your streaming experience, there are a few key settings to look at – connection speed, codec, and file format.
Starting with connection speed, streaming music requires a stable and fast internet connection. For the best streaming quality, try to use WiFi instead of mobile data if possible. Some tips for improving your WiFi connection include moving closer to your router, reducing interference from other devices, or upgrading to a faster wireless router (SaaSquatch).
The codec used to encode the audio files also impacts streaming quality. Lossless codecs like FLAC deliver better audio quality while lossy codecs like AAC or MP3 compress the files more. Apple Music and Spotify both support streaming music at up to lossless quality on supported devices (Gear Patrol).
Lastly, the audio file format affects quality. Again, lossless formats like FLAC, ALAC, and WAV provide higher fidelity while lossy formats like MP3 offer greater compression. Choosing a streaming service that provides lossless quality tracks in formats like FLAC will enable the highest audio quality while streaming (ContentFlow).
By optimizing your internet connection, using a high quality codec, and streaming lossless file formats, you can maximize audio quality when streaming music from your computer to your phone.
Conclusion
Streaming music from your PC to your phone opens up new possibilities to access your personal music library anywhere. While streaming services are convenient, having access to your own library provides more control and options.
The best methods are using a music app, Bluetooth, or your WiFi network. Choose the option that works best for your setup. Bluetooth provides direct device connections without internet, while WiFi allows streaming anywhere in your home network. Music apps like Spotify also make streaming from PC libraries easy.
Consider your phone, network, and library capabilities when setting things up. Compress large files for quicker streaming, and stay close to your PC if using Bluetooth. With the right setup, you can enjoy your full music collection on any phone.
In summary, with a little effort you can enable PC to phone music streaming. The freedom to access your personal libraries and playlists on mobile can make the investment worthwhile.