Can I upload mp3 to Google music?

What is Google Music?

Google Music was a music locker service developed and operated by Google. It allowed users to upload up to 50,000 songs from their personal music libraries and access them across multiple devices.

Key features of Google Music included:

• Music locker – Store up to 50,000 songs from a user’s personal collection in the cloud.
• Multi-device access – Listen to music on the web, Android, iOS devices.
• Radio streaming – Google Music radio algorithmically generated radio stations based on user listening habits.

Google Music launched in beta in May 2011 and was publicly released in November 2011 as Google’s answer to competing music services like Apple Music and Spotify. It remained operational until December 2020 when Google shut it down and migrated users to YouTube Music (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play_Music).

Is Google Music still available?

No, Google Play Music is no longer available as of December 2020. Google announced in August 2020 that Google Play Music would be completely shut down and replaced by YouTube Music (Source). After several months of winding down Google Play Music, the service was fully discontinued in December 2020.

YouTube Music is now Google’s main music streaming service. It combines the capabilities of Google Play Music with the massive catalog of songs and videos on YouTube. All Google Play Music users were migrated to YouTube Music, with options to transfer subscriptions, purchases, uploads, and playlists (Source). So while Google Play Music no longer exists, YouTube Music provides similar functionality for accessing music.

Can I upload MP3 files to YouTube Music?

Yes, YouTube Music allows you to upload your personal MP3 files to the service. According to Google’s YouTube Music help article, users can upload up to 100,000 songs in MP3 format to their YouTube Music library. This allows you to store your personal music collection and stream it through YouTube Music alongside any songs available on the service.

Uploading MP3s to YouTube Music essentially functions as cloud storage for your own music library. The tracks appear on the service like any other song, allowing them to be added to playlists, liked/disliked, etc. An advantage of storing MP3s with YouTube Music versus traditional cloud storage is the ability to stream them anywhere through the apps or web player.

Some Android devices, like certain Samsung models, may have a 50,000 song limit instead of 100,000 for uploads according to this Reddit thread. But in general, most users can store up to 100,000 personal MP3 tracks using YouTube Music’s upload feature.

How to upload MP3s to YouTube Music

Uploading MP3 files to YouTube Music is a straightforward process that can be done through both desktop and mobile. Here are the steps:

On desktop:

1. Go to music.youtube.com and log into your Google account.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select “Upload music” from the dropdown menu.
4. Click “Select files” and choose the MP3 files you want to upload from your computer.
5. Fill in the metadata like song title, artist, etc. for each file.
6. Click “Upload” to add the MP3s to your YouTube Music library.

On mobile:

1. Open the YouTube Music app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select “Upload music” from the menu.
4. Tap “Select from device” and choose MP3 files to upload.
5. Add metadata and tap “Upload”.

The process is very similar either way. Uploading on desktop allows for batch uploads while mobile requires adding tracks individually. The MP3 files will now be available in Your Library in YouTube Music.

Where to find uploaded MP3s in YouTube Music

Once an MP3 file is uploaded to YouTube Music, it will appear in your library alongside any other content you have added or streamed on the service. To access your full library, go to the “Library” tab in the YouTube Music app or website.

The “Library” tab shows all of the music and audio content you have uploaded or added to your YouTube Music account. This includes any MP3 files you have uploaded. They will be mixed in with streaming songs, albums, playlists and other audio content from YouTube Music’s catalog that you have liked or added to your library.

So your uploaded MP3 files won’t be siloed off in a separate section just for uploaded content. They will appear right alongside music you stream normally through YouTube Music. You can scroll through or search your full library to find the MP3 files you’ve uploaded.

This makes it easy to access and play your uploaded MP3 content seamlessly with the rest of your YouTube Music library. You don’t have to go to a separate section just for your owned content.

Features for uploaded MP3s

YouTube Music offers several useful features for MP3 files you upload to the service. Some key features include:

Ad-free listening – Unlike standard YouTube, YouTube Music does not insert ads into your uploaded MP3 files. You can enjoy uninterrupted listening.

Offline playback – You can save your uploaded MP3 files for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. This is great for listening on the go.

Add to playlists – Your uploaded MP3 tracks can be added to playlists alongside other content on YouTube Music. This allows you to mix and match your personal library with YouTube’s catalog.

Overall, the features for uploaded MP3s help integrate your personal music collection with the streaming service. You get an ad-free, offline listening experience and the ability to manage your MP3s alongside other content.

Audio quality of uploaded MP3s

One of the best things about uploading your own MP3 files to YouTube Music is that it retains the original audio quality of your files. When you upload an MP3, YouTube Music does not transcode or compress the file – it keeps it exactly as is.

This means if you upload high-quality 320kbps MP3s, they will play back at that same 320kbps bitrate in YouTube Music. Similarly, if you upload lossless formats like FLAC or WAV files, those will also retain their original quality with no lossy compression. According to Google’s support article, YouTube Music does not alter or compress your original files.

This gives you the flexibility to upload your music collection in the highest audio quality available, whether MP3, lossless, or Hi-Res formats. When listening on YouTube Music, you can be assured the audio quality will remain unchanged from your original files.

Downloading uploaded MP3s

One advantage of uploading your MP3 files to YouTube Music is that you can download them back to your computer if you like. This gives you the flexibility of accessing your music both through streaming and local files.

Streaming services have some limitations when it comes to owning your music. If you purchase music through a streaming service, you don’t actually own the files – you just have the rights to stream them. If you want to have MP3 files that you fully own, uploading to YouTube Music provides that.

To download an uploaded MP3 from YouTube Music, simply go to the Uploads section in Your Library, find the song you want to download, click the three dots next to it, and choose “Download”. This will save an MP3 file of that song to your computer that you can keep forever, even if you decide to delete it from YouTube Music.

Having the ability to download your uploaded music can give you peace of mind. If you ever decide to cancel your YouTube Music subscription, you won’t lose access to those files since they’ll still be on your computer or external storage. So even though streaming offers convenience, downloading provides more permanence and true ownership.[https://www.noteburner.com/youtube-music-tips/download-youtube-music-to-mp3.html]

Alternatives for storing MP3s

If you don’t want to store your MP3 collection on YouTube Music, there are some other options:

One alternative is using a paid service like iTunes Match. iTunes Match allows you to store up to 100,000 songs in iCloud, even songs that weren’t purchased through iTunes. For $24.99 per year, you can stream and download your music library from any device. iTunes Match will also upgrade your lower-quality MP3s to 256 kbps AAC files for improved audio quality.

Another option is self-hosting your music using media server software like Plex. Plex allows you to store your MP3s on a computer or NAS drive at home and stream them over the internet to all your devices. With some configuration, you can even allow friends and family access to your music library. The downside is you’ll need to manage your own storage hardware.

There are also many other cloud storage providers aimed at music storage such as pCloud and Amazon Music that provide features tailored for organizing and streaming large MP3 collections.

Summary

YouTube Music provides an easy way to upload and access your MP3 music collection. By uploading your files, you can stream your songs through YouTube Music on all your devices. This allows you to listen to your personal MP3 library anywhere, without having to store the files locally.

Uploading to YouTube Music also enables features like recommendations based on your taste and integrates your songs into playlists. However, there are some limitations compared to owning the MP3 files outright. You are dependent on internet connectivity to stream the songs. The audio quality is also compressed during upload. And there is no way to download the songs back as MP3s from YouTube Music.

Overall, for most listeners YouTube Music presents a convenient option to store and stream an MP3 library. But local storage may be preferable for audiophiles or those with limited internet connectivity.