How do I add music to my Google library?
What is the Google Music Library?
The Google Music Library is a feature of Google Play Music that allows users to upload up to 50,000 songs from their personal music libraries to the cloud. This gives users access to their full music collection across devices whenever they are connected to the internet (1).
With Google Play Music, users can store songs they own or have uploaded in the cloud alongside any music they purchase through the Google Play store. This creates one unified music library that can be streamed across devices or downloaded for offline playback (2).
The music files that users upload are analyzed by Google Play Music and integrated into the overall catalog. This allows users to search for and play both uploaded and purchased content seamlessly in the Google Play Music app (1).
Sources:
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play_Music
(2) https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/131717141/there-s-seriously-no-way-to-get-my-google-play-music-back?hl=en
Why Add Your Music to Google Play?
One of the biggest benefits of adding your music to Google Play is the ability to access your music library from anywhere. With Google Play Music, your music is stored in the cloud rather than locally on your device. This means you can stream your music through the Google Play Music app on any internet-connected device, including:
- Android phones and tablets
- iOS devices like iPhones and iPads
- Computers via the Google Play Music website
- Smart speakers and displays like Google Home and Nest Hub
So whether you’re at home, at work, in the car, or on the go, you’ll have instant access to all your favorite music. All you need is an internet connection and you can tap into your personal Google music library from wherever you are, whenever you want. This convenience and flexibility is a major advantage of storing your music collection in Google Play.
In addition, any playlists, radio stations, or other collections you create within Google Play Music will be available across all your devices automatically. You don’t have to worry about manually syncing or transferring music between devices. Your Google Play Music library stays up to date and consistent no matter where you listen from.
Check Music File Compatibility
Before uploading your music library to Google Play, it’s important to check that your audio files are in a supported format. Google Play Music supports common audio formats like MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, and Ogg [1]. Here is a quick overview of the supported formats:
- MP3 (.mp3) – The most common digital audio format, can be compressed while retaining sound quality
- AAC (.m4a) – Advanced Audio Coding format used by Apple’s iTunes store, great for compressing large libraries
- WMA (.wma) – Windows Media Audio format, useful for Windows users with WMA files
- FLAC (.flac) – Free Lossless Audio Codec, uncompressed CD-quality audio
- ALAC (.m4a) – Apple Lossless Audio Codec, similar to FLAC but for Apple devices
- Ogg Vorbis (.ogg) – Free open source audio format, offers compressed files without loss of quality
Checking each audio file will ensure it will upload and play properly within your Google Music library. Non-supported formats like WAV, AIFF, DSD, and Monkey’s Audio will need to be converted before uploading.
Upload Your Music Library
The easiest way to upload your entire music library to Google Play is by using the Google Play Music Manager desktop app. This free app allows you to upload songs from your computer to your Google Play library.
To use the Google Play Music Manager:
- Download and install the Google Play Music Manager on your computer.
- Open the Music Manager app and log into your Google account.
- Click on the upload button and select the folders or files you want to upload.
- The app will begin uploading your music and add it to your Google Play Music library.
The Music Manager runs in the background and will look for new files to upload automatically. This makes it easy to keep your Google Play library continuously updated with your latest music.
One thing to note is that the Music Manager will only upload music files that are compatible with Google Play. This includes common formats like MP3, FLAC, WMA, and AAC.
Upload Individual Tracks and Albums
You can upload individual tracks and albums to your Google Play Music library directly through the web player.
To do this, go to music.google.com and log into your Google account. On the left side of the screen, you will see your music library.
Simply drag and drop audio files from your computer directly into your library. You can upload individual tracks or full albums this way. The supported file formats are MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG, and WMA.
The tracks will immediately be added to your library. You can then access them from any device where you are logged into your Google account.
Uploading tracks directly through the web player is a quick and easy way to add music to your Google Play library without having to download additional software.
Add Music from iTunes
One easy way to add your music library to Google Play Music is to sync it from iTunes using the Google Play Music Manager desktop app. The Music Manager allows you to select playlists and music from your iTunes library and sync them to your Google Play Music account.
To use the Music Manager to import iTunes playlists and music:
- Download and install the Google Play Music Manager on your computer from https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/manager.
- Open the Music Manager app and log in with your Google account.
- Click on the “iTunes” tab.
- Check the playlists and music you want to import.
- Click “Upload music” to start syncing the selected iTunes music to Google Play.
- The app will upload and match your music to your Google Play Music library.
Once completed, you’ll be able to access your imported iTunes playlists and songs in the Google Play Music apps and on any device where you’re logged into your Google account. The Music Manager runs in the background to monitor and automatically upload new iTunes purchases too.
Purchase Music from Google Play
One way to add music to your Google Play library is by purchasing tracks and albums directly through the Google Play Music store. Google Play Music has an extensive catalog of over 40 million songs available for purchase [1].
To buy music, open the Google Play Music app or visit music.google.com. Use the search bar to find specific artists, albums or songs. When you find a track or album you want, click on the price button to add it to your cart. Purchase the music by completing the transaction with your Google account. Purchased music will automatically be added to your Google Play Music library.
An advantage of purchasing music through Google Play is that you own the downloads. Purchased tracks can be downloaded to your device for offline listening. You’ll continue to have access to purchased music even if you cancel your Google Play Music subscription.
Subscribe to Google Play Music
Getting a paid subscription to Google Play Music unlocks additional features and benefits beyond just uploading your own music library. Here are some key advantages of subscribing:
Access to over 50 million songs available for streaming on-demand, creating radio stations, and downloading for offline listening (Google Play Music vs Spotify—Which Music Streaming Service Is Better?). This gives you a huge catalog of music to explore beyond just your personal collection.
Ad-free listening, with no interruptions or distractions (Google Play Music vs Spotify ( 2024 review )). The paid subscription removes all ads from the service.
Higher quality audio, with some songs available in lossless format for optimal sound quality.
Unlimited skips and replays, letting you fully control your listening experience.
Offline listening for saving songs, albums, or playlists for when you don’t have an internet connection. This is great for plane rides, road trips, or other times you’ll be offline.
Family sharing is available, allowing up to 6 accounts to share one subscription plan.
Student discounts are offered for qualifying students to get a lower price.
Ultimately, the subscription unlocks the full potential of Google Play Music and provides an enhanced, ad-free listening experience with expanded catalog options.
Listen to Your Music Library
One of the biggest benefits of adding your music to Google Play is the ability to access your library from anywhere. You can listen to your uploaded and purchased music across all your devices including Android phones and tablets, iPhones, iPads, and computers.
The Google Play Music app allows you to stream your library on the go without taking up storage space on your device. You can download specific playlists or albums for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
You can also access your library in a web browser by visiting music.google.com. This allows you to listen at your computer without needing to install any software. The web player has all the same features as the mobile app so you can stream, download, create playlists and more.
With Google Play Music you don’t have to worry about where your music files are stored. Everything is seamlessly accessible across all platforms for convenient listening everywhere.
Create Playlists
One of the best features of the Google Music library is the ability to organize your music into custom playlists. Playlists allow you to group together songs according to any theme or mood you want. For example, you could make a driving playlist with upbeat songs, a relaxing playlist for reading, or a throwback playlist with your favorite nostalgic tunes.
To create a new playlist in your Google Music library, open the Google Play Music app or website and click on the “+” icon next to Playlists. Give your playlist a name and description, then start adding songs to it by searching or browsing your library. You can also add entire albums to a playlist in just a couple clicks.
The playlists you create on the Google Play Music platform sync across all your devices, so you’ll always have your custom playlists handy no matter where you go. You can access and edit your playlists at any time to add new tracks or remove songs.
With Google Play Music playlists, you’ll never get bored listening to the same music over and over. You can create the perfect playlist for any mood, activity, or occasion.