How do I listen to music from my phone on my computer?

Streaming music from your phone to your computer is a great way to listen to your music library on a bigger sound system. With streaming, you can access your music on your phone and play it through your computer’s speakers without needing to copy files back and forth.

There are a few different methods you can use to stream music from your phone to your computer. This guide will provide an overview of the main options, including using Bluetooth, AirPlay, Chromecast, a wired connection, DLNA apps, and cloud services. We’ll also cover some troubleshooting tips. With the right setup, streaming music between your devices can be simple and convenient.

Enable Bluetooth on Phone and Computer

The first step is to turn on Bluetooth on both your phone and computer. On an Android phone, go to Settings and enable Bluetooth (Google 2022). For iPhones, open Settings, tap “Bluetooth” and toggle it on (Apple 2022).

Once Bluetooth is enabled on both devices, you can pair them. Go to the Bluetooth settings on your phone and select your computer from the list of available devices. Your computer may prompt you to confirm pairing – accept this request. On some computers, you may need to enter a pairing code shown on your phone. The devices should now be connected over Bluetooth.

Use a Bluetooth Transmitter

One of the easiest ways to listen to music from your phone on your computer is by using a Bluetooth transmitter. A Bluetooth transmitter plugs into your phone’s headphone jack and pairs with your computer over Bluetooth.

To use a Bluetooth transmitter:

Plug the Bluetooth transmitter into your phone’s headphone jack.
On your computer, go to Bluetooth settings and put it into pairing mode.
Activate pairing mode on the Bluetooth transmitter by pressing the pairing button.

Select the Bluetooth transmitter in your computer’s Bluetooth menu.

Once paired, any audio played on your phone will transmit to your computer speakers via the Bluetooth connection. Look for transmitters that support high quality audio codecs like aptX for minimal loss in audio quality.

Some popular Bluetooth transmitters for audio streaming include the 1Mii B06 Transmitter, MeeAudio Connect Hub, and Targus Bluetooth Transmitter.

Use AirPlay

AirPlay allows you to wirelessly stream audio from an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV or AirPlay 2 compatible speakers^[1]. AirPlay works seamlessly with Apple devices and apps, providing an easy way to play music through your computer speakers or home stereo system.

To use AirPlay, first enable it in Control Center on your iOS device. Then select your Apple TV or AirPlay speakers as the audio output destination. Anything you play on your iPhone or iPad will now stream to that device. You can continue controlling playback from the iOS device.

Some key advantages of AirPlay:

Works wirelessly with any Apple TV (2nd gen or later) or AirPlay 2 enabled speakers like HomePod and certain third-party brands
Streams audio from iOS apps like Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more
Lets you move around while streaming audio to a fixed speaker system

So if you want to listen to music from your iPhone on your computer speakers using existing Apple devices, AirPlay is a seamless solution^[2]. Just make sure your computer speakers are connected to an Apple TV or AirPlay 2 compatible device.

Use Chromecast

One easy way to listen to music from your phone on your computer is by using a Google Chromecast (source). The Chromecast is a small device that plugs into your computer’s HDMI port. It allows you to wirelessly “cast” audio, video, and more from your mobile device to your computer or TV. Here’s how to set it up to cast audio from your phone to your computer:

Plug the Chromecast into an open HDMI port on your computer.

On your phone, open the Chromecast app and select the Chromecast device plugged into your computer.
On your computer, you may need to change your audio output to the HDMI port the Chromecast is plugged into.
Now open a music app on your phone and look for the Cast button. Tap it and select the Chromecast device to start playing music.

The audio from your phone will now stream directly to your computer speakers via the Chromecast. You can control playback entirely from your phone. The Chromecast allows high quality audio streaming and continues playing even if you get a phone call or switch apps on your mobile device (source). It provides a quick and easy way to get music from your phone to your computer speakers wirelessly.

Use a Wired Connection

One of the easiest ways to listen to music from your phone on your computer is by using a wired USB connection.

To transfer music via USB cable:

Plug your phone into your computer using a USB charging cable. Make sure you are using a data transfer capable cable and not just a charging cable.
On your phone, you may get a notification asking if you want to allow data transfer. Make sure to enable this.
Open the file manager on your computer. Your phone should show up as a connected drive where you can access the files.

Find the music folder on your phone and copy the files over to your computer.
You can now access the music files directly on your computer.

Some Android phones may require you to install media sync software like Android File Transfer for Mac or Windows Media Player for Windows in order to transfer files. Check if any software is needed for your specific device.

The benefit of using a wired connection is that it does not rely on your WiFi network or internet connection. It also typically provides faster transfer speeds compared to wireless options. Just plug your phone in with a USB cable and you’re ready to directly access and transfer music files.

Use a DLNA App

One convenient way to stream music from your phone to your computer is by using DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology. DLNA allows devices to share media over a local network.

To use DLNA to stream music from your Android phone to your Windows PC:

Install a DLNA server app on your Windows computer such as 5KPlayer. This will enable your PC to host media files.
Install a DLNA client app on your Android phone such as BubbleUPnP. This will let your phone stream media to the DLNA server.
Connect both devices to the same WiFi network.

Open the DLNA server app on your computer and the DLNA client app on your phone.
In the client app, find your PC’s DLNA server and select the music you want to play.
The selected music will now stream from your phone to your PC’s speakers over the WiFi network.

With DLNA technology, streaming music from phone to PC is quick and convenient once configured. Just make sure both devices are DLNA certified and connected to the same network.

Stream with a Cloud Service

One convenient option for listening to music from your phone on your computer is to use a cloud storage service. With a cloud storage service, you can upload your music library to the cloud and then stream that music to your computer.

To get started, first select a cloud storage provider that supports music storage and streaming. Some top options include pCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. pCloud offers special features for streaming music, like an integrated audio player and a dedicated tab for your music library.

Next, install the cloud storage app on your phone and computer. Log into your account on both devices. Then on your phone, upload your music files and folders to the cloud service. Make sure you have a strong internet connection, as uploading an entire music library can take some time.

Once your music is uploaded, you can access it from your computer by logging into the website or desktop app. Many cloud services have a specific tab or section for streaming your uploaded music. Simply navigate to your music and select a song to begin streaming it directly on your computer.

Cloud services make it easy to listen to your phone’s music library anywhere. Just be aware of storage limits based on your subscription tier when uploading large music collections.

Considerations and Troubleshooting

When streaming music between devices, there are some things to keep in mind regarding file formats, digital rights, and internet connectivity:

Make sure the file formats are compatible between your phone and computer. Common formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc. generally work on most devices. Lossless formats like ALAC and WAV take up more bandwidth.

You may run into issues with Digital Rights Management (DRM) if you purchased the music files from an online store. DRM-protected files may only play on authorized devices or apps. Check the license terms if running into playback issues.

For the most reliable streaming, use a strong and stable WiFi connection instead of mobile data. Mobile connections can be spotty and lead to buffering or interrupted playback. If on WiFi, make sure you are in close proximity to the router and other devices are not congesting the network.

Refer to troubleshooting guides from your music app or service provider, like Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify. Restarting devices, updating apps, and clearing caches can resolve many streaming issues.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are several effective ways to listen to music from your phone on your computer:

Enable Bluetooth on both devices: This allows you to pair your phone and computer to stream audio via Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on and devices are paired.

Use a Bluetooth transmitter: These gadgets receive Bluetooth from your phone and output audio via 3.5mm jack or USB to speakers or computer. They extend Bluetooth range.

Use AirPlay (iOS only): AirPlay streams media from iOS devices to AirPlay-enabled speakers or Apple TV connected to your computer.

Chromecast (Android only): Plug a Chromecast into your computer to cast music from Android apps to the computer’s speakers.

Wired connection: Use an audio cable to connect your phone’s headphone jack directly to your computer’s audio input.

DLNA app: Apps like BubbleUPnP can stream music over WiFi from your phone to DLNA media player software on your PC.

Cloud services: Upload your music library to a cloud locker like Google Play Music, then stream it to your computer.

The key takeaways are to either use the built-in Bluetooth of your devices, accessories like transmitters or Chromecast, wired audio connections, or streaming over WiFi/cloud services. Choose the method that best fits your devices and preferences.