What is Androids Apple Music?

Apple Music is Apple’s music streaming service that allows users to access over 90 million songs in the Apple Music catalog. The service was originally launched in June 2015 and was initially only available on iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad [1]. However, later that year in November 2015, Apple Music was made available on Android as well, allowing Android smartphone users to also access and enjoy the vast Apple Music library [2].

With Apple Music for Android, users can stream tens of millions of songs, listen to curated playlists and radio stations, and get recommendations tailored to their musical tastes. The app experience is similar to the iOS version, with access to features like For You, Browse, Radio, and Search. This allows Android users to now subscribe to Apple Music and have full access to the service like iPhone owners.

Compatibility with Android Devices

The Apple Music app is compatible with Android devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later. According to the Apple website, the minimum Android OS version requirement is Android 5.0 or later. The app will work on most modern Android smartphones and tablets from major manufacturers like Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and more.

In terms of specific device requirements, the Apple Music app needs at least 150 MB of free storage space to install initially. Additional storage space is required if you want to save music for offline listening. The app will work with most device storage capacities though.

Some key Android OS versions that are compatible include:

Android 5.0 Lollipop

Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Android 7.0 Nougat
Android 8.0 Oreo

Android 9.0 Pie
Android 10
Android 11

Android 12

As long as your Android device meets the minimum OS version and storage requirements, you should be able to install and use Apple Music without issues.

Downloading and Installing the App

Apple Music can be easily downloaded and installed on any Android device from the Google Play Store. To find the Apple Music app, open the Play Store app on your Android device and search for “Apple Music”. The official app will be published by Apple Inc. Here is a direct link to the app’s Play Store listing:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apple.android.music&hl=en_US&gl=US

Tap “Install” to download and install the free app. The Apple Music app is compatible with most modern Android smartphones and tablets running Android 5.0 or later. Once installed, open the Apple Music app and follow the prompts to set up an account or sign in with your existing Apple ID.

Signing Up for an Apple Music Subscription

Apple Music offers a few different subscription plans to choose from. The individual plan allows one user access to Apple Music’s full catalog of over 90 million songs for $10.99 per month. The family plan allows up to six users to share one subscription for $16.99 per month. There is also a student plan available for $5.99 per month, and a voice plan that provides access through Siri for $4.99 per month.

Once you select which subscription plan works for you, signing up is easy. Just launch the Apple Music app on your Android device and tap on the profile icon. Then tap “View Apple ID” and sign in with your Apple ID or create a new one if needed. You can start your free 3-month trial or immediately purchase your subscription from here. Payments will be processed through your Apple ID payment method.

Importing Your Music Library

One of the best features of Apple Music is the ability to access your personal music library alongside the Apple Music catalog. To import your existing music into Apple Music on your Android device, you’ll need to first upload your library to iCloud Music Library using a Mac or PC with iTunes installed. Instructions for doing this can be found here.

Once your music library is uploaded to iCloud, open the Apple Music app on your Android device and tap on the Library tab at the bottom. This will display all of the artists, albums, songs, playlists and more from your personal collection. Anything not yet downloaded will display a cloud icon and begin downloading when you tap on it.

The My Music and Playlists sections will contain all of your imported music library contents. You can also create additional playlists within the Apple Music app on Android to mix songs from your library with Apple’s catalog. Downloaded songs and playlists are available for offline listening anytime.

One limitation is that iTunes Match, which matches your songs to higher quality versions in the Apple Music catalog, is not available on Android. But overall, accessing your personal music library on an Android device alongside Apple’s massive streaming catalog is seamless with Apple Music.

Using Apple Music on Android

The interface of the Apple Music app on Android is clean and intuitive, allowing you to easily access your music library and browse new content. Some of the key features available in the Android app include:

Streaming Music – You can stream over 75 million songs on demand, just like with the iOS version of Apple Music. The app offers curated playlists and radio stations tailored to your taste.

Music Downloads – Subscribers can download music to listen offline, with no limits on the number of downloads. Downloads are DRM-protected and only playable within the app.

Browse – Easily browse new releases, top charts, music videos and more. Apple Music on Android has a robust music discovery experience.

Lyrics – View real-time lyrics synced to the music as you listen to a song. Lyrics are available for many but not all tracks.

Queue – Build a queue of songs you want to listen to in order. You can also view your play history.

Library – Access all of your saved music, playlists, downloads and more in the Library tab. It syncs with your account so your library is consistent across devices.

Siri Integration – If your Android phone supports it, you can use Siri commands for voice control of your music playback.

Overall, the Android version provides a full-featured Apple Music experience similar to what iOS users enjoy. The app is optimized for the platform so it feels right at home on an Android phone or tablet.

Streaming Songs and Playlists

One of the key features of Apple Music is the ability to stream songs and playlists either online or offline for playback at any time. While streaming online, you have access to Apple Music’s full catalog of over 90 million songs that you can play instantly.

To save music for offline listening, simply tap the download icon next to any song, album, or playlist. This will save the content to your device so you can listen without an internet connection. According to Audicable (https://www.audicable.com/apple-music-tips/listen-to-apple-music-offline.html), downloaded songs and playlists are available in the Library tab under Downloads. The number of downloads depends on the storage capacity of your device.

Playlists in Apple Music make it easy to organize your favorite songs into reusable collections. You can create your own custom playlists or browse premade playlists curated by Apple Music based on genre, mood, activity, or specific artists. Tap the + icon when viewing a playlist to download it for offline playback. According to discussions on the Apple website (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253698920), downloads are available for offline listening for 30 days before needing to be renewed.

So streaming and playlists give you instant access to Apple Music’s extensive catalog, while downloads empower you to listen offline wherever you are.

Integration with Siri

One of the best features of Apple Music is the deep integration with Siri, allowing you to control music playback completely hands-free using just your voice. Siri makes it easy to access Apple Music’s vast catalog of over 90 million songs without needing to touch your device.

You can use natural language voice commands like “Hey Siri, play some chill music” and Siri will start playing relaxing tunes from your Apple Music library. Other useful commands include:

“Hey Siri, pause”

“Hey Siri, skip this song”
“Hey Siri, repeat this song”
“Hey Siri, play the song Finesse by Bruno Mars”

Siri allows you to navigate Apple Music, start radio stations, add songs to your library, and control playback without ever needing to open the app. This hands-free experience makes Apple Music integration one of Siri’s best features.

According to Apple’s support article (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208279), you can also use Siri to queue up songs and playlists for seamless listening by saying things like “Hey Siri, add this song to my queue.”

So if you want to control your music playback completely hands-free, Apple Music’s deep integration with Siri makes it a seamless experience.

Comparison to Spotify

Apple Music and Spotify are the two leading on-demand music streaming services. Both offer access to over 70 million songs, playlists, radio stations, and more. However, there are some key differences between the two services when using them on Android devices.

One advantage of Apple Music is it offers lossless audio quality up to 24-bit/192kHz, while Spotify caps at 320kbps. So Apple Music can provide higher fidelity sound for those with compatible devices and discerning ears (https://www.soundguys.com/apple-music-vs-spotify-36833/).

On the other hand, Spotify has the advantage when it comes to music discovery and custom playlists. Its algorithms for recommending music based on your taste and listening habits are considered superior. Spotify also makes it easy to find and follow playlists created by both algorithms and other users.

In terms of pricing, both services cost $9.99 per month for an individual subscription. Families get better value with Spotify as its family plan covers up to 6 accounts for $15.99, while Apple Music family sharing is just for up to 6 people at $14.99. Spotify also offers discounted plans for students and couples.

When weighing the two streaming giants, Apple Music stands out if audio quality and integration with Apple devices are top priorities. But Spotify leads in discovery, custom playlists, and overall value.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Apple Music

Here are some recommendations for customizing and fully utilizing Apple Music on your Android device:

Enable lossless audio for higher quality streaming. Go to Settings > Music > Audio Quality and toggle on Lossless. You can choose up to Lossless (24-bit/48 kHz) for the best sound quality (Source).
Use the “Love” and “Dislike” buttons to improve recommendations. Tap the heart icon to “Love” songs and the cross icon to “Dislike” them so Apple Music can learn your preferences (Source).
View your most played songs with Replay. Go to Listen Now and tap on Replay to see charts of your top songs from the past year (Source).

Fine-tune suggestions by following artists and selecting your favorite genres. Go to For You and tap Follow on artists you like and choose your preferred genres.
Download songs for offline listening. Tap the download icon next to any song, album, or playlist to save it for offline playback.