The three ways to get music on your iPhone
You can download music to your iPhone through a streaming service, buy individual songs from iTunes, or transfer music you already own from a computer. The method you choose depends on whether you want to keep music permanently, access it only while subscribed, or move files you've purchased elsewhere.
Streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music let you download songs to listen offline, but you lose access if your subscription ends. iTunes and Apple Music's purchase option let you own songs outright. If you have music files on a Mac or Windows PC, you can sync them to your iPhone using a cable or wirelessly through iCloud Music Library.
Key Takeaways
- Streaming services let you download songs for offline listening, but the downloads disappear if you cancel your subscription.
- iTunes and the Apple Music app let you buy individual songs or albums that stay on your iPhone permanently.
- You can transfer music from a computer to your iPhone using a USB cable and the Finder app (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
- iCloud Music Library syncs music across your devices, but requires an active Apple Music subscription to work.
Downloading from a streaming service for offline listening
Most streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music, let you download songs directly to your iPhone so you can listen without an internet connection. The process is similar across all of them: find the song or album, tap the download button (usually a downward arrow or cloud icon), and wait for it to finish. The song stays on your phone until you delete it or your subscription ends.
With Apple Music, open the app, find a song you want, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Download." The song appears in your library with a small download icon next to it. Spotify works the same way—tap the three dots, then "Download." Amazon Music uses a downward arrow icon. Downloaded songs use storage space on your phone, so if you download hundreds of songs, you may run out of room.
Keep in mind that downloaded songs from a streaming service are not truly yours. If you stop paying for the service, the downloads stop working and disappear from your phone. They also cannot be transferred to another device or service. This is different from buying a song, where you own it permanently.
Buying and downloading individual songs through iTunes
The iTunes Store, accessible through the Apple Music app on your iPhone, lets you buy individual songs or entire albums. Once you buy a song, it's yours permanently—you can keep it even if you cancel any subscription service. Open the Apple Music app, tap the search icon, find the song you want, tap the price (usually $1.29 per song), and confirm the purchase with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.
After you buy a song, it downloads automatically to your iPhone and appears in your library. You can also re-download it later from the cloud if you delete it from your phone. Bought songs can be transferred to other devices using the same Apple ID, and they work even if you have no internet connection.
Buying songs one at a time can add up quickly if you want a large music library. Albums typically cost $9.99 to $12.99. If you listen to a wide variety of music, a streaming subscription is usually cheaper than buying individual songs.
Transferring music from your computer to your iPhone
If you have music files stored on a Mac or Windows PC—whether you bought them, ripped them from CDs, or downloaded them from other sources—you can move them to your iPhone using a USB cable. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, connect your iPhone with a cable, open Finder, click your iPhone's name in the sidebar, click "Music," and check the box next to "Sync music." Then select which songs or playlists you want to transfer and click "Apply."
On Windows, connect your iPhone and open iTunes. Click your iPhone's name at the top left, go to the "Music" tab, check "Sync music," choose which songs to transfer, and click "Apply." The process takes a few minutes depending on how many songs you're moving.
This method works for any audio file format that iTunes recognizes, including MP3, AAC, and WAV files. Once synced, the music stays on your iPhone permanently and doesn't depend on a subscription. However, syncing through a cable overwrites your iPhone's music library with what's on your computer, so make sure you're syncing the right songs.
Using iCloud Music Library to sync across devices
If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can turn on iCloud Music Library to sync your music across all your Apple devices. This means songs you download on your Mac appear on your iPhone automatically, and vice versa. To set this up on your iPhone, go to Settings, tap Music, and turn on "Sync Library."
iCloud Music Library also lets you upload songs that aren't in the Apple Music catalog—for example, a rare recording or a song you recorded yourself—and access them on any device. However, this feature requires an active Apple Music subscription. If you cancel, your uploaded songs disappear from the cloud, though they stay on any device where you've already downloaded them.
iCloud Music Library is different from simply having an Apple Music subscription. The subscription gives you access to millions of songs to stream; iCloud Music Library syncs your personal library across devices. Both require an internet connection to set up, but once songs are downloaded to your iPhone, you can listen offline.
Storage space and managing downloaded music
Downloaded music takes up storage space on your iPhone, so if you download hundreds of songs, you may run low on space for photos, apps, or other files. Check how much space your downloads are using by going to Settings, tapping General, then iPhone Storage. Music appears in the list with the total size.
To free up space, delete songs you no longer listen to by opening the Music app, swiping left on a song, and tapping the trash icon. If the song is from a streaming service, deleting it just removes the download—you can re-download it later. If you bought the song, you can re-download it from the iTunes Store using the cloud icon next to the song title.
If you have limited storage, consider downloading only your most-played songs and streaming the rest. Most iPhones come with 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage. A typical song file is about 5 to 10 MB, so 1,000 songs take up roughly 5 to 10 GB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download music to my iPhone without a subscription?
Yes, if you buy songs through iTunes or transfer music from your computer. Streaming services require an active subscription to download songs for offline listening. Once your subscription ends, downloaded songs from that service stop working.
What happens to downloaded music if I cancel my streaming subscription?
Downloaded songs from a streaming service become unplayable and disappear from your library. Songs you bought through iTunes or transferred from your computer stay on your iPhone permanently. This is why buying is better if you want to keep music long-term.
Can I download music to my iPhone over WiFi only?
Most streaming services and iTunes let you download over cellular data or WiFi. If you want to limit downloads to WiFi only, go to Settings, tap Music, and turn on "Use Cellular Data" or "Use WiFi Only" depending on your service. This saves cellular data if you have a limited plan.
How do I transfer music from my old phone to my new iPhone?
If both phones use the same Apple ID and have iCloud Music Library turned on, songs sync automatically when you set up your new iPhone. If you have music files on your old phone that aren't in Apple Music, connect your old phone to a computer, transfer the files to iTunes or Finder, then sync them to your new iPhone.
Why can't I download a song from Apple Music?
Some songs are not available for download due to licensing restrictions set by the record label or artist. You can stream these songs but not save them offline. Try searching for an alternate version or a live recording, which may have different download permissions.