Apple Music offers more than 100 million songs, but when you find music you want to revisit, add it to your Library for easy access. You can save songs, albums, and playlists, with room for up to 100,000 songs in your personal cloud library, excluding tracks and music videos purchased directly from the iTunes Store.
Adding music to your Library is only the first step. To listen offline, you'll also need to download it to your device, since adding music doesn't download it automatically.
This guide covers how to add music on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, and Mac, manage playlists and Favorites, find saved tracks, and fix common issues. You'll also learn how ViWizard Apple Music Converter can help you convert Apple Music tracks into local audio files for your personal collection.
Part 1. How to Add Music to Your Apple Music Library
Apple Music lets you add songs, albums, and playlists to your library for easy access. Find the music you want and select Add to Library. Once it's added, you can find it in your library and download it for offline listening. If you use Apple Music on multiple devices, enable Sync Library to keep your collection available across them.
1.1How to Add a Song, Album, or Playlist to Your Apple Music Library on iPhone, iPad, or Android
Open Apple Music and search for the music you want. Tap Add (+) for an album or playlist, or More (•••) > Add to Library for an individual song. You can find saved music under Library. To listen offline, select Download; adding music does not download it automatically.
01Open the Apple Music app and find the song, album, or playlist you want to add.
02To add a song, tap More (•••) > Add next to it.
03To add an album or playlist, open it and tap Add (+).
04Go to Library to find your saved music.
05To listen offline, open the item and tap Download or the available download button.
06To sync music across supported devices, enable Sync Library. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Apps > Music. On Android, open Apple Music settings.
1.2How to Add a Song, Album, or Playlist to Your Apple Music Library on Windows
Open the Apple Music app and search for the song, album, or playlist. Select Add to Library to save it, then find it under Library. For offline listening, select Download. To sync your collection across supported devices, enable Sync Library and use the same Apple Account.
01Open the Apple Music app and search for the music you want.
02For a song, click Add beside it or select More (•••) > Add to Library.
03For an album or playlist, open it and click Add (+).
04Select Library in the sidebar to find your saved music.
05To listen offline, select Download from the available controls or menu.
06To sync music across supported devices, enable Sync Library in Apple Music settings and use the same Apple Account on each device.
1.3How to Add a Song, Album, or Playlist to Your Apple Music Library on Mac
Open the Music app and search for the music you want. Select Add to Library to save it, then find it under Library. To listen offline, select Download. To keep your collection synchronized across supported devices, enable Sync Library in Music settings and use the same Apple Account with an eligible subscription.
01Open the Music app and search for the music you want.
02To add a song, move the pointer over it and click Add, or select More (•••) > Add to Library.
03To add an album or playlist, open it and click Add (+).
04Select Library in the sidebar to find your saved music.
05To listen offline, select Download from the item's page or menu.
06To sync music across supported devices, go to Music > Settings > General, enable Sync Library, and use the same Apple Account on each device.
Part 2. How to Add Music to an Apple Music Playlist
If you want to organize music by mood, activity, or occasion, you can add songs to an existing playlist or create your own. Select Add to Playlist for the song you want, then choose a playlist. On iPhone, you can also enable Add Playlist Songs in Music settings to automatically add playlist tracks to your library.
2.1How to Add a Song to Your Apple Music Playlist on iPhone, iPad, or Android
Open Apple Music, find a song, and tap More (•••) > Add to Playlist. Choose an existing playlist or create one under Library > Playlists > New Playlist. Enter a name, select Add Music, choose songs, and save. To automatically add playlist tracks to your library on iPhone, enable Settings > Apps > Music > Add Playlist Songs.
01Open Apple Music and find the song you want to add.
02Tap More (•••) > Add to Playlist.
03Select an existing playlist.
04To create a playlist, go to Library > Playlists > New Playlist. On iPhone or Android, tap Create New Playlist if prompted. On iPad, scroll to the bottom of the sidebar and tap New Playlist.
05Enter a name, tap Add Songs, select the tracks, and tap Save or the confirmation button.
06On iPhone, enable Settings > Apps > Music > Add Playlist Songs to automatically add playlist tracks to your Library.
2.2How to Add a Song to Your Apple Music Playlist on Windows
Open the Apple Music app, find a song, and select More (•••) > Add to Playlist. Choose an existing playlist or create one under Playlists > Add > New Playlist. Enter a name, add songs, and open the playlist to check its contents.
01Open the Apple Music app and find the song you want.
02Click More (•••) > Add to Playlist.
03Choose an existing playlist.
04To create one, click the Add (+) button next to Playlists in the sidebar and select New Playlist.
05Enter a name, then add songs using More (•••) > Add to Playlist, or drag tracks into the playlist from the sidebar.
2.3How to Add a Song to Your Apple Music Playlist on Mac
Open the Music app, find a song, and select More (•••) > Add to Playlist. Choose an existing playlist or create one using File > New > Playlist. Enter a name and add songs. You can edit the playlist later to add, remove, or reorder tracks.
01Open the Music app and find the song you want.
02Select More (•••) > Add to Playlist and choose an existing playlist.
03To create one, select File > New > Playlist from the menu bar.
04Enter a name and add songs using Add to Playlist, or drag tracks from your Library into the playlist in the sidebar.
Part 3. Where to Find Songs, Albums, and Playlists in Your Apple Music Library
Open Apple Music and go to Library to browse your saved songs, albums, artists, and playlists. If a section you're looking for isn't visible, check the Library customization options. You can show, hide, or reorder available sections to make your most-used categories easier to find.
If music you've added on another device doesn't appear, make sure you're signed in with the same Apple Account and have Sync Library enabled on your supported devices. Give your collection time to sync. If the music is still missing, check that it was added to your Library and that the relevant section is visible in your Library view.
3.1How to Find Songs, Albums, and Playlists in Your Apple Music Library on iPhone, iPad, or Android
Open Apple Music and tap Library to browse Songs, Albums, Artists, or Playlists. To find specific music, tap Search and enter the song, album, or artist name. If available, select Library as the search scope to limit results to your collection. To find favorite songs, open Library > Playlists > Favorite Songs.
01Open Apple Music and tap Library.
02Select Songs, Albums, Artists, or Playlists to browse your collection.
03To find specific music, tap Search and enter the song, album, or artist name. Select the Library filter if available.
04To find favorite tracks, go to Library > Playlists > Favorite Songs, if available.
05On iPhone, customize the displayed categories by tapping More (•••) > Edit Sections and selecting the sections you want to show.
3.2How to Find Songs, Albums, and Playlists in Your Apple Music Library on Windows
Open the Apple Music app and select Library in the sidebar. Browse Songs, Albums, Artists, or Playlists, or use Search to find specific music. Open a playlist to view its tracks and use the playback controls to play or shuffle them.
01Open the Apple Music app and select Library in the sidebar.
02Browse your saved music by category, or use Search to find a specific song, album, or artist.
03Open an item or playlist to view its tracks and start playback.
04To show or hide Library sections, click More next to Library, select Edit Library Sidebar, and adjust the displayed sections.
05If music is missing, check that Sync Library is enabled and that you're using the same Apple Account on each device.
3.3How to Find Songs, Albums, and Playlists in Your Apple Music Library on Mac
Open the Music app and select Library in the sidebar. Browse Songs, Albums, Artists, or Playlists, or use Search to locate specific music. Open a playlist to view its tracks and use the playback controls to play, shuffle, or repeat songs.
01Open the Music app and select Library in the sidebar.
02Browse Songs, Albums, Artists, or Playlists, or use Search to find specific music.
03Open a song, album, or playlist to view its tracks and start playback.
04To customize the sidebar, move the pointer over Library, click Edit, select the sections you want, and click Done.
05Drag Library sections to change their order.
06If music is missing, go to Music > Settings > General and check that Sync Library is enabled and you're signed in with the same Apple Account on your other supported devices.
Part 4. Add to Library vs. Add to Playlist vs. Add to Favorites
These actions have different purposes: Add to Library collects music, Add to Playlist organizes songs, and Add to Favorites marks preferred content and improves recommendations.
- Add to Library: Think of your Apple Music Library as the home for all the music you want to keep track of. When you find a song, album, or playlist you want to come back to, tap Add or select More (•••) > Add to Library. It'll show up in your Library, so you can find it again without searching for it. Just keep in mind that adding music doesn't automatically download it to your device. If you want to listen offline, you'll need to select Download separately.
- Add to Playlist: Playlists are a simple way to group songs for different moods, activities, or occasions. Found a song that would fit your workout mix or road-trip playlist? Tap More (•••) > Add to Playlist, then choose an existing playlist or create a new one. One thing to remember: adding a song to a playlist doesn't always add it to your Library, too. If you want that to happen automatically, turn on Add Playlist Songs in the Music settings on your iPhone.
- Add to Favorites: When you find a song you really like, you can mark it as a favorite by selecting Favorite from its menu or tapping the Favorite button while listening. Your favorite tracks show up in the Favorite Songs playlist, so they're easy to find later. Apple Music also uses your favorites to personalize recommendations, and favoriting artists can help you get notifications about new releases. On iPhone, you can turn on Add Favorite Songs in Music settings to have favorited songs added to your Library automatically. Favorited albums, artists, and playlists are added to your Library, too.
You can combine these actions by adding an album to your Library, placing selected tracks in a workout playlist, and favoriting your preferred songs.
Part 5. How to Fix Songs That Won't Add to Apple Music
Songs that won't add to Apple Music may be caused by account issues, connection problems, or sync settings. Check your subscription, internet connection, and Sync Library settings first. If songs are missing or unavailable, check their status or try searching for another version.
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Check Your Apple Music Subscription and Account
If a song won't add to your Library, check that your Apple Music subscription is active and you're signed in with the correct Apple Account. Check your internet connection, then try again. If only a few songs are missing, search for them directly in Apple Music. They may have been removed from the catalog or replaced with another version.
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Enable Sync Library
If songs appear on one device but not another, check Sync Library. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Apps > Music and turn it on. On your Mac or Windows computer, open the Music or Apple Music app and check its settings. Make sure all devices use the same Apple Account, then wait for your Library to sync.
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Update Your Cloud Music Library
If Sync Library is enabled but songs are still missing, update your Cloud Music Library on your computer. On Mac, open the Music app and select File > Library > Update Cloud Library. On Windows, open the Apple Music app and select Sidebar Actions > Library > Update Cloud Library. When the update finishes, check your Library again.
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Fix Grayed-Out or Unavailable Songs
If a song appears grayed out, check the message displayed beside it or when you try to play it. No Longer Available may mean the track has been removed from the catalog. Search for another version. If an explicit song won't play, check your device's content restrictions. For purchased songs, sign in with the Apple Account used to buy them and authorize your computer if prompted.
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Locate Missing Music Files
If an imported song won't play, check whether its original file is still on your computer. Open the Music app on Mac or Apple Music on Windows and locate the track. If the file has been moved or renamed, find it and import it into your library again. If the song appears in your Library but won't sync, check its Cloud Status in the desktop app.
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Check Your Library Before Turning Off Sync Library
Before disabling Sync Library, back up your personal music files. Turning it off may remove downloaded music from your device, and Apple Music isn't a backup service for your music collection. If you turn Sync Library off and back on, allow time for your collection to sync before checking for missing songs.
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Contact Apple Support
If songs still won't add, play, or sync, visit the Apple Support website and select Apple Music or your device. When requesting help, explain which songs are affected, whether the issue occurs on one device or several, and any error messages you've received. This information can help identify the cause.
Part 6. How to Convert Apple Music Songs with ViWizard Apple Music Converter
Downloading songs in Apple Music is handy for offline listening, but those downloads stay in the app and aren't regular audio files you can easily move to other devices. If you want more control over your music, ViWizard Apple Music Converter lets you convert Apple Music songs, albums, and playlists to formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, and M4B for local storage and easier management.
Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows PC or Mac and use its built-in interface to find the songs, albums, or playlists you want to save. Select multiple tracks to convert them in one go, then open the output settings to choose a format and save location. Click Convert, and ViWizard will save the converted files to your chosen folder, ready to organize or transfer to compatible devices. Just make sure you use the files in line with applicable laws and Apple Music's terms of service.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
Free Trial Free Trial* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.
- Converts protected iTunes, Apple Music songs, and radio shows into MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, and other common formats.
- Boosts conversion speed up to 30X faster with high output quality preserved.
- Remove the protection of all songs from your iTunes Library for playback anywhere.
Step 1: Download and Install ViWizard Apple Music Converter
First, visit the official ViWizard website and download Apple Music Converter for your Windows PC or Mac. After installation, launch the program and sign in with your Apple Music account to access your music library, including songs, albums, and playlists. This lets you choose the Apple Music tracks you want to convert into local audio files.
Step 2: Set MP3 as the Output Format
To save your selected Apple Music tracks as local MP3 files, click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open the settings window. Select MP3 as the output format, then adjust the sample rate, bit rate, and channel settings according to your preferences. These options help you balance audio quality and file size. Once you've finished configuring the settings, click OK to save your changes.
Step 3: Select and Convert Apple Music Songs
Browse your Apple Music library and choose the songs, albums, or playlists you want to convert into local MP3 files. Click the "+" button to add your selections, then click "Add to Conversion List" to queue the tracks for conversion. Review your selections and click "Convert" to start the process. ViWizard will process the selected tracks using your chosen output settings and save the resulting files to your computer.
Step 4: Find and Manage Your Local Music Files
After the conversion is complete, click the "History" button to view your converted tracks. Click the folder icon next to a track to open the folder where the file is saved on your computer. You can then organize the MP3 files in your local music collection or transfer them to compatible devices for playback. Unlike streaming tracks accessed through the Apple Music app, these files can be managed as local audio files, subject to applicable usage rights and device compatibility.
Part 7. Conclusion
Adding music to your Apple Music Library or playlists makes it easy to keep your favorite tracks organized and ready to play. You can also download songs for offline listening, but those downloads remain tied to the Apple Music app. If you want more flexibility for managing your personal music collection, give ViWizard Apple Music Converter a try. It lets you convert Apple Music tracks into formats like MP3, M4A, and FLAC for local storage and use on compatible devices. It's an alternative worth considering if you want to manage your music beyond the built-in Apple Music system.
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Adam Gorden is always looking for new ways to explore music and videos. He likes trying different media tools and learning how to manage audio and video files with ease.
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