Download Apple Music on a Free Trial and Keep the Songs

By Adam Gorden Updated on January 12, 2026

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If you are thinking about trying Apple Music, you do not have to commit right away. While it is a subscription-based service without a permanent free tier, Apple Music offers free trials that let you explore the service before paying. This makes it easy to see how it fits into your listening habits.

During the trial, Apple Music works like the full paid experience. You can browse the music catalog, add songs and albums to your library, and use the app as your main player. For many users, this is enough to decide whether the service is worth keeping.

One of the most useful features is offline listening. You can download songs from the Apple Music catalog and save them to your library, even directly to your device. Downloads work the same as for paid subscribers. For many people, being able to download music is what makes the trial truly valuable. But what happens after the trial ends? Do the downloads remain, or do they expire like titles on Netflix?

This guide will cover everything you need to know about downloading music on Apple Music during the free trial. You will learn what is possible, what is limited, and how to make the most of your trial before deciding whether to continue with a subscription. Let's get started.

Part 1. Can You Download Music on Apple Music During the Free Trial?

Yes, you can. Downloading is available to both paid subscribers and trial users. Apple currently offers a one-month free trial to new users. Make sure you have never subscribed before, as only new users can get this deal. If you've already tried Apple Music, you can check for 3-6 month trial offers with an eligible device purchase like AirPods, or look for promotions for returning users. For new users, set up your device with your Apple ID, visit Apple Music, or open the Music app to redeem any limited-time offers.

Once your trial is activated, open Apple Music or iTunes, sign in, authorize your device, and explore your Home page for recommendations. You can also search the catalog of over 100 million tracks to find what you want to download. Keep in mind the 100,000-song download limit and the 10-device limit, with only 5 computers allowed. Make sure your device has enough storage and avoid letting Automatic Downloads or Download Pins automatically save every track you add to your library.

Part 2. What You Need Before Downloading Music on Apple Music (Free Trial Requirements)

Before you start downloading, make sure you check a few essentials, which help ensure a smooth downloading experience.

Key Rules and Limitations for Apple Music Free Trial Downloads
  • Trial Length: Most new users get a one month free trial. Buying an eligible Apple device may extend it to three or six months.
  • Subscription Control: You can view or cancel your trial anytime in Apple Account settings or at music.apple.com.
  • Offline Only: Downloads work without internet, but you do not own the files and can only play them in the Apple Music app.
  • Access Ends: Downloaded music stops working when the trial or subscription ends.
  • DRM Limits: Files are protected and cannot be transferred or used in other apps.

What happens when the free trial ends? Can you still download Apple Music?

Once the free trial ends, you can no longer download music from Apple Music, and any songs you downloaded during the trial will become unavailable. To keep listening, you need to subscribe. The same applies to paid subscribers - if a payment fails, downloaded music is removed from the library.

If you choose not to subscribe, there is another option. By saving your favorite Apple Music tracks in a common format like MP3 during the trial, you can keep access even after the trial or subscription ends. We will cover this in Part 5, but you can try ViWizard Apple Music Converter right away.

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ViWizard Apple Music Converter

Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.

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Part 3. Download Music on Apple Music for Free During Your Trial

Downloading music is simple. Open an album, playlist, or song, tap to add it to your library, and then tap the download button. You'll see a small progress indicator while the song downloads. This works for single tracks, full albums, or entire playlists, just like for a paid subscriber.

1: Sign Up for an Apple Music Free Trial

Step 1 Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. On a computer, you can also open iTunes or visit the Apple Music website.

Step 2 Go to the Home tab or account section and look for the free trial offer. If no banner appears, tap your profile icon to check available plans.

Step 3 Tap the free trial offer, then choose a plan such as Individual, Family, or Student based on your eligibility.

Step 4 Confirm the subscription by entering your Apple ID password or using Face ID or Touch ID. Your trial starts immediately.

2: Download Music on Apple Music During the Free Trial

On iTunes for Windows or Older macOS

Step 1 Open the iTunes app on your computer and sign in with the Apple ID used for your free trial. Check by clicking Account → Sign In in the top menu.

Step 2 Use the Search box in the upper right corner to find a song, album, or playlist.

Step 3 Switch the search filter to Apple Music to browse the streaming catalog.

Step 4 Click the item you want, then right-click it and select Add to Library.

Step 5 After adding, click the cloud icon next to the item or right-click and choose Download. Wait for the download to finish before going offline.

On the Music App for Mac

Step 1 Open the Music app and ensure you are signed in with the correct Apple ID from the Account menu.

Step 2 Use the Search field in the upper right corner and select Apple Music to search the full catalog.

Step 3 Open the song, album, or playlist you want to save.

Step 4 Click the three-dot menu next to the item and choose Add to Library.

Step 5 Click the cloud icon to download. Track progress in the Downloads section under Library.

On the Music App for iPhone or iPad

iphone download apple music

Step 1 Open the Music app and tap Search at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2 Find the song, album, or playlist you want from Apple Music.

Step 3 Tap the three-dot menu next to the item and choose Add to Library.

Step 4 Tap the three-dot menu again and select Download. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi to avoid interruptions.

Part 4. Where Apple Music Free Trial Downloads Are Stored and How to Find Them

It's a yes and no question, depending what you're truly aimed after. Downloaded music is stored primarily inside the Apple Music app, in your library. Tap Library and then Downloads to see everything you've saved. From there, you can play songs without an internet connection. It's simple, but remember that you won't find those Apple Music downloads in your device's regular file system, unless you're using Android, Windows or Mac but not iOS.

downloaded apple music stored
Where Are Apple Music Downloads Stored? Find Here!

Apple Music allow premium users to download music for offline playing. Do you know where the downloads Apple Music stored on your device? Let's have a look.

Part 5. How to Keep Apple Music Downloads After the Free Trial or Subscription Ends

Once the trial ends, your downloads stop working unless you subscribe. There are a few ways to keep music: continue with a paid subscription, purchase individual songs from the iTunes Store to own them, or use ViWizard Apple Music Converter during your trial to keep them forever as standard audio files. It already starts tictacking, so make the right decision, or you could lose your entire Apple Music library, not just the trial downloads.

Option 1: Continue with a Paid Apple Music Subscription

The simplest way is to subscribe. If you don't cancel your trial, you will be automatically charged the monthly subscription fee of $10.99. All the songs, albums, and playlists you added during your trial stay in your library, and Sync Library keeps them across devices. Downloads are not transferable, so you still need to download songs again on a new device. Keep an eye on your billing cycle because missed payments can erase your library on most devices.

Option 2: Buy Songs from the iTunes Store to Keep Them Permanently

If you want to own your music, buying songs or albums from iTunes is the safe bet. These purchases are yours forever, even if you cancel Apple Music. Unlike trial downloads, purchased tracks will not disappear and can be played on any device linked to your Apple ID, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Windows PCs, and Android devices. This is perfect for songs you love or a library that is safe from subscription changes. For extra security, you can also convert your trial downloads for offline use.

Step 1 Open the iTunes Store app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then tap the search bar at the top.

Step 2 Enter the name of the song, album, or artist you want to buy and select the correct result. If multiple versions appear, choose the exact track or original album you want.

Step 3 Tap the price button next to the song or album. When prompted, confirm your Apple ID and payment method. Individual songs usually cost between $0.99 and $1.29.

Step 4 After the purchase, tap the cloud icon to download the music to your device. These songs are yours permanently and can be played offline or transferred to other devices without an Apple Music subscription.

Option 3: Download Apple Music to Standard Audio Formats for Offline Use

This option is more advanced but offers the most flexibility. ViWizard Apple Music Converter lets trial users and subscribers convert Apple Music tracks in batches to standard formats such as MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, or FLAC. It preserves the lossless audio while freeing you from needing Apple Music to play your songs. You can select tracks, playlists, albums, artists, or even your whole library, choose a format, and let ViWizard remove DRM and save everything to your device. This gives you MP3 copies for backup and the freedom to play your music anywhere. Call it freedom, if you like.

audio converter

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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  • Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
  • Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
  • Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
  • Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details

Step 1 Install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your computer and make sure it is updated to the latest version.

Step 2 Open the software and sign in with the same Apple ID linked to your Apple Music account.

Step 3 Browse your Apple Music library inside the converter and select the playlists, albums, or tracks you want to save. Tip: Check the file size to ensure you have enough storage space.

Step 4 Open Preferences, go to the Conversions section, and choose an output format such as MP3. Switch to the Converting tab, click Convert, and wait while the music is saved. Once finished, you can transfer the files to any device, media player, or USB drive for permanent offline use.

Part 6. FAQs About Apple Music Free Trial Downloads

This section gives practical answers to common questions about Apple Music trial downloads. They can help you understand how downloads work and make the most of your trial, which is always useful to know.

Can I keep Apple Music downloads after my free trial ends?

No. Songs downloaded during the trial are DRM-protected and can only be played while the trial is active. Once it ends, those downloads become unplayable unless you subscribe.

Do I lose access to my Apple Music library if I cancel after the trial?

Yes. Your library of Apple Music subscription songs will no longer be accessible after the trial ends. Purchased iTunes Store songs are not affected.

Can I permanently save Apple Music songs during the trial?

No. Apple Music downloads are intended for temporary offline listening. The only way to permanently keep songs is to purchase them from iTunes or another authorized store.

Does adding songs to playlists protect them after the trial?

No. Playlists only organize the music in your library. Subscription tracks in playlists will still become unplayable once the trial expires.

Can I transfer downloaded Apple Music songs to another device after the trial?

No. DRM protection prevents copying subscription tracks to other devices after the trial ends. Offline listening works only on devices logged into the same Apple ID during the active trial.

Why do some downloaded songs disappear before my trial ends?

Because Apple Music sometimes removes offline tracks if there are connectivity or license verification issues. Keeping your device online and the Apple Music app updated usually resolves this.

Conclusion

In this post, we have shared how users on Apple Music free trial can download Apple Music using the downloading feature or an Apple Music downloader app called ViWizard Audio Converter. While Apple Music subscribers can download music and listen to them offline on free trial, the downloaded music will no longer accessible when it ends. However, ViWizard Audio Converter will ensure the access to them forever.

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