6 Effective Methods to Get Apple Music on Linux (Step-by-Step)

Part 1. Is Apple Music Available on Linux?

Nothing is more frustrating than realizing your favorite music service isn't officially supported on your system. Apple Music doesn't have a Linux app, and iTunes isn't supported either. Unlike Spotify, which offers a native Linux app that works smoothly out of the box, Apple Music leaves Linux users looking for workarounds. You can't just install it and start streaming over 100 million tracks like on Windows or macOS.

That said, don't lose hope. The more Linux users adopt Apple Music or request an official app, the higher the chance Apple might create a solution in the future. Streaming services often consider user feedback and platform support before expanding.

Meanwhile, all is not lost. Community-driven solutions and practical workarounds can get you streaming Apple Music on Linux sooner than you think. In the following parts, we'll walk through these options so you can pick the method that works best for your setup.

Part 2. Best Ways to Use Apple Music on Linux

The first part is the most straightforward if your main focus is just enjoying music on Linux. We cover both online streaming through the Apple Music Web Player and offline listening using ViWizard Apple Music Converter. Here's how each works:

Option 1. Play Apple Music on Linux (Apple Music Web Player)

The easiest way to get started is with the Apple Music Web Player. Open any modern Linux browser - Firefox, Chrome, or similar - go to music.apple.com, log in, and you're ready to listen. You get access to your full library, playlists, and recommendations without installing anything. For many people, this is enough for daily streaming. It's reliable, simple, and officially supported, making it the fastest way to start listening to Apple Music on Linux.

Step 1 Apple Music Web Player works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, Chromium, and Microsoft Edge.

Step 2 If you're using Brave or Vivaldi, you may need to adjust browser settings to allow media playback.

Step 3 Visit music.apple.com.

Step 4 Click Sign In in the top-right corner.

Step 5 Enter your Apple ID and password.

Step 6 If you have two-factor authentication enabled, verify your login on a trusted device.

Step 7 Once signed in, your entire Apple Music library will be available, including playlists, albums, and podcasts.

Step 8 Use the search bar at the top to find songs, artists, or albums.

Step 9 Adjust playback controls at the bottom, including shuffle, repeat, and queue options.

Option 2. Download and Transfer Apple Music to Linux (ViWizard Apple Music Converter)

If you want offline access, ViWizard Apple Music Converter is worth considering. The idea is simple: install ViWizard on Windows or Mac, download your Apple Music library, then transfer it to your Linux system and play it as local media.

Why ViWizard Apple Music Converter for Apple Music on Linux?

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is designed for Apple Music users who want to convert their songs, playlists, and albums into standard formats like MP3. Once converted, you can play them on Linux anytime, without needing the web player. This is useful if you travel a lot or have devices that don't support Apple Music. My advice: start with a few favorite playlists to see how it works. If it fits your workflow, you can convert your entire library. It takes a little effort upfront, but the flexibility it provides is worth it.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

Free Trial Free Trial

* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.

• 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: Download Apple Music Using ViWizard

Step 1 Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or macOS computer.

Step 2 Sign in with your Apple ID to access your Apple Music library.

Step 3 Browse and select the songs, albums, or playlists you want to download.

Step 4 Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner and select Preferences.

Step 5 Choose an output format compatible with Linux, such as MP3, FLAC, M4A, or WAV.

Step 6 Adjust bitrate, sample rate, and audio quality if needed. Click OK to save your settings.

Step 7 Search for the music you want to convert using the ViWizard Apple Music Web Player.

Step 8 Click Add Music to include selected songs in the conversion list.

Step 9 Once ready, click Convert to start downloading your tracks.

Step 10 After conversion, go to History > Open Folder to find your DRM-free music files.

Step 2: Transfer Apple Music Files to Linux

Step 1 Once you've downloaded your music, transfer it to your Linux system using one of these methods:

Step 2 Now that your music is on Linux, you can play it using any media player, such as:

Step 3 This method gives you full control over your music collection without needing iTunes, Wine, or a web player.

Part 3. Advanced Workarounds to Use Apple Music on Linux

If the Web Player isn't enough, there are ways to get a more native-like experience on Linux. Third-party apps wrap the Apple Music Web Player into a desktop app for a cleaner interface. Below are four practical methods, with Cider being the most popular.

Method 1: Use a Native-Like Apple Music App on Linux (Cider)

Cider is an open-source Apple Music client for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It offers a more customizable experience than the web player, with UI themes, an equalizer, and integrations like Discord and Last.fm. Lightweight and convenient, it's a popular choice for daily listening.

Step 1 Download Cider from GitHub or the Flathub store.

Step 2 Choose the right package for your Linux distribution. Use .deb for Debian-based systems (Ubuntu, Mint), .AppImage for universal use, or .snap for Snap-enabled distributions.

Step 3 Install Cider based on your package type.

• For .deb, open a terminal and run:
sudo dpkg -i cider-linux.deb
sudo apt-get install -f

• For .AppImage, make it executable and run it:
chmod +x cider.AppImage
./cider.AppImage

• For Snap, run:
sudo snap install cider

Step 4 Open Cider from the Applications menu or run cider in the terminal.

Step 5 Sign in with your Apple ID to access your music library.

Step 6 Customize the app by changing themes, UI layouts, or enabling audio enhancements.

Step 7 Optionally, enable integrations like Discord or Last.fm to share your listening activity.

Method 2: Run Apple Music / iTunes on Linux (Wine or Virtual Machine)

Technical users can run iTunes via Wine or a virtual machine. Wine lets some Windows apps run natively on Linux, while a virtual machine simulates a full Windows system. Both provide full iTunes functionality but require setup and may run slower. Best for users comfortable with technical configurations.

Option 1: Running iTunes with Wine

Step 1 Install Wine on your Linux system.

• For Ubuntu/Debian, run:
sudo apt install wine64

• For Fedora, run:
sudo dnf install wine

Step 2 Configure Wine by running winecfg in the terminal.

winecfg

Step 3 Install Mono and Gecko if prompted during configuration.

Step 4 Download the 32-bit iTunes installer from Apple's website.

Step 5 Install iTunes using Wine by running:

wine iTunesSetup.exe

Step 6 Open iTunes with:

wine ~/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files/iTunes/iTunes.exe

Step 7 Sign in with your Apple ID and start listening.

Option 2: Running iTunes in a Virtual Machine

Step 1 Download and install VirtualBox on your Linux system.

• For Ubuntu/Debian, run:
sudo apt install virtualbox

Step 2 Download a Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft's website.

Step 3 Open VirtualBox, click New, and create a Windows 10 VM.

Step 4 Assign at least 4GB of RAM and 40GB of storage to the VM.

Step 5 Load the Windows ISO and follow the installation steps.

Step 6 Once Windows is installed, download and install iTunes from Apple's website.

Method 3: Install a Community Apple Music Client on Linux (Snap or Flatpak)

Community-built clients via Snap or Flatpak provide a pre-configured, Linux-friendly environment for Apple Music. Installation is often simpler than Wine or a VM, though support can vary depending on the package.

Option 1: Installing Apple Music via Snap

Step 1 Make sure Snap is installed.

• For Ubuntu/Debian, run:
sudo apt install snapd

• For Fedora, run:
sudo dnf install snapd

Step 2 Search for available Apple Music Snap packages by running:

snap search apple-music

Step 3 Install the package if available:

sudo snap install apple-music-linux

Step 4 Open the app from your Applications menu or run apple-music-linux in the terminal.

Step 5 Sign in with your Apple ID and start streaming.

Option 2: Installing Apple Music via Flatpak

Step 1 Make sure Flatpak is installed.

• For Ubuntu/Debian, run:
sudo apt install flatpak

• For Fedora, run:
sudo dnf install flatpak

Step 2 Add the Flathub repository if it's not already added:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Step 3 Search for an Apple Music Flatpak package by running:

flatpak search apple-music

Step 4 Install the package (replace package-name with the actual name found):

flatpak install flathub package-name

Step 5 Run the client with:

flatpak run package-name

Step 6 Sign in with your Apple ID to start streaming.

Method 4: Install Apple Music as a Desktop Web App on Linux (Chrome / Chromium / Edge)

You can also install the web player as a Progressive Web App (PWA). It opens in its own window with a launcher icon, giving a clean, app-like experience without third-party software. A simple and convenient solution for users who want minimal setup.

Step 1 Open Chrome, Chromium, or Edge and go to music.apple.com. Sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 2 Click the browser menu (three dots) to find the install option:

• On Chrome/Chromium, click: Install Apple Music…
• On Edge, click: Apps → Install this site as an app

Step 3 Confirm the installation. Apple Music will open in its own window, separate from your browser tabs.

Step 4 A launcher icon will be added to your Applications menu or desktop. Click it anytime to open Apple Music directly.

Step 5 Optionally, pin the PWA to your taskbar or favorites for faster access.

Part 4. Apple Music on Linux: Q&A

Conclusion

By using ViWizard Apple Music Converetr, you can successfully eliminate DRM protection from your Apple Music tracks and transfer them to your Linux system. This allows you to relish your favorite tunes offline without the need for iTunes or DRM constraints, enhancing your Linux music experience.