Play Apple Music on Garmin Watches (100% Working)

Part 1. Convert Apple Music to Garmin‑Supported Audio Files

Apple Music does not work directly on Garmin watches, which can be frustrating for anyone trying to listen offline.

Music-enabled Garmin models like fēnix, Epix, Venu, and Forerunner allow storing and playing music locally in formats like MP3 or M4A directly from the watch without a phone. Apple Music tracks, however, are DRM-protected, so they cannot be transferred directly. .m4p downloads are not recognized by Garmin Express, even though it handles watch updates and app installations smoothly.

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is the solution for converting Apple Music tracks into standard audio files. It supports single songs or batch conversions of entire playlists. Once converted, the files can be transferred to the watch quickly using Garmin Express. The process only takes a few minutes, and ViWizard Apple Music Converter is free to try.

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 and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer.

Step 2 Open the program and sign in with the Apple ID linked to your Apple Music subscription if prompted.

Step 3 Click Menu in the top-right corner.

Step 4 Choose Preferences and open the Conversion tab.

Step 5 Select MP3 or another Garmin-supported format.

Step 6 Adjust the sample rate, bitrate, and channel settings if you want to customize audio quality.

Step 7 Go back to the main screen and browse your Apple Music library inside the converter.

Step 8 Select the songs, albums, or playlists you want and add them to the conversion list.

Step 9 Click Convert to start converting the tracks to DRM-free audio files.

Step 10 When the conversion finishes, open the output folder to locate the converted music files.

Part 2.Transfer Apple Music Files to Your Garmin Watch

After conversion, the next step is transferring the tracks to the watch. Garmin Express is the main tool for this, but a USB connection works as well if the watch supports it. When connected, the watch appears as a USB drive, allowing MP3 files to be dragged and dropped directly into internal storage. Garmin Express recognizes the files immediately, making syncing fast and avoiding the need for cloud storage.

Method 1: Using Garmin Express

Step 1 Go to https://www.garmin.com/express and download Garmin Express for Windows or Mac.

Step 2 Install the program and launch Garmin Express.

Step 3 Click Add a Device on the welcome screen.

Step 4 Connect your Garmin watch to the computer using the USB charging cable.

Step 5 Wait for Garmin Express to detect the device.

Step 6 Click Add Device and follow the on-screen instructions to finish setup.

Step 7 Select your watch from the Garmin Express dashboard.

Step 8 Click the Music tab.

Step 9 Click Add Music or choose an existing music folder or playlist.

Step 10 If you use iTunes or the Apple Music desktop library, open iTunes → Preferences → Advanced and enable Share iTunes Library XML with other applications.

Step 11 Return to Garmin Express and check the boxes next to the songs, folders, or playlists you want to transfer.

Step 12 Click Send to Device to start syncing the music to your watch.

Step 13 Wait until the sync completes, then safely disconnect your watch.

Method 2: Using a USB Connection (Manual Transfer)

Step 1 Connect your Garmin watch to your computer using the USB charging cable.

Step 2 Wait for the device to appear as a removable drive on your computer.

Step 3 Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Step 4 Locate the Garmin drive in the list of connected devices.

Step 5 Open the Music folder inside the Garmin directory.

Step 6 Drag and drop your converted Apple Music files into the Music folder.

Step 7 Wait for the files to finish copying.

Step 8 Safely eject the Garmin device from your computer.

Step 9 Disconnect the USB cable.

Part 3. Play Apple Music on Your Garmin Watch as Local Music

Once the files are on the watch, the built-in music player recognizes them like any other audio. Tracks can be played, paused, skipped, or repeated directly from the watch. Playlists can be organized, storage managed, and music accessed anytime without a phone. This method delivers an experience similar to having Apple Music natively available, even though the tracks are standard audio files.

Step 1 Turn on your Bluetooth headphones and put them in pairing mode.

Step 2 From the watch face, press and hold Down to open Music controls.

Step 3 Press and hold Up/Menu to open the menu.

Step 4 Select Music → Headphones → Add New.

Step 5 Wait for your headphones to appear, then select them and press Start/Enter to pair.

Step 6 Press Up/Menu again and go to Music Providers or My Music.

Step 7 Scroll to browse Playlists, Songs, or Albums stored on the watch.

Step 8 Highlight the track or playlist you want, then press Start/Enter to play.

Step 9 Use the buttons to control playback:

Step 10 Press the Light button to exit music and return to the main watch screen.

Bonus: Sync Apple Music Playlists to a Garmin‑Compatible Service

For those who prefer using a supported streaming service, Apple Music playlists can be moved to Garmin-compatible platforms. ViWizard Music Playlist Transfer allows playlists to be copied to services like Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, or YouTube Music. Playlist structure and metadata remain intact, eliminating the need to recreate them manually. After syncing, playlists can be downloaded to the watch and used in the native app, with offline listening, playlist organization, and full built-in controls available.

Key Features of ViWizard Music Playlist Transfer

Free Trial Free Trial

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

• Transfer unlimited playlists, albums, artists, and tracks across platforms
• Preserve track details and album artwork during transfer
• Recreate your music library on any supported streaming service
• Works smoothly with Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Deezer and more

Step 1 Download and install ViWizard Music Playlist Transfer on your computer.

Step 2 Open the program and choose Apple Music as the source platform.

Step 3 Sign in with your Apple ID and allow access to your music library.

Step 4 Select Amazon Music or another supported platform as the destination.

Step 5 Log in to your account on the destination service.

Step 6 Click Next to load your Apple Music library.

Step 7 Select the playlists, albums, or artists you want to transfer.

Step 8 Click Start Transfer to begin syncing the playlists.

Step 9 When the transfer finishes, open the destination music service and confirm the playlists appear in Library → Playlists.

Step 10 Install that music service on your Garmin watch through the Connect IQ Store to download playlists for offline listening.

Pro Tip: Control Apple Music on Your Phone Using Your Garmin Watch

Even without converting files or switching services, a Garmin watch can act as a remote for Apple Music on an iPhone. Tracks can be played, paused, skipped, or adjusted for volume from the wrist, which is convenient during workouts or runs without needing to touch the phone.

Step 1 Pair your Garmin watch with your iPhone using the Garmin Connect app over Bluetooth.

Step 2 Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone.

Step 3 Play a song, album, or playlist.

Step 4 On your Garmin watch, open the Music Controls widget.

Step 5 Tap Play/Pause to control playback.

Step 6 Tap Next or Previous to skip tracks.

Step 7 Adjust the volume controls directly from the watch.

Conclusion:

Now, you really can play Apple Music on Garmin Smartwatch and leave your phone behind when you head out for a run because the Apple Music that keeps you moving is right there on your wrist. If you like this tip, please share ViWizard Apple Music Converter with your friends for better enjoying Apple Music songs.