10 Simple Methods to Play Apple Music in a Car

Option 1. Play Apple Music in Your Car with Apple CarPlay (Best Integration)

Apple CarPlay offers the smoothest experience for Apple Music in a car. It mirrors your iPhone interface on the car's infotainment screen, giving full touchscreen control, Siri support, and seamless navigation between apps. Honestly, if your car supports it, this remains the top choice—everything just works as expected with minimal setup, including offline playlists from your Apple Music subscription.

1. Make sure your car supports Apple CarPlay. Most modern cars do, but check to be sure.
2. Connect your iPhone to the car's CarPlay USB port using a compatible cable.
3. If it's your first time, follow the prompts on your phone to enable CarPlay.
4. Your car's screen will now show the CarPlay interface. You can use the touchscreen, voice commands, or buttons on your steering wheel.
5. Tap the Apple Music icon to browse playlists, albums, or songs. You can ask Siri to play a song or skip tracks.

Option 2. Play Apple Music in Your Car with Android Auto (Best CarPlay Alternative)

Android Auto is Apple Music's next best friend if you're in an Android ecosystem. It mirrors your Android phone interface to control apps like Google Maps or Amazon Music, navigate, and use voice commands. It doesn't feel as native as CarPlay, but it's reliable and convenient. You can even access offline Apple Music tracks if downloaded to your device. Check if your car supports Android Auto.

1. Install Android Auto from Google Play if your phone doesn't have it.
2. Connect your phone to your car via USB or wirelessly if supported.
3. Open Android Auto from the car's display.
4. Tap Apple Music to see your library, playlists, and albums.
5. Select a song to play. Control playback using the touchscreen, steering wheel buttons, or Google Assistant voice commands.

Option 3. Play Apple Music in Your Car via Bluetooth

Bluetooth is universally convenient—no cables, works with almost any car. You can stream Apple Music, make hands-free calls, and integrate your device wirelessly. Sound quality may dip slightly, and there might be occasional connectivity hiccups, but it's simple, widely compatible, and ideal for everyday casual listening.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth.
2. Turn Bluetooth off for a few seconds, then back on.
3. Make sure Bluetooth is active on your car's audio system.
4. Select your car from the list of devices to pair.
5. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete pairing.

On Android:

1. Swipe down to open quick settings and turn on Bluetooth.
2. Tap and hold Bluetooth to view available devices.
3. Select your car and follow any prompts or enter a PIN if needed.

Option 4. Play Apple Music in Your Car via USB Connection

A direct USB connection can offer better audio quality than Bluetooth and charges your device at the same time. You'll need a compatible cable, and sometimes the car's infotainment may limit certain controls. Still, it's a reliable, straightforward option for wired listening.

1. Connect your phone to your car using a USB cable.
2. Choose USB as the audio source on your car's system.
3. Open Apple Music on your phone and start playing. The sound will come through your car speakers.

Option 5. Play Apple Music in Your Car via USB Drive (Converted Music)

Using a USB drive with converted Apple Music files is perfect for older cars with USB ports. You'll need software like ViWizard Apple Music Converter to remove DRM and convert tracks first. Once done, it's plug-and-play, and you benefit from offline listening as a bonus without relying on your phone and an active subscription.

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1. Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter and log in.
2. Select the playlists or songs you want to convert.
3. Choose MP3 as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Insert a USB drive into your computer.
5. Move the converted MP3 files to the drive.
6. Plug the USB drive into your car's port.
7. Select USB as the audio source.
8. Browse your playlists and play the songs.

Option 6. Play Apple Music in Your Car via SD Card (Converted Music)

Similar to USB drives, SD cards work well for cars with SD slots. After converting Apple Music tracks to MP3, you can load large libraries without tethering a device.

1. Convert Apple Music songs to MP3 first.
2. Copy the MP3 files to an SD card.
3. Insert the SD card into your car's slot.
4. Select SD card as the audio source and play your music.

Option 7. Play Apple Music in Your Car via Burned CD (Ripped Music)

Classic CDs are still an option for vehicles with CD players. You'll need to rip or burn your Apple Music playlists to CD, which can be time-consuming. Sound quality depends on your ripping method, but for vintage cars, this old-school approach works well.

1. Convert Apple Music songs to MP3 first.
2. Burn the MP3 files to a blank CD using your computer.
3. Insert the CD into your car's CD player.
4. Use the car's controls to play your music.

Option 8. Play Apple Music in Your Car via AUX Cable

AUX cables (3.5mm audio cables) are simple, cheap, and nearly universal. They deliver stable audio quality, though you'll need a cable running from your device to the car's AUX input. Some newer phones may require a headphone jack adapter. It's a practical fallback if your car lacks Bluetooth or USB support.

1. Locate the AUX input in your car, usually a 3.5mm jack labeled "AUX" or "Line-In."
2. Connect one end of an AUX cable to your device and the other to the car's input.
3. Switch the car audio source to AUX.
4. Play music on your device.

Option 9. Play Apple Music in Your Car via Cassette Adapter

Just like AUX cables, cassette adapters are for really old cars with tape decks. They can work well, though audio quality isn't perfect and setup can be finicky. Still, it's a neat trick for classic car enthusiasts who want Apple Music without modern upgrades.

1. Insert a cassette adapter into your car's cassette player.
2. Plug the 3.5mm cable into your device.
3. Play Apple Music on your device and it will broadcast through the cassette player.

Option 10. Play Apple Music in Your Car via FM Transmitter

FM transmitters broadcast your device's audio to the car radio. They're flexible and work with virtually any vehicle, including older models without modern connectivity. Audio quality can vary depending on signal interference, so it's better than nothing but not ideal for audiophiles.

1. Plug the FM transmitter into a power source, usually the cigarette lighter.
2. Set an unused FM frequency on the transmitter.
3. Tune your car radio to the same frequency.
4. Connect your device via Bluetooth or cable to the transmitter.
5. Play Apple Music, and the sound will broadcast through your car speakers.

Option 11. Extra Tips for a Better Apple Music Experience in Your Car

Tip 1: Download Apple Music Offline

Downloading your favorite Apple Music tracks for offline listening is crucial for uninterrupted playback while driving, and fortunately, Apple Music makes this easy. On iOS or Android, select the tracks or playlists you want, tap "Download," and Apple Music will store them locally on your device. With a Bluetooth or USB cable connection, offline Apple Music works seamlessly in the car.

1. Open the Apple Music app on your device.
2. Find the song, album, or playlist you want to listen to in the car.
3. Tap the Download button.
4. Wait for the download to complete. Your music will now play even without an internet connection, which is great for areas with weak signal or long trips.

Tip 2: Enable Siri

Siri makes controlling Apple Music in the car much safer and more convenient. This works best with Apple CarPlay, but even when using your iPhone directly, voice control reduces distractions and creates a smoother driving experience.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Siri & Search.
2. Turn on Listen for "Hey Siri" and Press Side Button for Siri.
3. While driving, use Siri to control Apple Music hands-free. For example, say "Hey Siri, play my Road Trip playlist" or "Skip this song."
4. This keeps your focus on the road while still enjoying full control of your music.

Tip 3: Keep Apple Music in Multiple Formats

Keeping your Apple Music library in multiple formats and storage options—such as MP3 files on a USB drive or SD card, or burned CDs—ensures you always have reliable backups and flexible ways to enjoy your music. Beyond Apple Music purchases, ViWizard Apple Music Converter makes this possible. It supports DRM removal, multi-format conversion, and auto- or manual-tagging so your music library stays well organized.

Conclusion

That's all, and if you are a subscriber to Apple Music, you could use the above methods to play Apple Music in the car when you are driving outside. Or you can think about using ViWizard Audio Converter to get DRM-free Apple Music files, then you can freely enjoy Apple Music in the car without limits.