4 Ways to Play Apple Music on Apple TV (Including Older Models)

Part 1. How to Play Apple Music on Apple TV with the Apple Music App

The built-in Apple Music app is available on supported Apple TV models, such as Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K, running tvOS. It allows users to directly access their Apple Music library, playlists, albums, radio stations, and the full streaming catalog from their TV without needing another device.

Technically, the Apple Music app on Apple TV works as a standalone streaming client. Apple TV connects directly to Apple Music servers, verifies the user's Apple Account, and streams audio through the connected TV, soundbar, receiver, or speakers. This makes it the most stable option for users who want to use Apple TV as a dedicated music player, with features such as large-screen browsing, Siri Remote control, and library management.

Step 1Get Apple Music on Apple TV

01Turn on your Apple TV and open the Music app.

02Select Sign In if you are not already signed in.

03Choose Use iPhone or iPad or Sign In Manually.

04Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in with the Apple Account linked to your Apple Music subscription.

05Wait for your Apple Music content to appear in the Music app.

Step 2Sync Apple Music to Apple TV

01Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

02Select Music.

03Turn on Sync Library.

04Make sure your Apple TV is signed in with the same Apple Account.

05Open the Music app on Apple TV and wait for your library, playlists, and added songs to sync.

Step 3Play Apple Music on Apple TV

01Open the Music app on your Apple TV.

02Select Listen Now, Browse, Radio, or Library from the sidebar.

03Choose a song, album, playlist, or station.

04Press the Play button on your Siri Remote.

05Use the controls to pause, skip, repeat, or shuffle songs.

Step 4Use Siri with Apple Music on Apple TV

01Press and hold the Siri button on your Siri Remote.

02Say a command like "Play my favorite playlist" or "Play songs by [artist name]".

03Release the Siri button.

04Wait for Siri to search and start playing the music.

Part 2. How to Play Apple Music on Apple TV with AirPlay

For older Apple TV models, including some Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K devices, as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Apple TV models without a built-in Apple Music app, AirPlay is the main option for streaming Apple Music from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Instead of using the Apple Music app directly on Apple TV, the personal device works as the controller and playback source, while Apple TV receives the wireless audio stream and outputs it through the connected TV or speaker system.

This method works through communication between Apple devices over the same Wi-Fi network, making it useful for users who want to quickly move music from their phone or computer to a larger audio setup. AirPlay is also helpful for systems with external speakers or compatible audio devices, although playback quality may depend on network stability and device connections.

01Connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network.

02Open the Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

03Select a song, album, or playlist and start playing it.

04Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.

05Tap the AirPlay icon in the playback controls.

06Select your Apple TV from the list of available devices.

07Wait for the music to play through your Apple TV.

Part 3. How to Play Apple Music on Apple TV with HomePod

HomePod allows users to replace built-in TV speakers with Apple's smart speaker system for a better Apple Music listening experience. Through AirPlay-based wireless audio routing, Apple TV sends audio to HomePod, which handles the final sound output.

This setup is ideal for users who already use Apple devices and want a more immersive listening experience. HomePod supports Siri voice control and can work with multiple compatible speakers for a multi-room audio setup. If HomePod is not available as an audio output option, users should check device compatibility, Wi-Fi connections, and Apple Account settings.

01Set up your HomePod or HomePod mini in the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.

02Make sure your HomePod and Apple TV are connected to the same home network.

03Open Settings on your Apple TV.

04Select Video and Audio.

05Select Audio Output.

06Choose your HomePod or HomePod stereo pair.

07Open the Music app on Apple TV.

08Select a song, album, or playlist.

09Press the Play button to play Apple Music through your HomePod.

Part 4. How to Fix Apple Music Not Working on Apple TV

Although Apple Music is designed to work smoothly on Apple TV, users may still encounter issues with network connections, subscription status, account access, outdated software, or device settings. Since Apple TV streams Apple Music online, start by checking your internet connection, confirming that you are signed in with the correct Apple Account, and making sure your Apple TV is running the latest version of tvOS. If the issue continues, try the following fixes.

Step 1Verify Your Apple Music Subscription Status

01Check that your Apple Music subscription is still active.

02If your subscription has expired, renew it to restore access to Apple Music songs, albums, and playlists.

03Try playing Apple Music radio stations such as Apple Music Hits or Apple Music Country if available.

04If specific songs do not play, test them on another device like an iPhone or iPad.

05Check Apple Music availability in your region if the same songs are unavailable on other devices.

Step 2Check Device Access and Permissions

01Check whether other devices are currently using Apple Music with the same Apple Account.

02Pause Apple Music playback on other devices if you reach the streaming limit.

03Upgrade to an Apple Music Family Plan if you need multiple devices to stream at the same time.

04Open the Music app on Apple TV and try playing a song again.

Step 3Ensure a Stable Network Connection

01Open Settings on your Apple TV.

02Select Network.

03Check that your Apple TV is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

04Restart your router and Apple TV to refresh the connection.

05Connect your Apple TV to another network if possible to check whether the issue is caused by your Wi-Fi connection.

Step 4Update Apple TV Software

01Open Settings on your Apple TV.

02Select System.

03Select Software Updates.

04Turn on Automatically Update to install future updates automatically.

05Select Update Software if an update is available.

06Select Download and Install to update your Apple TV.

Step 5Restart the Music App and Apple TV

01Close the Music app on your Apple TV.

02Reopen the Music app and try playing Apple Music again.

03Open Settings on your Apple TV.

04Select System.

05Select Restart.

06Wait for your Apple TV to restart and test Apple Music playback again.

Step 6Reauthorize Your Apple TV

01Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.

02Select [Your Name].

03Select Devices.

04Find your Apple TV and select Remove from Account.

05On your Apple TV, open Settings.

06Select Account.

07Sign in again with your Apple Account.

08Open the Music app and check if Apple Music works normally.

Step 7Contact Apple Support

01Visit the Apple Support website if Apple Music still does not work on your Apple TV.

02Select the relevant Apple TV or Apple Music support option.

03Follow the recommended troubleshooting steps or contact Apple Support for further help.

Part 5. Alternative Way to Play Apple Music on Apple TV (Local Files)

For users who want to play Apple Music without constant streaming, local audio files offer a more flexible option. However, official Apple Music downloads are protected and only available within authorized Apple Music apps, so they cannot normally be transferred as regular files to Apple TV or other devices.

With ViWizard Apple Music Converter, users can convert Apple Music tracks into common formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, or M4B while preserving metadata. These files can then be stored locally for offline listening through compatible devices and media apps, giving users more control over their Apple Music collection.

To get started, install ViWizard Apple Music Converter on a Windows PC or Mac, access your Apple Music library through its built-in browser, select an output format such as MP3, and choose tracks to convert. After conversion, the files can be used on Apple TV through options such as Home Sharing or USB storage.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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• Convert Apple Music songs, playlists, albums, and artists
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• Organize converted music by artist and album
• Batch download large Apple Music collections

Part 6. Conclusion

Playing Apple Music on Apple TV can be done in several ways depending on your device and needs. The Apple Music app is the easiest option for supported Apple TV models, while AirPlay and HomePod provide more flexible ways to stream music across Apple devices.

If Apple Music is not working on Apple TV, checking your network, account, and software settings can help fix common issues. For users who want more control over their favorite Apple music on Apple TV, converting Apple Music songs into local audio files can be another option.