How to Put Local Files to Apple Music

Part 1. What Are Downloaded Music (Local Files) on Apple Music

When you think of Apple Music, you probably think of streaming songs from a big library. But what about the music you already have? These are your local files—songs saved on your device in formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, or Apple Lossless. Apple Music supports these, so you can mix your own music with Apple's streaming songs.

When you add your own files, Apple Music tries to match them to its catalog. If it finds a match, it uses Apple's version for streaming. If not, it uploads your original file. Your files don't get deleted or changed. They stay on your device, and Apple just links to them.

Next, we'll explain what you need to get started.

Part 2. Can You Add Local Files to Apple Music?

Here's what you need to know about adding local files with or without an Apple Music subscription.

If you subscribe, adding your music is easy. Upload your files to the Music app on Mac or iTunes on Windows, turn on Sync Library, and Apple will check if your songs match its catalog. If matched, Apple uses its version for streaming. If not, it uploads your files so you can listen on any device with your Apple ID.

If you don't subscribe, that's okay. You can still add and play your music on your computer with iTunes or the Music app. Many people like this simple way. You just connect your iPhone or iPad with a cable, sync your music, and your songs will show up in the Apple Music app under Downloaded. You won't get automatic syncing or cloud access, but you can listen offline anytime.

So, whether you subscribe or not, you can listen to your own music on Apple Music—it just depends on how much syncing and cloud access you want.

Try it out and see what works best for you.

Next, we'll show you how to add your local files step by step.

Part 3. How to Put Local Files on Apple Music

Your music collection is one of a kind, and some of your favorite tracks may not be available on streaming platforms. Whether it's a rare find, a personal recording, or an old favorite, Apple Music makes it easy to add these local files directly to your library. By using the Apple Music app on your PC or Mac, you can upload compatible files, making them accessible across all your Apple devices. This ensures that your entire music collection is with you, wherever you go.

Note: Local files are treated a bit differently. When you add them to Apple Music, they stay separate from your streaming content.

Option 1. Import Ripped CDs

If you have CDs that you want to add to Apple Music, you can rip them using the Apple Music app (or iTunes on Windows). Here's how:

1. Open Apple Music or iTunes:
   • On Windows, launch iTunes. If it's not installed, you can download it from the Apple website.
   • On Mac, open the Apple Music app.
2. In the app, go to the "Music" menu (or "iTunes" on Windows) and click on "Preferences" or "Settings."
3. Under "Import Settings," choose your preferred format (MP3, WAV, or AAC).
4. You can choose MP3 for broad compatibility, WAV for high-quality audio, or AAC for efficient file sizes.
5. Once you've selected your format, begin the import process.
6. The tracks will appear in your library once the import is complete.

Option 2. Add Downloaded Music from Other Sources

If you've downloaded music from other sources (like Amazon, Bandcamp, etc.), you can easily add it to your Apple Music library. Here's how:

1. Open Apple Music or iTunes:
   • On Windows, launch iTunes.
   • On Mac, open the Apple Music app.
   • Tip: If you're using an older macOS version, you might still have iTunes, and the process will be similar to the Windows steps.
2. Click "File" in the menu bar, then choose "Add File to Library" for individual tracks or "Add Folder to Library" for a group of songs.



3. Browse your computer for the music files or folders you want to add. Select them and click "Open."



4. Once added, the files will appear in your library, ready for listening or organizing into playlists.

Part 4. How to Sync Local Files Across All Your Apple Music Devices

Apple Music lets you sync your local music files across your devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Android devices, as long as you're signed in with the same Apple ID. There are two main ways to do this:

Option 1: Sync via iCloud Music Library

iCloud Music Library stores and syncs your music in the cloud, so you can access it from any Apple device without cables. Once enabled, local files added to your Apple Music library upload automatically to iCloud and appear on all devices signed into your Apple ID.

How to Sync Automatically:

1. On your PC or Mac, open iTunes (Windows) or Apple Music (Mac), then go to Preferences.
2. Enable iCloud Music Library (Windows) or Sync Library (Mac).



3. Apple will match your songs to its catalog or upload unmatched files, which may take some time.
4. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music and turn on Sync Library to access your music there.

Tip: If you have a large collection, you may need more iCloud storage. Manage this via iCloud settings on your Mac or iPhone.

Option 2: Sync via USB Cable

If you prefer manual syncing, you can transfer files directly from your computer to your Apple device using a USB cable. This works well for manually syncing, but it doesn't sync music across multiple devices automatically.

How to Sync on Windows:

1. Open iTunes and connect your device with a USB cable.
2. Click the device icon in iTunes.
3. Select Music from the sidebar.
4. Check Sync Music, and choose your entire library or select specific playlists, artists, albums, or genres.
5. If your files aren't in iTunes, add them via File > Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library.
6. Click Apply or Sync to transfer music.
7. Open the Music app on your device to find your synced files.

How to Sync on Mac:

1. Open Finder and connect your device.
2. Select your device under Locations.
3. Go to the Music tab and check Sync music onto [device].
4. Choose your sync options (entire library or selected content).
5. Add files to Apple Music if needed via File > Add to Library.
6. Click Apply to start syncing.
7. Open the Music app on your device to access your files.

Part 5. How to Play Local Files on Your Apple Music Devices

How to Play On Mac (Apple Music):

1. Open Apple Music.
2. Go to Library and select Songs, Albums, or Playlists.
3. Your local files appear alongside streaming content.
4. Click a song or album to play.

How to Play On Windows PC (iTunes):

1. Open iTunes.
2. Click Library.
3. Choose Songs, Albums, or Playlists.
4. Your local files show up with your other content.
5. Click a track to play.

How to Play On iPhone (Apple Music):

1. Open the Music app.
2. Tap the Library tab, then Downloaded to see your local files.
3. Tap any song or album to play.

How to Play On Android:

Apple Music on Android doesn't support local file playback. To listen to your music files, transfer them to your device using a USB cable and use a third-party music player like Poweramp or VLC.

1. On Mac, open Apple Music, right-click a song, and select Show in Finder. On Windows, do the same in iTunes using Show in File Explorer.
2. Connect your Android device to your computer with a USB cable.
3. Copy your music files to a folder on your Android device.
4. Disconnect the device.
5. Download and open Poweramp or another player on Android.
6. In the player's settings, add the folder where you copied your music.
7. Find your songs in the player's library and play.

Part 6. How to Convert Protected Apple Music Songs to MP3

Apple Music gives you access to nearly 100 million tracks, but there's a catch—once your subscription ends, so does your music. That's because most songs are protected by DRM, meaning you can't keep or freely use them outside the Apple ecosystem. If you want to save your favorites for good, you'll need a tool that can convert them into something more flexible.

What You Need: ViWizard Apple Music Converter

ViWizard Apple Music Converter makes this easy. It lets you download and convert Apple Music songs into common formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC. These are compatible with just about any device—phones, players, car systems, and editing apps included.

Using ViWizard is simple. Open the app on your Mac or PC, log into your Apple Music account, pick the songs or playlists you want to convert, and choose your output format. You can even customize how the files are named and organized in Preferences > Output. All the important info—title, artist, album art—stays intact. Better yet, it's fast. ViWizard works up to 15× faster than typical audio recorders, so you can back up an entire album in minutes. It's also a great option if you've lost your local files but still have access to them through iTunes.

There's a free version available, so you can try it out before committing. If you're looking for a reliable way to keep your Apple Music forever—or just want more control—ViWizard is worth a look.

ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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

Available on:

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Step 1Install ViWizard and Log In

Start by downloading ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or Mac computer. Once installed, open the app and sign in to your Apple Music account through the built-in web player. This gives you full access to your Apple Music library, including playlists, albums, and saved songs.

Step 2Choose Your Output Format

Next, open the settings menu (usually a gear icon). For best compatibility, select MP3 as the output format. You can keep the default audio quality or tweak settings like bitrate and sample rate if you want to customize the files.

Step 3Select Songs or Playlists

Browse your Apple Music library inside ViWizard and pick the songs or playlists you want to convert. Use the "+" button to add them to the conversion list. You can add multiple tracks at once since ViWizard supports batch conversion.

Step 4Convert and Save

When you're ready, click the Convert button. ViWizard will download each song and convert it into your chosen format. When the process finishes, your files will be saved in the output folder, which you can open directly from the app through the History or folder icon.

Bonus: How to Keep Both Local and Matched Versions in Apple Music

Conclusion:

After reading the article, now you may know how to put local files to Apple Music. You may import local files to Apple Music or iTunes on your computer first, then you can sync the files to your phone. To play Apple Music in other places, you can use ViWizard Audio Converter to download Apple Music in MP3 or other formats you want.