How to Add Local Files to Apple Music on Mac and Windows

Part 1. Can You Add Local Files to Apple Music?

Yes, users can import compatible audio files from Windows PCs or Macs into the Apple Music app or iTunes and organize them alongside other tracks. Unlike songs from Apple's streaming catalog, these files come from the user's existing collection and can be used outside Apple Music. This feature is useful for adding music unavailable on Apple Music, such as personal recordings and downloaded audio files.

Before importing files, check that they use a supported format, such as MP3, AAC, ALAC, WAV, or AIFF. FLAC files, for example, must first be converted to a supported format using audio conversion software. Users can import individual files or entire folders through the "Add File to Library" or "Add Folder to Library" options. Depending on the setting, Apple Music either copies files into its media folder or references their original locations.

Importing alone does not upload files to the cloud or transfer them to other devices. Users should also back up their original files and keep them organized in one folder, as moving, renaming, or deleting them may prevent Apple Music from locating them.

Part 2. How to Add Local Files to Apple Music on Mac

You can add local audio files to Apple Music on Mac by dragging them into the app or using the File menu.

2.1Add Local Files to Apple Music on Mac

01Open the Music app on your Mac.

02Open Finder and locate the audio files or folders you want to add.

03Drag the files or folders into the Music window. Alternatively, select File > Add To Library or File > Import, choose the items, and click Open.

04Wait for the tracks to appear in your Music library.

Part 3. How to Add Local Files to Apple Music on Windows PC

On Windows, you can import local audio files using either iTunes or the Apple Music app.

3.1Add Local Files to iTunes on Windows PC

01Open iTunes on your Windows PC.

02Open File Explorer and locate the audio files or folders you want to import.

03In iTunes, select File > Add File to Library for a single track or File > Add Folder to Library for a folder. Select the items and click Open. Alternatively, drag them into the iTunes window. If the menu bar is hidden, press Ctrl + B.

04Wait for the tracks to appear in your iTunes library.

3.2Add Local Files to Apple Music on Windows PC

01Open the Apple Music app on your Windows PC.

02Open File Explorer and locate the audio files or folders you want to add.

03In Apple Music, select Sidebar Actions at the top of the sidebar, then choose Import. Select the files or folders and click Open. Alternatively, drag them into the app window.

04Wait for the tracks to appear in your Apple Music library.

Part 4. How to Manage Local Files in Apple Music

Managing local files in Apple Music involves editing song information and artwork, organizing file locations, locating original audio files, syncing music across devices, and checking cloud status. Proper file management helps keep your music collection organized, accessible, and backed up.

4.1Edit Song Info and Album Artwork

If a local song has an incorrect title, artist, or album, or its cover art is missing, edit its details in Apple Music to make tracks easier to browse and organize. Apple Music supports common image formats such as JPEG and PNG, but WAV files may need to be converted before artwork can be added. If "Keep Media folder organized" is enabled, editing song information may also change the file's name or location on your computer.

To edit song information:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Songs in the sidebar.

02Select the song you want to edit.

03In the menu bar, click Song > Get Info.

04Update the title, artist, album, genre, track number, or other available fields.

05Click OK to save your changes.

On Windows

01Open Apple Music and select Songs in the sidebar.

02Click the More button next to the song.

03Select Properties > Details.

04Modify the song information as needed.

05Click OK to save your changes.

To add or change album artwork:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Songs.

02Select the track whose artwork you want to update.

03Click Song > Get Info in the menu bar.

04Open the Artwork tab.

05Click Add Artwork to select an image, or drag an image into the artwork area.

06Click OK to apply the changes.

On Windows

01Open Apple Music and select Songs.

02Click the More button next to the track.

03Select Properties > Artwork.

04Click Add Artwork to select an image, or drag an image into the artwork area.

05Click OK to save the changes.

4.2Organize Local Files and File Locations

Apple Music can copy imported files into its media folder or reference files stored elsewhere, including on an external drive. To keep files in their existing locations, disable "Copy files to Media folder when adding to library" before importing them. Keep the drive connected for playback, as moving or renaming files or disconnecting the drive may make songs unavailable. Keep separate backups of your original audio files.

To manage your media folder and file settings:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Music > Settings from the menu bar.

02Click Files.

03Review the Media folder location and change it if you want to store your music elsewhere.

04Enable or disable Copy files to Media folder when adding to library depending on whether you want imported files copied into the media folder.

05Adjust Keep Media folder organized to control whether Apple Music organizes files into folders based on artist and album information.

On Windows

01Open Apple Music and click Sidebar Actions at the top of the sidebar.

02Select Settings > Files.

03Review the Media folder location and update it if necessary.

04Enable or disable Copy files to Media folder when adding to library according to your preference.

05Adjust Keep Media folder organized to control how your music files are arranged.

4.3Find Local Music Files

To back up, move, or manage a song, locate its original audio file first. Use "Show in Finder" on Mac or "Show in Explorer" on Windows to open its location. If this option is unavailable, search Finder or File Explorer by song title or artist. Before moving or deleting a file, check whether Apple Music copied it into its media folder or references its original location.

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Songs in the sidebar.

02Select the track you want to locate.

03Click File > Show in Finder in the menu bar.

04To view the full file path, select the song and click Song > Get Info.

05Open the File tab to review the file information.

On Windows

01Open iTunes and select Songs in the sidebar.

02Click the More button next to the track.

03Select Show in Explorer to open the file's location.

04To inspect the file path, click More > Properties.

05Check the File section for the track's location.

4.4Sync Local Files Across Devices

To access imported songs on an iPhone, iPad, or other supported device, enable Sync Library with an eligible Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription. Without either subscription, you may be able to transfer compatible files manually using Finder on Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows.

This method generally requires Sync Library to be turned off. Make sure all devices use the same Apple Account, and check a missing track's cloud status if it does not appear on another device. Not every imported file will be available across devices, so keep a separate backup of the original file.

To turn on Sync Library:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Music > Settings from the menu bar.

02Open the General tab.

03Select Sync Library.

On Windows

01Open iTunes.

02Select Edit > Preferences > General.

03Turn on iCLoud Music Library.

On iPhone or iPad

01Open Settings.

02Tap Apps > Music.

03Turn on Sync Library and allow time for your library to sync. Then check whether the imported tracks appear on your other devices.

To sync music manually:

On Windows

01Connect your iPhone or iPad to your PC using a USB cable.

02Open the Apple Devices app and select your device from the sidebar.

03Click Music under your device settings.

04Turn on Sync music onto [device name].

05Select Entire music library or choose specific songs, artists, albums, genres, or playlists.

06Click Apply to start syncing.

07Once syncing finishes, open Apple Music on your device to check your songs.

On Mac

01Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac using a USB cable.

02Open Finder and select your device from the sidebar.

03Click Music under your device settings.

04Turn on Sync music onto [device name].

05Select your entire music library or choose specific songs, artists, albums, or playlists.

06Click Apply to start syncing.

07Once syncing finishes, open Apple Music on your device to check your songs.

4.5Check Song Cloud Status

If a local song is missing from another device or appears grayed out, check its cloud status to see whether it has synced successfully or needs attention. A song in your computer's library is not necessarily available in the cloud. If it remains unavailable, check whether its original file has been moved, renamed, or deleted. Apple Music is not a backup service, and turning off Sync Library can remove downloaded music from your devices, so keep separate copies of important audio files.

To show cloud status in Apple Music:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select Songs in the sidebar.

02Click View > Show View Options in the menu bar.

03Select Cloud Status and Cloud Download to display these columns.

On Windows

01Open iTunes and select Songs.

02Right-click the column headings area.

03Enable Cloud Status and Cloud Download.

Check the indicators beside the affected track. Common statuses include:

• Waiting: The song is waiting to sync. Check your internet connection and allow syncing to continue.
• An exclamation point: Apple Music cannot locate the original file. Click the exclamation point and select Locate to find it.
• No Longer Available: The track has been removed from Apple's catalog. Search Apple Music for another available version.

To update your cloud library:

On Mac

01Open the Music app and select File > Library from the menu bar.

02Click Update Cloud Library.

03Once the refresh finishes, check whether the song's status has changed.

On Windows

01Open iTunes.

02Select Library > Update Cloud Library.

03After the refresh finishes, check whether the affected track is available.

Part 5. How to Fix Apple Music Local Files Problems

If local files do not appear in Apple Music or across your devices, the problem is usually caused by import issues, Sync Library settings, file location changes, or unsupported formats.

• 

  Apple Music local files not showing up in library:

  If local files do not appear in Apple Music, first check whether the files were imported correctly and use a supported audio format. Try adding the files again and restart Apple Music if they still do not show up.

• 

  Apple Music local files not showing on iPhone or iPad:

  If local files appear on your computer but not on your iPhone or iPad, check that Sync Library is enabled and that all devices use the same Apple ID. Wait for Apple Music to upload or match the files before checking again.

• 

  Apple Music cannot import local files:

  If Apple Music cannot import local files, the files may be in an unsupported format or damaged. Convert them to a supported format such as MP3, AAC, ALAC, or WAV, then import them again.

• 

  Apple Music local files disappear or cannot play:

  If local files disappear or stop playing, Apple Music may have lost the file location. Check that the original files have not been moved or deleted, and reconnect any external drives if needed.

• 

  Apple Music local files not syncing between devices:

  If local files do not sync across devices, make sure Sync Library is turned on and allow time for Apple Music to upload or match the songs. If the issue continues, disable and re-enable Sync Library, then try again.

• 

  Apple Music shows duplicate local files:

  If duplicate songs appear after syncing, Apple Music may have matched your local files with versions from its catalog. Check the song details and remove unwanted copies if necessary.

Part 6. Convert Apple Music Songs to Local Audio Files

Apple Music downloads support offline listening within the app but remain tied to an active subscription. ViWizard Apple Music Converter allows users to convert Apple Music tracks into common audio formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, M4A, and M4B. This can help users store and back up their favorite tracks or use them with other compatible software.

To use ViWizard Apple Music Converter, download and install it on a Windows PC or Mac, sign in with an Apple Music subscription account, and select the tracks to convert. Choose a preferred format, such as MP3 for broad compatibility or WAV or FLAC for lossless audio, and adjust settings such as bit rate, sample rate, and audio channels as needed. Click "Convert" to start the process, which supports speeds of up to 20x. The software also supports batch conversion and preserves metadata, including song information, album artwork, and lyrics. The converted files are saved to the selected location, helping users build a more flexible music collection in just a few steps.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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• 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: Install 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 2: Choose 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 3: Select 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 4: Convert 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.

Part 7. Conclusion

By now, you should know how to add local files to Apple Music. The process starts by importing your music files into the Music app on Mac or Apple Music app on Windows, then syncing them to your iPhone or other devices through Sync Library or manual syncing.

If you want to play Apple Music songs outside the Apple Music app or on more devices, you can use ViWizard Apple Music Converter to convert Apple Music songs into MP3 or other formats for more flexible use.