Now that the standard free trial has dropped to just one month — and with the monthly price rising to $10.99 — unless you're already locked into a streaming service you love, there's a good chance you've looked for ways to get Apple Music for free.
When it comes to Apple Music free trials, AirPods offer a pretty sweet deal. When you pair a new set with your iPhone, you can get up to six months of Apple Music for free. There are no hidden fees — just a few extra steps to claim the offer. It's the kind of bonus that doesn't get much attention but still feels like a win, especially if you already use other Apple devices.
So whether you're planning to buy new AirPods or just opened a fresh box, now's a good time to take advantage of the offer. Just don't wait too long — the free trial won't be available forever after setup.
Part 1. Which AirPods Come with Free Apple Music?
With rumors of AirPods Pro 3 on the horizon, now might not seem like the best time to pick up a new pair. But if you're eyeing a deal — like one that gets you Apple Music for free — some of the current models are still worth sticking around for. Apple's six-month trial has become harder to come by these days, but the newer AirPods still unlock a three-month free trial, which is a pretty decent drop-in if you're not looking to pay $10.99 right away.
Apple doesn't shout about it, but a number of AirPods, Beats, and HomePod models still qualify for the offer. Better yet, you don't always need to be a first-time Apple Music user to get in — some returning users have reported success, depending on their Apple ID history.
If you're thinking about picking up AirPods with this perk in mind, here are the models that qualify:
AirPods models eligible for the free Apple Music trial:
- AirPods Pro (any generation)
- AirPods (2nd generation)
- AirPods (3rd generation)
- AirPods (4th generation)
- AirPods Max
Not eligible:
- AirPods (1st generation)
Once you pair one of these with your iPhone or iPad, you've got 90 days to redeem your Apple Music trial. Already own one of these? Good news — you don't need to buy again. Just make sure your device is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, and that'll reset your eligibility window for another 90 days. And no, you don't need AirPods to use Apple Music — the service works just fine on Android phones, smart TVs, and other platforms. But if you're going to grab a new pair anyway, this offer is a pretty nice extra.
Why This Deal Matters:
Even if you're mostly in it for the free Apple Music trial, AirPods have plenty going for them on their own. This deal gives you a chance to experience great sound, handy features like Siri and quick device switching, and spatial audio that really makes music and movies come alive. Three months is plenty of time to put Apple Music and your new AirPods through their paces — and all for the price of Apple Music subscriptions, which usually add up to more than $30.
Part 2. How to Redeem Free Apple Music with AirPods
Before redeeming Apple Music with your AirPods, make sure your iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS. Once your device is running the newest version, you're ready to claim your free Apple Music trial.
If you're redeeming the offer on other devices like Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, or Beats headphones, make sure those devices are paired or connected to an iPhone or iPad running the latest iOS or iPadOS. For Apple Watch, pair it with an iPhone running the latest iOS. Then open the Music app on the paired device to see the offer.
- Open Settings: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Check for Update: Go to General > Software Update.
- Install Update: If available, tap Download and Install and follow the instructions.
- Enable Bluetooth: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
- Pair AirPods: Open your AirPods case and hold it near your device. Follow the on-screen prompts.
- Complete Pairing: Tap Done when pairing finishes.
- Open Music app: Launch the Apple Music app on your device.
- Sign in: Tap the Profile icon in the top-right corner and log in with your Apple ID.
- Redeem Offer: Tap Get 6 months free (or the available trial offer) when prompted.
Once redeemed, you'll get access to over 100 million songs, ad-free, plus Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for a rich sound experience. After the trial ends, you can continue listening by subscribing to Apple Music for $10.99 per month. If you don't subscribe, your access will be limited. Choose a plan that fits your needs—monthly or yearly—through the Music app or Apple's website.
What to Do If the Offer Doesn't Appear After Pairing Your AirPods
Sometimes, the free Apple Music offer might not show up right away. If that happens, try these steps:
- Check Your Apple ID: Make sure your Apple ID has never had an Apple Music subscription before. The free trial usually only applies to accounts without a previous subscription.
- Update Your Device: Confirm that your iPhone or iPad is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
- Restart Devices: Turn off and then restart both your iPhone and your AirPods. This can help refresh the connection.
If you've tried all these steps and still don't see the offer, it's a good idea to contact Apple Support. Many users have found that reaching out to support can help resolve the issue—like in cases where the offer disappears after requiring a credit card or following a canceled trial.
One user (Debinboy888) shared their experience: they contacted Apple Support via chat, explained the situation, provided the receipt of purchase, and eventually received an Apple Music gift card. Even if you bought your AirPods or other eligible device a while ago, Apple may still honor the deal.
Part 3. How to Keep Apple Music for Free Forever
If the free trial doesn't work out — or you've already used up every promo Apple offers — there's still a way to keep your favorite Apple Music tracks without staying subscribed. All you need is ViWizard Apple Music Converter, and for many users, it's a total lifesaver.
ViWizard lets you download and convert Apple Music songs into real audio files you can keep forever. No more worrying about monthly Apple Music bills. Just select the songs, albums, or playlists you want, choose a format like MP3 or WAV, and hit Convert. It's fast — up to 15x quicker than regular recorders — and keeps your song titles, album art, and other details intact. For your offline collection, you can customize output folders, formats, and file names to match your setup. It even handles older iTunes files and supports formats like FLAC, AIFF, and M4A.
Available on both Windows and Mac, ViWizard is a smart pick if you want to keep your Apple Music library without staying tied to a subscription.

A full-featured Apple Music converter that easily converts Apple Music songs, albums, playlists—including iCloud Music Library content, personalized recommendations, and curated playlists—into MP3, M4A, M4B, WAV, AIFF, and FLAC so you can keep your Apple Music forever or transfer it to any device without restrictions.
Step 1Sign in to Apple Music inside the app
Download and install ViWizard on your Windows or Mac computer. When you open it, sign in with your Apple Music account inside the built-in player. This gives you access to your full Apple Music library, right inside ViWizard.
Step 2Choose how you want to save your music
Click the menu icon to head into settings. MP3 is the go-to format since it works just about everywhere — from your phone to your car stereo. You can also adjust audio quality, like bit rate and sample rate, and even choose to keep lyrics if that's something you like.
Step 3Add the music you want to keep
Browse your Apple Music collection within the app and pick out any songs, albums, or playlists you want to save. Click the "+" button to add them to your list, then hit Convert to begin. ViWizard will download and convert your tracks into real files that work offline — forever.
Step 4Keep your new, DRM-free library
Once the conversion's done, go to the History tab or open the output folder on your computer. You'll see your songs, complete with album art and track names. Now you can move your music anywhere — Android phones, USB drives, SD cards, whatever works for you — with no streaming required.
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