Apple Music is now more like a do-it-all app for listening, discovering, and now even singing. The karaoke feature, Apple Music Sing, which has been around for two years, lets you turn your favorite songs into karaoke tracks with real-time lyrics and adjustable vocals. You can sing alone or do a duet, and it's easy to follow along with the music.
Apple Music Sing works on newer Apple devices running iOS 16.2 or later. If you upgrade to iOS 26, you'll find even more exciting additions, like lyrics translation and pronunciation line by line. One fun element of this update is the ability to turn your iPhone into a microphone on Apple TV.
In this post, we'll show how it works, how to set it up, and share tips to get the best singing experience.
Part 1. How Apple Music Sing Works
In one word: Apple Music Sing turns your favorite songs into karaoke tracks right inside Apple Music. You can lower the main vocals for an instrumental feel, follow real-time lyrics, or sing a duet with a friend. Everything is built into the app, so there's no need for extra software.
Getting started is simple: turn on the lyrics, look for the mic icon, and use the slider to adjust vocals. Sing solo by lowering the lead vocals, or perform a duet with separate backing vocals and verses.
Apple Music Sing works on newer Apple devices running iOS 16.2 or later and only with songs that include real-time lyrics. Not every track is compatible, but playlists like "Sing the Hits" make it easy to find ready-to-sing songs.
Key Features of Apple Music Sing:
- Adjustable Vocals: Control lead vocals to create a karaoke or balanced experience.
- Real-Time Lyrics: Animated lyrics display in sync with the music.
- Background Vocals: Follow background vocals alongside the main lyrics.
- Duet View: Lyrics appear on opposite sides for easier duets.
- Sing the Hits Playlist: Over 50 dedicated playlists with songs ready for karaoke.
Part 2. How to Get and Set Up Apple Music Sing
Apple Music Sing is available on devices running iOS 16.2 or later, and you'll need the latest version of the Apple Music app. Features like lyrics translation, pronunciation, or using your iPhone as a microphone may require iOS 26 or later. Once your device is ready, getting started is simple.
- Apple Music Subscription: You must be an Apple Music subscriber to use Sing. Free users or non-subscribers cannot access this feature.
- Compatible Device: Apple Music Sing works on newer Apple devices running iOS 16.2 or later, including:
- iPhone 11 and later
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Air (4th generation and later)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
- iPad (9th generation and later)
- Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)
- System Requirements: Keep your device updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS. Some devices require at least iOS/iPadOS 16.2.
- Real-Time Lyrics: Only songs with real-time lyrics are compatible. Check the track before singing, or try songs from the "Sing the Hits" section.
- Internet Connection: A stable connection is needed to stream songs and access real-time lyrics.
Part 3. How to Do Karaoke with Apple Music Sing
Once your device is ready, it's time to sing! You can choose songs from the dedicated Sing the Hits playlists or your own library. Most tracks with real-time lyrics are compatible, including Dolby Atmos songs. For better sound, consider using a Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
Note: Lowering the vocals may slightly alter the original track. Some faint traces of the main vocals may remain, and the effect varies depending on the song. For example, singing "Shallow" from A Star Is Born allows duet parts to be shared for a live-performance feel.
On iPhone, iPad, or iPod:
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Browse or search for a song with real-time lyrics, or use the Sing the Hits playlist.
- Tap the lyrics icon (speech bubble) to view synced lyrics.
- Tap the translate icon to show translation and pronunciation for easier singing.
- Tap the microphone icon to adjust the main vocals. Slide down for an instrumental feel or leave up for full vocals.
- Sing along as the lyrics highlight in real time.
- Tap the duet option to share verses and backing vocals with a friend.
- Connect a Bluetooth speaker or headphones for better sound quality.
- For the best duet experience, pair with someone who has a similar vocal range.
On Apple TV 4K:
- Open the Apple Music app on Apple TV.
- Search for a song or use voice search: "Play [song name] on Apple Music Sing."
- Swipe up on the remote to show synced lyrics.
- Adjust the main vocals using on-screen controls. Slide down for instrumental or leave up for full vocals.
- Follow the real-time lyrics on screen to stay in sync.
- Tap the duet button to split vocals for an interactive experience.
Part 4. Tips and Tricks for the Best Apple Music Sing Experience
Tip 1: Adjust Vocal and Background Volume Levels
Use the microphone slider to balance lead vocals and background music. Open a song with real-time lyrics and tap the microphone icon. Slide down to lower the lead vocals for an instrumental feel, or leave them up to sing along with the artist. Adjust the background music levels to create the perfect mix for your performance.
Tip 2: Show or Hide Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation
If the song is in another language, tap the translate icon to see line-by-line translations and pronunciation guides. You can hide them anytime to focus on the original lyrics. This feature helps you learn foreign-language songs while singing along accurately.
Tip 3: Use Your iPhone as a Microphone for Apple TV
Turn your iPhone into a microphone to amplify your voice or start a karaoke session with friends. Tap the Sing icon on Apple TV, choose a song, and select Start Singing. When the invite appears on your iPhone, tap Accept to connect. Your voice will sync with the TV for a real-time karaoke experience.
Tip 4: Add Visual Effects on Apple TV
While connected, swipe up on Apple TV to access visual effects like split-screen duets, animated backgrounds, or dynamic lyrics. These effects make your performance more engaging and fun.
Tip 5: Rejoin an Apple Music Sing Session
If you lose connection, make sure your devices are updated, on the same Wi-Fi network, and Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone. Reconnect to the Apple TV session, and Apple Music will resume your Sing session automatically so you can continue performing without interruption.
Part 5. How to Do Karaoke with Apple Music Songs on Any Device
Once you've downloaded or converted your Apple Music tracks with ViWizard Apple Music Converter, they become regular audio files (like MP3 or WAV) that you can use anywhere. This means you're no longer limited by Apple Music's device rules.
You can import these songs into karaoke apps like KaraFun Player, Smule, or GarageBand on your Mac. Add your own lyrics or use ready-made lyric files to create a personal karaoke setup. For a more professional experience, upload your converted tracks to tools like Moises, LALAL.AI, or VocalRemover.org to isolate the instrumental tracks, allowing you to sing along like a real karaoke session.
In short, ViWizard lets you unlock your Apple Music library for real-world fun. Keep your favorite songs, turn them into karaoke tracks, and sing anywhere—no subscription, no internet, no limits.
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
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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