> Play your music everywhere

Music you’ve bought from the iTunes Store is made available on devices signed in to the store using your Apple ID. To ensure your purchases are available to play when you’re without an internet connection, you can turn on automatic music downloads.

On a Mac go to iTunes > Preferences > Downloads; on iOS go to Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store. On devices with a mobile data connection, note the setting below that determines whether automatic downloads can use it or are restricted to Wi-Fi.

However, music imported from other sources isn’t covered by that feature. To make that available on all your devices without connecting them to iTunes needs iCloud Music Library, part of Apple Music ($9.99/mo) and iTunes Match ($24.99/yr).

In iTunes on your Mac, go to the front page for music in the iTunes Store. Click one of the Apple Music banners there if you want to sign up for that service. For iTunes Match, which is solely about getting your music online, click its name under Music Quick Links on the right.

Once subscribed, ensure iCloud Music Library is turned on in iTunes > Preferences > General. Your music (and playlists) will be made available online, and so to your other devices. The time it will take depends on your internet connection speed and how many tracks can be matched to Apple’s library, and so be made available from there. If uploading is needed, note the limits listed at bit.ly/iclmuslib.

Turn on this setting on all devices where you want access to your music. On iOS, it’s in Settings > Music.