HOW TO Get started with Apple Music

1 Take a look

You can sign up for Apple Music in Music on your Mac or iOS/iPadOS device. Here, we’ll look at the full Apple Music service; there’s a voice-only version for Siri devices too. Once you’ve signed up, Apple Music appears in the app.

2 Play something

If you click on the Browse link you’ll see a range of curated playlists to give you something to listen to. Opening a playlist looks and works just like it did in iTunes, and as it does with your own music library too.

3 Find a keeper

If you discover something you really like, clicking on the ‘…’ on the right enables you to do multiple things: love it, create a station based on that kind of music, add it to your library, share it or add it to a playlist.

4 Pick a playlist

The Music app doesn’t differentiate between Apple Music tracks and your own songs when you create or edit your playlists, although if you stop subscribing you won’t be able to play any of the Apple Music tracks.

5 Save for later

By default, Apple Music streams all of its music via the cloud. If you want to download a song, for example because you’re going somewhere you can’t get internet access, you can download it by clicking the down arrow icon.

6 AirPlay it anywhere

If you have AirPlay devices, you can send your music to one or more of them by clicking the AirPlay icon at the top right of the window. This brings up a list of available devices; simply select the one(s) you want.

7 Sing along

Apple Music also has the lyrics to many songs. To display them either click on the speech bubble icon next to the AirPlay one or click View > Show Lyrics. The lyrics scroll as the song progresses so you can follow along.

8 Listen to Radio

Apple Music also includes tons of streaming radio stations, organised by genre and featuring a lot of big names from the world of music and beyond. It also creates custom stations based on the music you’ve been listening to.

9 Get the good stuff

Is the station playing something new that you like? Click on the track name while Apple Music Radio is playing it and you’ll see the same options that you get with other Apple Music tracks, so you can love, save, or share the song.