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Windows 11 has a dedicated Apple Music app, so you no longer need to use iTunes for the main Apple Music experience. Install it from the Microsoft Store, sign in with an Apple Account, and use the app to stream music, manage your library, download tracks for offline listening, and import music already stored on your PC.
There is one important separation to understand: Apple Music plays and manages your music, while the separate Apple Devices app handles music synchronization with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
What you need before installing Apple Music
- A Windows 11 PC with access to the Microsoft Store.
- An Apple Account if you want to subscribe to Apple Music or buy music from the iTunes Store.
- An Apple Music subscription for the service’s streaming catalogue and subscription downloads.
Apple Music and Dolby Atmos are not available in every country or region. Apple’s installation guide also does not specify a separate Windows 11 edition, minimum Windows 11 build, installer filename, or standalone installer. The supported installation route is the Microsoft Store.
How to install Apple Music on Windows 11
- Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
- Search for Apple Music.
- Select the app named Apple Music. Check that you have selected Apple’s music app rather than a similarly named third-party application.
- Select Get.
- Wait for Windows to download and install the app, then select Open.
Apple’s current Windows documentation does not provide a command-line installation method or a separate Apple Music installer. If you cannot find the app, check that the Microsoft Store is signed in and that your Windows 11 PC has an active internet connection. Store availability can also vary by region.
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Sign in or create an Apple Account
When Apple Music opens, the sign-in control is at the bottom of the sidebar.
Sign in to an existing account
- Open Apple Music.
- Select Sign In at the bottom of the sidebar.
- Select Sign In again in the sign-in window.
- Enter your Apple Account credentials.
If you cannot remember the password, select Forgot password? and follow Apple’s recovery instructions. Apple now calls this an Apple Account; older guides may still refer to an Apple ID.
Create an account in Apple Music
- Select Sign In at the bottom of the sidebar.
- Select Sign In.
- Select Create New Apple Account.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
If you are already signed in to the Apple TV app on the same Windows PC, Apple says you are automatically signed in to Apple Music.
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Sign out
Select your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then select Sign Out.
Understand the Apple Music layout
The sidebar is the main way to move around the app. Apple’s documented destinations include:
| Area | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Home | Recommendations and recently available music. |
| New | New releases, charts, and other recently added content. |
| Library | Your songs, albums, artists, and other library content. |
| Playlists | Playlists you create or add. |
To open Apple Music’s settings, select the Sidebar Actions button at the top of the sidebar and select Settings. The settings window contains General, Playback, Restrictions, Files, and Advanced panes.
- General: library and list-display options, including library synchronization.
- Playback: fade and sound-quality settings.
- Restrictions: controls for the iTunes Store, shared libraries, and certain content.
- Files: the Apple Music Media folder and related file-management options.
- Advanced: library-import and reset options.
Find and add music to your library
Use Home for recommendations, New for new releases and charts, or Apple Music’s search field to find a specific artist, album, song, or playlist.
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When you find an item, select its Add button. You can also select the item’s More button and choose Add To Library. Adding an album or playlist makes it easier to find later; it does not necessarily download every track to the PC.
If Add or Add To Library is unavailable, Apple identifies three likely causes:
- You are not signed in.
- You do not have an Apple Music subscription.
- Sync library is disabled.
To enable library synchronization, select Sidebar Actions → Settings → General, then turn on Sync library. Your Apple Music library can then remain available across devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
Download music for offline playback
- Add the song, album, or playlist to your library.
- Open a library category such as Songs.
- Select the item and select the Download button. Alternatively, select More → Download.
To show only music stored on the PC, select More next to Library, then select Show Only Downloaded Items.
Download Dolby Atmos versions
If an album supports Dolby Atmos, a Dolby icon appears beside it. To allow Dolby Atmos downloads, open Sidebar Actions → Settings → General, then turn on Download Dolby Atmos.
Subscription downloads are not ordinary permanent audio files. Apple says Apple Music subscription downloads on a computer cannot be burned to disc or manually transferred to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Download those tracks directly from Apple Music on the destination device. This restriction differs from purchased music, which can be permanently downloaded to a compatible PC or Apple device.
Play music and control playback
Open a category under Library, select a playlist, or search your library. Double-click or double-tap a song or album to start playback.
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The Windows app also includes controls for shuffle, repeat, the playback queue, sorting, lyrics, radio, lossless audio, Dolby Atmos, the MiniPlayer, and fading between songs. Fade settings are available under Sidebar Actions → Settings → Playback.
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Import music stored on your Windows 11 PC
You can add local audio files or an entire folder to Apple Music.
- Open Apple Music.
- Select Sidebar Actions at the top of the sidebar.
- Select Import.
- Browse to the file or folder.
- Select Open.
Importing a folder adds the files inside that folder. You can also open File Explorer and drag a file or folder into the Apple Music window.
Important: Apple Music normally does not copy an imported file. It leaves the original where it is and creates an alias or reference in the Apple Music folder. If you later move or delete the original file, Apple Music may be unable to play it.
Apple identifies the default Apple Music folder as HomeMusicApple Music. To review the media-folder and organization options, open Sidebar Actions → Settings → Files. If you want the app to manage copies of your local music, review the available file-management settings before importing a large collection.
Sync music to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod
Do not look for an iPhone-sync button in the Apple Music window. Apple documents device synchronization in the separate Apple Devices app.
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- Install Apple Music first if it is not already installed.
- Connect the iPhone, iPad, or iPod to the PC by USB or USB-C, or configure the device for Wi-Fi synchronization.
- Open Apple Devices.
- Select the device in the sidebar.
- Select Music.
- Turn on Sync music onto [device name].
- Choose Entire music library, or choose Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists.
- Optionally enable Include videos or Automatically fill free space with songs.
- Select Apply.
Apple Music subscription songs cannot be transferred through this manual-sync process when Sync Library is enabled. That workflow requires Sync Library to be turned off. Purchased and locally imported music are the more relevant sources for traditional manual synchronization.
When the process finishes, select the Eject button beside the device in Apple Devices before disconnecting it.
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Fix common Apple Music problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| Playback progress moves, but there is no sound | Check Apple Music’s volume, Windows output volume, speaker connections, speaker power, and the volume control on powered speakers. |
| A purchased song will not play | A non-iTunes Plus purchase may be limited to five authorized computers. A sixth computer requires you to deauthorize one of the previous five. |
| An AAC file will not play | AAC files obtained from the internet or another source may be incompatible. Apple specifically distinguishes these from AAC files created with Apple’s encoder or downloaded from the iTunes Store. |
| Imported music stopped working | The original file was probably moved or deleted. Because Apple Music normally stores a reference, return the file to its original location or import it again. |
| Songs are missing or dimmed | Check whether the issue appeared after enabling Sync Library, then use Apple’s missing-songs support procedure. |
Also remember that an unavailable Add To Library command usually points to sign-in status, subscription status, or disabled Sync Library—not an installation failure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Apple Music on Windows 11: what it does not replace
Older instructions often say to install iTunes for Apple Music. That is no longer the correct main workflow when the Apple Music app is available. Apple’s current iTunes documentation directs users to the installed Apple Music app when Music is not present in iTunes’ media-type menu.
Installing Apple Music also does not install the complete device-management workflow inside the same window. Use Apple Devices for iPhone, iPad, and iPod synchronization.
FAQ
Is Apple Music available as a Windows 11 app?
Yes. Install the Apple Music app through the Microsoft Store by searching for Apple Music and selecting Get.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDo I need an Apple Account to use Apple Music?
You need an Apple Account to subscribe to Apple Music or buy items from the iTunes Store. Sign in from the bottom of the Apple Music sidebar, or choose Create New Apple Account.
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Can I install Apple Music with a command?
Apple’s current Windows installation guide documents the Microsoft Store method and does not provide a command-line installation method or standalone installer.
Where are Apple Music downloads stored on Windows 11?
Apple identifies the default Apple Music folder as HomeMusicApple Music. Review the exact media-folder options under Sidebar Actions → Settings → Files.
Can I transfer Apple Music subscription downloads to my iPhone?
Not through ordinary manual file transfer or the Apple Devices sync workflow. Apple says subscription songs should be downloaded directly to the destination device from Apple Music.
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Yes. Use Sidebar Actions → Import, choose a file or folder, and select Open. You can also drag files from File Explorer into the Apple Music window.
Why is Add To Library greyed out?
Apple lists three documented causes: you are not signed in, you do not have an Apple Music subscription, or Sync Library is disabled under Settings → General.
The Bottom Line
Install Apple Music from the Microsoft Store, sign in at the bottom of the sidebar, and enable Sync library if you want your Apple Music collection synchronized. Use Download for offline listening, Import for local files, and the separate Apple Devices app for iPhone or iPad synchronization. Keep subscription downloads separate from purchased or locally owned music: they have different transfer and permanence rules.
Sources: Apple Music installation guide, Apple Account sign-in guide, Apple Music add and download guide, Apple local-music import guide, and Apple Devices sync guide.
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