Downloading songs on your iPhone and using the Files app for listening isn’t the most efficient method. Let us show you how to add your downloaded songs to the Apple Music library for seamless listening.
Music services often remove songs from their library for various reasons, sometimes leading to a frustrating listening experience. If you want to add a song removed from the Apple Music catalog or your own recordings to your iPhone, let’s explore how.
Table of contents
Prior Requirements
Before diving into the process of adding or importing downloaded music to the Apple Music library, take note of the following prerequisites:
- An active Apple Music subscription is necessary.
- Ensure that you are signed in to a Mac with the same Apple ID and have Apple Music installed.
- Make sure the Sync Library option is activated on all devices within Apple Music.
Add Downloaded Music to Apple Music Library
Apple offers various functionalities that you can access exclusively through a Mac, such as adding custom lyrics to a song and integrating downloaded music into your Apple Music library. However, after you import your downloaded songs into your Apple Music library, they synchronize across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID.
This synchronization happens because Apple Music automatically activates the Sync Library option for all devices. So, once you’ve imported your downloaded music, it seamlessly appears on all your devices.
On Your Mac
Tip: If you encounter difficulties syncing your library, don’t worry. We’ve outlined the steps to activate Sync Library in the next section of this article.
- Open the Finder application either by clicking its icon in the dock or by using Spotlight Search on your Mac.
- Locate the folder where you’ve downloaded the music you want to add to your Apple Music library. For instance, if your music is in the Downloads folder, navigate there.
- Next, open Apple Music on your Mac. If it’s not in your dock, you can use Spotlight Search (Cmd + Spacebar) to find and launch it.
- Simply drag and drop the downloaded music files into the Apple Music Library section. That’s all there is to it! Your music will now appear in your Apple Music library on your Mac.
Note: Ensure that each song you’re importing to your Apple Music library is no larger than 200MB.
On Your iPhone
Note: Syncing your Apple Music library between devices may take a few minutes. Therefore, it might require some time for the music to appear on your other devices such as iPhone, iPad, etc.
- Launch the Apple Music app on your iPhone and tap on the recently added album.
- Tap on the song to start playing it.
Check Your Sync Library Settings
The Sync Library option ensures synchronization of your Apple Music library across all devices. Regardless of whether you’re importing downloaded songs into Apple Music or not, if this option is disabled, any albums or playlists you add to your Apple Music library won’t appear on your other devices. Here’s how to activate Sync Library on both your Mac and iPhone.
On iPhone
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, scroll down to find “Music,” and tap on it.
- Toggle the switch next to “Sync Library” to turn it on.
On Mac
- Open Apple Music on your Mac, then click on “Music” from the menu bar.
- From the drop-down menu, click on “Settings.”
- In the General tab, click to select the “Sync Library” option, then click OK to confirm.
Delete Imported Songs from your Apple Music Library
If the song you’ve added to your Apple Music library is available natively on Apple Music, you can remove your uploaded songs from your library. Here’s how to do it.
On iPhone
- Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone and tap on the album containing the song.
- Tap the kebab menu (three dots).
- Tap “Delete from Library.”
- Tap “Delete Album,” and the album will be removed from your library and all your devices.
On Mac
Tip: You can skip these steps on your Mac if you’ve already completed them on your iPhone.
- Open Apple Music on your Mac and navigate to the “Recently Added” section.
- Hover your mouse over the recently added album, click the kebab menu (three dots), and select “Delete from Library.”
- A pop-up will appear on the screen; click “Delete Uploaded Song,” and the song will be removed from your library and all your devices.
Add Imported Songs to your Playlist
The great thing about adding a song to your Apple Music library is that you can easily include it in your playlists. So, if a song becomes unavailable due to geo-restrictions, you can download its mp3 file and add it to your Apple Music library using the aforementioned steps. Then, simply add it to your playlist for uninterrupted listening. Here’s how:
- Open Apple Music and tap on the album you’ve recently added.
- Tap the kebab menu (three dots).
- Select ‘Add to a Playlist.’
- Choose the playlist you want to add the song to.
FAQs Related to Importing Downloaded Music
Is the song stored on my Mac, iPhone, or Apple’s server?
The song is uploaded to Apple’s server and remains stored there for as long as you choose to keep it.
Will the imported/uploaded songs count against my iCloud storage?
No. Apple allows you to store up to 100,000 non-iTunes songs in your Apple Music Library.
Will my uploaded songs be visible or audible to others on search?
No. The uploaded songs remain private as they are exclusively stored in your Apple Music library. Only you and the devices signed in with the same Apple ID have access to listen to them.
Can I transfer music from files to Apple Music?
Importing music directly from Files to Apple Music is not permitted by Apple. If you want to do this, you’ll need to first transfer the music file to your Mac and then import it into your Apple Music library by following the steps in this guide.
Curate Your Music Library
You can now relax knowing that if a song becomes unavailable on Apple Music, there’s no need for concern. Simply download the mp3 version and effortlessly import it into your library. Take the initiative to curate your music collection by following the steps outlined in this guide.
