Have you heard the exciting news? Apple Music is now accessible on Windows devices using just a web browser – no special apps required!
This opens up Apple Music‘s library of over 100 million songs, thousands of expert recommendations, and exclusives like the Charlie Puth song catalog. Read on as I walk you through everything you need to know to sign up for Apple Music and start listening on your Windows laptop, desktop, or tablet.
A Quick Apple Music Backgrounder
Before we get to the steps, let me give you some quick facts about the mighty Apple Music so you can see why it‘s worth trying:
- Launched in 2015, Apple Music now boasts over 100 million songs and is adding 40,000 new tracks every day π
- Subscribers get unlimited ad-free streaming across all devices and high quality 256 kbps AAC audio files
- human music experts create thousands of playlists tailored to genres, activities, moods and more
- New artists are highlighted and promoted via Up Next program
- Exclusive content like new releases, interviews, concerts, and remixes
- Downloads allow offline listening for when internet is limited
Apple Music powered past Spotify in U.S. subscriptions in 2022 and now has over 100 million paid subscribers globally. Impressive growth!
Apple Music vs. Spotify Core Features
| FEATURE | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Access | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Web | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web |
| Library Size | Over 100 million songs | Over 82 million songs |
| Audio Quality | 256 kbps AAC | 320 kbps Ogg Vorbis |
| Human-Curated Playlists | Yes, from music experts | Yes, from algorithms |
| Exclusive Content | New releases, concerts, interviews | Some podcasts |
| Offline Listening | Yes | Yes |
| Annual Plan Discount | None | Up to 15% |
Both Apple Music and Spotify enable you to access vast catalogs and personalized playlists on all major platforms. Apple Music holds advantages in size, audio quality, human curation, artist relationships leading to exclusives, and rapid new feature development.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step guide!
Step 1: Subscribe to Open Up Apple Music‘s Vast Catalog on Windows
Navigate to the Apple Music web page and click the "Try it free" button.
You‘ll have the choice of a standard $9.99 individual plan, a $4.99 student plan, or a family plan for up to six users at $14.99 per month. Take your pick, input your preferred payment details and Apple ID credentials to complete signup.
Remember – the first month is completely free so you can try before you buy!
Pro Tip: Enable auto-renewal to save π²
Apple Music blows away the competition when it comes to student discount depth. You‘ll get the full Apple Music experience for just $4.99 monthly! Combined with exclusive member perks from Apple and tight integration across Apple devices, the value is tough to beat.
Unsurprisingly, Apple Music has shown hockey stick growth since launch:
Apple Music Subscribers (in millions)
| Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 11 | 20 | 36 | 50 | 60 | 72 | 78 | 100 |
Doubling subscribers year-over-year since 2017 is astonishing! Apple Music has clearly captured music fans‘ ears.
Credit Apple‘s investment in top-notch recommendations and exclusives from today‘s hottest artists like Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles. All unlockable from your trusty Windows laptop.
Okay, account created – let‘s get listening!
Step 2: Launch Your Preferred Windows Browser
Unlike Apple device owners, Windows users don‘t have access to a dedicated Apple Music. But the web experience provides the full flexible Apple Music catalog using any modern browser installed on your PC:
Some top options include:
- Google Chrome: Most popular browser globally, fast, clean interface
- Mozilla Firefox: Great privacy protections, support for handy add-ons/extensions
- Microsoft Edge: Integrates nicely into Windows ecosystem, Cortana assistant built-in
Open the browser you have and love – Apple Music will sing perfectly on all.
Step 3: Head to music.apple.com to Access Apple Music‘s Web Player
In your chosen web browser‘s URL bar, enter music.apple.com which will direct you to the Apple Music web player login page.
You can also access it by:
- Heading to apple.com
- Hover over the Entertainment link in the top black bar
- Select Apple Music from the dropdown menu
Either method works great – just get you to music.apple.com!
Step 4: Sign In With Your Apple ID
On music.apple.com, select the blue "Sign In" button and input your Apple ID when prompted.
If two-factor authentication is enabled on your account, you may need to enter a verification code sent to one of your trusted devices after entering your password. I know, an extra step but worth it for the security perks!
Once signed in, your Apple Music profile, preferences, playlists, recommendations and more will all sync automatically making listening seamless across all your devices.
The beauty of Apple Music is the consistency it provides between iPhone, iPad, Mac, HomePod and now Windows too. Your musical identity transfers anywhere you sign in.
Step 5: Search, Stream and Boogie Away to Tunes with Playback Controls
Welcome to music nirvana! Take time browsing Apple Music‘s expertly crafted playlists for any mood, genre, or activity. Get lost wandering new music Fridays updated weekly with hot new releases and singles.
The Search function is powerful – look up any artist, album, song, or lyrics. Want to take a musical journey? Select a radio based on artists and sub-genres will continually surface fresh song picks effortlessly.
When you find a track or playlist you like, select Play to start streaming top-quality audio. Lyrics scroll live in real-time as songs blast away.
Player controls allow you to skip, pause, shuffle, repeat and fine-tune volume independent of your Windows device‘s system sound. Pro tip: click the airplay icon to connect Bluetooth speakers for room-filling audio glory! πΆ
Step 6: Download Music for Offline Windows Listening
Apple Music downloads open up options for offline listening. Just tap the download icon on any album, playlist, or liked song to save it locally.
Downloaded music works perfectly for:
- Flights or trips away from WiFi access οΏ½NotAllowed
- Listening to your fav study playlist at the campus library π
- DJing parties without wasting phone data ποΈ
- Making playlists for your car‘s media system π
100 million songs now portable from your Windows device – very cool!
An Added Bonus: Use iTunes for Enhanced Apple Music Integration!
Here‘s a neat trick to level up beyond the Apple Music web player:
Install iTunes on your Windows PC!
Surprise…Apple‘s famed media app remains well-supported on Windows with regular updates and Apple Music superpowers when signed into your Apple ID.
Fire up iTunes and it will automatically connect to the Apple Music catalog. You‘ll then have full access within a native app, even allowing things like integrate with DJ software.
It lacks some web player features but overall, iTunes on Windows + Apple Music is a formidable combo. Download it free from Microsoft Store or Apple.com today if interested!
Apple Music vs. Spotify: Which Streaming Service to Choose?
With Apple Music now accessible on Windows, you might be wondering how it stacks up against streaming leader Spotify for your listening needs:
Reasons to choose Apple Music:
- π± Seamless ecosystem integration for iPhone, iPad, HomePod users
- π Earlier access to many new releases from top artists
- π§ Slightly higher 256 kbps audio bitrate quality
- π¨βπ» Intuitive iTunes desktop integration
Reasons to choose Spotify:
- π Robust music suggestion algorithms with Daily Mixes
- ποΈ More podcasts and episodic content
- πΌοΈ Spotify Canvas visualizations during songs
- β―οΈ Spotify Connect for quick multi-device streaming
Both services enable you to access tons of music ad-free so you can‘t go wrong! Try out the free trials and see which vibes with your listening preferences.
Apple Music‘s focus on human curation, early access exclusives, and placement/promotion of emerging artists make it a superb choice – especially for rap, pop and alternative genre fans.
FAQ: Common Apple Music for Windows Questions
Got lingering questions before getting started with Apple Music as a proud Windows user? See the answers below:
Do you need an Apple device to use Apple Music?
Nope! Apple Music works great across all devices including Windows. An Apple ID gets you full access.
Is there a dedicated Apple Music app for Windows computers?
There‘s no standalone app but the web player provides the complete experience. Alternatively, try iTunes for tight integration.
Can you download songs to your Windows device for offline listening?
You sure can! Just tap the download button on any album, playlist or song to save for offline playback when WiFi is limited.
What speaker can I use with Apple Music on Windows?
Connect any Bluetooth speaker to your Windows PC/laptop wirelessly. Apple HomePod mini is a fantastic choice for stereo sound and Siri voice assistance!
And there you have it my friend! You now have all the tools needed to unlock Apple Music‘s extensive catalog to enjoy on your Windows machines.
Happy listening! Let me know if any other questions come up. π§πΆ
