The main ways to get music on your iPhone
You can download music to your iPhone or iPad through several methods, each with different music sources and costs. The most straightforward route is Apple Music, which lets you download songs from their catalog to listen offline. If you already own music files on your computer, you can transfer them using a Mac or Windows PC. You can also buy individual songs or albums from the iTunes Store, which downloads directly to your device.
The method you choose depends on whether you want a subscription service, own your music outright, or prefer free options with limitations. Each approach works differently and stores your music in different places on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Music subscribers can download any song from the service's catalog to listen without an internet connection.
- You can transfer music files from your computer to your iPhone using a Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with iTunes.
- The iTunes Store sells individual songs and albums that download directly to your iPhone and stay there permanently.
- Free music services like Spotify and YouTube Music have limited or no offline download features on iPhone.
- Downloaded music takes up storage space on your device, so check how much free space you have before downloading large libraries.
Downloading music through Apple Music
If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can download songs, albums, or playlists directly to your iPhone. Open the Music app, find the song or album you want, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Download." The song appears in your library with a small download icon next to it, showing it is stored on your device rather than streamed.
Downloaded music stays on your iPhone even when you are offline or without cellular service. However, Apple Music downloads expire after 30 days if you do not connect to the internet — this is a licensing requirement, not a technical limitation. If your subscription ends, all downloaded music becomes unplayable, though the files remain on your device taking up space.
To manage your downloads, go to Settings > Music and check "Downloaded" to see only the music stored on your device. From there you can delete downloads to free up space by swiping left on any song or album.
Buying and downloading music from iTunes Store
The iTunes Store lets you purchase individual songs or entire albums, which download to your iPhone permanently. Open the Music app, tap the search icon at the bottom, find the song or album you want, and tap the price to buy it. The purchase downloads immediately and appears in your library under "Purchased."
Music you buy from iTunes Store is yours to keep — it does not expire and does not depend on a subscription. You can also re-download purchased music to any of your devices by going to the Music app, tapping your profile picture, selecting "Purchased," and tapping "Not on This iPhone" to see what you own but have not downloaded yet.
Prices vary by song and album. Most songs cost between $0.99 and $1.29, though some artists price them differently. Albums typically cost $9.99 to $14.99 depending on the artist and release date.
Transferring music from your computer
If you have music files stored on your Mac or Windows computer, you can move them to your iPhone using either Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows). On a Mac running Catalina or newer, connect your iPhone with a USB cable, open Finder, click your device name in the sidebar, and go to the Music tab. Check "Sync Music" and choose whether to sync your entire library or selected playlists, then click "Apply."
On Windows, connect your iPhone, open iTunes, click the device icon, go to the Music tab, check "Sync Music," and choose your playlists or entire library. Click "Apply" to transfer the files. This method works with MP3, AAC, and other common audio formats that iTunes recognizes.
Music transferred this way is tied to the computer you synced from — if you want the same music on another computer, you need to sync from that computer too. The files take up the same amount of storage space as downloaded Apple Music, so check your iPhone's available storage before syncing a large library.
Using free music services with download limits
Services like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music offer free tiers, but their offline download features are limited or unavailable on iPhone. Spotify Free does not allow downloads at all — you can only stream with ads. Spotify Premium ($11.99 per month) does allow downloads, but you need an active subscription to listen to them.
YouTube Music's free tier does not support downloads on any device. YouTube Music Premium ($11.99 per month) allows downloads, but like Spotify, the downloads stop working if your subscription ends. Amazon Music Unlimited ($11.99 per month) allows downloads, but Amazon Music Free (ad-supported) does not.
If you want truly free music without a subscription requirement, your options on iPhone are limited. The iTunes Store occasionally offers free songs or albums, which you can find by searching "free music" in the app. Some artists also release free music directly through their websites or social media, which you can download if they provide a direct file link.
Checking storage space before downloading
Downloaded music takes up storage space on your iPhone, so before downloading a large library, check how much free space you have. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space is available. A typical song file is 5 to 10 MB, so an album of 12 songs uses roughly 60 to 120 MB. A large playlist of 100 songs might use 500 MB to 1 GB.
If your iPhone is running low on storage, you have two options: delete other files and apps to make room, or download only your most-played music and stream the rest. You can also delete downloaded music selectively — go to the Music app, tap "Downloaded," swipe left on any song or album, and tap "Delete" to remove just that download without affecting your library.
If you regularly run out of storage, consider using a cloud service like iCloud Music Library (included with Apple Music) to store your music in the cloud instead of on your device, then download only what you want to listen to offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download music from YouTube on iPhone?
YouTube's terms of service do not allow downloading music from YouTube videos to your device. Third-party apps that claim to do this violate YouTube's terms and may expose your device to security risks. If you want music from YouTube, use YouTube Music Premium, which has a legitimate download feature.
What happens to my downloads if I cancel Apple Music?
Downloaded songs remain on your iPhone but become unplayable once your subscription ends. The files stay on your device taking up storage space until you delete them manually. You can delete them by going to the Music app, tapping "Downloaded," swiping left on any song, and tapping "Delete."
Can I download music to my iPhone without using a computer?
Yes. Apple Music, iTunes Store, Spotify Premium, and YouTube Music Premium all allow direct downloads through their iPhone apps without needing a computer. You only need a computer if you want to transfer music files you already own from your Mac or Windows PC.
Why does my downloaded music keep disappearing?
If you use Apple Music, downloads expire after 30 days without an internet connection — reconnect to the internet and the downloads refresh. If you use other services, check whether your subscription is still active, as downloads stop working when subscriptions end. If you bought music from iTunes Store, it should not disappear unless you manually deleted it.
How much storage does a typical album use?
A typical album of 12 songs uses between 60 and 120 MB of storage, depending on audio quality and file format. High-quality downloads use more space than standard quality. You can check the exact size of any song or album by looking at its details in the Music app before downloading.