You can download songs from iTunes to your computer or phone, but the process depends on which device you're using and whether you own the song or subscribe to Apple Music
iTunes is Apple's music store and player combined into one app on Mac, or part of the Music app on Windows and iPhone. When you buy a song from iTunes, you own a copy that downloads to your device. If you subscribe to Apple Music instead, you can download songs to listen offline, but they stay tied to your subscription — if you cancel, the downloads stop working. The steps differ slightly between Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad.
Before you download anything, make sure you're signed into iTunes or the Music app with the Apple ID you use for purchases. If you're on a Mac running Catalina or newer, iTunes is split across three apps: Music, Podcasts, and TV. On Windows, iTunes is still one app. On iPhone and iPad, everything happens in the Music app.
Key Takeaways
- Songs you buy from iTunes download automatically to your device, but you can also download them manually if they didn't save the first time.
- If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can download any song in the catalog to listen without internet, but the download expires if you cancel your subscription.
- On Mac, use the Music app; on Windows, use iTunes; on iPhone and iPad, use the Music app — the steps are slightly different for each.
- Downloaded songs take up storage space on your device, so check how much room you have before downloading many songs at once.
How to download a song you bought on Mac
Open the Music app and go to the Library tab at the top. Search for the song you want to download or find it in your Purchased section. Click the cloud icon next to the song title — this icon appears only if the song isn't already on your Mac. The download starts immediately and usually finishes in seconds.
If you don't see a cloud icon, the song is already on your device. If you see a different icon (like a play button), the song exists in Apple Music but you haven't bought it. To buy it, click the icon and select "Buy" from the menu that appears.
How to download a song you bought on Windows
Open iTunes and click Library at the top left. Search for the song or browse your Purchased section. Right-click the song and select "Download" from the menu. The song downloads to your computer and appears in your library with a checkmark next to it once it's complete.
If you don't see a "Download" option when you right-click, the song is already on your device. You can also download entire albums or playlists the same way — right-click the album or playlist name and select "Download."
How to download a song from Apple Music on your phone or tablet
Open the Music app and find the song you want. Press and hold the song title until a menu appears. Tap "Add to Library" if it's not already there, then tap "Download." A small cloud icon with a downward arrow appears next to the song, and the download starts right away.
On iPhone and iPad, downloaded songs are stored on your device and take up storage space. You can see how much space your downloads use by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage) and looking for the Music app. If you run out of space, you can delete downloads by swiping left on a song in your library and tapping "Remove Download" — this keeps the song in your library but removes the file from your device.
The difference between buying and subscribing
When you buy a song from iTunes, you own a permanent copy. You can download it, delete it, re-download it, and keep it even if you cancel your Apple ID or stop using Apple devices. The file is yours.
With Apple Music, you rent access to millions of songs. You can download any of them to listen offline, but the download only works while your subscription is active. If you cancel Apple Music, all your downloads stop playing — they're still on your device, but the app won't let you listen to them. If you resubscribe later, they work again. This is why Apple Music downloads have a small clock icon next to them: it's a reminder that they expire.
What to do if a download gets stuck or won't start
If a song won't download, first check that you have enough storage space on your device. On Mac or Windows, open System Preferences or Settings and look at how much free space you have. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you're low on space, delete files you don't need or remove other downloads.
If you have space but the download still won't start, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in. On Mac or Windows, go to Account in the menu bar and select "Sign Out," then sign back in. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out," then sign back in. After you sign back in, try downloading the song again.
If the download starts but gets stuck partway through, try pausing it and resuming it. On Mac, click the pause icon next to the song. On Windows, right-click the song and select "Pause Download," then right-click again and select "Resume Download." On iPhone or iPad, you can't pause individual downloads, but you can turn off Wi-Fi and cellular data to pause all downloads, then turn them back on to resume.
How much storage space downloads use
A typical song takes up 5 to 10 megabytes of storage space, depending on the audio quality and length. An album with 12 songs might use 60 to 120 megabytes. If you download 100 songs, expect to use 500 megabytes to 1 gigabyte of space. This matters most on phones and tablets, where storage is limited. On a Mac or Windows computer with a large hard drive, storage is rarely a problem unless you download thousands of songs.
You can see exactly how much space your music downloads are using. On Mac, open the Music app, go to Music > Preferences, click Files, and look at the Media Folder location. On Windows, open iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences, click Advanced, and look at the iTunes Media Folder location. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scroll down to see the Music app's size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download a song from iTunes on my Android phone?
No. iTunes and Apple Music are Apple services and only work on Apple devices. Android phones use Google Play Music or other music apps instead. If you want to use Apple Music on Android, you can stream songs but not download them for offline listening.
What happens to my downloads if I get a new iPhone?
If you sign into your new iPhone with the same Apple ID, your purchased songs appear in your library automatically. You can download them again to the new phone. If you had Apple Music downloads on your old phone, they don't transfer — you have to download them again on the new phone, and only while your subscription is active.
Can I download a song more than once?
Yes. If you bought a song, you can download it to as many devices as you want, as many times as you want. Each download is a separate copy on that device. If you delete a download and want it back, just download it again.
Do I need Wi-Fi to download songs?
No, but it's faster. You can download over cellular data on iPhone and iPad, but it uses your monthly data allowance. Most people download over Wi-Fi to save data. On Mac and Windows, you need an internet connection but it doesn't matter whether it's wired or wireless.
Can I download songs from Apple Music without paying for a subscription?
No. You can stream songs from Apple Music for free for one month, but you can't download them. To download, you need an active paid subscription. Alternatively, you can buy individual songs from iTunes instead of subscribing.