The basic method depends on which app you use

Most music streaming apps let you download songs directly to your phone so you can listen without an internet connection. The steps are similar across apps: find the song or album, tap a download button (usually a downward arrow or cloud icon), and wait for it to finish. The song then lives on your phone until you delete it or your subscription ends.

The catch is that downloaded songs are tied to your account and the app you used. If you cancel your subscription, most apps delete your downloads. If you switch to a different streaming service, you cannot transfer those downloads — you start over. Downloaded songs also take up storage space on your phone, so you cannot download your entire music library if your phone has limited storage.

The method you choose depends on whether you want offline listening through a subscription service, or whether you want to own the files outright and move them between devices and apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music all let you download songs to your phone through their apps, but downloads only work while your subscription is active.
  • Downloaded songs take up storage space on your phone and are locked to the app you used — you cannot move them to a different music service.
  • If you want to own song files permanently and use them anywhere, you need to buy them from iTunes, Amazon Music (purchase option), or Bandcamp, rather than use a subscription service.
  • Downloaded songs from subscription services stop working if your subscription lapses, even if you paid for the downloads.

How to download on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music

Spotify: Open the app and find a song, album, or playlist. Tap the three-dot menu next to the title, then tap "Download". A green download icon appears next to the title when it finishes. Go to your Library, tap "Downloaded", and you can see all your offline songs. Downloaded songs stay on your phone until you remove them or your subscription ends.

Apple Music: Find a song or album in the app. Tap the three-dot menu, then tap "Add to Library" first (required step). Then tap the three-dot menu again and select "Download". A cloud icon with a downward arrow shows the download is in progress. Once finished, the icon changes to a filled cloud. Your downloads appear in the Library under "Downloaded Music".

YouTube Music: Open a song, album, or playlist. Tap the three-dot menu and select "Download". A download icon appears next to the title. Downloaded content shows up in your Library under "Downloads". YouTube Music Premium is required for downloads — the free version does not support offline listening.

Amazon Music Unlimited: Tap the three-dot menu next to a song or album and select "Download". The downloaded icon (a filled circle with a checkmark) appears when complete. Find your downloads in the Library under "Downloaded".

Buying and owning songs instead of streaming them

If you want to own song files that work across multiple apps and devices, you need to buy them rather than stream them. iTunes (through the Music app on iPhone, or iTunes on a computer) lets you buy individual songs or albums. Once purchased, the songs are yours — they do not disappear if you cancel a subscription. You can also download them to your phone and transfer them to other devices.

Amazon Music has a separate purchase option alongside its subscription service. You can buy individual songs or albums, and they appear in your library permanently. Downloaded purchases work offline and are not affected by subscription status.

Bandcamp is a platform where independent and major-label artists sell their music directly. When you buy a song or album on Bandcamp, you own the file and can download it in multiple formats (MP3, FLAC, WAV, and others). You can then move those files to any music app or device. Bandcamp also lets you stream what you bought through their app.

Bought songs typically cost $0.99 to $1.29 per song on iTunes and Amazon, or whatever the artist sets on Bandcamp. An album usually costs $5 to $15 depending on the artist and platform.

Storage space and managing your downloads

Downloaded songs take up space on your phone. A typical song is 3 to 8 MB, so 100 songs might use 400 MB to 800 MB of storage. If your phone has 64 GB of storage and you also store photos, videos, and apps, downloaded music adds up quickly. Check your phone's storage settings to see how much space you have left before downloading large playlists.

Most streaming apps let you delete downloads individually or in bulk. In Spotify, go to Library > Downloaded, swipe left on a song, and tap the trash icon. In Apple Music, swipe left on a song in Downloaded Music and tap "Remove". In YouTube Music, tap the three-dot menu next to a downloaded item and select "Remove Download". Deleting a download does not remove the song from your library — it just removes the offline file, and you can re-download it later if you have internet.

If your phone is running low on storage, you can also set some apps to automatically delete old downloads. Spotify has a setting under Preferences > Storage that lets you set a maximum download size — once you hit that limit, the app deletes your oldest downloads automatically.

What happens when your subscription ends

If you stop paying for a subscription service, your downloaded songs stop working in that app. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music all check your subscription status regularly. When your subscription lapses, the app locks those downloads and you cannot play them, even though the files are still on your phone taking up space.

The only way to keep listening is to renew your subscription or delete the downloads and buy the songs outright instead. This is why subscription downloads are useful for temporary offline access — like downloading an album before a flight — but not for building a permanent music library.

Transferring downloads between phones or apps

Downloaded songs from subscription services are locked to that app and cannot be moved. If you switch from Spotify to Apple Music, your Spotify downloads do not work in Apple Music. You would need to download the same songs again in Apple Music, which requires a new subscription and takes time.

If you buy songs from iTunes or Amazon Music, you have more flexibility. iTunes purchases can be downloaded to multiple Apple devices linked to your account. Amazon Music purchases can be downloaded to multiple devices through the Amazon Music app. You can also connect your phone to a computer and copy purchased music files to other apps or devices, though this depends on your phone's operating system and the app's rules.

Bandcamp purchases are the most portable — you download the actual audio files to your computer, and you can then move them to any phone, app, or device. This makes Bandcamp a good choice if you plan to switch between services or devices frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download songs from YouTube Music if I don't have Premium?

No. YouTube Music Premium is required for downloads. The free version of YouTube Music only lets you stream songs online. If you want offline listening without paying for Premium, you would need to use a different service or buy the songs instead.

What happens to my downloads if I switch phones?

Downloaded songs do not transfer to a new phone automatically. You need to download them again in the app on your new phone. If you buy songs from iTunes or Amazon, you can download them again on your new phone using the same account. Bandcamp files can be moved manually if you download them to a computer first.

Do downloaded songs use data when I play them?

No. Once a song is fully downloaded, playing it uses no data. This is the main reason to download — so you can listen without an internet connection or without using your mobile data.

Can I download songs to my computer and then move them to my phone?

It depends on the service. Spotify and YouTube Music do not let you download to a computer for offline use. Apple Music lets you download on a Mac or PC, but the files stay in the app and are not easy to move elsewhere. Bandcamp and iTunes purchases can be downloaded as actual files and moved between devices more freely.

How long do downloaded songs stay on my phone?

They stay until you delete them or your subscription ends. Subscription downloads are removed automatically when your subscription lapses. Purchased songs stay on your phone until you manually delete them, even if you cancel a subscription.