The basic difference between streaming and downloading

When you stream music, you're listening to a file that lives on someone else's server — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music. The file stays there. When you download music, you're copying that file to your own computer's hard drive, so you can listen without an internet connection and without the app checking in with the company's servers.

Most music services let you do both. You stream most of the time, but download specific songs or albums for offline listening — on a plane, in a car with spotty signal, or just to save your data plan. Some services let you download to your phone but not your computer, or vice versa. A few services, like Bandcamp, let you buy and download music outright, so it's yours to keep even if the service shuts down.

The method depends on which service you use and what kind of download you want. There's no single "download music" button that works everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Most subscription services like Spotify and Apple Music let you download songs for offline listening, but the download stays tied to your account and stops working if you cancel.
  • Bandcamp and similar sites let you buy music outright and download it as an MP3 file that's yours to keep forever, independent of any account.
  • Downloaded music takes up storage space on your computer — a typical song is 5 to 10 megabytes, so 100 songs might use 500 megabytes to 1 gigabyte.
  • The steps to download differ by service: Spotify uses a download button in the app, Apple Music uses a cloud icon, and YouTube Music uses a different menu entirely.
  • Downloaded music from subscription services only plays in that service's app and only on devices where you've downloaded it.

Downloading from Spotify

Open Spotify on your computer and find a song, album, or playlist you want to download. Right-click on it (or click the three dots next to it) and look for a download icon — it looks like an arrow pointing down into a line. Click that icon. The song will begin downloading to your computer.

You can see your downloaded music in Spotify by clicking "Your Library" on the left side, then filtering to show only downloaded tracks. Downloaded songs have a small down-arrow icon next to them. You can listen to them without internet, but only in the Spotify app, and only as long as your Spotify account is active. If you cancel your subscription, the downloaded files stop playing.

Spotify limits how much you can download depending on your subscription level. Free accounts cannot download at all. Premium accounts can download up to 10,000 songs across all your devices combined.

Downloading from Apple Music

In Apple Music on your computer (through iTunes or the Music app, depending on your Mac or Windows setup), find a song or album. Click the cloud icon with a down arrow next to it. The song downloads to your computer and appears in your library.

Downloaded songs play in the Music app and sync across your other Apple devices if you have iCloud Music Library turned on. Like Spotify, downloaded Apple Music tracks only work while your subscription is active. If you stop paying, they stop playing.

Apple Music includes downloads with all subscription tiers, including the student plan. There's no hard limit on how many songs you can download, but your computer's storage is the practical limit.

Downloading from YouTube Music

YouTube Music's download feature works differently depending on whether you're on a computer or phone. On a computer, you cannot download directly through the YouTube Music website. You can only download to phones and tablets through the YouTube Music app.

If you want to download music from YouTube to your computer, you'll need a third-party tool. These tools record the audio from YouTube videos and save it as an MP3 file. This is a legal gray area — YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading, but the legality depends on whether you own the copyright to what you're downloading. Downloading a song you wrote is legal. Downloading a copyrighted song without permission is not.

Buying and downloading music outright

Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon Music all let you buy individual songs or albums and download them as files you own permanently. Once you download an MP3 file to your computer, it's yours — the service cannot revoke it, and you can play it in any music player, on any device, forever.

Prices vary. A single song on iTunes or Amazon typically costs $0.99 to $1.29. Albums range from $5 to $15. Bandcamp often lets artists set their own prices and sometimes offers "pay what you want" options. When you buy, you download the file immediately to your computer's Downloads folder or wherever your browser is set to save files.

Once downloaded, you can move these files to a music folder, copy them to other devices, or back them up to an external drive. They won't disappear if a service shuts down or if you lose internet access.

Understanding storage and file formats

A typical song in MP3 format (the most common format) is about 5 to 10 megabytes. An album might be 50 to 100 megabytes. Downloaded music from subscription services is usually compressed more heavily to save space, so files may be smaller. Music you buy and download is often higher quality and takes up more space.

Most computers have enough storage for hundreds or thousands of songs. A 256-gigabyte hard drive can hold roughly 25,000 to 50,000 songs, depending on file size. If your computer is running low on storage, you can move downloaded music to an external hard drive or delete songs you no longer listen to.

Subscription services use proprietary formats that only work in their apps. Bandcamp and iTunes downloads are MP3 files that work in any music player — Windows Media Player, VLC, Foobar2000, or any other software that reads MP3s.

What happens to downloaded music if you cancel your subscription

Downloaded music from Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music stops playing if your subscription ends. The files remain on your computer, but the apps will not play them. You cannot convert them to MP3 or transfer them elsewhere — they're locked to the service.

This is why some people prefer to buy music outright on Bandcamp or iTunes. You own the file, not a license to listen. If the service disappears, your music is still there.

If you're concerned about losing access to music you love, download it from Bandcamp or buy it on iTunes. If you're comfortable with the subscription model and don't mind losing access when you cancel, streaming with occasional downloads for offline listening is simpler and cheaper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download music from YouTube to my computer?

YouTube's terms of service prohibit downloading. Third-party tools exist to record audio from YouTube videos, but using them violates YouTube's terms. The legality of downloading depends on copyright — downloading music you created is legal, but downloading copyrighted music without permission is not.

What's the difference between an MP3 and the files subscription services download?

MP3 is a standard format that any music player can read. Subscription services use encrypted formats that only their apps can play. This protects the copyright holder but means you can't move the file to a different player or device.

Do downloaded songs use less data than streaming?

Yes. Once downloaded, the file is on your computer, so playing it uses no data. Streaming sends the file over the internet every time you listen, which uses data from your internet plan or phone plan.

Can I download music on a Mac and a Windows PC at the same time?

Most services count downloads across all your devices toward a total limit. Spotify Premium allows 10,000 songs total across all devices. Apple Music has no stated limit. Check your service's rules before downloading the same album to multiple computers.

What if I want to keep my music forever?

Buy it on Bandcamp, iTunes, or Amazon Music. These services sell you the file, not a license. Once you download it, it's yours permanently, even if the service closes or you lose internet access.