You can add your own music files to Apple Music so they play alongside your subscription library

Apple Music lets you upload songs you own — whether they're recordings you made yourself, rare bootlegs, or music not available on the service — and listen to them on all your devices. The files live in your Apple Music library right next to songs you stream, and they sync across your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch if you have iCloud Music Library turned on.

The process is straightforward: you add the files to your computer's music library, turn on iCloud Music Library in Apple Music settings, and the songs upload to Apple's servers. From there, you can stream them anywhere you're signed into your Apple account. You can add up to 100,000 songs this way, though most people never come close to that limit.

Key Takeaways

  • You need an active Apple Music subscription to upload your own files — the feature does not work with iTunes Match alone.
  • Files must be in a format Apple Music recognizes, with MP3, AAC, FLAC, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus among the supported types.
  • Uploading happens through iCloud Music Library, which you turn on in Apple Music settings on your computer or phone.
  • Once uploaded, your files appear in your library on every device signed into your Apple account, as long as iCloud Music Library stays on.

Check that your files are in a supported format

Apple Music accepts most common audio formats, but not all. The service supports MP3, AAC (the format iTunes uses by default), ALAC, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and a few others. If your files are in one of these formats, you can move straight to adding them. If you are not sure what format you have, right-click the file on Windows or select it and press Command-I on Mac to see the file type in the details panel.

If your files are in an unsupported format like WAV or OGG, you will need to convert them first. Free tools like Audacity or VLC can do this — open the file, then export or save it as an MP3 or AAC file. The conversion takes a few minutes per song and does not change the audio quality noticeably for most listeners.

Add the files to your music library on your computer

On a Mac, open the Music app. On Windows, open iTunes (if you still have it) or the Groove Music app, though the Music app is not available on Windows. Drag your music files directly into the app window, or go to File and select Add to Library, then browse to your files. The app will copy them into your music library folder and read their metadata — the song title, artist name, album, and other information.

If the metadata is wrong or missing, edit it before uploading. Right-click the song, select Get Info (Mac) or Properties (Windows), and fill in the correct details. Accurate metadata makes your songs easier to find later and helps them display correctly on your other devices.

Turn on iCloud Music Library in your Apple Music settings

On Mac, open the Music app, then go to Music > Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the General tab, then check the box next to "Sync Library" or "iCloud Music Library" — the exact wording depends on your macOS version. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music, then turn on Sync Library. On Windows, open iTunes or the Music app, go to Edit > Preferences, click the General tab, and check "Sync Library".

Once you turn on Sync Library, the app will begin uploading your files to iCloud. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many files you are adding and your internet speed. You will see a progress indicator in the app. Do not close the app or disconnect from the internet while the upload is happening, or it may pause or restart.

Check that your files uploaded successfully

After the upload finishes, open Apple Music on any of your devices and search for one of the songs you added. If it appears in your library with the correct title and artist, the upload worked. You should see a small cloud icon next to the song title on devices where the file has not yet downloaded to local storage — that icon means the song is stored on Apple's servers and will stream when you play it.

If a song does not appear after an hour or two, check that Sync Library is still on in your settings. If it is, try signing out of your Apple account and signing back in. If the song still does not show up, the file may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Delete it from your library and try adding a different version of the song.

Stream your files on other devices

Once your files are uploaded, they appear in your Apple Music library on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and any other device signed into your Apple account. Open Apple Music, search for the song by title or artist, and tap or click to play it. The song will stream from Apple's servers, so you need an internet connection — unless you download it to the device first by tapping the download button next to the song.

If you turn off Sync Library on any device, your uploaded files will disappear from that device's library after a few hours. The files stay on Apple's servers, so turning Sync Library back on will bring them back. This is useful if you want to free up space on a device or temporarily hide your library.

Manage and remove files from your library

To delete a file you uploaded, right-click it in Apple Music and select Delete from Library. Choose whether to keep the file on your computer or remove it entirely. If you remove it from your library, it disappears from all your devices within a few hours. You can re-add it later by dragging it back into the app.

If you reach Apple Music's limit of 100,000 songs, you will not be able to add more until you delete some. This limit includes both files you uploaded and songs you saved from Apple Music's catalog, so check your library size before you start a large upload. You can see how many songs you have by opening Apple Music settings and looking for library information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Apple Music subscription to upload my own files?

Yes. The upload feature is only available with an active Apple Music subscription. If you cancel your subscription, your uploaded files remain on Apple's servers for a limited time, but you cannot stream them or add new files. iTunes Match, Apple's older service, also allowed uploads, but Apple Music is the current option.

Can I upload files that are copyrighted music?

Technically yes — Apple Music does not scan files for copyright before uploading them. However, uploading copyrighted material you do not own violates copyright law in most countries. The service is intended for recordings you own, made yourself, or have permission to upload.

What happens to my uploaded files if I cancel Apple Music?

Your files stay on Apple's servers for 30 days after your subscription ends. During that time, you can turn your subscription back on and access them again. After 30 days, they are deleted. Your original files on your computer are not affected.

Why is my upload taking so long?

Large uploads depend on your internet speed and how many files you are adding. Uploading 1,000 songs can take several hours on a standard home internet connection. Keep your computer plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, and avoid using other apps that consume bandwidth. If the upload stalls, restart the Music app and it will resume where it left off.

Can I upload files on my iPhone or iPad?

No. You must add files to your library on a Mac or Windows computer first. Once they are uploaded, they appear on your iPhone and iPad automatically. You cannot drag files into Apple Music on mobile devices.