Learn how to download songs and albums with iCloud and an Apple subscription. If you don't subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match, you won't be able to download anything with iCloud - you need to sync your device to a computer or purchase music from iTunes before you can download it.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Set up music on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Go to your device's settings
This is the gray app with star wheels (⚙️) inside. It is usually found on the home screen.
Your device must use the Apple ID affiliated with your Apple Music account or iTunes Match subscription. The same is true for the computer on which you have your iTunes library
Step 2. Scroll down
Scroll down and tap Music. The tab is in the middle of the menu.
Step 3. Slide Show Apple Music to On position
This option is at the very top of the screen. The switch will turn green.
Step 4. Slide iCloud Music Library to the On position
The switch is in the middle of the menu.
- Make it slide Cellular data in position We (green) or Off (white) to allow or deny iCloud downloads with your mobile data plan.
- Scroll down and go Automatic downloads in position We (green) or Off (white) to enable or disable the automatic download of new songs purchased on all devices connected to your iCloud account.
- To download the files, connect to a Wifi network to save your mobile plan.
Method 2 of 4: Use an iTunes Match subscription on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Go to Music
It's the white app with a multi-colored music note inside.
Step 2. Tap Library
The option is located in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Tap Songs
The option is in a list at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Scroll down
Songs are listed alphabetically by artist names.
- Otherwise, press To research in the lower right corner, tap in the search box at the top of the screen, select the tab Library and enter the name of an artist or the title of a song.
Step 5. Press the download button
It's the cloud-shaped button with an arrow pointing down next to the song you want to download.
This button appears next to any songs in your music library that aren't on the device you're using
Method 3 of 4: Use Apple Music subscription on iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Go to Music
It's the white app with a multi-colored music note inside.
Step 2. Tap Search
The option is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Tap in the search box
Tap in the search box at the top of the screen.
If the Apple Music tab under the search box isn't red, tap it
Step 4. Enter a song title
Enter a song title, artist name, or album title. Results will start to appear below the search box.
Step 5. Tap the desired result
You will be taken to a screen with all the available results listed by category: Albums, Songs, Playlists and many more.
- Scroll until you find the song you want to download.
- Press on See everything at the top right of each category to see all the results available in that category.
Step 6. Tap a song or album
Select the song you want to download to your device.
Step 7. Press +
This button is to the right of the song or album you want to download. Now the song you selected has been added to your iCloud Music Library and is available on all devices signed in with your Apple ID.
Step 8. Press the download button
It's the cloud-shaped button with an arrow pointing down next to the song you want to download. You have downloaded the song to your device.
This button appears next to any songs in your music library that aren't on the device you're using
Method 4 of 4: Use your computer
Step 1. Open iTunes on your computer
iTunes is preinstalled on Macs. Windows users can download it for free from the Apple website.
Step 2. Click Account
It can be found in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- If you see your name above the menu, you're signed in.
- If you are not logged in, click To log in in the top menu pane and enter your Apple ID and password.
Step 3. Click on the drop-down menu
Click on the drop-down menu in the upper left corner of the window.
Step 4. Click Music
Your music library will open.
Step 5. Click Show
The button is located in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Click All Music
All the songs and albums that you added to iTunes will be displayed. The same will apply to all the music in your iCloud Music Library.
Step 7. Click Songs
The button is located just below the drop-down menu. All the songs in your music library will be displayed, including the song from iCloud Music Library.
Step 8. Scroll down the screen
Scroll down to one of the songs you want to download. Use the scroll bar on the right side of the window or the directional buttons on your keyboard.
- Click in the search box on the upper right side of the window and start typing a song or album title to quickly find it in your library.
- Apple Music members can use this field to search for any song in the music library.
Step 9. Click the download button
This is the cloud-shaped button with a downward pointing arrow that appears next to the song or album title. The music is now downloaded to the iTunes library on your computer.
- The download button appears next to songs or albums that are in your iCloud Music Library, but not on the device you're using.
- You don't need to download music from iCloud Music Library to listen to it. You can stream all the songs stored in your library. If you have Apple Music, you can stream all songs in Apple Music library.