As an iPhone user, you may be wondering if your device comes pre-installed with a music app that allows you to listen to songs, create playlists, and manage your music library. The short answer is yes! iPhones include a default Music app that provides a seamless music listening experience right out of the box.
What is the default Music app on iPhone?
The Music app is Apple’s proprietary music player that is pre-installed on every iPhone. It allows you to:
- Browse and play songs stored on your device
- Stream music from your iCloud Music Library
- Listen to Apple Music radio stations
- Create and manage playlists
- Queue up songs and albums
- View lyrics as you listen to songs
The Music app replaces iTunes as the default music player on iPhones. It provides quick access to your music library and Apple Music catalog. The app icon is bright orange with a musical note inside.
Key features of the Music app
Here are some of the key features offered by the Music app on iPhones:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Library | View and play all the music stored on your device, including songs, albums, artists, playlists, and more. |
| Apple Music | Stream over 90 million songs, playlists curated by music experts, and online radio stations. |
| Lyrics | View real-time lyrics for the song that’s playing. |
| Playlists | Create customized playlists to organize your music. |
| Radio | Listen to Apple Music 1 live radio broadcast or other Apple Music radio stations. |
| Downloads | Download songs, albums or playlists to your device so you can listen offline. |
The Music app provides full control over playback, allowing you to shuffle songs, repeat tracks, skip ahead, or play songs from a certain point. It is designed to make listening to music on your iPhone an intuitive and pleasing experience.
Is the Music app already installed on my iPhone?
Yes, the Music app comes pre-installed on every new iPhone out of the box. You do not need to download it separately from the App Store.
The Music app icon can be found on your iPhone’s home screen. It has an bright orange icon featuring a musical note inside a circle. So as long as you have an iPhone, you already have access to the Music app.
Where to find the Music app
Here is where you can find the Music app on your iPhone:
- Home Screen – Look for the bright orange musical note icon on one of your home screen pages.
- App Library – Swipe left past all your home screen pages to access the App Library, then find it under the “Apple Apps” or “Entertainment” categories.
- Search – Use iPhone’s built-in Spotlight Search by swiping down from the middle of the screen to instantly search for and open the Music app.
So the Music app should always be easy to access on your iPhone. If for some reason you can’t find it, you can restart your device or reinstall the latest iOS software update.
How do I use the Music app?
The Music app is designed to make playing audio on your iPhone a seamless experience. Here is how to use the Music app to listen to music:
Browsing your music library
Open the Music app and tap on the Library tab at the bottom to view all the artists, albums, songs, playlists and other content synced from your iTunes library. Tap on anything to start playing it.
Streaming Apple Music
If you have an Apple Music subscription, tap the Listen Now tab to access personalized playlists and stations tailored to your musical tastes. You can also search for and stream any of the 90 million songs in the Apple Music catalog.
Controlling playback
While music is playing, use the playback bar at the bottom to pause, skip tracks, shuffle songs, repeat, cue to a specific time, and adjust the volume. The Up Next queue lets you view and edit upcoming songs.
Viewing lyrics
Tap on the lyrics icon while a song plays to view real-time synced lyrics. This feature works for both songs downloaded on your device as well as Apple Music streaming tracks.
Creating playlists
Use the + button to make custom playlists from songs in your library or Apple Music. Give your playlist a name and description, add songs to it, then access your playlists under the Library tab.
So in summary, the Music app lets you browse, play, queue, lyricize and playlist-ify your music library seamlessly right from your iPhone. It is designed for quick and easy music playback.
What devices and OS support the Music app?
The Music app comes preinstalled on all iPhones running iOS 13.0 or later. It is also available on newer model iPod touches and iPads running iPadOS 13.0 or later.
Here are the compatible Apple devices and operating system versions that support the Music app:
| Device | Minimum OS Required |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iOS 13.0 |
| iPod Touch (7th generation) | iOS 13.0 |
| iPad Pro | iPadOS 13.0 |
| iPad Air (3rd generation) | iPadOS 13.0 |
| iPad (5th and 6th generation) | iPadOS 13.0 |
| iPad Mini (5th generation) | iPadOS 13.0 |
So if you have a supported iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad running iOS 13.0 or later, you will have the Music app available.
Using the Music app on Mac
In addition to iOS devices, you can also use the Music app on Mac computers running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later. The Music app on Mac has similar features and user interface as the mobile version.
What music can I play in the Music app?
The Music app gives you access to:
- Your personal music library – Any music you have downloaded to your device from your computer via a USB connection and sync can be played through the Music app. This includes purchased iTunes music, ripped CDs, and music files added from other sources.
- Apple Music streaming catalog – Paid Apple Music subscribers get access to over 90 million songs to stream on demand. You can play any of these songs through the Music app.
- Apple Music radio – Listen to live radio broadcasts like Apple Music 1, or radio stations based on genres, artists, eras and activities.
So the Music app lets you listen to all the music you own, have downloaded, or can access through an Apple Music subscription. This gives you endless options for music playback.
Syncing music to your iPhone
To listen to your personal music library on your iPhone, you will need to sync audio files from your computer’s music library to your device. This can be done using a USB connection and the latest version of iTunes or Finder on Mac. Audio file formats supported include MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV and AIFF.
How is the Music app better than a third-party app?
Here are some key advantages of using the built-in Music app compared to third-party iPhone music players:
- Seamlessly integrated with iPhone – Designed specifically for the iPhone interface and gestures.
- No ads – Clean, uninterrupted listening experience.
- Works offline – Listen to downloaded music without an internet connection.
- Syncs with iTunes/Finder – Easily manage music between computer and iPhone.
- Apple Music access – Stream full Apple Music catalog.
- Home Sharing – Access shared iTunes libraries on your home network.
- Siri support – Use Siri voice commands to control music playback.
- Lyrics – View real-time song lyrics.
- It’s free! – Already included with your iPhone.
While third-party apps may offer niche features, the default Music app is designed to provide the best overall music experience on iPhone.
Downsides of third-party apps
Potential downsides of using a third-party iPhone music app include:
- May lack full iPhone integration
- Could have intrusive ads
- Requires separate app download
- No guarantee of continued support/development
- May lack Apple Music support
- Extra cost (paid apps)
- Privacy concerns
The Music app avoids these issues by being built in to iOS and optimized specifically for iPhone.
Music app tips and tricks
Take your Music app skills to the next level with these handy tips:
Enable lyrics view
Can’t get enough of singing along to your favorite songs? Enable real-time synced lyrics by going to Settings > Music and turning on “Show Apple Music Lyrics.”
Download for offline listening
If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can save storage space by downloading just your most-listened playlists and albums for offline listening. Downloads are available for up to 30 days.
Automatically add music
Use the “Made for You” and “For You” sections to let Apple Music automatically populate personalized playlists and albums based on your listening habits and musical tastes.
Listen Now station
The Listen Now section provides an endless personalized station that dynamically adapts to your music preferences over time, serving up endless music enjoyment.
Use Siri
You can use Siri voice commands to control music playback. Just say “Hey Siri” then make a request like “play pop music” or “turn it up.”
Remote control from Watch
Use the Music app on Apple Watch to remotely control playback on your iPhone when it’s not handy. You can play, pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and more.
Switch between devices
Thanks to Apple ecosystem integration, you can easily switch music playback between different devices signed into your Apple ID, picking up right where you left off.
Conclusion
To summarize, the Music app is automatically included on all iPhones running iOS 13 or later. It provides a seamless music listening experience by integrating with your personal media library, Apple Music subscription, and Siri. With its tailored design, offline playback, and lack of disruptive ads, the built-in Music app provides clear advantages over using a third-party iPhone music player. So explore all the features the Music app offers to enjoy your music library to the fullest on your iPhone.