How To Download Music on Your Android Phone

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Learn to download music on your phone so you can listen offline

Written by Cory Stillman

Last Updated: July 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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YouTube Music

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Spotify Music

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Apple Music

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Tidal

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Google Play Music (historical)

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Q&A

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Tips

This wikiHow article teaches you how to download songs on your Android device. Google's official music app is YouTube Music, although Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal users can all also download music for offline listening. None of these apps allow you to download songs for personal ownership, but you can still download music so that you may access it within the app, even when you do not have an internet connection. Whether you are traveling or simply do not want to rely on an unstable network, this wikiHow article has every Android owner and music lover covered!

Steps to Download & Listen to Music on Android

Install Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, or your streaming service of choice. Open the app and search the song, artist, or album you want to listen to. Tap the (⋮) button next to the song or album and hit “Download.”

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

YouTube Music

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1
Open the YouTube Music app. YouTube Music comes pre-installed on all Android phones. Its logo is a white "play" icon inside a red circle.
- Only YouTube Music Premium subscribers may download music.
- Unlike other music streaming apps, YouTube Music Premium allows you to download YouTube videos for offline viewing as well.
2
Tap the Menu icon next to any song, album, or playlist. The total amount of permitted storage space differs across different Android devices. However, all Premium subscribers are entitled to download songs, albums, and playlists. Tap the Menu icon (⋮) next to any one of these to get started.
- You must be online in order to download music.
- YouTube Music does not include any podcasts, but you can download podcasts in this same manner via the free Google Podcasts app.
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3
Tap the "Download" button. It is an encircled downward-facing arrow.
- Try to only download music when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Downloading over cellular data can use up all of your data rather quickly.
- Users may also tap the album art for any single or album and then tap the Download button there.^{[1]
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- You may remove a download at any time by tapping the Menu icon again and selecting "Remove download".
4
Enable smart downloads. Users may also enable smart downloads, permitting YouTube Music to download music for you based on your listening habits. This feature ensures that you will always have music available, but it can take up your device's storage rather quickly.
- To enable smart downloads, navigate to your downloads. Then, click "Settings" and turn on "Smart downloads".
- You must connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to keep your downloaded music.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Spotify Music

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It is represented by Spotify's official logo, a green circle with three black curved lines.
2
Find an album or playlist you want to download. Spotify does not allow you to download individual songs, but you can add individual songs to a playlist and download them all.
- To download an individual song, create a playlist of just one song!
- Spotify allows you to download up to 10,000 songs across 5 different devices.
- You may also download any podcast on the app.
  - Even Spotify Free users can download podcasts!
3
Tap the download icon on the album or playlist page. It is located atop the page, next to the heart icon. It is represented by an encircled downward-facing arrow.
- When your download is complete, the circle will turn green and include a check mark instead.
- Try to only download music when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Downloading over cellular data can use up all of your data rather quickly.
  - Spotify will prevent you from downloading over cellular data unless you permit the app to do so.^{[2]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Apple Music

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Android owners can still take advantage of Apple Music and its robust library. The app is represented by a white musical note against a red background.
Choose a song or album to add to your library. You can only download an album that has been added to your library, or a song that is part of a playlist.^{[3]
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3
Tap the download button atop your screen. On the page for an album or playlist, you will see a download icon atop the screen. It is an encircled downward-facing arrow. Tap on it to download the album or playlist for offline listening.
- To download an individual song, press and hold the song. Then, tap the download icon.
- You can also adjust your settings so that Apple Music automatically downloads everything you add to your library.
- Try to only download music when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Downloading over cellular data can use up all of your data rather quickly.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Tidal

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It is represented by a series of white diamonds against a black background.
Tidal users cannot download individual songs, but they can download any album or any of their personal playlists.
Atop the album or playlist page is a slider labeled Download. Switch it on to begin downloading the listed songs.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Google Play Music (historical)

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1
Open Google Play. It's the orange triangle-shaped app with a white music note in the center.
2
Tap ☰. It's in the top-left of the screen.
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Tap Music Library. This takes you to the main page of your Music Library.
4
Go to the album or song or you want to download. Tap "Artists", "Albums", or "Songs" to browse for the song or album you want to download.
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Tap
. Tap the "download" icon that resembles a downward arrow. If you don't see the download icon, you can also tap ⋮ next to the song or album, and then tap Download from the drop-down list.
- If the download option is not available, you may need to purchase the music or subscribe to Google Play Music.

Community Q&A

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Question

Do I have to log in with a google account?

Community Answer

Yes. Since Google Play is a part of the Google Community, it needs to be logged in with your Google account. By the way, I don't think it's necessary to log in again, as at the beginning when you start using your phone and create an account with Google, all the applications Google provides will be available. If it asks you for your account password and email address, log in!

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Question

Does this cost money to download music? I want to make sure so I don't spend any.

Community Answer

You certainly con download songs for free, but not from Google Play. Instead, go to Chrome and go to the address "m.youtube.com" (YouTube on Android without going to the YouTube app). Select your song like you do on Google Play music. Now copy the link of that song by long-pressing on the web address. Go to mp3juices.cc and paste the link, then download the song for free!

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Question

It appears I cannot download my entire library... just a song or album only.

Rudy Toth

Community Answer

Do you download through a Network or on WiFi? WiFi is faster with the download at anytime of the month during night time the speed is quicker than doing so in the daytime hours. Make sure that all your switches are marked to the way you want the downloads to perform to your device.

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Tips

No music streaming app will allow you to download songs as local files. To add music to your Android locally, check out this wikiHow article.

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