Apple Music App Mac First Impressions: A Quick Tour

New to the Apple Music app on Mac? This guide walks you through the key changes, what to look for, and how to get the most out of the revamped interface. You’ll learn what to check first, how to customize the sidebar, and how to avoid common confusion when transitioning from iTunes or an older version.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later – the Music app replaces iTunes there.
• An Apple ID (free) to access the store and your library; an Apple Music subscription for streaming.
• Your music library already imported or synced from your old iTunes library.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Music app. Click the Music icon in the Dock or find it in the Applications folder. If you haven’t used it before, it may take a moment to load your library.
2. Take a look at the sidebar. On the left, you’ll see sections like Library, Apple Music, and Store. Click each one to see what it does. Library shows your own songs, Apple Music is for streaming content, and Store is for buying music.
3. Check the top navigation bar. At the top, you’ll see tabs like Listen Now, Browse, Radio, and Library. These are your main ways to find music. Listen Now gives personalized recommendations, Browse shows new releases and curated playlists, Radio offers live stations, and Library is your own collection.
4. Try the search bar. Type a song, artist, or album in the search field in the top right. Results will show matches from both your library and Apple Music (if you have a subscription). Use the tabs above the results to filter.
5. Play a song. Double-click any song in your library or click the play button on an album. The player controls (play/pause, skip, volume) are at the top of the window. You’ll see the song title and artist in the top center, and a mini player can be toggled with the small icon at the top right.
6. Customize the sidebar. Go to the menu bar: Music > Settings (or Music > Preferences) > General. Here you can check or uncheck items to show in the sidebar, like Genres, Composers, or Recently Added. Click OK to apply.
7. Explore the new interface. Notice the larger artwork and more visual layout compared to iTunes. The “Now Playing” view (click the song title at the top) gives a full-screen experience with lyrics and related songs.
8. Set up iCloud Music Library (if you subscribe). Go to Music > Settings > General and check “Sync Library” (or “iCloud Music Library”). This uploads your personal songs and lets you access them on other devices. It may take time to upload.
9. Try the keyboard shortcuts. Spacebar plays/pauses, arrow keys skip, and Command+L shows the current song in your library. These make navigation faster.
10. Check your library’s organization. Click Library in the sidebar, then Songs. You can sort by clicking column headers (Title, Artist, Album). Right-click a column header to add more columns like Genre or Date Added.

Common Mistakes

• Thinking your music is gone. If you don’t see your old songs, they may be stored in a different location. Go to Music > Settings > Files and check the “Media Library Location.” If it’s pointing to a new folder, your songs are still on the drive but not linked. Use File > Import to bring them in.
• Confusing the Store with Apple Music. The Store is for buying songs individually; Apple Music is a subscription service. If you don’t have a subscription, the Apple Music tabs will show previews and prompts to subscribe, but you can still buy from the Store.
• Deleting a song from Apple Music thinking it’s from your library. If you have Sync Library on, deleting a song from your Mac may also delete it from your iCloud Library and other devices. Be careful when using Delete; choose “Remove Download” if you just want to free space.
• Overlooking the mini player. The small window that appears when you click the artwork in the top center is not a bug; it’s a mini player. You can drag it around and control playback from there.
• Expecting iTunes features that are gone. The Music app doesn’t have a built-in app store or podcast manager (those are separate apps now). Don’t look for them inside Music.

Tips

• Use the “Listen Now” tab daily. It learns your taste and gives a mix of new and old favorites. The more you play, the better it gets.
• Customize the toolbar. Right-click (or Control-click) the top toolbar and choose “Customize Toolbar” to add buttons like Shuffle, Repeat, or Equalizer.
• Take advantage of the “Up Next” queue. Right-click a song and choose “Play Next” or “Play Later” to build a queue. You can see and edit the queue by clicking the icon that looks like three lines with a play button at the top right.
• Use the “Lyrics” view. Click the quote icon at the top right (or press Command+K) to see time-synced lyrics. Great for karaoke or following along.
• Manage storage. If you have a subscription, you can download songs for offline listening by clicking the download icon (a cloud with a down arrow). To save space, go to Music > Settings > General and choose “Optimize Storage” to automatically remove downloads you haven’t played in a while.
• Import CDs easily. Insert a CD, and the Music app will ask if you want to import it. You can set the format (AAC, MP3) in Settings > General > Import Settings.

Troubleshooting

• Music app won’t open. Force quit it (Cmd+Option+Esc) and try again. If that fails, restart your Mac. If it still won’t open, check for macOS updates (System Settings > General > Software Update).
• Your library appears empty. Go to File > Import and select your old iTunes library file (usually named “iTunes Library.itl”). If you have a backup, restore it. Also check that the Media Library Location in Settings > Files points to the right folder.
• Songs show a cloud icon with an exclamation mark. This means the song can’t be played or downloaded. Check your internet connection, and if the song is from Apple Music, make sure your subscription is active. For your own files, the original file may be missing – locate it and re-add it.
• Apple Music songs are greyed out. This usually means the song isn’t available in your region or your subscription has lapsed. Try signing out of your Apple ID in Music > Settings > General, then sign back in.
• Sync Library is stuck. Make sure you’re on the same Wi-Fi network and have enough iCloud storage. Go to Music > Settings > General and uncheck “Sync Library,” then re-check it after a few minutes.
• The app is slow or laggy. Close other apps, and rebuild the library by going to File > Library > Update Cloud Library (if available). Also try quitting and reopening the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Apple Music app free? The app itself is free on any Mac with macOS Catalina or later. You can use it to play your own music files without a subscription. Apple Music streaming requires a paid subscription.
2. Can I still use iTunes on my Mac? No, iTunes is replaced by separate apps: Music, TV, and Podcasts. If you have an older Mac, you can keep iTunes, but you won’t get the new Music app.
3. Where did my playlists go? They should be in the Library section under Playlists. If you don’t see them, go to Music > Settings > General and make sure “Playlists” is checked in the sidebar items.
4. How do I transfer my iTunes library to the Music app? The first time you open Music, it should automatically find your iTunes library. If not, use File > Import and select the iTunes library file. Your songs should appear.
5. Can I use the Music app with an Android phone? The Music app is only for Mac. On Android, you can use the Apple Music app to access your subscription and synced library, but you can’t manage your Mac library from it.
6. Why does the Music app show songs I didn’t buy? If you have Sync Library enabled, it may be matching songs from your library with Apple Music’s catalog, showing them as available. This is normal and doesn’t upload your files unless you download them.

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