How to Add Local Files to Apple Music [Phone/Computer]

Apple Music isn’t just for streaming. You can add your own audio files like songs ripped from CDs, personal recordings, or custom versions you prefer right into your library. Once added, you can also mix them seamlessly with your existing playlists and sync them across devices, without taking up device storage.

This guide shows you how to add local music to Apple Music, step by step. No matter whether you’re using Mac, Windows, iPhone, or even Android, you will find clear steps to complete the music import. We’ll also show you how to convert Apple Music songs to MP3 using StreamFox for Music, so you can save them offline and play them anywhere.

Apple Music on Mac or Windows lets you import both individual songs or entire folders. Once added, everything gets sorted automatically by artist and album. You can also tweak the details yourself, like editing lyrics, adding cover art, or renaming tracks.

Here are a few basics to keep in mind. Your files can only be imported if they’re in supported formats: AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, or Apple Lossless (ALAC). And you don’t need an active Apple Music subscription to do this.

That said, here are the steps to add your local files to Apple Music, starting with Windows, then Mac.

On Windows

As long as you’re using Apple Music for Windows version 1.4.6.84 or later, you can import audio files directly into your library. You can either sync them with iCloud or keep them local and play them through the app like any standalone player.

Step 1. Open the Apple Music app. Click the three-dot menu at the top-right of the sidebar.

Step 2. Hover over Library. Select Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library, depending on what you want to import.

Step 3. In the file browser, locate your music. Select the file or folder and click Open.

Step 4. The songs will show up under Recently Added. From there, you can organize them into playlists or just let them sit in your library to play them individually.

Pro Tips: Instead of going through the menu, you can also add songs in two other ways:

• Copy them manually into your Home > Music > Apple > Media folder which is created automatically when Apple Music is installed.
• Or, open your local music folder and drag and drop songs directly into the Library section of the Apple Music app.

On Mac

The process on Mac is nearly identical to what you do on Windows. The same file format rules apply and your tracks need clean metadata to be recognized. If a file is missing details, has watermarks, or is oddly formatted, Apple Music will ignore it, no matter the device.

Once you’re in the Music app, here’s what to do:

Step 1. From the top menu bar, click File, then choose Import.

Step 2. In the Finder window that appears, navigate to your local music folder. Select the tracks or folders you want and hit Open.

Step 3. Your songs will appear under Recently Added in the Library. From there, you can organize them into playlists or start listening right away.

Tip: Can You Add Local Files to Apple Music on Chromebook?

Not really. On Chromebooks, you’re either using the Android app or the web player of  Apple Music and neither supports importing local files.

That means the only real workaround is actually indirect to what you want: upload your songs from a supported device, sync your library, and then stream or download them from the Chromebook using the Android app or web version.

One of the most common questions is: Can you add local files to Apple Music without a computer? Unfortunately, you can’t. Apple doesn’t allow direct uploading of local files to Apple Music from your iPhone alone. So no matter where your songs are stored, the starting point always has to be your computer.

When you want your local songs on the iPhone, the workflow always begins on a Mac or Windows PC. You import your audio files into the Apple Music app there and then sync them back to your iPhone using iCloud or a wired connection. It’s not the most streamlined method, but for now, it’s the only official way Apple supports.

That said, here’s how to sync them back to your iPhone.

Step 1. Add Local Files to Apple Music Library on Windows/Mac

To get your local songs on iPhone, you first need to add them to the Apple Music app on your computer. We’ve already walked through how to do this in Part 1, you’ll find stepwise tutorials whether you’re using the Windows Apple Music app or the Music app on macOS.

Important: If your music files are already on your iPhone, transfer them to your computer first, either via iCloud, AirDrop, or a wired connection. Meanwhile, if you’re just looking to play music files on your iPhone itself, standalone apps like VLC or Foobar2000 can handle that easily.

Step 2. Sync Local Music Files from Desktop Apple Music to iPhone

Once your local songs appear in the library or Recently Added section of your Apple Music on your computer, they’re ready to sync.

How the sync happens depends on one key detail: whether you have an Apple Music subscription. But don’t worry, we’ll walk you through both options so you can enjoy your local tracks right inside the Music app on iOS.

Option 1: Through iCloud Sync

Apple only allows iCloud Sync if you’re an Apple Music subscriber. Here’s why: when you add a song to your desktop Apple Music library, Apple checks whether that track already exists in its own catalog. If yes, it will simple use its own standardized version. If the song is not yet indexed on Apple Music’s database, then it will upload your audio file and make it accessible on other devices.

Either way, your songs show up in the iPhone Music app without you doing anything extra. Besides, this syncing process doesn’t eat into your iCloud Drive space, as Apple Music handles it separately as part of its own service.

To make sure this works, all you need to do is enable Sync Library on your computer and iPhone. That said, here are the steps to turn it on: first on Mac, then on Windows, and finally on your iPhone.

Mac(Optional)

Step 1. Start by opening the Music app, head to the top of your screen and choose Music. From there, click Settings.

Step 2. When the window opens, tick the Sync Library (earlier called iCloud Music Library) checkbox in the General tab itself.

Step 3. Click OK to save the settings.

Windows(Optional)

Step 1. In the Apple Music app, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner of the sidebar.

Step 2. Select Settings and scroll through the General section.

Step 3. Find the Sync Library toggle and turn it on. It should light up red once active.

iPhone

Step 1. Open the iOS Settings app and scroll down until you find Music (or Apps > Music).

Step 2. Inside the Music settings, turn on the Sync Library switch.

Option 2: Via USB Sync

If you’re not an Apple Music subscriber, iCloud syncing won’t be available to you. Instead, the traditional wired method is your go-to. All you need is a physical connection between your iPhone and your computer.

On Mac, you’ll use Finder to manage the transfer. On Windows, make sure you’ve installed the Apple Devices app, which replaces the older iTunes syncing method. Once you’re set, here’s how to move your local music files directly onto your iPhone using USB.

Sync Local Music from Mac to iPhone via USB

Step 1. Start by plugging your iPhone into your Mac using a high-quality cable. Tap Trust on the phone screen and enter your device passcode.

Step 2. Launch Finder and look for your iPhone listed under Locations in the sidebar. Give it a click to open its sync settings.

Step 3. From the row of tabs across the top, choose Music.

Step 4. Tick the checkbox labeled Sync music onto the iPhone.

Step 5. Decide what you want to move, your entire music library or just selected albums, artists, genres, or playlists. Make your pick.

Step 6. Hit Apply at the bottom.

Finder will take care of the transfer. Once it’s done, everything will appear neatly inside the Music app on your iPhone.

Sync Music from Windows to iPhone Using USB

Step 1. Open the Apple Devices app. Connect your iPhone with a certified USB cable.

Step 2. From the sidebar, select your device name > Music.

Step 3. Tick the box for Sync music onto the iPhone. Next, choose Entire Library or selected albums/playlists.

Step 4. Hit Apply to start syncing.

Step 3: Play Local Music Files on Apple Music iPhone

No matter which method you’ve used, once syncing is done, your songs will appear automatically in the Music app of your iPhone. Just go to the Library tab, scroll down to Recently Added and you’ll see them there.

From that point on, they behave like any other online track. Simply tap them to play.

Tip: Can You Add Local Files to Apple Music on Android?

Unfortunately, that’s not an option. You can’t directly upload or add local files within the Apple Music app on Android.

Also note: Any song you’ve added to your library on a Mac or Windows PC will automatically reflect on your Android device once your library syncs.

To save some of your Apple Music favorites as local files, you can convert them into MP3 with StreamFox for Music, a professional music converter.

StreamFox enables you to convert and export any song, album, or playlist from your Apple Music library directly onto your device. The converted songs could be in common formats like MP3, M4A, FLAC, etc, based on your settings. You can also choose what songs info are retained for the converted tracks, from title and covert art to order and artist name.

In addition to the powerful features, StreamFox also provides a user-friendly UI design. Apple Music web browser is embedded into the software screen, so you just need to sign into it, browse your collection, and save what you want. 

StreamFox for Music

• StreamFox’s ODSMRT engine preserves Apple Music’s high sound quality.
• 10x conversion speed and batch selection let you queue entire playlists, albums, or your full library without waiting around.
• It also works with Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and more. 
• Multiple output file formats and quality options (320/256/128 kbps) are available.

Download Download

Steps to Convert Apple Music Songs to Local MP3

Step 1. Download and install StreamFox for Music on your Windows or Mac computer. Select Apple Music.

Step 2. Sign into the built-in Apple Music web player using your own Apple Music account.

Step 3. Browse for the songs, albums, or playlists you want to save as local MP3 files and drag them to the plus icon in the top-right corner.

Step 4. Click Convert All to begin saving your selected tracks in MP3 format, with full metadata preserved.

Step 5. Once the conversions are complete, you can import the converted files into any media player, like VLC and play them without needing the Apple Music app.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned the official ways of adding your local music files to Apple Music, whether you’re working on a Mac, Windows PC, or syncing them to your iPhone or Android.

StreamFox for Music comes in handy when you want to go a step further: convert Apple Music songs to MP3 or other open formats like FLAC or AAC. It helps you build a personal offline library, so you can play them on any device, without internet connection or even an Apple Music Premium.