How to Listen to Apple Music on Apple TV

Listen to songs, albums, playlists, and radio through your Apple TV and hear them on your television or connected sound system. You’ll need an Apple TV with the Music app, an internet connection for streaming, and an Apple Account with an Apple Music subscription to play the full catalog.

What You’ll Need

An Apple TV with the Music app. The app is available on Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; menu names and features can differ on older models.
An internet connection for streaming and an Apple Account signed in on the Apple TV.
An active Apple Music subscription for on-demand access to the catalog. Without one, you can still access any music you have purchased or synced, where available.
Your Apple Account password or access to a trusted Apple device if sign-in asks you to verify your identity.

Step-by-Step

Connect Apple TV to your television and the internet. Turn on the TV and select the HDMI input used by Apple TV. On Apple TV, open Settings > Network and connect to Wi-Fi, or check that its Ethernet connection is active. Streaming requires a working internet connection.
Check that the Music app is available. Press the Home button on the Siri Remote and look for Music. On a supported Apple TV, the app is usually installed already. If you cannot find it, use Search from the Home Screen or check the App Store if your model offers one. Older Apple TV models may not support the current Music app or Apple Music catalog.
Sign in to your Apple Account. Open Settings on Apple TV and look for the account or user settings. Sign in with the same Apple Account associated with your Apple Music subscription. Depending on the tvOS version, account controls may be labeled Users and Accounts or appear under an Apple Account profile. Follow the on-screen prompts, including any verification request.
Open Music and check your access. Return to the Home Screen, open Music, and look for the Listen Now, Browse, or Library areas. The exact tabs can vary by software version and account status. If Music prompts you to subscribe, confirm that you signed in with the account that has the subscription. Do not assume that being signed into a different Apple service automatically grants Apple Music access.
Find something to play. Use the on-screen search option to find an artist, song, album, or playlist, or browse the available recommendations and categories. Select an item to open it. Choose a specific track and press the center button on the remote to start playback. You can also open an album or playlist and select Play or a track.
Control playback with the remote. Use the center button to pause or resume, and the playback controls to skip forward or back. Press the Back button to return to the music list without necessarily stopping playback. Depending on your remote and tvOS version, you can open the Now Playing screen for options such as lyrics, the queue, repeat, and shuffle.
Choose where the sound comes from. By default, audio plays through the television or the audio system connected to it. To use compatible speakers, open the audio output options from the Now Playing screen or Control Center and select an available destination. For a compatible pair of headphones, connect them through Apple TV’s Bluetooth settings or select them as the audio output when available. The exact controls depend on your hardware.
Play music from your library or make it easier to find later. If the subscription includes the option, add a song, album, or playlist to your library using its More Options menu. Find saved items under Library. You can also use Siri on a compatible remote to request music by name; Siri availability and supported commands depend on language, region, settings, and device.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong Apple Account: A subscription belongs to the account that enrolled in it. Check the account shown in Settings and in Music before changing subscription settings.
Expecting every feature without a subscription: A subscription is generally needed for full on-demand Apple Music catalog access. Purchased music and music available through other services are separate.
Searching in the wrong place: The Apple TV Home Screen search and the Music app’s search may show different results. Search inside Music when looking for catalog tracks.
Assuming the TV controls the account: Signing in to a television’s own apps or services does not necessarily sign Apple TV into Music. Check the Apple TV itself.
Expecting music to keep playing after leaving Music: Playback behavior can vary by app and software. Return to the Now Playing screen if you want to check whether a track is still playing.

Tips

Use a stable Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, especially when streaming high-quality audio or playing music for a long time.
For easier browsing, add frequently played albums and playlists to your library or create playlists in Music on a supported Apple device using the same account.
Use the queue controls to see what is coming next and adjust the order without searching for each track again.
If you use a HomePod or other compatible audio destination, select it as an output when it appears. Keep Apple TV and the speaker on the network required for that setup.
Keep tvOS current through Settings > System > Software Updates, where that option is available. Updates can improve compatibility and address app problems.

Troubleshooting

Music is missing: Confirm your Apple TV model supports the Music app and check the Home Screen or App Store, if available. If the device is an older model, its software may not provide the current Apple Music experience.
Music asks you to subscribe: Verify the Apple Account used by Music and check that the subscription is active for that account. If you are part of a family subscription, confirm that the account is included in the family plan. Subscription status can be checked in Apple Account settings on a supported device.
Songs will not start or keep buffering: Open another app that uses the internet to check connectivity. Restart the router if other devices are also offline, then restart Apple TV by opening Settings > System > Restart. Try again after the network is stable.
There is no sound: Raise the TV or receiver volume, check that the correct HDMI input and audio output are selected, and make sure the TV is not muted. If using Bluetooth headphones or a speaker, reconnect them and verify they are selected as the output.
A track or album is unavailable: Try another item and check whether the problem affects one release or all music. Catalog availability can vary by region and may change. Confirm the Apple TV region and account settings are appropriate for your location.
The app is frozen or behaving unexpectedly: Force-close Music using the app switcher if available, reopen it, and restart Apple TV. If the issue continues, install available software updates. Avoid signing out or resetting the Apple TV until you have checked your account details and understand what other apps may need you to sign in again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to Apple Music on Apple TV without a subscription?
You generally need an active subscription for the full streaming catalog. You may still be able to play music you purchased or synced, depending on your Apple TV model and account setup.

Can I listen without using my television speakers?
Yes. Select a compatible audio output, such as connected headphones or a supported speaker, from Apple TV’s audio or Now Playing controls.

Can I use Siri to play music?
On compatible Apple TV models, press the Siri button and ask for a song, artist, album, or playlist. Results depend on subscription access, Siri settings, language, and region.

Why does Apple Music show a different library from my phone?
Check that both devices use the same Apple Account and that library syncing is enabled where supported. Allow time for changes to sync, and check the network connection on each device.

Can Apple TV play music while I use another app?
Playback may continue when you leave Music, but behavior depends on the app and tvOS. Open the Now Playing screen or Control Center to check and manage playback.

Does every Apple TV support Apple Music?
No. Current Music app support depends on the Apple TV model and its software. If Music is unavailable and the device cannot be updated, it may not support the current service.

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