Can Android phones play iTunes music?
Android phones and Apple’s iTunes music platform have had an intertwined history.
Android is the mobile operating system developed by Google that powers phones from many manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Motorola and more. It was first released in 2008 1. iTunes is Apple’s media management and music purchasing platform first released in 2001. For many years, iTunes was the dominant way people purchased and managed digital music libraries.
While Android phones have always offered ways to play music, iTunes was initially tightly integrated with Apple’s iOS devices like the iPhone. This led to a dilemma for Android users who wanted access to music purchases and playlists they had built up in iTunes over the years. However, over time options emerged to bridge the gap between these two platforms.
Default Android Music Apps
Most Android devices come with pre-installed music apps like Google Play Music. Google Play Music allows you to upload up to 50,000 songs from your music library to the cloud for free and stream them on any Android device (https://support.google.com/googleplaymusic/answer/1143668?hl=en). Other pre-installed apps may include Android’s native Music app, YouTube Music, Spotify, and Pandora. The default music player varies by device manufacturer. For example, Samsung Galaxy phones come with Samsung’s own Music app as the default.
You can change the default music player app in your Android settings. Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Default Apps > Music Player to view and change the default music app. Select the app you want to set as the default option. This will make the chosen app launch automatically when you ask your voice assistant to play music or connect headphones.
Downloading iTunes on Android
iTunes is Apple’s proprietary music and media player that is not available on the Google Play Store for direct download on Android devices. This is because Apple does not allow iTunes to be distributed outside of Apple’s own App Store for iOS devices.
There are some unofficial ways to get iTunes on Android by downloading the APK file from third-party websites like APKMirror. However, these come with security risks, may not work properly, and could stop working anytime as they are not officially supported. In general, it is not recommended to download iTunes directly on an Android device.
Using a Music Transfer App
One way to get iTunes music onto an Android device is by using a music transfer app. Apps like iSyncr allow you to wirelessly sync your iTunes library from a computer to your Android phone or tablet.
iSyncr lets you transfer iTunes playlists, music, podcasts, videos and more to your Android device. You simply need to install the iSyncr app on your Android phone and the iSyncr companion app on your computer. Then connect both devices to the same WiFi network to sync your iTunes media.
Music transfer apps like iSyncr provide an easy and convenient way to get your iTunes library contents onto an Android device. So you don’t have to repurchase music you’ve already bought, and can continue enjoying your existing iTunes playlists and collections.
Enabling Media Transfer Protocol
Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) is one of the easiest ways to manually move music files from your iTunes library on a computer to an Android device. MTP allows you to access and transfer media files between devices when they are connected via USB.
To enable MTP on your Android phone:
- Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Swipe down from the top of your screen to access quick settings and tap the “USB for” notification.
- Select “File Transfer” or “Transfer Files”. This will enable MTP.
With MTP enabled, your Android phone storage will appear as an external drive on your computer. You can then manually copy iTunes music files over to your device. Simply locate the music files in your iTunes library, select them, and drag and drop them into your Android’s music folder.
According to ElmaSoft, MTP offers a straightforward way to transfer multiple songs or entire playlists from iTunes to Android. The main drawback is that it can be time-consuming for large music libraries.
Streaming from iCloud
One way Android users can access their iTunes music is by streaming it through iCloud. Apple’s iCloud Music Library stores all your music from iTunes and makes it available across devices, including Android. To set this up:
1. On your iPhone or iPad, enable iCloud Music Library in the Settings app under Music. This will sync your full iTunes library to iCloud.1
2. On your Android device, download the Apple Music app from the Play Store. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. In the Apple Music app, tap on Settings and turn on iCloud Music Library. This will give the Android app access to your full iCloud music collection.
4. You can now stream any of your iTunes purchased music, ripped CDs, or imported MP3s on your Android device via the Apple Music app. Just tap on the Library tab to access all your synced content.
The major advantage of this method is you don’t have to manually transfer music or convert file formats. Everything stays in sync across devices. The only limitation is you need an internet connection to stream the music; you can’t save songs offline.
Purchasing Music on Google Play
One option for Android users who want access to songs purchased on iTunes is to re-purchase that music on the Google Play store. The Google Play Music app comes pre-installed on most Android devices and gives you access to a library of over 50 million songs to buy or rent (Google Play Music).
If you already own music purchased through iTunes, you will need to search for those songs/albums again in the Play Music store. Any music purchases will be added to your Google Play Music library and can be streamed or downloaded to your Android devices. An advantage of re-purchasing is you won’t need to convert file formats or transfer your library.
However, this option does require repurchasing music you already own, which can become costly. Make sure to compare the price of re-buying albums and songs versus alternative options before deciding. Overall, while not the most cost-effective, repurchasing iTunes music on Google Play is a straightforward way for Android users to regain access.
Using a Cloud Storage Service
One way to transfer iTunes music to an Android device is by using a cloud storage service like Dropbox. Users can upload their iTunes music library to Dropbox, then access it from their Android device.
To upload music to Dropbox, first install the Dropbox mobile app on the iPhone or iPad where the iTunes library is stored. Open the app, select the folder where the music files should be uploaded, and tap the “+” icon to select files to add [1]. iTunes music files like MP3s and M4As can be uploaded to any folder in Dropbox.
After the files finish uploading, they will appear in Dropbox on all synced devices and computers. On the Android device, simply install the Dropbox app, log in to the account, and navigate to the folder containing the music files. The files can then be streamed or downloaded for offline listening [2].
This provides easy access to iTunes music on Android. The files stay up to date across devices as any changes are synced. One limitation is that playlists are not transferred, so music will need to be located file by file or folder by folder.
Converting File Formats
One way to play iTunes music on an Android device is by converting the audio files from AAC or M4A format to MP3. MP3 is a universal audio format supported by Android’s default music player. There are a few ways to convert iTunes files to MP3:
Using a converter tool is the easiest method. Apps like Apple Music Converter allow you to quickly batch convert multiple iTunes files to MP3 format. These tools work on both Windows and Mac computers. Simply add the iTunes songs you want to convert, choose MP3 as the output, and convert. Then transfer the MP3 files to your Android device via USB or cloud storage.
You can also use audio conversion software like iTunes or free tools like MediaHuman Audio Converter. These allow converting songs individually or in batches. The process involves adding files to the queue, selecting MP3 as the output, and running the conversion. This creates MP3 versions you can add to your Android music library.
Converting iTunes audio files to the universal MP3 format is an easy workaround to get your music library playable on Android devices. With the right converter apps, you can batch convert multiple songs quickly without losing any audio quality.
Summary
Android phones cannot natively play iTunes music purchased from the iTunes Store due to DRM protections, but there are several workarounds. One option is to download a third party music app like Winamp to play iTunes files. Using a music transfer app like CopyTrans Manager can transfer iTunes music to an Android device. Enabling Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) may allow transferring iTunes media. You can also stream purchased iTunes music using the iCloud Music Library.
Purchasing songs again through Google Play Music is an alternative. Using a cloud storage service like Dropbox to store music files allows you to access and play them on Android devices. Converting iTunes files to a common format like MP3 removes DRM and makes the files playable on Android. In summary, while Android does not natively support iTunes, several methods exist to get iTunes music playing on an Android phone.