Q: "Is Apple Music available on Android TV? I have an Nvidia Shield TV and an Apple Music subscription. But I don't know how to listen to Apple Music on it since I can't find the Apple Music app in the App Store. What can I do? Many thanks!"
The truth is that Apple is not cross-platform friendly. You will have a hard time finding any compatible Apple app for the Android system. Apple Music doesn't have a native app pre-installed on every Android TV device, except for some specific TVs like Sony Bravia.
But it doesn't mean you can't get Apple Music for Android TV. In this article, we've summarized the top 6 ways to help you play Apple Music on Android TV. Let's dive into the details.
Part 1. Overview of Methods to Play Apple Music on Android TV
At the beginning, we will show you a quick summary of each method to help you choose the suitable way.
| Method | Ease of Use | Audio Quality | Offline Mode | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Apple Music App | Easy | High / Lossless | ❌ | Users with Android TVs that support Apple Music app. |
| Sideload Apple Music APK | Medium | High | ❌ | Nvidia Shield / Mi Box users who want the native Apple Music app experience. |
| Apple Music Web Player | Very Easy | Standard (AAC) | ❌ | Users who want quick listening and don't want to install the app. |
| AirPlay | Very Easy | Variable | ❌ | Users who just want temporary listening from a phone. |
| Chromecast | Very Easy | Variable | ❌ | Users who just want temporary listening from a phone. |
| USB Drive | Medium | Lossless FLAC | ✅ | Users who want permanent and offline playback, Lossless quality and keep songs forever. |
Part 2. How to Use Apple Music on Android TV via Official Apple Music App [For Supported Android TVs]
It is noted that Apple has rolled out support for specific high-end Android TV devices quietly, such as Sony Bravia Smart TV, Nvidia Shield, and Sharp Aquos running Google TV or Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher. However, this may vary by region. So, you can check if your Android TV supports the native Apple Music app. If yes, follow the steps below to download Apple Music on Android TV. If not, please skip to Part 3 to sideload Apple Music app for Android TV.
Step 1. Power on your Android TV and go to the Apps section.
Step 2. Start the Google Play Store app and search for 'Apple Music'.
Step 3. Once got the result, tap Install to download and install Apple Music app on Android TV.
Step 4. After that, open the Apple Music app and scan the QR code with your phone to log in to your Apple Music account to enjoy music.
Part 3. How to Sideload Apple Music App on Android TV
Even if there is no Android TV Apple Music app, you can sideload Apple Music on Android TV. To make it, you will need to get the Apple Music APK on your TV with the help of the Downloader app. After that, it's easy to get Apple Music on your TV. Please note that the following process may be a bit complicated for newbies.
Step 1. Turn on your Android TV and click the Home button on your remote control.
Step 2. Tap Apps on the screen and select Google Play Store.
Step 3. Click the Search icon, type Downloader by AFTV News in the search bar and click the Install button.
Step 4. Go to the Settings menu of your Android TV and select Device Preferences > Security & Restrictions. Then enable the Unknown Sources feature.
Step 5. Now, launch the Downloader app, enter the Apple Music APK link (bit.ly/3ugkjOs) in the URL box and click "Go".
Step 6. Once the Apple Music APK file is downloaded successfully, click on the Install button to install Apple Music on Android TV.
Step 7. Launch the Apple Music app and log in to your Apple ID to listen to your favorite Apple songs freely.
Part 4. How to Listen to Apple Music on Android TV via Web Browser
If you don't want to install Apple Music app for Android TV, you can use a web browser to access Apple Music Web Player. This method is perfect for older TVs with limited storage space. Here we will take the Nvidia Shield Android TV as an example.
The default browsers on many TVs are not working well. So, you can use a TV-optimized browser like Puffin TV or TV Bro to start.
Step 1. Install TV Bro or Puffin TV on your Nvidia Shield TV and open it.
Step 2. Go to the search bar and type in https://music.apple.com/ to access the Apple Music website.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in to your Apple ID by entering your account information.
Step 4. After a successful login, you can use Apple Music in Android TV and start streaming music directly.
Part 5. How to Get Apple Music on Android TV via AirPlay
The AirPlay feature makes it easy for Apple users to mirror their screen to any AirPlay-compatible device, including Android TV. This way, whenever you listen to music in the Apple Music app, you can quickly stream audio from your iOS device to Android TV without using the TV remote at all.
Not all Android TV supports AirPlay 2 feature. To start, you need to check if your TV supports it in advance. If not, you can install a receiver app like AirScreen on your TV.
Step 1. Make sure your iPhone/iPad and Android TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 2. Enable AirPlay feature on your Android TV.
Step 3. Open the Apple Music app on your iOS device and play your favorite music.
Step 4. Tap the AirPlay icon at the bottom center of the screen, which looks like a small triangle with concentric circles around it.
Step 5. Under the AirPlay menu, select your Android TV from the list of available devices.
Step 6. Now, Apple Music will stream to your Android TV smoothly.
Part 6. How to Cast Apple Music to Android TV with Chromecast
If you have an Android phone, you can simply use the "Cast" button to connect Apple Music on your phone to Chromecast on Android TV. Here, we will give you a short guide to streaming Apple Music to Android TV with built-in Chromecast.
Step 1. Make sure your Chromecast, Android TV and smartphone are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 2. Launch the Apple Music app and start playing the songs on your phone.
Step 3. Tap the song that is playing to open the Now Playing page from the bottom of the screen.
Step 4. Select the Cast icon and select your Android TV from the list of devices.
Step 5. Now, you can just connect Apple Music to Android TV for music playback.
View also: How to Play Apple Music on Chromecast
Part 7. How to Play Apple Music on Android TV Offline via USB Drive (High Quality & Zero Buffering)
The ways above all require to connect to internet connection and an active Apple Music subscription plan. Sometimes, the music streaming may stutter. Besides, if you cancel your Apple Music subscription, you won't access the music library anymore.
If you want offline playback and keep your playlists with high quality forever, you need the support of a third-party tool called AudFree Apple Music Converter. It is specially designed for downloading Apple Music songs locally and converting them to common formats like MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF and so on. After that, you can transfer the unprotected Apple Music to a USB flash drive for offline playback on Android TV anytime with Lossless quality without using the Apple Music app. This method is better for audiophiles and collectors.
Besides, the output quality is almost the same as the original tracks, providing you with the most realistic listening experience. You can find full ID3 tags, such as title, artist, album, etc. in the converted files, which helps you to manage the local library with less trouble. Without the upper limits of adding tracks, this smart tool can convert the entire Apple Music library in one time at an amazing 17X faster speed.
AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Losslessly break limits from Apple Music songs
- Download Apple Music to MP3, WAV, AIFF, etc.
- Keep 100% original quality and edit parameters
- Work with Apple Music tracks, playlists, albums, etc.
- Support to play Apple Music on Android TV and more devices offline
How to Download and Convert Apple Music for Android TV
Here, let's see how to use AudFree Apple Music Converter to get Apple Music to Android TV-supported audio files for playing offline step by step.
- Step 1. Import Apple songs and playlists to AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Download and install AudFree Apple Music Converter on your computer. Then open it. Next, please select what you would like to download in the Apple Music web player. Later, just click on the song and tap the '+ music' icon > 'Add to list' to import songs.
- Step 2. Reset output settings for Apple Music Android TV
- Now, please click on the Menu icon > Preferences in the top-right corner of the main interface to open the settings. Here, you can customize the output parameters, including output format, bit rate, sample rate, audio parameters, etc. for Apple Music to Android TV.
- View also: How to Convert Apple Music to FLAC
- Step 3. Convert Apple Music for Android TV
- Simply check the big Convert button in the Converting interface to start the conversion. The time of conversion depends on how many songs you added. When the converting phase stops, an obvious prompt will be shown on the screen. Please follow it to direct to the local folder where all converted Apple streams are saved.
How to Import Apple Music to Android TV
There are several USB ports on your Android TV boxes. Just copy your local Apple Music to the USB drive from your computer. After that, unplug it from your PC and plug it into your Android TV. Later, you can start to choose a music player like VLC to play Apple Music on Android TV offline anytime without using the Apple Music app.
Part 8. FAQs about Apple Music on Android TV
Does Apple Music on Android TV Support Dolby Atmos/Spatial Audio?
Yes. But, this can only be achieved through the official app and on specific hardware (such as an Nvidia Shield or Apple TV 4K), by connecting to a Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar or receiver via HDMI eARC. Screen mirroring or sideloading mobile APK typically does not support Dolby Atmos.
Why Is Apple Music Casting Not Working on My Android TV?
Ensure both your phone and TV are on the exact same Wi-Fi network. If they are, restart your TV to reset the background Chromecast service or check for pending app updates.
How to Fix Apple Music Stuttering on Android TV?
The most common fix is to disable 'Lossless Audio' in the app settings (switch to 'High Quality/AAC'), as high-res files often lag on TV hardware. Also, ensure your TV is connected to a faster 5GHz Wi-Fi band. If you are using a sideload app, go to Android TV Settings > Apps > Apple Music > Clear Cache.
Is It Safe to Sideload Apple Music App on Android TV?
Yes, as long as you download the APK from a reputable source like APKMirror, which verifies the official signature from Apple. Avoid random 'Mod' sites to prevent malware risks.
Part 9. In Conclusion
This article describes 6 ways to get Apple Music on Android TV. If your Android TV supports the native Apple Music app, you can directly install and use it on your TV. Or, you can sideload Apple Music app for Android TV, use Apple Music web player, or cast Apple Music to Android TV from your phone via AirPlay or Chromecast.
If you want to stream Apple songs to Android TV without any problem, AudFree Apple Music Converter will be the optimal solution. With it, you can convert Apple Music as local files and enjoy Apple Music tracks offline on Android TV with satisfaction.
James Blair
Staff Editor
