If you are a PlayStation 4 gamer who subscribes to Apple Music, you have likely run into a frustrating roadblock. While Sony introduced a native Apple Music integration for the PlayStation 5 console, the millions of active PS4 users have been left out in the cold. Launching the PlayStation Store on a PS4 and searching for Apple Music yields zero results.
See also: How to Play Apple Music on PS5
But here is the good news: just because there is no official application does not mean it is impossible. You do not have to ditch your favorite gaming soundtrack or switch your music subscription to Spotify. Whether you want to blast an epic playlist during an intense multiplayer match or simply listen to an album while exploring an open-world RPG, there are proven workarounds to make it happen.
This complete guide breaks down the three best methods to play Apple Music on your PS4, including a detailed look at the only 100% reliable method to play your tracks in the background while you game.
Part 1. Can You Get the Official Apple Music App on PS4?
The definitive answer is no, there is no native Apple Music app for the PS4, so you cannot download and use Apple Music on the PlayStation 4.
Sony and Apple have made it clear that their native app infrastructure development for consoles is firmly focused on the current-gen PS5 hardware. The legacy operating system of the PS4 does not feature the updated API layers required to run the modern Apple Music console interface smoothly alongside resource-heavy video games.
However, the hardware itself is more than capable of playing music. The console features a robust built-in internet browser and a dedicated media decoding engine capable of parsing local files and home server streams. To bypass the missing app store download, you simply need to route your Apple Music access through one of three alternative channels:
- The integrated web browser app
- A local external USB storage drive
- A localized network DLNA media server
Let's see how these workarounds compare so you can find the perfect fit for your gaming needs. If you already know what you're looking for, feel free to jump straight to that section
| Feature | Method 1: Web Browser | Method 2: USB Drive (Best Choice) | Method 3: DLNA Server |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Required? | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Background Play During Games? | ❌ (Suspends on game launch) | ✅ (Fully Supported) | ✅ Partially supported (Prone to network lag) |
| Audio Quality | Compressed web stream (64-256 kbps AAC) | High-bitrate local files (Lossless) | Dependent on server settings (256 kbps AAC - Lossless) |
| Setup Difficulty | Very Easy (2-3 minutes) | Moderate (5-10 minutes) | Advanced (10-15 minutes) |
| Stability / Performance | Poor (Prone to memory crashes) | Excellent (Zero system impact) | Moderate (Buffer dependent) |
| Audio Ad Breaks | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Part 2. How to Play Apple Music on PS4 via Web Browser (Online)
If you are looking for a quick setup and do not mind pausing your game to listen to music, using the integrated PS4 internet browser to access Apple Music Web Player is the fastest workaround available. This approach relies on HTML5 and EME (Encrypted Media Extensions) to stream music directly to your audio output device.
Step 1. Turn on your PS4 and navigate to the main dashboard. Open the 'Internet Browser' application (represented by the blue globe icon with a 'www' logo).
Step 2. Press the 'Triangle' button on your DualShock 4 controller to open the URL address entry bar.
Step 3. Enter the official URL: music.apple.com and confirm.
Step 4. Once the page renders, navigate to the top-right corner using your controller's left analog stick as a mouse pointer and click 'Sign In'.
Step 5. Enter your Apple ID credentials. If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) active, input the security verification code sent to your mobile device.
Step 6. Browse your personalized cloud library, select your preferred playlist, and click play.
While this method works perfectly for casual listening while sitting on the dashboard or browsing user profiles, it has a massive design flaw: it does not support Apple Music background play during gameplay. The moment you launch a game, the PS4 operating system reallocates system RAM to prioritize game performance. To free up memory, it automatically suspends or terminates the active web browser process, cutting off your music stream instantly.
Part 3. How to Play Apple Music on PS4 Offline via a USB Drive (The Ultimate Way)
If your goal is to enjoy Apple Music playlists while gaming on your PlayStation 4, using a USB drive is the most reliable solution. The PS4 includes a built-in USB Music Player feature (accessible through the Media Player app), which can play local audio files stored on an external USB device. Better yet, you can control music playback directly from the PS4 Quick Menu without leaving your game.
The only obstacle is that Apple Music downloads are not regular audio files. Songs downloaded through the Apple Music app are protected by Apple's FairPlay DRM technology and stored in formats that the PS4 cannot recognize or play.
To make Apple Music compatible with the PS4, you'll first need to convert the tracks into standard audio formats supported by the console. A tool such as AudFree Apple Music Converter on a Mac or Windows PC can help convert Apple Music songs into local files that can be transferred to a USB drive and played through the PS4 Media Player.
Audio Format Compatibility
| PS4 Supported Audio Formats | AudFree Output Formats |
|---|---|
| MP3, FLAC, AAC, AC-3, LPCM, MP2 | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, M4B |
Why Use AudFree Apple Music Converter?
- Remove DRM from Apple Music tracks losslessly and safely
- Convert Apple Music to MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc., supported by PS4
- Preserve full ID3 tags and original audio quality, up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Batch download Apple Music tracks or playlists at up to 17x faster speed
- Help play Apple Music on Xbox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, etc., seamlessly
Once the conversion is complete, simply copy the Apple music files to a USB drive, connect it to your PS4, and start listening to your favorite Apple Music tracks while gaming - even without an internet connection.
Below is the complete process to download and enjoy your Apple Music tracks on the PS4 without limitations.
- Step 1. Import Offline Apple Music Songs to AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Download and launch AudFree Apple Music Converter on your Mac or Windows PC. Then log in to your Apple Music account through the built-in web player. Browse your music library or curated playlists, and load them into the software's conversion list by clicking 'Add' button.
- Step 2. Set Apple Music Output Format for PS4
- Then open the settings panel and configure your Apple Music output preferences through 'AudFree Apple Music Converter > Preferences > Conversion'. For maximum compatibility with the PS4 Media Player, select MP3 as your output format. To maintain high fidelity, set the bitrate to 320 kbps and the sample rate to 44,100 Hz or 48,000 Hz.
- Step 3. Download Apple Music for PlayStation 4
- Click the 'Convert' button from the bottom right to process Apple Music into DRM-free local files. It will run at up to 17x faster speed over the conversion. In just a while, the DRM restrictions will be moved and saved locally on your computer's drive. And they're ready to be transferred to your USB drive for PS4 gameplay.
See also: How to Remove DRM from Apple Music
- Step 4. Put Apple Music to USB Drive for PS4
- Insert your USB flash drive into your computer. Open your operating system's disk management utility (File Explorer on Windows or Disk Utility on macOS). The PlayStation 4 only reads storage devices formatted with specific file systems. Format your drive to either FAT32 or exFAT.
- Open the root directory of the USB drive and create a brand-new folder. You must name this folder exactly MUSIC. Then move your newly converted, DRM-free MP3 or FLAC files directly inside this Music folder.
If you have a massive music library, format your USB drive to exFAT for faster load times and smoother file handling on your console. Do not use NTFS - the PlayStation will not recognize it and will return a drive error.
- Step 5. Listen to Apple Music on PS4 via USB Drive
- Safely eject the USB drive from your computer and plug it into one of the open USB ports on the front of your PS4. Turn on your console and navigate to the home screen dashboard. Go to the content area or your Library application, look for the 'Media Player' (or 'USB Music Player') icon, and launch it. The app will automatically detect your connected USB storage device. Select your drive to view your catalog.
- Step 6. Control Background Playback While Gaming
- Select a song or an entire playlist and press the 'X' button to begin audio playback. Once the music starts, press the 'PS' button on your DualShock 4 controller to return to the home dashboard without closing the player. Launch any game you want to play. To adjust the volume, pause a track, or skip a song mid-game, press and hold the 'PS' button for 2 seconds to open the 'Quick Menu', then select Media Player to manage your audio on the fly. You can also adjust audio mix balances without ever closing or pausing your active game.
Want to use tracks from Spotify, Tidal, or Qobuz while gaming? The AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder is the perfect all-in-one solution. It captures pristine, lossless audio from 10+ major platforms, building an unrestricted, permanent local music library for your PS4.
Part 4. How to Stream Apple Music to PS4 via a DLNA Media Server
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a set of interoperability guidelines that allows multimedia devices to share content with one another over a local area network (LAN). If you have your Apple Music files downloaded onto a smartphone or a home server, you can stream them to your console over Wi-Fi.
To execute this, you need a DLNA server application running on your primary device (such as Plex on a PC, or iMediaShare on an iOS/Android device) and the official Media Player app installed on your PS4.
Step 1. Ensure both your streaming source (PC or smartphone) and your PS4 are connected to the exact same Wi-Fi network or Ethernet.
Step 2. Launch your DLNA media server app on your source device and map its library directory to your local music folders.
Step 3. Boot up your PS4, open the dashboard library, and download/launch the official Media Player app from the PlayStation Store.
Step 4. If your network sharing is set up correctly, the console will automatically detect your local media server name on the main screen. Select it.
Step 5. Navigate through your shared music folders and select your tracks to begin wireless background streaming.
Like the web browser method, background playback stability varies significantly depending on network bandwidth and the specific DLNA app configuration. If you are playing an intensive online multiplayer game while streaming high-bitrate audio over a standard Wi-Fi connection, you may experience audio stuttering, packet drops, or input latency.
Part 5. Troubleshooting: Apple Music PS4 Web Browser Not Working
If you choose to use the web browser method and encounter issues, you are not alone. The aging hardware configuration of the PS4 often struggles with modern, script-heavy web streaming players. Try these common quick fixes:
Fix 1. Out of Memory / System Crash Errors: The PS4 web browser has an incredibly low RAM ceiling. If the Apple Music web interface crashes with an "Out of System Memory" notification, press your controller's 'Options' button while inside the browser, select 'Settings', and click 'Clear Cookies' and 'Clear Website Data'.
Fix 2. Tracks Refusing to Load or Remaining Silent: Apple Music utilizes secure SSL authentication. If songs sit perpetually paused at 0:00, go to your PS4's 'Settings > System > Date and Time' and ensure your console is set to 'Set Using Internet'. Even a minor discrepancy between your local system clock and Apple's authorization servers will cause playback security blocks.
Fix 3. Unresponsive Interface Navigation: If the page freezes up while trying to click buttons, toggle your browser view settings. Press the 'Options' button and check or uncheck the 'Enable JavaScript' filter to force a simplified version of the player to load.
Part 6. FAQs About PlayStation 4 and Apple Music
Can I play Apple Music directly while playing a video game on PS4?
Only if you utilize the local USB Drive method or a highly stable local DLNA server setup. The native built-in Web Browser workaround is immediately suspended by the console's system memory management protocols the moment a video game is booted up.
Is there a PlayStation Music extension or link option for Apple IDs on PS4?
No. The official PlayStation Network link setting for Apple IDs is a software feature hardcoded exclusively into the PlayStation 5 user ecosystem. Attempting to manage your linked accounts via your Sony profile on a web browser will still not grant an official application shortcut to a PS4 console.
Why does my PS4 say 'There is no media on the USB storage device'?
This error almost always points to one of two structural missteps. First, check your folder naming conventions. The folder must be named 'MUSIC' in all uppercase letters; naming it 'Music' or 'My Music' will cause the console to ignore it completely. Second, verify your drive's file system format. Right-click your drive on a computer and view its properties. If it is formatted in NTFS (the Windows default format) or APFS (the macOS default format), the PS4 cannot mount the volume. Reformat the drive to exFAT to resolve the issue.
Can I copy the music from my USB drive directly onto the PS4 hard drive?
While the PS4 allows you to import videos and images into the Capture Gallery for editing, the system software does not permit users to copy external MP3 or M4A music files directly onto the internal system storage for media player use. The USB flash drive must remain plugged into one of the console's USB ports during your gaming sessions to maintain background playback.
Conclusion
There are several ways to play Apple Music on PS4, each suited to different needs. If you simply want to listen to an album or playlist while chatting with friends on PlayStation Network, using the PS4 web browser to access Apple Music online is the quickest and easiest option.
However, for a truly immersive gaming experience, the USB-drive method remains the most reliable solution. By converting Apple Music tracks into PS4-compatible audio files and transferring them to a USB drive, you can enjoy uninterrupted background music while gaming - without worrying about internet outages, buffering, audio lag, or streaming limitations. You'll also gain greater control over your music library and be able to play your favorite Apple Music playlists anytime, even offline.
DLNA streaming is another alternative, but it typically requires additional setup, depends on a stable local network, and may not deliver the same level of reliability or convenience during gameplay.
If you're looking for the best way to stream Apple Music to PS4, especially for offline playback and long gaming sessions, converting Apple Music to local files and playing them through a USB drive offers the smoothest and most flexible experience.
Ready to elevate your gaming soundtrack on PS4? Download and convert your favorite Apple Music playlists today for flawless, uninterrupted background playback on your PS4!
Staff Editor
