5 Effective Methods to Get Apple Music on Linux

Part 1. Is Apple Music Available on Linux?

You might be asking yourself, "Is Apple Music available on Linux?" Unfortunately, there's no official app for it, meaning accessing the service isn't as straightforward as it is on Windows or macOS. Unlike Spotify, which has made it easy for Linux users with a native app that offers a smooth setup and minimal fuss, Apple Music hasn't followed suit.

While Apple has yet to provide official support for Linux, the more Linux users adopt Apple Music or voice their demand for an app, the higher the chances Apple will recognize the need and eventually create a solution for the platform. Streaming services tend to evaluate user feedback, adoption rates, and platform support when deciding to expand their offerings.

That said, all hope isn't lost for Linux users. While an official app is still missing, there are community-driven solutions that can help. In fact, getting Apple Music on Linux may be easier than you think. The Web Player, which works surprisingly well, provides a straightforward way to stream music. Additionally, apps like Cider offer many of the features you'd expect - playlists, albums, podcasts - and provide a native-like experience, making it easier to enjoy Apple Music on Linux.

So, is Apple Music officially available on Linux? Not yet. But don't worry, we'll show you some great unofficial solutions that can get you streaming in no time. Keep reading to learn more!

Part 2. Workarounds to Use Apple Music on Linux

One of the easiest ways to access Apple Music on Linux is through its Web Player. Unlike other methods, this approach doesn't require downloads, installations, or complicated configurations - just open your browser, log in, and start streaming. It's the fastest way to get Apple Music running on Linux without any extra hassle.

How to Use Apple Music Web Player on Linux

1. Apple Music Web Player works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, Chromium, and Microsoft Edge.
2. If you're using Brave or Vivaldi, you may need to adjust browser settings to allow media playback.
3. Visit music.apple.com.
4. Click "Sign In" in the top-right corner.
5. Enter your Apple ID and password.
6. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, verify your login on a trusted device.
7. Once signed in, your entire Apple Music library will be available, including playlists, albums, and podcasts.
8. Use the search bar at the top to find songs, artists, or albums.
9. Adjust playback controls at the bottom, including shuffle, repeat, and queue options.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Just open a browser and start listening.
• ✔ Play all your songs, playlists, and podcasts.
• ✔ Works on Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and more.

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ No offline playback.
• ✖ No equalizer, audio enhancements, or advanced playlist management.
• ✖ May experience stuttering or lag on some browsers.

Part 3. Methods to Use Apple Music on Linux

If the Web Player isn't enough for your needs, there are other ways to use Apple Music on Linux. These options offer more features like offline playback, UI customization, and a native app-like experience. Below are three common methods to access Apple Music on Linux:

Method 1: Using Cider

Cider is an open-source Apple Music client for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It offers a more customizable experience than the web player, including UI themes, an equalizer, and integration with Discord and Last.fm.

How to Install and Use Cider on Linux

1. Download Cider from GitHub or the Flathub store.
2. Choose the right package for your Linux distribution:
   • .deb for Debian-based systems (Ubuntu, Mint).
   • .appimage for universal use.
   • .snap for Snap-enabled distributions.
3. Install Cider based on your package type:
   • Debian/Ubuntu:
     

     sudo dpkg -i cider-linux.deb

     
     

     sudo apt-get install -f

   • AppImage:
     

     chmod +x cider.AppImage

     
     

     ./cider.AppImage

   • Snap:
     

     sudo snap install cider

4. Open Cider from the Applications menu or run:
   

   cider

5. Sign in with your Apple ID to access your music.
6. Customize your experience with themes, UI layouts, and audio enhancements.
7. Enable integrations like Discord and Last.fm for social listening.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Looks and works like a native Apple Music app.
• ✔ Supports offline playback.
• ✔ Customizable themes, layouts, and equalizer settings.

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ Requires an Apple Music subscription.
• ✖ May break with Apple's updates.

Method 2: Using Wine or a Virtual Machine

If you want to use Apple's official iTunes app, you can install it on Linux using Wine or a Virtual Machine (VM).

Option 1: Running iTunes with Wine

Wine allows Linux users to run Windows applications, including iTunes.

How to Install iTunes Using Wine

1. Install Wine on Linux:
   • Ubuntu/Debian:
     

     sudo apt install wine64

   • Fedora:
     

     sudo dnf install wine

2. Run:
   

   winecfg

3. Install Mono and Gecko if prompted.
4. Download iTunes (32-bit version) from Apple's website.
5. Install iTunes with:
   

   wine iTunesSetup.exe

6. Open iTunes:
   

   wine ~/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files/iTunes/iTunes.exe

7. Sign in to your Apple ID and start listening.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Runs the official Apple software.
• ✔ Works for iTunes music purchases.

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ Wine can be unstable with updates.
• ✖ No support for Apple Music lossless quality.
• ✖ Offline playback is limited.

Option 2: Running iTunes in a Virtual Machine

If Wine doesn't work well, you can install Windows in a Virtual Machine (VM) and run iTunes natively.

How to Install iTunes Using a Virtual Machine

1. Download VirtualBox from Oracle's website.
2. Install it:
   

   sudo apt install virtualbox

3. Get a free Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft's website.
4. Open VirtualBox and click "New" to create a Windows 10 VM.
5. Allocate resources (at least 4GB RAM and 40GB storage).
6. Load the Windows ISO into VirtualBox and follow the installation steps.
7. Once inside Windows, install iTunes from Apple's website.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Fully supports Apple Music and iTunes purchases.
• ✔ More stable than Wine, as it runs Windows natively.

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ Requires a lot of system resources.
• ✖ Not ideal for older or low-power hardware.

Method 3: Using Snap Packages

Snap is a universal package manager that makes installing applications easier on Linux. Some community-built Snap packages offer Apple Music access.

How to Install Apple Music via Snap

1. Enable Snap on your Linux system:
   • Ubuntu/Debian:
     

     sudo apt install snapd

   • Fedora:
     

     sudo dnf install snapd

2. Search for an Apple Music Snap package:
   

   snap search apple-music



3. If a package is available, install it:
   

   sudo snap install apple-music-linux

4. Open Apple Music from your Applications menu or run:
   

   apple-music-linux

5. Sign in with your Apple ID and start streaming.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Easy installation.
• ✔ Automatic updates through Snap.

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ Limited selection of Apple Music apps.
• ✖ Some Snap packages are community-maintained and may lack full functionality.

Part 4. Alternatives to Use Apple Music on Linux

If you prefer to access Apple Music on Linux without using a web player or third-party clients, there are two alternative solutions:

Method 1: Download Apple Music and Transfer to Linux

Since Apple hasn't officially released iTunes for Linux, one of the best ways to enjoy Apple Music offline is by downloading your songs on Windows or macOS and transferring them to your Linux system.

However, Apple Music songs are DRM-protected, meaning you can't simply copy and play them on another platform. To bypass this restriction, you'll need a DRM removal tool like ViWizard Apple Music Converter.

Why Use ViWizard Apple Music Converter?

• ✅ Removes DRM protection from Apple Music tracks.
• ✅ Converts songs into common formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, or WAV.
• ✅ Preserves original sound quality and metadata (album art, artist info, etc.).
• ✅ Enables offline playback on any media player—no need for iTunes or Apple Music.
• ✅ Compatible with Linux, so you can play music on Rhythmbox, VLC, or any other player.

Key Features of ViWizard Audio Converter

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• Convert songs, albums, and playlists from Apple Music to MP3
• Remove DRM protection from Apple Music, iTunes, and Audible
• Save the converted audios with the original quality and ID3 tags
• Support the conversion of up to 100 audio formats to others

How to Download and Transfer Apple Music to Linux

Step 1Convert Apple Music Songs on Windows/Mac

1. Open ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your Windows or macOS computer.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID to access your Apple Music library.
3. Browse and select the songs, albums, or playlists you want to download.
4. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner and select Preferences.
5. Choose an output format compatible with Linux, such as MP3, FLAC, AAC, or WAV.
6. Adjust bitrate, sample rate, and audio quality if needed. Click OK to save your settings.
7. Search for the music you want to convert using the ViWizard Apple Music Web Player.
8. Click Add Music to include selected songs in the conversion list.
9. Once ready, click Convert to start downloading your tracks.
10. After conversion, go to History > Open Folder to find your DRM-free music files.

Step 2Transfer Apple Music Files to Linux

Once you've downloaded your music, transfer it to your Linux system using one of these methods:

Step 3Play Apple Music on Linux

Now that your music is on Linux, you can play it using any media player, such as:

• 🎵 Rhythmbox (default player on Ubuntu)
• 🎵 VLC Media Player
• 🎵 Audacious
• 🎵 Strawberry Music Player

This method gives you full control over your music collection without needing iTunes, Wine, or a web player.

Method 2: Use Apple Music on a Dual-Boot System

If you frequently switch between Windows/macOS and Linux, setting up a dual-boot system is another way to use Apple Music on Linux without workarounds.

How to Set Up Dual Boot for Apple Music

1. If you have Windows, install Linux as a second OS using the GRUB Bootloader.
2. If you have a Mac (Intel-based only), use Boot Camp to install Linux.
3. When you need Apple Music, simply reboot into Windows/macOS.
4. Open iTunes or the Apple Music app and stream/download songs.
5. For offline listening, transfer your downloaded songs to your Linux partition.
6. Alternatively, store them on a shared drive (NTFS, exFAT, or FAT32) so both OS can access them.
7. Once your files are accessible on Linux, play them using any Linux media player.

✅ The Good:

• ✔ Runs official Apple Music app (no workarounds needed).
• ✔ Best for users who need both Windows/macOS and Linux.
• ✔ Full Apple Music features (streaming, playlists, downloads).

❌ The Bad:

• ✖ Requires rebooting to switch between OS.
• ✖ Not ideal if you want a Linux-only setup.

Conclusion

By using ViWizard Apple Music Converetr, you can successfully eliminate DRM protection from your Apple Music tracks and transfer them to your Linux system. This allows you to relish your favorite tunes offline without the need for iTunes or DRM constraints, enhancing your Linux music experience.