Where to find Apple Music settings on Mac

Open the Music app on your Mac — it's in the Applications folder or in your Dock. Once the app is open, click Music in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select Settings (or Preferences if you're on an older version of macOS). This opens a window with tabs across the top: General, Playback, Files, Library, Sharing, and Restrictions. Each tab controls a different part of how the app behaves.

If you're looking to change settings tied to your Apple Music subscription itself — like your account details, payment method, or subscription plan — those live in System Settings instead. Go to System Settings > Music, or sign into your Apple account at iCloud.com. The Music app settings control playback and library behavior; your account settings control billing and subscription status.

Key Takeaways

  • The Music app settings are in Music > Settings in the menu bar, with tabs for General, Playback, Files, Library, Sharing, and Restrictions.
  • Playback settings let you turn on Dolby Atmos, lossless audio, and spatial audio if your Mac and subscription support them.
  • Library settings control whether the app shows songs you don't own, syncs across devices, and organizes music by artist or album.
  • General settings let you choose where downloaded music is stored and whether the app opens when you start your Mac.
  • Account and subscription changes happen in System Settings or at iCloud.com, not in the Music app itself.

Playback settings: sound quality and audio features

Click the Playback tab to control how music sounds. Here you can turn on Dolby Atmos (surround sound that works on compatible speakers and headphones), lossless audio (higher quality files that take up more space), and spatial audio (3D sound positioning). Not all Macs support all of these — lossless and spatial audio require an M1 chip or newer, and Dolby Atmos requires compatible hardware. If an option is grayed out, your Mac doesn't support it.

You'll also find the Crossfade Songs option here, which adds a smooth fade between tracks instead of a hard stop. The slider controls how long the fade lasts. Below that is Sound Enhancer, which boosts bass and treble — useful if your speakers are thin, but most people leave it off. At the bottom is Normalize Audio Levels, which makes all songs play at roughly the same volume so you don't get blasted by a loud track after a quiet one.

Library settings: what music shows up and how it's organized

The Library tab controls what appears in your Music library and how it syncs. Turn on Sync Library if you want your library to match across all your Apple devices — your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch will all see the same playlists and liked songs. This requires an active Apple Music subscription. If you turn it off, your library stays local to that Mac only.

Below that is Show Songs Not Added to Library. When this is on, you see every song in Apple Music's catalog, even ones you haven't added to your library. When it's off, you see only the music you've actually saved. Most people turn this off to reduce clutter. You'll also see options to show or hide Classical Music metadata (composer, conductor, movement names) and Compilations as a separate category in your library.

General settings: storage, startup, and app behavior

The General tab handles where your music lives and how the app starts. Music Media Folder Location shows where downloaded and imported songs are stored on your Mac — usually in Music > Music Media. If you have a large library, you can move this folder to an external drive to save space. Click Change to pick a new location.

You can also set the app to Open Music when you open your Mac, which is useful if you listen every day but annoying if you don't. The Show Lyrics option displays song lyrics in the Now Playing view if they're available. Show Unavailable Songs displays grayed-out tracks that you've added to playlists but that aren't currently available in your region or on your subscription tier.

Files settings: importing and organizing music

The Files tab controls how the Music app handles songs you import from your computer or external drives. Copy files to Music Media folder means the app makes its own copy of any song you import, so the original stays safe. If you turn this off, the app links to the original file instead — useful if you're short on storage, but risky if you move or delete the original.

Group Compilations organizes compilation albums (like "Now That's What I Call Music") under a Compilations folder instead of scattering them by artist. Automatically Organize Music Folder sorts imported songs into folders by artist and album name. Turn this on if you import a lot of music and want the folder structure to stay neat.

Sharing settings: letting others see your library

The Sharing tab lets other people on your home network see and play music from your library. Turn on Share My Library to let them browse and play your songs on their devices while they're connected to your Wi-Fi. They can't edit your library or read your music — they can only stream it while connected.

Below that, you can see which devices on your network are sharing their libraries with you. If you see a device you don't recognize, you can uncheck it to block access. This is useful in shared homes or offices where you want to keep your music private.

Restrictions: parental controls and content filtering

The Restrictions tab is for parental controls. You can restrict access to Explicit Content, which hides songs marked as explicit in Apple Music. This requires a Mac user password to change, so a child can't turn it off without your permission. You can also restrict access to Music Videos and Music Stories separately.

These settings explore only to the user account you're logged into. If multiple people use your Mac, each person has their own restrictions. A child's account can have explicit content blocked while your admin account sees everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I change my Apple Music subscription or payment method?

Those settings are not in the Music app. Go to System Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions, or visit iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription there, and update your payment method in the Billing section.

Why is lossless audio grayed out on my Mac?

Lossless audio requires an M1 chip or newer. If your Mac is older, that option won't be available. You can check your Mac's chip by clicking the Apple menu > About This Mac and looking at the Chip line.

Can I move my music library to an external drive?

Yes. In the General tab, click Change next to Music Media Folder Location and pick your external drive. The app will move your library there. Make sure the drive is connected whenever you want to play music.

What does Sync Library do if I have music that's not from Apple Music?

Sync Library uploads songs you've imported from your computer to iCloud Music Library so they appear on your other devices. This requires an Apple Music subscription. Songs must be in a supported format (MP3, AAC, FLAC, and others work).

How do I stop the Music app from opening when I start my Mac?

Go to the General tab and uncheck Open Music when you open your Mac. The app will no longer launch automatically at startup.