4 Ways to play Apple Music on Roku in 2024


Apple Music was added to Roku Channel Store on May 2, 2022. Subscribers can now get ad-free access to Apple Music’s robust library of more than 100 million songs and 30,000 playlists with the Apple Music app for Roku. However, if Apple Music app doesn’t work properly on your Roku, there are 3 alternative ways to play Apple Music on Roku.

Stream Apple Music on Roku by converting Apple Music songs to Roku compatible format AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, etc. using Apple Music Converter. Once converted, play it via Roku Media player or cast from your Roku Mobile app.

Option 1 Play Apple Music to Roku via Apple Music app
Option 2 Use AirPlay to stream Apple Music to Roku from iOS/Mac
Option 3 Screen Mirror Apple Music From Android
Option 4 Download Apple Music to MP3 and stream via Roku Media Player

Apple music on Roku


Option 1 Play Apple Music to Roku via Apple Music app

Since May 2, 2022, Apple Music has been made available in the Roku Channel Store. By subscribing, users can enjoy an ad-free experience and gain access to Apple Music's extensive collection of over 100 million songs and 30,000 playlists, which are constantly updated with fresh tracks.

Apple music on Roku

Apple Music subscribers can stream on any Roku device including Roku streaming players, Roku TV™ models, and Roku premium audio products like the Roku Streambar® Pro. These devices include the Roku Streambar soundbar, and streaming sticks like the Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick+ and Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Apple Music was ported to Amazon’s Fire TV in 2019.

What's even better is that music enthusiasts can create their own personalized playlists, explore expert-curated playlists, and listen to the award-winning Apple Music Radio, which streams the latest music as well as popular hits, classics, and country tunes. To enhance the enjoyment of your Apple Music subscription, consider using the Roku Streambar Pro, which delivers cinematic sound and offers powerful streaming capabilities.

How do I get Apple Music on my Roku device?

The Apple Music channel (available now in the Roku Channel Store ) will offer access to your new or existing Apple Music subscription plus your entire music library on all your devices. Simply sign in or create a new Apple ID to start listening to Apple Music on your Roku player, Roku TV or Roku premium audio products like the Roku Streambar Pro .

  1. Go to Streaming Channels from the home screen of Roku.

  2. Scroll down and select the Search Channels .

  3. Enter Apple Music and search for the app.

  4. From the search results, choose the Apple Music app.

  5. Select the Add Channel button.

  6. Once you add the Apple Music app, click on OK from the prompt.

  7. Now, select Go to Channel option to launch the Apple Music app.

Apple music on Roku

Regrettably, at present, Apple Music on Roku does not offer support for features such as lossless or spatial audio. Although Apple does not restrict these features solely to its own platforms (they are accessible through the Android Apple Music app), they appear to be less prevalent on TV-connected platforms like Roku and even the PS5. It is worth noting that the Apple TV 4K does support these features; however, it does have certain limitations with regard to the highest-resolution lossless files.

How to fix Apple Music not responding on Roku?

1. Hard restart Roku device

Turn off your Roku device using the remote. Then unplug the power cable from the power outlet. Wait for 3 to 5 minutes and then plug the power cable back in. Turn Roku back on. Apple music then responded perfectly.

2. Update Apple Music

Press the home button on your remote and hightlight Apple Music. Press the * button on your remote to open the Options menu. Select Check for updates.

Apple music on Roku

3. Reinstall Apple Music

From the homescreen, head over to the Apple Music app. Highlight Apple Music app and press* button on your remote. Click Remove Channel from the pop up menu. To ensure the process is successful, restart your device before adding the channel back in. We would recommend doing this from the Settings menu by navigating to Settings > System > System restart. Go to Streaming Channels from the homescreen, scroll down to Search Channels and type in Apple Music. Scroll to the right and press OK on your remote. Select Add channel to install it back on your Roku.


Option 2 Use AirPlay to stream Apple Music to Roku from iOS/Mac

Apple AirPlay lets you stream, control, and share content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your compatible Roku streaming device. You can watch movies, TV shows, and family videos, listen to popular music, or browse vacation photos. Click here to check if your Roku device supports Airplay.

AirPlay Roku

  1. Make sure your Apple device and Roku device are on the same wireless network.
  2. On your Roku, go to Settings - Apple AirPlay and HomeKit . Make sure AirPlay is turned on.
  3. On your Apple device, find the Apple Music songs you wish to share.
  4. Tap the AirPlay audio icon Apple AirPlay audio icon .
  5. Select your Roku device from the AirPlay menu.

AirPlay Roku


Option 3 Screen Mirror Apple Music From Android

In general, if your device is running Android version 4.2 or later (as opposed to a Google-branded device, such as a Google Nexus or Pixel, running OS 6.0 or later), it may support screen mirroring. However, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to use a unique brand term when describing the feature. To help set up and enable screen mirroring on your Android device, here are some common terms used on popular devices.

  • Smart View
  • Quick Connect
  • SmartShare
  • AllShare Cast
  • Wireless display
  • Display mirroring
  • HTC Connect
  • Screen casting
  • Cast

You can use the Roku device comparison chart to determine the current products that support screen mirroring for Android and Windows devices .

The steps below include examples from the Samsung Galaxy S9, which uses the term "Smart View" instead of screen mirroring. If you have a different Android device, you may be able to use the same steps to replace "Smart View" with the term used by your device's manufacturer.

  1. Go to settings and tap Smart View (or equivalent term used by your Android device).
  2. Select your Roku device from the Smart View menu (or equivalent) to start the connection.

Option 4 Stream Apple Music on Roku by converting the music to Roku compatible format

Roku Media Player is a channel available for download through the Roku Channel Store. It may also be pre-installed on some Roku® streaming devices. Roku Media Player allows you to watch your own personal video files, listen to your music files, and view your photos using the Roku device’s USB port (if available) or by accessing a media server on your local network . It supports such media servers as Twonky, Windows Media Player, Plex, and Tversity.

Roku Media Player

Roku Media Player supported audio formats include: AAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); MP3(.MP3, .MKV); WMA (.ASF, .WMA, .MKV), FLAC (.FLAC, .MKV), PCM (.WAV, .MKV, .MP4, .MOV), AC3/EAC3 (.MKV,.MP4. .MOV, .AC3), DTS (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV,.DTS), ALAC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV, .M4A), Vorbis (.OGG,.MKV,.WEBM). DRM-protected content is not supported.

Apple Music songs you downloaded are formatted in DRM-protected M4P format, so you can't play them with Roku Media Player directly. You need to remove Apple Music DRM and convert M4P to MP3 first.

Pazusoft Apple Music Converter is such as powerful tool that allows you to download Apple Music songs, albums and playlists to 320kbps MP3 with ID3 tags on your Mac and Windows.


About Pazusoft Apple Music Converter

Download Apple Music songs/albums/playlists to MP3, M4A, etc.

  • Download Apple Music songs/albums/playlists to MP3, M4A, etc.
  • Preserve 100% original quality.
  • Keep all ID3 tags.
  • Fast download speed.
  • Multiple formats.
  • 100% lossless quality.

Here's how to download songs, albums and playlists from Apple Music to MP3.

Step 1 Launch Pazu Apple Music Converter

Download, install and run Pazu Apple Music Converter on your Mac or Windows.

Apple Music Converter

Click the key icon to activate the full version if you have purchased a license, otherwise you can only use the trial version.

Apple Music Converter

Step 2 Log in your Apple Music account

Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in with your Apple ID.

sign in Apple ID

Step 3 Choose output format

The default format is M4A in 256kbps. Apple Music Converter also supports MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV and AIFF. Click icon if you want to change output format or output folder.

Apple Music song format

Here you can also customize song name format with any combination of Playlist Index, Track Number, Title, Artist and Album.

file name format

Or set Pazu Apple Music Converter to archive output song with Artist, Album, Artist/Album or Album/Artist.

organize songs

Step 4 Choose a playlist, artist or album you want to download

Follow the instructions to choose a playlist, artist, or album that you want to download.

Step 5 Add songs

Click the Add button to select songs for converting.

add songs

All songs in the playlist or album are selected by default. Uncheck the songs you don't want to download if there are any, then click Convert button.

open a playlist

If you are using the trial version, you will get below pop-up window indicating trial version limitations, just click Try if you haven't purchased a license.

The songs you selected will be downloaded to the format you want.

After conversion, click to quickly locate the DRM-free Apple Music songs.

Click to view all downloaded songs. You can check them by converted date, artist or album.


Part 2 Play Apple Music MP3 songs using the Roku Media Player

Playing Apple Music stored on a USB drive

  1. Transfer the DRM-free Apple Music MP3 songs to your USB device. Insert the USB device into the USB port on your Roku device.
  2. If Roku Media Player is not installed, you will be prompted to add it from the Roku Channel Store. If the channel is installed, an on-screen prompt will ask you to launch Roku Media Player.
  3. Select the icon for your USB drive.
  4. Press the Star button star button on Roku remote on your Roku remote.
  5. Select Audio as the media type to see new folders appear at the top level on the navigation screen.

Use free Roku mobile app for Android, iOS or Windows Phone

When you want to display personal media files on your TV screen, you may be able to use the Play on Roku feature built in to the free Roku mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Play on Roku lets you share photos, videos, and songs stored on your compatible mobile device to your Roku streaming player or Roku TV™. Use free Roku mobile app on your phone. Click “Play On Roku” from the pull-down menu in the mobile app and choose “Music.” You can play playlists, artists, albums or songs in the touch of a button!

FAQs

How do you make the music play in background on TV whiles gaming?

To play music play in background on TV, you will need to get the Apple Music app from PS5/PS4 or Xbox .