0 How to Play Apple Music on Garmin Watch [2024 Updated]
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DRmare Apple Music Converter

An audio converter to play Apple Music on Garmin Watches

  • Convert Apple Music, Audible audiobooks, and more audio files for Garmin watches
  • Batch convert Apple Music to Garmin-supported audio files, like MP3
  • Keeps full ID3 tags of Apple Music like album artwork, artist info, and more
  • Work at high speed to save time during conversion

How to Play Apple Music on Garmin Watch [Fenix/Forerunner/Venu/Vivoactive]

quote icon Can you play Apple Music on Garmin Watch? I tried moving my Apple Music downloads to my Garmin Watch for my runs, but it didn't work. Am I doing something wrong? Can anyone help?

Garmin smartwatches, such as the Fenix 7, Fenix 6, Forerunner 245, 955, Venu, and Vivoactive, offer a range of features for fitness enthusiasts and tech-savvy users alike. When listening to music on a Garmin Watch, supported services include Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. You might notice that Apple Music isn't on the list.

However, Garmin watches allow you to upload local music files for playback, meaning that you can add Apple Music to your Garmin Watch with the right steps. So, in this article, we'll explore how to put and use Apple Music on Garmin watches, including popular models like the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive.

apple music on garmin watch

Part 1. Does Apple Music Work on Garmin Watches?

Garmin watches are designed to cater to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those looking to improve their overall well-being. Garmin offers a wide range of flagship models that blend advanced fitness tracking with everyday functionality, including the Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive series, each offering something unique.

However, Garmin watches don't directly and natively support Apple Music. While Garmin supports several music streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio, Apple Music is not one of the integrated options. Garmin Watch can't play Apple Music directly. This limitation is due to the digital rights management (DRM) protection that Apple uses on its music, which restricts playback on non-Apple devices.

If you'd like to play Apple Music on Garmin Watch, it's necessary to use third-party tools like DRmare Apple Music Converter. It can convert protected Apple Music tracks into a Garmin-compatible format (such as MP3, AAC, M4A, or WAV). This tool allows you to put your Apple Music songs on the Garmin Watch via Garmin Express for offline playback.

Platform Features
Popular Garmin Watches Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Fenix 7, Garmin Fenix 6, Garmin Fenix 5, Garmin Forerunner 245, Garmin Forerunner 945, Garmin Forerunner 645, Garmin Venu 4, Garmin Venu SQ, Garmin Vivoactive 4, etc.
Garmin-supported Formats MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, M4B, etc.
Apple Music Format M4P, ALAC
DRmare Apple Music Converter MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, M4B, and FLAC

Part 2. How to Play Apple Music on Garmin Watch - Tool Required

Garmin Watches support local music file uploads, but the Apple Music tracks you download are protected by DRM, which prevents them from being played on non-Apple devices like Garmin. You have to use DRmare Apple Music Converter to remove the DRM from Apple Music and convert your tracks into formats like MP3 or AAC, which Garmin supports.

This tool retains the original Apple Music quality and ID3 tags, allowing you to enjoy your music on Garmin losslessly. In addition, you can choose to modify the output audio parameters of Apple Music for Garmin Watch, like the bit rate, sample rate, volume, etc. according to your needs. This smart tool can work at 30X conversion speed to save your time.

audio converter

DRmare Apple Music Converter

vector Security verified. 4, 885,804 people have downloaded it.

  • Convert Apple Music to MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc., with high quality
  • Allow customization of output settings such as bit rate and sample rate
  • Save full ID3 tags while working at a faster speed
  • Listen to Apple Music on Garmin Watch, Apple Watch, etc. offline

How to Convert Apple Music for Garmin Fenix/Forerunner/Venu/Vivoactive

Now, you may wonder how DRmare Apple Music Converter works. Please keep reading. In this part, we will show you the steps on how to convert Apple Music for Garmin Watches, including Garmin Fenix, Garmin Forerunner, Garmin Venu, and Garmin Vivoactive with DRmare Apple Music Converter.

Step 1Load Apple Music songs to DRmare program
add apple music tracks to drmare
First, please install the DRmare Apple Music Converter program on your computer. Then launch it and you will see the main screen of DRmare program. Next, go to the bottom left corner and click on the '+' button. You could find your downloaded Apple Music tracks from your iTunes library or your local folder. Then pick Apple Music songs you like and add them to DRmare program.
Step 2Set Apple Music output format for Garmin Watch
define output parameters for garmin watch
Once all the Apple Music songs are loaded successfully in DRmare Apple Music Converter's main screen, then you could hit on the 'audio' icon at the bottom right. Choose an output format compatible with Garmin (MP3 or AAC is recommended). You can also adjust settings such as codec, channel, bit rate, and sample rate to meet your preferences. Click 'OK' to save the settings.
Step 3Download Apple Music songs for Garmin Watch
convert apple music for garmin watch
Click on the 'Convert' button and DRmare Apple Music Converter will begin the conversion process. When it is finished, the converted Apple Music files will be saved on your computer. Then you could check them on the target folder on your computer via the 'Converted' button.

Part 3. How to Use Apple Music on Garmin Watch

Now that you have the Apple Music tracks as local files. You can connect your Garmin watch to your computer and manually put Apple Music on your Garmin Watch using Garmin Express for offline playback. Please check out the simple and step-by-step tutorial below.

Tips:

Songs purchased from the iTunes Store are unprotected and compatible with all Garmin watches. You can use Garmin Express to sync purchased music directly from your iTunes library to your watch without converting formats.

How to Put Apple Music on Garmin Watch

Step 1Add Converted Apple Music to iTunes Library
Open the iTunes app or Music app on your computer and then click the 'File' and 'Add File to Library' or 'Add Folder to Library' to select and upload all unprotected Apple Music files to this app.
add unprotected apple music to itunes
Step 2Share iTunes Library XML with Garmin Express
Go to the menu bar, select 'Edit' from the top menu bar, and then choose the 'Preferences' and 'Advanced' tab. Check the box that says 'Share iTunes Library XML with other applications'. Save the changes by clicking 'OK'.
share itunes library xml with garmin express
Step 3Connect Garmin Watch to Garmin Express
Use a USB cable to connect your Garmin watch to your computer. Download and install Garmin Express if you haven't already. Open the app, choose 'Get Started', and then 'Add a Device' to select your Garmin watch from the connected devices.
connect garmin watch to garmin express
Step 4Transfer Apple Music to Garmin Watch
Go to the 'Music' section in Garmin Express, and choose 'iTunes'. You can also manually select your favorite Apple Music songs to sync. Hit on the 'Send to Device' option, and Garmin Express will sync the converted Apple Music to the Garmin Watch. Once the transfer is complete, you can access the music from the built-in music player on your Garmin device.
play apple music on garmin watch

Part 4. Further Reading: Garmin Fenix vs Forerunner vs Venu vs Vivoactive

Here's a comparison table to showcase the key differences between Garmin's popular watch series: Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive.

Features Garmin Fenix Garmin Forerunner Garmin Venu Garmin Vivoactive
Latest Series Fenix E, Fenix 8, Fenix 7S Pro, Fenix 7 Pro, Fenix 7X Pro, Fenix 7, etc. Forerunner 165, Forerunner 165 Music, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 55, etc. Venu 3, Venu 3S Vivoactive 5
Target Audience Outdoor adventurers, hikers, athletes Runners, athletes, fitness enthusiasts General users looking for style & fitness Casual fitness users, active lifestyle
GPS & Navigation GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, TOPO maps GPS, GLONASS, Galileo GPS, GLONASS, Galileo GPS, GLONASS
Battery Life Up to 14 days Up to 14 days Up to 11 days Up to 8 days
Music Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes
Price $649.99 to 1199.99 $169.99 to 499.99 $499.99 $299.99

Part 5. In Conclusion

While Garmin Apple Music integration is not yet available, there is still a way to play your favorite Apple Music on Garmin Watches, like Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive. You can use DRmare Apple Music Converter to easily remove DRM from Apple Music and convert your Apple Music tracks to Garmin Watch-supported files. With the help of Garmin Express, you can put and use Apple Music on Garmin Watch during your workouts without hassle.

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