How to Play Apple Music on Nintendo Switch: Ways for Gamers

Best Ways to Listen to Apple Music While Playing Nintendo Switch

There is no native way to install Apple Music from the eShop and play its catalog directly on the console. That does not mean you have to give up your Apple Music playlists when playing Switch games. There are several ways to approach the problem, but they are not equivalent.

Method 1. Play Apple Music on Your Phone or Tablet While Playing Switch

If you just want background music while playing games, the simplest solution is to keep Apple Music running on a separate device. Apple Music is available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and PC, so you can use one of those devices alongside your Switch. The basic setup is:

1. Open the Apple Music app on your phone or tablet.
2. Start the playlist or album you want to hear.
3. Start your game on Nintendo Switch.
4. Use your phone, earbuds, headphones, or another audio setup to listen to Apple Music.

I usually just prop my iPhone or iPad on my desk, open Apple Music, and let it play through its speakers or a separate Bluetooth speaker while I play the Switch handheld. It's zero hassle. The Switch handles the game audio; your phone handles the tunes.

Want Both Game Audio and Apple Music in One Headset?

Now, what if you are playing docked on a monitor, or you just want both the game audio and your Apple Music pumping into the same headset? This is where it gets a bit tricky.

During my testing, I found that simply pairing Bluetooth headphones to the Switch won't magically pull audio from your phone at the same time. The Switch's Bluetooth (available on the standard, Lite, and OLED models) only handles console audio, and honestly, the latency can sometimes be a bit annoying for fast-paced games anyway.

To actually combine them, you need a multi-input headset (like some high-end gaming headsets that support a wired/dongle connection to the console and simultaneous Bluetooth to your phone) or a physical audio mixer.

Personally, I grabbed a cheap audio splitter/mixer from Amazon. I ran a cable from the Switch's headphone jack into the mixer, connected my phone via a Bluetooth receiver to the same mixer, and plugged my wired headphones in. It takes a minute to balance the volume levels between the game and the music, but once it's dialed in, it's the ultimate gaming experience.

Method 2. Try the Nintendo Switch Hidden Web Browser to Play Apple Music

The console does not provide a normal browser icon on the HOME Menu, but its network authentication system can display web content. If you spend enough time on Reddit, someone will inevitably tell you to use the Switch's "hidden web browser" by changing your Wi-Fi DNS settings (usually to the SwitchBru DNS, 045.055.142.122).

1. Open System Settings on Nintendo Switch.
2. Select Internet.
3. Choose Internet Settings.
4. Select your saved Wi-Fi network.
5. Choose Change Settings.
6. Open DNS Settings.
7. Change DNS from Automatic to Manual.
8. Enter 045.055.142.122 as the Primary DNS.



9. Save the settings and connect to the network.



10. If the registration screen appears, select the option to continue.

I tried this so you don't have to. Yes, changing your primary DNS will trick the console into opening a basic web interface. Yes, you can technically try to navigate to the Apple Music web player. But here's the dealbreaker: it does not run in the background. The moment you close the browser to launch Zelda, your music dies. Plus, routing your internet traffic through a random third-party DNS just to load a clunky webpage isn't great for privacy or security. Save yourself the headache.

Method 3. Use Nintendo Music for Nintendo Soundtracks

If you aren't strictly tied to your pop or hip-hop playlists and just want some great gaming vibes, check out Nintendo Music. It's a separate app on iOS and Android (and now the web!) for Nintendo Switch Online members. It has incredible official soundtracks from Nintendo history.

But remember, this lives on your phone, not the console, so you'll still be using the "Two-Device" setup mentioned above. This makes it useful if what you really want is Nintendo-style background music rather than your existing Apple Music playlists.

Can You Transfer Apple Music Songs to Nintendo Switch?

If you've been Googling this topic for a while, you've probably stumbled across tutorials telling you to simply buy an Apple Music Converter, convert your Apple Music tracks to MP3s, and toss them onto a microSD card. Sounds perfectly logical, right?

Here's what those guides conveniently leave out: the standard Nintendo Switch operating system literally does not have a background media player. Even if you go through the hassle of converting all your files on your computer and plugging that SD card into your console, you'll hit a brick wall. You cannot open an MP3, minimize it, and boot up Animal Crossing.

During my deep dive into this, I found that the only way to actually make converted MP3s play in the background is by completely hacking your console. You would have to install Custom Firmware (CFW) and run a homebrew audio application like TriPlayer.

Let me save you the headache: I strongly advise against this. Modding your Switch directly violates Nintendo's Terms of Service. If their system detects modified firmware, and Nintendo is famously strict about this, they will drop the ban hammer. A permanent hardware ban means you are locked out of online multiplayer, digital eShop purchases, and cloud updates forever. Your console effectively becomes an offline brick.

It is absolutely not worth risking your expensive console just to listen to a playlist. For the safest and least stressful experience, stick to the physical hardware mixing setup I mentioned earlier. It keeps your console safe, legal, and ready for online matchmaking.

The Verdict

Until Nintendo decides to give us a proper media suite on their console (maybe on the Switch 2?), your phone is your best friend. Skip the weird DNS hacks and SD card workarounds. Invest in a headset that supports simultaneous dual-audio, or just let your phone blast your Apple Music playlist out loud while you game on Nintendo Switch.