If you have a Sono speaker and subscribe to Apple music, you may wonder: Does Sonos work with Apple Music? Thanks to Sonos and Apple Music integration, the answer is yes. Apple Music works with Sonos speakers through the Sonos app, AirPlay 2, supported voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, and local offline playback. Once connected, you can stream Apple Music playlists, albums, radio stations, and personalized recommendations directly through your Sonos system.
This guide explains how to add Apple Music to Sonos, the best ways to play Apple Music on Sonos, how Dolby Atmos works, and what to do when Apple Music is not working with Sonos.
Quick Comparison: Which Sonos Apple Music Setup Is Right for You?
Before diving into the steps, use this breakdown to pick the method that fits your setup best:
| Method | Best For | Subscription Required? | Audio Quality / Feature Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos App | Primary setup for every room | Yes | Supports Lossless Audio & Dolby Atmos (on supported hardware) |
| AirPlay 2 | Quick casting from Apple devices | Yes | AAC / Lossless (device dependent), multi-room streaming |
| Amazon Alexa | Hands-free voice control | Yes | Standard streaming quality, easy voice management |
| Local Library Import | Offline playback & local backups | No (post-conversion) | Plays MP3/FLAC local files via Sonos Music Library |
Quick Verdict:
The Sonos app method is usually the best choice because Apple Music becomes integrated into the Sonos ecosystem. You can browse playlists, search songs, and control playback without switching between apps.
Way 1. How to Add Apple Music to Sonos by Sonos App
The easiest way to connect Apple Music to Sonos is through the Sonos app. This method provides the most complete Apple Music control inside the Sonos ecosystem. It grants full access to your library, curated playlists, and radio stations, while also unlocking advanced features like Apple Music Dolby Atmos on Sonos speakers support Spatial Audio. Follow the steps below to start enjoying Apple Music on Sonos today.
Before you start:
Make sure your Sonos app and speaker firmware are updated.
- Open the Sonos app on your device.
- Go to Settings > System > System Updates.
- Check for updates and follow the prompts to install any available updates.
How to Add Apple Music to Sonos on iPhone/Android:
Step 1. Install and open the Sonos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Step 2. Tap on 'Account' menu > 'Content Services.
Step 3. Then tap on '+ Add Content Service' under the 'Your Services' section.
Step 4. Choose 'Apple Music' and then tap on 'Add to Sonos'. You will be prompted to sign in with your Apple Account by clicking the 'Add Account'. Enter your credentials and follow the on-screen instructions to authorize Sonos to access your Apple Music library.
How to Connect Apple Music to Sonos on PC/Mac:
Step 1. Launch the Sonos app on your computer.
Step 2. Tap on 'Add Music Services' under 'Select a Music Source'.
Step 3. Choose 'Apple Music' and then you can easily add Apple Music service to Sonos.
How to Play Apple Music on Sonos After Setup
With Apple Music added to your Sonos system, you're ready to start playing music. Here's how:
Step 1. Open the Sonos app and go to the 'Browse' tab.
Step 2. Select 'Apple Music' from the list of music services.
Step 3. Browse through your library, playlists, or explore curated content from Apple Music.
Step 4. Select a song, album, or playlist and tap 'Play'.
Sonos Speakers That Support Apple Music Dolby Atmos
Apple Music Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos requires both compatible content and compatible hardware. Supported Sonos models include:
- Sonos Arc
- Sonos Arc Ultra
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Sonos Era 300
How to Unlock Apple Music Lossless Audio and Dobly Atmos on Sonos:
If you own an Era 300, Arc, Arc SL, or Beam (Gen 2) running on the Sonos S2 system, you can experience Lossless Audio or Apple Music Dolby Atmos directly through the Sonos app:
Step 1. Browse to Apple Music in the Sonos app's Browse tab.
Step 2. Play any track tagged with the Dolby Atmos badge. The playback screen will display a Dolby Atmos indicator when active.
Step 3. To play standard 24-bit Lossless audio instead of Spatial Audio, you can disable Spatial Audio under Settings > System > [Your Room Name] > Spatial Audio.
Customize Your Sonos Experience with Apple Music
- Create Playlists: Use Apple Music to create playlists that suit different moods or occasions and play them seamlessly across your Sonos speakers.
- Group Rooms: If you have multiple Sonos speakers, you can group them to play the same music in sync across different rooms.
- Voice Control: If you have a Sonos speaker with voice control, you can use Siri to play Apple Music. Just say, "Hey Siri, play my Chill Mix on Sonos."
Way 2. How to Play Apple Music on Sonos by AirPlay 2
If you prefer using the native Apple Music app interface on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, AirPlay 2 offers a smooth way to cast audio directly to your speakers. It allows you to easily stream music from your Apple devices directly to your Sonos system.
Sonos Devices That Support AirPlay 2
AirPlay 2 is supported on modern Sonos hardware, including Sonos Era 100/300, Arc/Arc SL, Beam, Move/Move 2, Roam/Roam 2, One, Play:5 (Gen 2), Amp, Port, and SYMFONISK.
How to Play Apple Music on Sonos from iPhone/iPad:
Step 1. Make sure your Sonos speaker and your iOS device are connected to the same network.
Step 2. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Music app and start playing a song.
Step 3. Open the 'Control Center' and then tap on the 'AirPlay' icon (a triangle with concentric circles).
Step 4. A list of available AirPlay 2 devices will appear. Choose your Sonos speaker from the list and you will see Apple Music stream to Sonos.
Grouping Sonos Speakers for Multi-Room AirPlay
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to open the Control Center.
- Tap the AirPlay icon inside the audio playback card.
- Check the circle next to every Sonos speaker you wish to include in your playback group.
How to Play Apple Music on Sonos from Mac:
Step 1. Ensure your Mac and Sonos system share the same Wi-Fi connection.
Step 2. Open the Apple Music app and play a song.
Step 3. Click the AirPlay icon next to the volume slider in the top right corner of the app, then select your Sonos speaker.
Step 4. Alternatively, you can click the Control Center icon in the top-right menu bar on your Mac and click AirPlay under the Sound section to choose your Sonos speaker you want to use
Note:
You cannot stream Apple Music to multiple speakers simultaneously using this Control Center method.
Tips:
You can use Siri to control Apple Music playback on Sonos speakers. Here's what you need to do: Simply say, "Hey Siri, play [song/artist/playlist] on [Sonos speaker name]." Siri will send the audio via AirPlay 2 to your Sonos speaker.
Way 3. How to Control Apple Music to Sonos with Amazon Alexa
If your Sonos speaker features built-in voice control (like the Sonos One, Beam, or Era 300), you can control Apple Music hands-free using Alexa. You can also set Apple Music as the default music service and you will be no longer need to end each command with "on Apple Music".
How to Link Apple Music in the Alexa App
Step 1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2. Tap the "Settings" icon from the top-left corner and choose "Music & Podcasts".
Step 3. Under the "Link New Services" tab, choose "Apple Music" from the opened window. Then tap "Enable to Use".
Step 4. Now you can sign in to your Apple Music account and then ask Alexa to play Apple Music: Say "Alexa, play [song/artist/playlist] on Apple Music" followed by the name of the Sonos speaker or group of speakers you want to use.
How to Set Apple Music as Your Default Music Service (Optional)
Step 1. In the Music & Podcasts section of the Alexa app, tap Your Default Services.
Step 2. Under the Music section, click the Change option and select Apple Music as the default music service.
You can also set Apple Music as the default station service if you frequently listen to curated radio stations.
Control Apple Music with Voice Commands
Once connected, you can control Apple Music playback on Sonos using simple voice commands through Alexa. Here are a few examples:
- "Alexa, play my Chill Mix on Sonos."
- "Alexa, skip this song."
- "Alexa, turn up the volume in the Living Room."
- "Alexa, what's playing?"
Way 4. How to Play Apple Music Local Files on Sonos Offline
For users who want to play their collection offline, save local backups, or listen to tracks without maintaining an active streaming connection on every single room controller, you can store converted Apple Music files on your local storage and stream them through the Sonos Local Music Library.
Using a utility like DRmare Apple Music Converter, you can convert Apple Music tracks to MP3, FLAC, M4A, or other common files and store them on your local computer. Therefore, you no longer need to subscribe to Apple Music. You can upload these files to the Sonos app and listen to them on your Sonos speakers without any problem.
How to Listen to Apple Music Playlist on Sonos without Subscription
Step 1. Click the 'Download' button or go to DRmare's official website to install the DRmare Apple Music Converter. Then open this software and authorize your Apple Account. After that, you can browse your music library and tap the 'Add' > 'Add to List' button to load files to the conversion queue.
Step 2. You can change the Apple Music output parameters by clicking the 'Menu' > 'Preferences' > 'Conversion' option. There you can also customize the channel, bit rate, sample rate, and more. Then click on the 'OK' button.
Step 3. Click 'Convert' to start the conversion process. It will batch convert all your added Apple Music tracks at a 30X faster speed. When it is over, you can find local files in the 'Converted' folder.
Step 4. Open the Sonos app to import the converted Apple Music songs. Click "Manage" > Select "Music Library Settings" and then click "+" button to browse and import the converted Apple Music files. After that, you can navigate to Music Library in your Sonos app to play Apple Music without subscription on Sonos.
How to Fix Sonos Apple Music Not Working
If you run into issues connecting or playing Apple Music on your Sonos system, work through these fixes:
Fix 1. Wi-Fi Synchronization Check: Ensure your mobile device or computer is connected to the exact same Wi-Fi band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) as your Sonos speakers.
Fix 2, Reauthorize Apple Music: If the service stops responding, remove it and re-add it. In the Sonos app, go to Settings > Services & Voice, select Apple Music, tap Remove Account, and then re-add it.
Fix 3. Account Credentials & Billing: Confirm that your Apple Music subscription is active. Expired subscriptions or payment holds will prevent Sonos from streaming tracks.
Fix 4. App and System Reboots: Restart your Wi-Fi router, power-cycle your Sonos speakers, and force-close the Sonos app to clear temporary network glitches.
FAQs about Using Sonos and Apple Music
Can I play Apple Music Dolby Atmos on all Sonos speakers?
No. Spatial audio playback requires a compatible Sonos S2 speaker that supports hardware-level spatial processing, specifically the Sonos Era 300, Sonos Arc, Sonos Arc SL, and Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
Does Sonos support Apple Music Family Plans?
Yes. Multiple family members can add their individual Apple Music accounts to the same Sonos system. When browsing Apple Music in the Sonos app, you can switch between linked accounts from the top menu.
Why does AirPlay 2 keep disconnecting from my Sonos speaker?
Frequent AirPlay dropouts are usually caused by network interference or battery optimization settings on your iOS device. Try disabling Low Power Mode on your phone and restarting your wireless router.
What Is the Best Way to Play Apple Music on Sonos?
Sonos works with Apple Music and there are several ways to enjoy your favorite songs, albums, playlists, and radio stations through your Sonos speakers.
Whether you prefer the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos via the Sonos App, quick casting via AirPlay 2, or hands-free commands with Alexa, connecting Apple Music to your Sonos system takes just a few clicks.
However, if you want to keep a personal music collection, reduce reliance on an internet connection, or play your favorite tracks on more devices, creating a local music library can be a practical alternative.
With the right setup, Sonos and Apple Music work together to provide high-quality wireless listening, multi-room playback, and an immersive audio experience across your home.
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