Apple Music for Android Gains Home Screen Widget in New Update - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Music for Android Gains Home Screen Widget in New Update

by

The Apple Music app for Android devices was updated today, adding a new home screen widget that gives Android users the ability to control Apple Music playback without needing to open the Apple Music app.

The widget lets users view what's playing, and quickly pause, skip, rewind, and favorite songs. Today's update also lets Android users add songs directly to playlists without first needing to add them to the Apple Music, offers a way to redeem iTunes credit for membership renewal, and includes several other useful interface tweaks that should be a welcome change for Android Apple Music users.

applemusicandroid

Image via PocketNow

Now you can add songs from the Apple Music catalog to playlists without having to add it to your library. You can also:
- Control playback with a widget you can add to your home screen
- Redeem gift cards in Settings to renew your membership using iTunes credit
- See what's playing on Beats 1 directly from the Radio tab -- without having to tune in
- Tap the name of the currently playing song in Now Playing to go to the album
- See which songs are most popular on albums in the Apple Music catalog

Apple Music for Android can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

Top Rated Comments

Adam Betts Avatar
137 months ago
Interesting how Apple is taking advantage of features on Android but refuses to loosen up with iOS
That's not the right way to view it. Apple have said that they're trying to make an app that feels right at home in Android even though they themselves may not agree with Android's UI trends.

If a highly-requested feature isn't on iOS yet, it usually means that Apple haven't found a right approach, something that would fit in with iOS properly. Remember iOS copynpaste?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
137 months ago
All this arguing about iOS needing widgets and here I am wondering what everyone is talking about? I've got a ton of widgets available from either my lock screen or anywhere I am: the Today view! Works great and keeps everything nice and tidy. I've got widgets for all sorts of things: weather and radar, sports scores, stocks, calendar, data plan usage, thermostat controls, to-do lists, pedometer, system monitoring, breaking news and package deliveries. What is everyone complaining about? I've even got widgets on my Watch! Widgets for days. WIDGETS FOR WEEKS! A man could go mad with this kind of power.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
glindon Avatar
137 months ago
Interesting how Apple is taking advantage of features on Android but refuses to loosen up with iOS
There is a widget on iOS. Swipe up to open control center. The widget is always available no matter where you are in iOS unlike this widget that is only on that particular home screen.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
137 months ago
All this arguing about iOS needing widgets and here I am wondering what everyone is talking about? I've got a ton of widgets available from either my lock screen or anywhere I am: the Today view! Works great and keeps everything nice and tidy. I've got widgets for all sorts of things: weather and radar, sports scores, stocks, calendar, data plan usage, thermostat controls, to-do lists, pedometer, system monitoring, breaking news and package deliveries. What is everyone complaining about? I've even got widgets on my Watch! Widgets for days. WIDGETS FOR WEEKS! A man could go mad with this kind of power.
I loved when they added widgets, and I added a bunch to my Today view, but I sadly can't say they work great for me. Every single time I slide down the NC, the widgets are all blank and take a few seconds to load the data. And they don't do it all at the same time either, which causes them to all expand/contract out of order and is impossible for me to select anything for about 6 seconds.

Do you experience this? I'd love for my widgets to be a lot smoother... Maybe it's just the ones I'm currently using?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
waterskier2007 Avatar
137 months ago
There is a widget on iOS. Swipe up to open control center. The widget is always available no matter where you are in iOS unlike this widget that is only on that particular home screen.
That is by far the dumbest point I have ever seen. I am not saying I want or don't want widgets, but if I was going to argue against them, this is not the point I would base my argument on.

Widgets would be something available for any app to implement, whereas control center is locked to what Apple decides should be there.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Refurbished_ Avatar
137 months ago
How does AM on iOS differ from AM on Android? Aside from the widget, of course.
It doesn't work.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Apple Music Hall event space 02

Apple Music Hall Spatial Audio Venue Opens in Battersea Power Station

Tuesday September 22, 2026 1:07 am PDT by
Apple has announced the opening of Apple Music Hall, a state-of-the-art 600-capacity music venue located in London's Battersea Power Station. Apple says it is "designed to connect artists and fans through bespoke, intimate performances unlike anywhere else." "Apple's deep love for music dates all the way back to the very beginning, from the launch of the iPod to the long-running iTunes Music ...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Siri AI Settlement Website Now Live: Apple to Pay Some iPhone Owners

Sunday September 20, 2026 7:24 pm PDT by
In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and the settlement website is now live. Apple will pay an estimated $25 per eligible iPhone to eligible customers, who can submit a claim via the settlement website between September 21 and December 21 of this year. The exact payment may be higher or lower than $25 depending on the...
Latest Stories
New iPhone Setting Lets Users Shake Off Motion-Sensing Ads
New iPhone Setting Lets Users Shake Off Motion-Sensing Ads
52 minutes ago
Apple Intelligence Taking up 30GB+ on Some Macs Running macOS 27
Apple Intelligence Taking up 30GB+ on Some Macs Running macOS 27
2 hours ago
New Mac Mini Has Two Storage Downsides, Including Unremovable SSD
New Mac Mini Has Two Storage Downsides, Including Unremovable SSD
9 hours ago
Apple Card Savings Account's Interest Rate Just Went Up
Apple Card Savings Account's Interest Rate Just Went Up
10 hours ago
Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
13 hours ago
OpenAI's New GPT-6 Sol and Luna Models Bring Astra Improvements to Cheaper Tiers
OpenAI's New GPT-6 Sol and Luna Models Bring Astra Improvements to Cheaper Tiers
16 hours ago
Apple Park Visitor Center Just Lost an Attraction Offered Since 2017
Apple Park Visitor Center Just Lost an Attraction Offered Since 2017
17 hours ago
Shazam App for iPhone Updated With New Icon and iMessage Stickers
Shazam App for iPhone Updated With New Icon and iMessage Stickers
17 hours ago
Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 5.5 With Fable-Level Performance at a Lower Price
Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 5.5 With Fable-Level Performance at a Lower Price
17 hours ago
Apple Releases Firmware Update for Beats 360
Apple Releases Firmware Update for Beats 360
19 hours ago
Beats 360 Pre-Orders Open at Amazon With Cushion Kits on Sale, Plus More Beats Deals
Beats 360 Pre-Orders Open at Amazon With Cushion Kits on Sale, Plus More Beats Deals
19 hours ago
Apple Puts AirTag-Sized AI Pin on Hold
Apple Puts AirTag-Sized AI Pin on Hold
19 hours ago
Beats 360 Ear Cushion Kits Just $9.99 Each Until the End of October
Beats 360 Ear Cushion Kits Just $9.99 Each Until the End of October
20 hours ago
Apple Testing Prototypes of Whoop-Like Screenless Fitness Band
Apple Testing Prototypes of Whoop-Like Screenless Fitness Band
20 hours ago
Apple Will Soon Announce an All-New Operating System
Apple Will Soon Announce an All-New Operating System
20 hours ago
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
20 hours ago
Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market
Apple's Smart Glasses to Enter a Rapidly Growing Market
21 hours ago
Apple Event This October? These 7 New Products Expected Next Month
Apple Event This October? These 7 New Products Expected Next Month
21 hours ago
Beats 360 Deliver Customizability and a Revamped Over-Ear Headphone Design
Beats 360 Deliver Customizability and a Revamped Over-Ear Headphone Design
23 hours ago
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro, Save Up to $600 on Amazon
Massive Discounts Hit 2026 MacBook Pro, Save Up to $600 on Amazon
23 hours ago
Apple Planning to Bring iPhone Duo Display Tech to Pro in 2029
Apple Planning to Bring iPhone Duo Display Tech to Pro in 2029
23 hours ago
Apple Announces 'Tap to Pay on iPhone' Availability in 8 More Countries
Apple Announces 'Tap to Pay on iPhone' Availability in 8 More Countries
23 hours ago
New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Now Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores
New Mac Mini and Mac Studio Now Available for Same-Day Pickup at Apple Stores
1 day ago
Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhones
Apple Still Working on Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Stolen iPhones
1 day ago
Apple Quietly Excludes Older iPhones From New Camera Feature
Apple Quietly Excludes Older iPhones From New Camera Feature
1 day ago
App Switcher Returns in watchOS 27.2 Beta With New Launch Gesture
App Switcher Returns in watchOS 27.2 Beta With New Launch Gesture
1 day ago
Apple Music Hall Spatial Audio Venue Opens in Battersea Power Station
Apple Music Hall Spatial Audio Venue Opens in Battersea Power Station
1 day ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Talks iPhone Duo Design, Siri AI, and Becoming CEO
Apple CEO John Ternus Talks iPhone Duo Design, Siri AI, and Becoming CEO
2 days ago
You Can No Longer Downgrade From iOS 27 to iOS 26
You Can No Longer Downgrade From iOS 27 to iOS 26
2 days ago
macOS 27.2 Beta Brings New Volume and Brightness Sliders
macOS 27.2 Beta Brings New Volume and Brightness Sliders
2 days ago