How to add music to an Apple Watch

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

With music stored on the watch you can leave the phone at home and listen through Bluetooth headphones on a run. The watch itself only plays music through headphones or a speaker connected by Bluetooth.

These steps are for recent versions of watchOS and iOS.

Step by step

1. Open the Apple Watch app on the iPhone

   Tap My Watch, then Apps, then Music.

   Done

2. Tap Add Music

   It is under Playlists & Albums.

   Done

3. Choose what to add

   Browse your library and tap the add button next to each album or playlist you want on the watch.

   Done

4. Let it sync

   Music is added when the watch is near the iPhone. Put the watch on its charger next to the phone: large playlists take a while, and syncing uses a lot of battery.

   Done

5. With Apple Music: add from the watch

   Subscribers can do it on the watch itself. Open the Music app, find an album or playlist, tap More Options and Add to Library. Tap More Options again and Download to keep it on the watch for use without a connection.

   Done

6. Connect headphones

   On the watch, open Settings, Bluetooth and choose your headphones. AirPods that are linked to your Apple Account appear by themselves.

   Done

7. Play

   Open the Music app on the watch, tap Library and then Downloaded to see what is stored on the watch.

   Done

Good to know

To remove music, go back to the Apple Watch app, Music, tap Edit and delete the playlist or album.

Apple says downloading while the watch is not connected to power uses more charge than normal.

Other services such as Spotify have their own watch apps with their own download function, usually for paying subscribers.

What else works without the phone: what an Apple Watch can do without the iPhone nearby.

In short: Apple Watch app, My Watch, Apps, Music, Add Music, pick albums or playlists, sync on the charger next to the iPhone, connect Bluetooth headphones.