Apple Music launched yesterday, bringing the music streaming service and the Beats 1 music station to the world. The service will be available on iOS devices, the Apple Watch, the Mac and PCs at launch. There’s a free three-month trial so you should check it out. Here’s how to sign up and get started with Apple Music on your iOS device or desktop.
Installing Apple Music on iOS
Apple Music is bundled into the new Music app on iOS 8.4, which Apple released yesterday. Before you can sign up for the service, you need to update your devices with the latest version of iOS using iTunes or Apple’s over-the-air update system.
To install the latest iOS update over the air, you need to open the Settings app on your iOS device, go to General and select “Software Update.” The phone then sends a request to Apple’s download servers. When the update is detected, you can follow the prompts to download and install it. Before the download begins, you should plug your device into a power source and connect it to a WiFi connection to ensure the download proceeds quickly and easily.
You also can update to iOS 8.4 using iTunes on your desktop as follows:
- Install the latest version of iTunes on your computer if needed.
- Plug your device into your computer using the USB port.
- Select your device in iTunes.
- In the Summary pane for your device, click Check for Update.
- Click Download and Update.
- Wait for the update to download and install on your device.
Installing Apple Music on the destkop
Apple Music also is available on the desktop via iTunes for the Mac and PC. On the desktop, you will need to open iTunes and check for an update by opening iTunes in the menu bar and then selecting “Check for Updates.” The app will reach out to Apple’s servers, look for an update and prompt you to download it if one is available.
Getting Started with Apple Music
Once you have installed iOS 8.4 or iTunes 12.2, you can begin using the new streaming service. Simply open the Music app on iOS and begin the sign up process. On the Mac or PC, you only need to fire up iTunes 12.2 and find the Apple Music section. You then will be prompted to join Apple Music by starting your free three-month trial. If you agree, the service will ask you to choose either an individual membership for $9.99 monthly plan or a family plan for $14.99 per month. The family plan requires family sharing which must be configured for your Apple ID. Once you select your plan, just agree to the terms and conditions screens to access the Apple Music service.
