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Mastering the Art of Repeat: Looping Your Favorite Tunes on Apple Music

So, you’ve stumbled upon that perfect track – the one that resonates with your soul, fuels your workouts, or provides the ideal soundtrack to your day. The burning question then becomes: how do you keep it playing on repeat on Apple Music? Fear not, music aficionados! The process is refreshingly simple, though it varies slightly depending on the device you’re using.

Essentially, you’ll be looking for the repeat button within the Now Playing screen. This button toggles between three states: repeat off, repeat all (of your playlist or album), and repeat one (the current song). Tapping it the correct number of times will get you precisely what you want. Now, let’s break down the specifics for each platform.

Repeating on Your iPhone or iPad

Apple Music on iOS (iPhone and iPad) provides a streamlined experience for music control. Here’s how to loop your tunes:

Start Playing: Launch Apple Music and begin playing the song you wish to repeat.
Access Now Playing: Tap on the song title at the bottom of the screen, or swipe up from the bottom edge (if you’re not already on the Now Playing screen). This will expand the Now Playing view.
Reveal the Controls: You might need to swipe up again on the Now Playing screen to reveal more controls, including the repeat button.
Find and Tap Repeat: Look for the repeat icon, which resembles two arrows forming a loop.
- First Tap: This typically activates “Repeat All”, indicated by the loop icon without a “1” in it. This will repeat the entire playlist, album, or queue you’re listening to.
- Second Tap: Tapping again changes it to “Repeat One”, indicated by the loop icon with a “1” inside. This is what you want to repeat only the current song.
- Third Tap: Tapping a third time will deactivate the repeat function entirely, turning the icon greyed out.

Repeating on Your Mac (macOS)

Apple Music on macOS offers a similar, but slightly different, approach. Here’s how to set your song on repeat:

Start Playing: Open the Music app (formerly iTunes) and start playing the song.
Locate the Player Controls: The player controls are usually visible at the top of the Music app window or at the bottom when in a small player window.
Find the Repeat Button: The repeat button is located within these controls, typically towards the right-hand side. It has the same loop arrow icon as on iOS.
Toggle Through Options:
- First Click: Activates “Repeat All”.
- Second Click: Activates “Repeat One”.
- Third Click: Disables repeat.

Repeating on Apple TV

Using Apple Music on your Apple TV is another great way to immerse yourself in music. Here’s how to put your favorite song on repeat:

Start Playing: Navigate to the Music app on your Apple TV and start playing your song.
Access the Now Playing Screen: Use your Apple TV remote to navigate to the Now Playing screen.
Locate the Repeat Button: The repeat icon (two arrows in a loop) will be visible, usually among the other playback controls.
Set the Repeat Option: Tap the select button on your remote to cycle through:
- Repeat All: The playlist or album will repeat once it ends.
- Repeat One: The current song will repeat continuously.
- Repeat Off: No repeat functionality is active.

Repeating on Android

Accessing the repeat function on Apple Music on Android devices is almost identical to the procedure on iOS devices. Here’s a quick guide:

Begin Playback: Start playing the track you want on repeat within the Apple Music app.
Navigate to Now Playing: Tap on the song title located at the bottom of the screen.
Uncover Playback Options: You may need to swipe up to view all available controls and options.
Engage Repeat Mode: Find and tap the repeat icon to switch between:
- Repeat All: The whole playlist or album will repeat.
- Repeat One: Just the current track will repeat.
- Repeat Off: The repeat functionality will be deactivated.

Why is My Repeat Button Missing?

In rare instances, you might find the repeat button mysteriously absent. This can occur due to a few reasons:

Software Glitch: A simple restart of your device can often resolve minor software glitches.
Apple Music Update: Ensure you’re running the latest version of Apple Music. Outdated versions can sometimes have missing features or bugs. Check the App Store (iOS/Android) or Mac App Store for updates.
Corrupted Cache: Clearing the Apple Music cache might help. (Note: this option may not be directly available on all devices and might require more technical know-how depending on the platform.)
Content Restrictions: In extremely rare cases, specific content might have repeat disabled, but this is highly unlikely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can I tell if a song is currently set to repeat?

The repeat icon will be highlighted (usually in a brighter color, like blue or white) if it’s active. If it’s greyed out, repeat is off. The “Repeat One” icon will have a “1” displayed within the loop arrows.

2. Does Apple Music remember my repeat settings?

Generally, yes. Apple Music usually remembers your last chosen repeat setting. So, if you had “Repeat One” enabled, it should still be active the next time you play music. However, this can sometimes be affected by app updates or unexpected shutdowns.

3. Can I set different repeat settings for different playlists?

No, the repeat setting is global for the Apple Music app. You can’t have “Repeat One” on one playlist and “Repeat All” on another simultaneously.

4. I’m using Apple Music on my web browser. How do I repeat songs there?

The process is similar to the desktop app. Look for the repeat button within the player controls at the bottom of the screen and toggle it to the desired setting.

5. Is it possible to repeat a song a specific number of times (e.g., 5 times)?

No, Apple Music only offers the options of repeating once, repeating all, or not repeating at all. There’s no option to specify a number of repetitions.

6. Does using Siri change repeat settings in Apple Music?

Yes, you can use Siri to control repeat functions. Try voice commands like: “Hey Siri, repeat this song,” or “Hey Siri, turn off repeat on Apple Music.”

7. What if the repeat button is unresponsive on my Apple device?

First, try force-quitting the Apple Music app and restarting it. If that doesn’t work, restart your device. If the problem persists, ensure you have the latest iOS/macOS version installed and consider reinstalling the Apple Music app.

8. Can I use the ‘Up Next’ queue to repeat songs?

The ‘Up Next’ queue allows you to arrange the order of tracks to be played. However, it doesn’t automatically repeat a song. To repeat a song, you must use the repeat function.

9. How to report if the repeat button is missing or doesn’t work?

If you encounter persistent issues with the repeat function, use the Apple Support app or visit the Apple Support website. You can report bugs and receive assistance from Apple’s technical support team. Providing details about your device, iOS/macOS version, and the specific problem can help them diagnose and fix the issue.

10. Does repeat work when listening to downloaded songs offline?

Yes, the repeat function works seamlessly even when listening to songs you’ve downloaded for offline playback.

11. Will playing music with AirPlay affect the repeat setting?

No, using AirPlay to stream music to another device won’t alter the repeat settings you’ve configured within the Apple Music app. The repeat setting remains consistent across devices.

12. Can I use third-party apps to enhance repeat functionality on Apple Music?

While some third-party apps may offer functionalities related to music playback, directly modifying Apple Music’s core features like repeat isn’t typically possible due to Apple’s restrictions. It’s best to stick to the built-in repeat functions for optimal compatibility and reliability.