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How to Follow People on Apple Music: A Deep Dive for Music Lovers

Want to discover new tunes through your friends’ playlists? Apple Music lets you do just that. Here’s the straightforward answer to how to follow people on Apple Music:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account: Tap the “Listen Now” tab, then tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner. If you’re not signed in, you’ll need to do so first.
Find the Person: There are several ways to find people:
- Connect from Contacts: If the person is in your contacts and uses Apple Music, you can connect automatically. Look for the “Friends Are Listening” section, or tap “Find Friends.”
- Search by Apple ID/Name: If you know their Apple ID or name, use the search bar at the top of the “Find Friends” screen.
- Share Your Profile Link: If you’re already connected with someone through another platform (like social media or messaging), they can tap a shared link to directly access your profile.
Follow Them: Once you’ve found the person, tap the “Follow” button next to their name.

That’s it! Once you follow someone, their listening activity and shared playlists will appear in the “Friends Are Listening To” section of your “Listen Now” tab. Now, let’s delve deeper with some frequently asked questions.

Apple Music Following: Your Burning Questions Answered

Here are the answers to common questions about following friends and artists on Apple Music, unlocking its social features.

How Do I Make My Apple Music Profile Public?

Making your profile public allows others to find and follow you. To do this:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
Tap “Edit” at the top right.
Under “Sharing Playlists,” toggle on “Listening To.” This makes your listening activity visible to your followers.
Under “Who Can See Your Playlists,” choose either “Everyone” or “Subscribers Only.” “Everyone” makes your playlists public to anyone, even non-Apple Music users (via a web link), while “Subscribers Only” restricts visibility to Apple Music subscribers.
Tap “Done.”

Can I Follow Artists on Apple Music?

Yes, absolutely! Following artists is crucial for staying updated on their new releases, tour dates, and other exclusive content. Here’s how:

Search for the Artist: Use the search bar at the bottom of the Apple Music app and type the artist’s name.
Go to Their Page: Select the artist from the search results.
Tap the “+ Follow” Button: This button is typically located near the artist’s name and profile picture.

Once you follow an artist, their new music will automatically appear in your “New Music Mix” and you’ll receive notifications about their latest activity.

How Do I See Who I’m Following on Apple Music?

Want to review your list of followers and those you’re following? Here’s how:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
You’ll see two sections: “Following” (the people you follow) and “Followers” (the people who follow you). Tap on either one to see the complete list.

How Do I Unfollow Someone on Apple Music?

Decided to streamline your feed? Here’s how to unfollow someone:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
Tap on “Following.”
Find the person you want to unfollow.
Tap the “Following” button next to their name. It will change back to “Follow,” indicating that you are no longer following them.

What Does It Mean to “Approve” a Follower on Apple Music?

When someone requests to follow you, especially if you have a private profile, you might need to “approve” them. Here’s how:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
If you have pending follower requests, you’ll see a notification. Tap on “Followers.”
You’ll see a list of pending requests. Tap “Approve” to allow them to follow you or “Ignore” to decline.

How Do I Find My Apple Music Profile Link to Share?

Sharing your profile link is a convenient way for others to easily find and follow you. Here’s how to generate and share your link:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
Tap the “…” (More) button at the top right.
Select “Share Profile.”
Choose how you want to share the link (e.g., text message, email, social media).

Can I Block Someone on Apple Music?

Yes, you can block someone if you don’t want them to see your profile or follow you. Here’s how:

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Account (Listen Now > Profile Icon).
Find the person you want to block, either in your “Followers” or through the search function.
Go to their profile.
Tap the “…” (More) button at the top right of their profile.
Select “Block.”

Why Can’t I See My Friend’s Activity on Apple Music?

There could be several reasons why you’re not seeing your friend’s activity:

They haven’t made their listening activity public: Ensure they have “Listening To” toggled on in their profile settings (Edit > Sharing Playlists).
Privacy Settings: They might have set their playlists to “Subscribers Only” and you’re not a subscriber.
You’re not actually following them: Double-check that you’ve successfully followed them.
Technical Glitch: Sometimes, a simple app restart or device reboot can resolve the issue.

How Does Apple Music Recommend Friends to Follow?

Apple Music uses several factors to suggest friends:

Contacts: It checks your contacts list for people who also use Apple Music.
Mutual Followers: It suggests people who are followed by those you already follow.
Apple ID: If someone has your Apple ID in their contacts, they might be suggested to you.

Can I Control What Playlists My Followers See?

Yes, you have granular control over which playlists your followers can access.

Open the Apple Music app.
Go to your Library.
Find the playlist you want to manage.
Tap the “…” (More) button on the playlist.
Select “Edit.”
Toggle on “Show on My Profile and in Search” if you want the playlist to be visible to your followers (and searchable). If it’s off, only you can see the playlist.

Will I Get Notified When Someone Starts Following Me?

Yes, you will receive a notification when someone starts following you on Apple Music, especially if their request needs approval (if your profile isn’t completely public). Make sure your Apple Music notifications are enabled in your device’s settings.

Is Apple Music’s Social Feature Similar to Spotify’s?

While both Apple Music and Spotify offer social features, they differ in some aspects. Spotify has historically emphasized collaborative playlists and social sharing more prominently. Apple Music has evolved its social features over time, providing more control over privacy settings and a cleaner interface for discovering what friends are listening to. Both platforms allow you to follow friends and artists, but the exact implementation and discoverability vary.

By understanding these features and tips, you can fully leverage Apple Music’s social capabilities to discover new music, connect with friends, and build a thriving musical community. Happy listening!