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How to Play Songs on Repeat on Apple Music: The Definitive Guide

So, you’ve found that one track that’s currently ruling your world. The one that perfectly soundtracks your morning commute, your workout, or simply reflects your current mood. Naturally, you want to play it on repeat, ad infinitum. Fear not, music lover! Apple Music makes looping your favorite songs a breeze, although the method varies slightly depending on your device. This article will dive deep into the process across all platforms and cover everything you need to know about repeating songs on Apple Music.

How to Loop Songs on Apple Music: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s get straight to the point. Here’s how to repeat individual songs or entire playlists on Apple Music:

1. iPhone, iPad, and Android Devices:

While a Song is Playing: Open the “Now Playing” screen. This is the screen that displays the album art, track name, playback controls, and volume slider.
Access the Queue: Scroll down to the bottom of the “Now Playing” screen. You should see the “Up Next” queue.
Find the Repeat Icon: Look for the repeat icon. It resembles two arrows forming a loop.
Single Song Repeat: Tap the repeat icon once. The icon will turn red/pink and display a small “1” inside the loop. This means the current song will play on repeat indefinitely.
Playlist Repeat: Tap the repeat icon twice. The icon will turn red/pink without the “1” inside. This indicates that the entire playlist or album will loop continuously.
Turning Off Repeat: Tap the repeat icon again to turn off the repeat function. The icon will return to its default grayed-out state.

2. Mac (macOS):

While a Song is Playing: Open the Music app.
Locate the Playback Controls: The playback controls are located at the bottom of the window.
Find the Repeat Icon: The repeat icon is typically situated to the right of the skip buttons.
Single Song Repeat: Click the repeat icon once. A “1” will appear within the loop, indicating that the current track will repeat endlessly.
Album/Playlist Repeat: Click the repeat icon twice. The “1” will disappear, and the loop will repeat the entire album or playlist.
Turning Off Repeat: Click the repeat icon again to disable the repeat function.

3. Apple TV:

While a Song is Playing: Bring up the “Now Playing” screen.
Navigate to Options: Scroll down to reveal additional options.
Find the Repeat Icon: The repeat icon is located here.
Single Song Repeat: Select the repeat icon once to activate single-song repeat (the “1” will be displayed).
Playlist Repeat: Select the repeat icon twice for entire playlist repeat (no “1” displayed).
Turning Off Repeat: Select the repeat icon once more to turn repeat off.

4. Apple Watch:

While a Song is Playing: Open the “Now Playing” screen on your Apple Watch.
Access the Playback Controls: Tap the three dots icon (…)
Find the Repeat Icon: Tap the repeat icon.
Single Song Repeat: Tap the repeat icon once to activate single-song repeat (the “1” will be displayed).
Playlist Repeat: Tap the repeat icon twice for entire playlist repeat (no “1” displayed).
Turning Off Repeat: Tap the repeat icon once more to turn repeat off.

Important Note: The appearance of the repeat icon (color and exact placement) might vary slightly depending on the Apple Music version and device. However, the core functionality remains consistent.

Troubleshooting Common Repeat Issues

Sometimes, things don’t work quite as expected. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:

Check Your Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection. While downloaded songs should play regardless, issues can sometimes arise due to authentication checks.
Restart the App: Force-quitting and restarting the Apple Music app can often resolve minor glitches.
Restart Your Device: A full device restart can clear up more persistent software issues.
Update Apple Music: Make sure you’re running the latest version of Apple Music. Outdated software can be buggy.
Check for Account Issues: Occasionally, account-related problems can affect playback. Sign out and sign back into your Apple Music account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions about playing songs on repeat on Apple Music, providing even greater depth and covering specific scenarios:

Q1: Why isn’t the repeat icon showing up on my Apple Music?

This is rare, but it could be due to a bug in the Apple Music app. Ensure you have the latest version of the app installed. Try force-quitting the app and restarting your device. If the problem persists, contact Apple Support.

Q2: How do I repeat a song on Apple Music using Siri?

You can use Siri to control playback. Simply say, “Hey Siri, repeat this song” or “Hey Siri, loop this song.” To turn it off, say “Hey Siri, turn off repeat.”

Q3: Can I repeat a song while using CarPlay?

Yes, the functionality is the same. While a song is playing in CarPlay, access the “Now Playing” screen and look for the repeat icon (though its location may slightly differ). Tap it once for single-song repeat, twice for playlist repeat, and a third time to turn it off.

Q4: Will the repeat setting stay on when I close the Apple Music app?

Yes, in most cases. Once you set a song or playlist to repeat, the setting should persist even after you close the app and reopen it. However, there are exceptions – such as a device restart, a major app update, or a bug.

Q5: How do I repeat a song on Apple Music on my Smart TV?

The exact steps depend on your Smart TV’s operating system and the Apple Music app version. Generally, navigate to the “Now Playing” screen and look for the repeat icon among the playback controls. The logic of tapping once for single-song repeat and twice for playlist repeat remains the same.

Q6: I want to repeat only a section of a song. Can I do that on Apple Music?

Unfortunately, Apple Music doesn’t have a built-in feature to loop specific sections of a song. You would need to use a third-party audio editor to create a separate file containing only the desired portion of the song, then add that file to your Apple Music library.

Q7: Is there a way to set a timer for how long a song repeats?

No, Apple Music’s repeat function is continuous. You can set a sleep timer to stop playback entirely after a certain period, but there’s no way to limit the number of times a song repeats.

Q8: When I repeat a playlist, will it shuffle?

This depends on your shuffle settings. If shuffle is turned on, the playlist will shuffle before repeating. If shuffle is off, the playlist will repeat in its original order.

Q9: The repeat function seems to be stuck. How do I fix it?

This can happen occasionally. Try these steps:

Toggle the repeat icon off and on several times.
Close and reopen the Apple Music app.
Restart your device.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection (for DRM verification).
Sign out and back into your Apple Music account.

Q10: Does repeating a song count as more streams for the artist?

Yes, each time a song plays (even on repeat), it counts towards the official streaming count. So, feel free to support your favorite artists by looping their tracks to your heart’s content!

Q11: Can I repeat a song I added from outside the Apple Music catalog?

Yes, if you’ve imported songs from your own files (e.g., ripped CDs) into your Apple Music library, you can repeat them just like any other track. The process is exactly the same.

Q12: How is repeating a song on Apple Music different than on other streaming platforms?

While the core concept is the same across most platforms, the user interface and specific steps might differ slightly. Most platforms use a similar repeat icon (two arrows forming a loop), but the method of toggling between single-song and playlist repeat might vary. The underlying principle of tapping the icon to cycle through repeat modes is generally consistent.