Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSome links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
To move within the song currently playing, open Now Playing and touch and hold Previous Track to rewind or Next Track to fast-forward. For a precise position, drag the playhead along the progress bar. On a Mac, use Option-Command-Left Arrow to rewind or Option-Command-Right Arrow to fast-forward.
Fast-forward or rewind on iPhone
- Open the Music app and start playing a song.
- Tap the MiniPlayer at the bottom of the screen to open Now Playing.
- Touch and hold Previous Track to move backward through the current song.
- Touch and hold Next Track to move forward through the current song.
- Release the button when playback reaches the point you want.
A normal tap has a different purpose. Tapping Previous Track normally returns to the beginning of the current song; tapping it again can move to the previous song. Tapping Next Track skips to the next song. Apple documents these controls in its iPhone Music player guide.
Fast-forward or rewind on iPad
The procedure is effectively the same on iPad:
- Play a song in the Music app.
- Tap the MiniPlayer to open Now Playing.
- Touch and hold Previous Track to rewind.
- Touch and hold Next Track to fast-forward.
- Release the control at the desired point.
These controls are also described in Apple’s iPad Music guide.
Recommended Free Tools
Jump to an exact point in a song
If you know roughly where you want to go, dragging the playhead is usually faster and more precise than holding a track button.
#1 Best Overall
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
- Open the full Now Playing screen.
- Find the playback progress bar beneath the song information.
- Drag the playhead forward or backward along the bar.
- Release it at the position where you want playback to resume.
This method is useful for returning to a particular line in a documentary soundtrack, podcast-style recording, or long track. It moves within the current song rather than changing tracks.
Fast-forward or rewind on Mac
In the Mac Music app, use these keyboard shortcuts:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Rewind within the current song | Option-Command-Left Arrow |
| Fast-forward within the current song | Option-Command-Right Arrow |
The ordinary Left Arrow and Right Arrow commands have different track-navigation behavior, so use the full Option-Command combination when you want to move within the current song. Apple lists these commands in its Music keyboard-shortcuts guide.
Rank #2
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
You can also use the playback progress control in the Music window to jump to a position. If the control is difficult to select or behaves differently on your macOS version, the documented keyboard shortcuts are the more dependable option.
Why Apple Music skips the song instead
The most common mistake is tapping when you need to press and hold:
- Tap Previous Track: returns to the beginning of the current song, and a second tap may go to the previous track.
- Tap Next Track: skips to the next song.
- Touch and hold Previous Track: rewinds within the current song.
- Touch and hold Next Track: fast-forwards within the current song.
- Mac arrow keys alone: can navigate between tracks; use the complete Option-Command shortcut to seek within a song.
If the buttons are missing, start playback and tap or click the current-song area or MiniPlayer to open the expanded Now Playing interface.
Rank #3
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Can you use the Lock Screen or Control Center?
Apple supports controlling music from the iPhone Lock Screen and from the audio card in Control Center. However, compact playback controls can vary by software version and presentation, and Apple’s documented instructions do not establish that press-and-hold seeking works identically in every Lock Screen or Control Center layout.
For the most predictable result, open the Music app’s full Now Playing screen and use the controls there. See Apple’s iPhone playback guide for the available playback surfaces.
Does this require an Apple Music subscription?
Fast-forwarding and rewinding are playback controls, not features described as subscription-only. The Music app can play Apple Music content as well as music that is downloaded, synced from another source, or purchased from the iTunes Store. The song must, of course, be available in your library or account.
Rank #4
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- Easy setup for all your Apple devices
- Quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
- Double-tap to play or skip forward
- New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices
The same seeking controls apply to the song currently playing regardless of how that song was obtained. Features such as AutoMix concern transitions between songs and are unrelated to moving backward or forward within one track.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about Bluetooth, AirPlay, and other playback destinations?
You can choose an available Bluetooth or AirPlay playback destination from the Now Playing interface. The seeking commands remain controls in the Music app, but the behavior of an individual third-party receiver may vary. If seeking does not respond as expected, try controlling playback from the device running Music and confirm that the correct song is active.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Keyboard shortcut troubleshooting on Mac
If the Mac shortcut does not work:
- Confirm that the Music app is open and responding to keyboard input.
- Use the complete combination: Option-Command-Left Arrow or Option-Command-Right Arrow.
- Do not substitute the ordinary arrow keys, which may navigate between tracks.
- Check the Music app’s menus for the command and its displayed shortcut.
Apple notes that shortcuts can vary with language and keyboard layout. Menu labels and control placement may also differ slightly by device, orientation, or software revision.
Best Value
- Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
Quick method summary
| Device | Rewind | Fast-forward |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Touch and hold Previous Track | Touch and hold Next Track |
| iPad | Touch and hold Previous Track | Touch and hold Next Track |
| Mac | Option-Command-Left Arrow | Option-Command-Right Arrow |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I rewind by exactly 10 or 15 seconds in Apple Music?
Apple’s documented controls support continuous seeking with the Previous Track button or playhead dragging, but they do not establish a universal 10- or 15-second command for Apple Music on every supported device.
Can I use Siri to jump to a specific point in a song?
The documented Music controls cover button-based seeking, playhead dragging, and Mac keyboard shortcuts. Do not assume a fixed-position Siri command is supported unless it is available and recognized on your specific device and software version.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
