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Yes—Nintendo Music is an official iPhone app. It launched on October 31, 2024 and remains available as a free download for iPhone and iPad. Listening requires a Nintendo Account and a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, so it is not a free music service in the usual sense.
How to download Nintendo Music on iPhone
- Open the App Store and search for Nintendo Music.
- Confirm that the developer is Nintendo Co., Ltd. Do not confuse it with the separate Nintendo Switch App or unofficial soundtrack players.
- Download and open the app.
- Sign in with a Nintendo Account.
- Subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online or start an eligible trial if prompted.
- Browse by game, franchise, playlist or recommendation, then select a track to stream.
The official App Store listing is available at Apple’s App Store. The U.S. listing currently describes Nintendo Music as a free app for iPhone and iPad requiring iOS 16 or later.
Is Nintendo Music free?
The app is free to download, but access to its music catalogue requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo says eligible new users may receive a seven-day Nintendo Switch Online trial. That is a trial of the membership, not a permanent free tier, and trial or subscription renewal terms apply.
Nintendo Music does not require a separate music-app subscription. However, readers should check the official Nintendo Switch Online page for the current price in their country. Nintendo’s launch announcement listed U.S. prices of $3.99 for one month and $19.99 for 12 months in October 2024; those historical figures should not be assumed to be current.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
What music is available?
Nintendo Music offers a growing, curated selection of Nintendo game soundtracks rather than every piece of music Nintendo has ever released. The App Store listing gives examples including:
- Mario Kart World, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Kart
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Ocarina of Time
- Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Bros.
- Pokémon Scarlet, Pokémon Violet, FireRed Version and LeafGreen Version
- Fire Emblem Engage, Splatoon 3 and Pikmin 4
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Wii Sports, Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country
These are representative examples, not a complete track database. Availability is game-by-game and may change as Nintendo expands the service. A favourite game or individual track is not guaranteed to be included.
Features for Nintendo fans
- Streaming: Listen to available tracks directly in the app.
- Offline downloads: Download music for listening without an internet connection. Downloads require storage space, and mobile-data charges may apply during downloads or streaming.
- Playlists: Create, save and share playlists, alongside Nintendo-curated playlists.
- Recommendations: Nintendo says recommendations can be based on Nintendo Switch play activity.
- Spoiler filtering: Music that could reveal parts of a game can be filtered.
- Looping and extensions: Selected tracks can be extended to 15, 30 or 60 minutes, which is useful for background listening while working, studying or travelling. The extension feature does not apply to every track.
- Apple CarPlay: The current App Store listing advertises CarPlay support, although the experience also depends on the iPhone, vehicle or head unit and app version.
Nintendo describes the service in its launch announcement as a smart-device music service for Nintendo soundtracks.
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Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
iPhone requirements
You need an iPhone running iOS 16.0 or later, an internet connection for installation, sign-in and streaming, a Nintendo Account, and an eligible paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. An iPad is also supported according to the App Store listing.
Offline listening is supported through downloads, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of indefinite access if membership or account eligibility ends. Nintendo also warns that internet use can incur mobile-data charges.
Where is Nintendo Music available?
Nintendo Music is not offered in every country. Nintendo’s support list includes Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Nintendo may add regions later. Check the official regional-availability page, your Apple App Store storefront and your Nintendo Account region separately. A U.S. App Store link does not establish worldwide availability. Changing an Apple Account or Nintendo Account region can affect subscriptions, purchases and other account functions, so it is not a risk-free workaround.
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Is Nintendo Music worth using?
| Reader | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Already pays for Nintendo Switch Online | Strong extra benefit, especially if you regularly listen to Nintendo music. |
| Wants only one or two Nintendo albums | The membership may be difficult to justify for music alone. |
| Wants broad music, podcasts and general discovery | Apple Music, Spotify or another general-purpose service is a better fit. |
| Wants official Nintendo music and offline playback | Nintendo Music is the most direct legitimate option. |
| Lives outside a listed region | Check availability before buying a membership for this purpose. |
Nintendo Music is most compelling as a Nintendo Switch Online perk. For someone who already owns a Switch and subscribes, the app adds official game music, playlists, offline playback and Nintendo-specific controls without a separate music subscription. For a non-Switch owner buying membership only to hear soundtracks, the value depends on whether the curated catalogue contains enough of the music they want.
What Nintendo Music is not
- It is not a standalone free alternative to Spotify or Apple Music.
- A Nintendo Account alone does not unlock the catalogue.
- It is not necessarily a complete archive of Nintendo soundtracks.
- It is not the same application as Nintendo’s standard Nintendo Switch smartphone app.
- It does not mean Nintendo has placed its full catalogue on Spotify, Apple Music or another general music platform.
Troubleshooting common problems
The app does not appear in the App Store
Check whether your country is supported, search for the exact app name, confirm that your iPhone runs iOS 16 or later, and use the official App Store listing. App Store restrictions or connectivity problems can also interfere. Do not assume that changing account regions is a safe fix.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
The app installs but the music is locked
Installing the free app is separate from gaining access to the catalogue. Confirm that you are signed in with the Nintendo Account linked to an eligible Nintendo Switch Online membership. A wrong account or an expired membership is a likely explanation.
A favourite game or track is missing
The catalogue is curated and expanding, not complete. App Store game examples should be treated as a current snapshot rather than a promise that every soundtrack, album or track is available in every region.
A track cannot be extended
Nintendo’s extension feature applies only to selected tracks. If no 15-, 30- or 60-minute option appears, that track may not support the feature.
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
CarPlay is unavailable
The app listing advertises Apple CarPlay support, but CarPlay also depends on compatible vehicle or head-unit equipment, the iPhone and the installed app version.
How it compares with general music services
Apple Music and Spotify provide broad catalogues, discovery tools and, depending on the plan, offline listening. YouTube Music also offers a broad platform with user-uploaded material. Those services are better suited to listeners who want music across many artists, genres, podcasts or platforms.
Nintendo Music’s distinction is its official Nintendo distribution, game-focused organisation, spoiler filtering and selected-track extension tools. Do not assume that any mainstream service contains the same Nintendo catalogue, or that user-uploaded game-music videos provide the same licensing, consistency or offline features.
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Nintendo Music is a legitimate, official iPhone app launched on October 31, 2024—not a new free music service. It is free to install, requires Nintendo Switch Online to use, supports iOS 16 or later, and provides a curated selection of Nintendo soundtracks with downloads, playlists, recommendations, spoiler controls, selected-track extensions and Apple CarPlay support. It is an attractive bonus for existing subscribers, but a weaker reason by itself to purchase Nintendo Switch Online unless the available catalogue matches what you want to hear.
Quick Recap
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