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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYouTube Music is Google’s music-streaming service, but it is broader than a conventional audio catalogue. Alongside official songs and albums, it brings together music videos, live performances, remixes, covers, art tracks, user-uploaded recordings and podcasts—including many documentary-style audio and video programmes.
You can use it for free with advertising, or pay for YouTube Music Premium to remove music ads, download content and keep playback running with your screen off. YouTube Premium includes all of those music benefits, plus ad-free viewing and background playback in the main YouTube app.
What YouTube Music includes
YouTube Music is available in the mobile app and at music.youtube.com. Its catalogue can include:
- Official album tracks and singles
- Music videos and art tracks
- Live recordings and concert footage
- Remixes, covers and alternate versions
- Classic recordings and user-uploaded music
- Podcasts, including video podcasts
That mixture is its defining feature. A search for an artist or subject may return both the official audio release and material that exists only on YouTube, such as a live session, fan cover or long-form interview. Availability varies according to country, licensing rights and how YouTube has classified the upload.
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Is YouTube Music free?
Yes. The free, ad-supported version supports on-demand playback, unlimited skips, queues, repeat controls, the Samples tab, Music Tuner and fan badges. Most podcasts can also play in the background and be downloaded without a paid membership.
The free tier generally does not include the following for music:
- Ad-free playback
- Background play when another app is open or the screen is off
- Audio-only music playback
- Offline music downloads
Podcast rules are different from music rules, and individual shows or episodes can impose their own restrictions.
Music Premium and YouTube Premium compared
| Membership | YouTube Music | Main YouTube app |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Music Premium | Ad-free music, background play, audio-only playback and music downloads | Regular YouTube ads remain |
| YouTube Premium | Includes all Music Premium benefits | Removes ads from most videos and adds downloads and background playback |
YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium without a separate music charge. Its benefits also extend across YouTube, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids. Neither membership necessarily removes creator-read sponsorships inside podcasts, and advertising can still occur around some live events or Primetime Channels.
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Go to youtube.com/musicpremium/inapp, then choose Start your trial if your account is eligible or Get Music Premium. Existing memberships and billing details are available at youtube.com/paid_memberships.
Pricing, taxes, trials and payment methods depend on your country and the platform used to subscribe. Available plans may include individual, student, family, two-person and prepaid annual options. A family plan covers the manager and up to five additional household members, each using a separate Google Account with separate recommendations, libraries and histories. Family members must live at the same residential address.
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- 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.
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- 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.*
Annual plans are prepaid, individual memberships. They do not recur automatically, cannot be paused or refunded, and may not be available to people who already have an active Premium membership.
Song mode, video mode and audio-only listening
When a release has both an audio version and an associated video, the player can switch between Song and Video. Podcasts use the equivalent Audio and Video options. A video option is unavailable if the creator has not supplied one. Conversely, a music video can often be played as audio even when no separate audio upload exists.
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- Tap your profile picture.
- Open Settings.
- Choose Data saving.
- Enable Don’t play music videos.
There is a corresponding Don’t play podcast videos setting. Audio-only music playback requires Music Premium or YouTube Premium, while podcast audio playback is available without Premium where supported.
Offline downloads and Smart Downloads
Premium members can download songs, albums, playlists, videos and podcast episodes to a mobile device. Open an album or playlist, tap Menu, and select Download. For an individual item, open its detail page and use Menu → Download.
Downloads are not permanent files that remain playable regardless of account status. A Premium device must reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days. Downloaded playlists can refresh daily over Wi-Fi, and the amount you can store depends on available storage and the selected audio or video quality.
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Smart Downloads automatically saves music based on listening history. It is separate from downloading a chosen playlist and is currently not available for podcasts. Full-show and Smart Downloads are also unavailable for podcasts, although many individual podcast episodes can be downloaded without Premium.
Podcasts and documentary listening
YouTube Music supports podcasts distributed through YouTube, including video podcasts and audio-only programmes. A YouTube podcast is generally organised as a playlist, with episodes represented by videos inside that playlist. Creators can build one in YouTube Studio or connect an RSS feed.
If a programme is missing, add it from the mobile app:
- Open Library.
- Tap Podcast at the top.
- Tap Add podcast.
- Choose Add a podcast by RSS feed.
RSS-added podcasts have important limitations. You cannot switch between audio and video, like or dislike episodes, share the show, open its channel page, report it or view captions. RSS-added and Google Podcasts-migrated shows are also excluded from YouTube Music Recap podcast statistics.
Upload your own music
You can add personal audio files from a computer, but not from the mobile app. Supported formats include:
FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, WMA- Open music.youtube.com.
- Click your profile picture.
- Select Upload music.
Files can also be dragged onto the YouTube Music website. The library limit is 100,000 songs. Uploaded tracks appear under Library → Songs → Uploads or Library → Albums → Uploads.
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Uploads are private to the account that added them. They do not influence recommendations and cannot be played by other family-plan members, even if included in a shared playlist. There is one useful distinction: uploaded songs can be played in the background, without ads and offline without Premium. Premium is needed to cast uploaded content or play it through supported smart speakers and Sonos.
Moving playlists from another service
The current in-app transfer route is:
- Tap your profile icon.
- Go to Settings → Privacy and data.
- Tap Transfer playlists from other apps.
- Choose Let’s start and sign in to the other service.
- Select the playlists and tap Transfer to YouTube Music.
Depending on the source, the process can transfer playlists, albums, artists and tracks. It does not delete the original library, but it is a one-time copy rather than a live sync. Later edits in either service do not automatically appear in the other, and some tracks may fail to match. Podcasts cannot be transferred through this feature.
Playlists, devices and casting
To add a track, choose More → Add to playlist, then select an existing playlist or New playlist. To edit one, use Library → Playlists, open the playlist and choose More → Edit. You can change its title, description, privacy setting and track order.
Playlists may contain music tracks and music videos, but YouTube Music is not a complete manager for every kind of YouTube video. Non-music videos from a playlist made in the main YouTube app generally do not appear in YouTube Music.
To cast from the website, open YouTube Music, click the Cast icon near your profile picture, select a device or device group and start playback. Use Cast → Stop casting to disconnect. Podcast casting is available without Premium. The web app supports current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge.
YouTube Music also works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In CarPlay, the main sections are Recommended, Library and Downloads. Garmin watches require music or podcast playlists to be downloaded first because streaming is not available; Brand Accounts are not compatible with YouTube Music on Garmin watches.
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- Smart Touch Control and Wide Compatibility: These wireless Bluetooth earbuds feature a high-precision touch sensor, offering greater accuracy than similar products. A simple tap allows you to control playback/pause, volume, song switching, calls, and voice assistants, minimizing accidental touches. The in-ear running headphones are compatible with most Bluetooth devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops, and connect effortlessly with Android 4.4, iOS 8.0 and above, or Bluetooth 4.0 and above
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YouTube Music Recap
Recap turns listening history into personalised playlists and statistics for songs, artists, podcasts and other activity across YouTube services. In the mobile app, open your profile picture, choose Your Recap and tap Get your Recap.
Google’s stated thresholds include at least four hours of music listening during a season for seasonal Recap. End-of-year Recap requires at least 10 hours between January 1 and November 15, along with at least five songs receiving repeat listens. Paused watch history or aggressive auto-delete settings can leave the results incomplete.
What YouTube Music is best for
YouTube Music makes most sense if your listening regularly crosses between standard albums and material found mainly on YouTube: concert recordings, archival performances, soundtrack uploads, interviews or video podcasts. It is also convenient for people who already use YouTube Premium and want the music service included.
It is less straightforward if you expect every podcast feature to match every other podcast app, need permanent offline access, or want uploaded music to shape your recommendations. The service combines several kinds of media, so playback and download rules can change depending on whether the item is licensed music, a video, a podcast or your own upload.
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FAQ
Do I need YouTube Music Premium to listen to podcasts in the background?
Not generally. Most podcasts support background playback and downloads without Premium, although restrictions can apply to particular shows or episodes.
Does YouTube Premium include YouTube Music Premium?
Yes. YouTube Premium includes Music Premium benefits, including ad-free music, background playback, audio-only listening and music downloads.
How long do YouTube Music downloads last?
Premium downloads require the device to reconnect to the internet at least once every 30 days. They are not permanently playable if the account cannot be verified.
Can I upload music from the YouTube Music phone app?
No. Uploading is a computer/web feature. At music.youtube.com, click your profile picture and select Upload music. Supported formats include MP3, FLAC, M4A, OGG and WMA.
The Bottom Line
YouTube Music is a hybrid streaming service: it combines licensed music with YouTube’s unusually large supply of videos, live recordings, remixes, uploads and podcasts. The free tier is capable, particularly for podcasts, but Music Premium is needed for ad-free music, background music playback and music downloads. YouTube Premium is the broader option if you also want to remove ads and download videos in the main YouTube app.
