MP3 Guide
About Bandcamp:
- It is a shop AND a Music Player in one, so you can play your albums right away & continuously from their site on your computer (Bandcamp.com) or your phone (on the Bandcamp App) without downloading them.
- Both the Fan Account and the Bandcamp App are free and available to iPhone and Android.
- The Bandcamp App connects seamlessly to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can enjoy your music on the go!
To listen on your computer:
1. Purchase your MP3 album/albums. Create a Bandcamp fan account for easy access. They will then be in your Collection, ready for immediate, unlimited streaming in the Bandcamp app and on the web.
2. If you also wish to download the files and add them into your preferred Music app like Apple Music, iTunes, Windows Media Player, Amazon Music, Spotify (from Local Files). You can choose mp3, wav or flac files, and any of the files will work. (except iTunes does not accept flac files.)
2. If you also wish to download the files and add them into your preferred Music app like Apple Music, iTunes, Windows Media Player, Amazon Music, Spotify (from Local Files). You can choose mp3, wav or flac files, and any of the files will work. (except iTunes does not accept flac files.)
To listen on your phone:
For iPhone or iPad /Android or tablets
1. Purchase your album/albums. Create a fan account for easy access. They will then be in your Collection, ready for immediate, unlimited streaming in the Bandcamp app on the web & your phone.
2. OPTION 1: Download the Bandcamp App to play all of your purchases immediately without having to go through a computer first.
OPTION 2: If you prefer to download your music to add them to your preferred music player, you can put them into playlists from your COMPUTER to Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Windows Media Player, Spotify (from your local files) etc. and they'll also remain in your Bandcamp Collection.
NOTE: Do NOT download audio files onto your phone. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't allow direct downloading of music to iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. You can download them to your computer and then sync them to your phone, or put them in Apple Music or your native Music app.
1. Purchase your album/albums. Create a fan account for easy access. They will then be in your Collection, ready for immediate, unlimited streaming in the Bandcamp app on the web & your phone.
2. OPTION 1: Download the Bandcamp App to play all of your purchases immediately without having to go through a computer first.
OPTION 2: If you prefer to download your music to add them to your preferred music player, you can put them into playlists from your COMPUTER to Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Windows Media Player, Spotify (from your local files) etc. and they'll also remain in your Bandcamp Collection.
NOTE: Do NOT download audio files onto your phone. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't allow direct downloading of music to iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. You can download them to your computer and then sync them to your phone, or put them in Apple Music or your native Music app.
Detailed Guide for Uploading Downloads to Apple Music:
Yes, you can absolutely add music downloads from Bandcamp, direct from an artist’s website, etc. to your Apple Music library. Here’s how it works in 2025:
Two main ways
Two main ways
- Add the files directly to your own library (they stay on your device/computer)
- On Mac (macOS Catalina or later) or Windows (Apple Music app or iTunes):
- Just drag the downloaded files (MP3, FLAC, WAV etc.) into the Apple Music/iTunes window or choose File → Add to Library (or Import).
- They appear in your library under “Songs” or in playlists you create.
- On iPhone/iPad:
- You can’t drag directly, but you can:
- Use the Files app → copy the songs → open Apple Music → they appear automatically if iCloud Music Library is OFF, or
- Sync them from your computer via Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app/iTunes (Windows).
- You can’t drag directly, but you can:
- On Mac (macOS Catalina or later) or Windows (Apple Music app or iTunes):
- Upload them to iCloud Music Library so they’re available on all your devices and count as part of your Apple Music library (recommended if you have an Apple Music subscription or iCloud Music Library enabled)
- Requirements:
- You need an active Apple Music subscription or Apple One, or you can enable “Sync Library” with just a free iCloud account (this is called “iCloud Music Library” even without a subscription).
- Process:
- On your computer, go to Music → Settings → General → turn on “Sync Library”.
- Add the downloaded files to your library as in method 1.
- Apple will either:
- Match them with tracks already in Apple’s catalog (you get the 256 kbps AAC Apple Music version), or
- Upload your original file (up to 100,000 tracks) if no match is found.
- After uploading/matching, the songs appear on all your devices signed into the same Apple ID, with the same cloud status as regular Apple Music tracks.
- Requirements:
- Your non-Apple purchases will show the generic note “Purchased” or “Uploaded” instead of “Apple Music,” but they stream and download just like everything else.
If you need tech support, cannot locate or extract your files, or play them continuously, please reach out at [email protected].
Yours gratefully in sound,
Audrey Causilla
Yours gratefully in sound,
Audrey Causilla