Does Apple Music on Tesla autos require a paid subscription?

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Level 3

595 points

Does Apple Music on Tesla autos require a paid subscription?

I wanted to access my iPhone music library through the Apple Music app on my Tesla Model Y. The library on my phone only seems accessible if I actually have a paid Apple Music subscription (which I don't want). When I tried my free month of Apple Music, my library was accessible. When I disabled the subscription, the Model Y indicates it is unable to access the library.

I can appreciate the authentication measures in place, but it is not clear whether a paid Apple Music subscription is a dependency to using my iPhone's library. I'm still signed in from my Tesla, however.

When I initially tried accessing my library (though QR code on MY, steps on the phone), I did not accept the trial offer (pressed Cancel instead), and I got a screen which requested a code from one of my devices (which never arrived, even though I checked all my devices).

So, is accessing just your iPhone library without a paid subscription allowed or not?

iPhone SE, iOS 15

Posted on Sep 21, 2023 11:01 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Sonia Webb

Level 1

10 points

Jan 25, 2024 10:41 AM in response to zupchuck

iTunes personal library since 2003, check. Apple Music subscription since 2015, check. Tesla owner since 12/22/23, check.

To answer your question, "So, is accessing just your iPhone library without a paid subscription allowed or not?" Yes, it just will not be viewable on the full screen like when having an Apple Music subscription. Hope this helps.

When I picked up my Tesla I connected my iPhone via bluetooth, this was for my phone key. On the way home I could play my iTunes library because of my bluetooth connection. My iTunes library did not display on the larger right side of the Tesla Tablet. It was displayed in the lower left corner where I could go back, go forward, scrub through a song, pause/play. Or, I could control everything through my iPhone. BUT if I wanted everything to show up on the Tesla tablet right side, I had to scan the QR code. In order to scan the QR code I needed an Apple Music subscription because doing that gets my Apple Music account info from my iPhone to display on Tesla Tablet. If you do not have an Apple Music subscription it will tell you one is needed.

-iTunes Library, listen via bluetooth and control from lower left corner of Tesla Tablet or iPhone

-Apple Music subscription, scan QR code and see iTunes library (playlists, Artists, Albums, Songs) plus everything Apple Music subscription offers.

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Answer 2

TammyW_03

Community Specialist

Sep 26, 2023 11:04 AM in response to zupchuck

Hey zupchuck,

Any music obtained from the Apple Music catalog would require the subscription to continue accessing it. As far as your personal music library, you do not need a subscription to access it. If your iPhone is connected via Bluetooth or USB to your vehicle, you should be able to access the music on your iPhone. How to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your car - Apple Support

We also recommend reaching out to your car manufacturer for help. Let us know how it goes.

Take care!

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Answer 3

zupchuck Author

Level 3

595 points

Sep 26, 2023 1:26 PM in response to TammyW_03

Tesla does not have Car Play, and specifically uses Apple Music to natively access the music stored on an iPhone through Apple Music via Bluetooth. I don't have problems accessing the music on a basic level. Never have. I appreciate the reply, but looking for Tesla-specific knowledge as why an Apple Music subscription is required to access the physical library through the Apple Music app on a Tesla. Or, specifically what setting is being missed, otherwise.

Does Apple Music on Tesla autos require a paid subscription? Because frankly, I don't want to pay $10/month just access my music through better interface than the one already present, or create a physical version of my library on a USB drive. It is OK if you don't know.

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Answer 4

zupchuck Author

Level 3

595 points

Jan 4, 2024 5:02 AM in response to kililimanjaro666

I appreciate the replies, but I think folks who have Teslas and have tried AppleMusic with them are the audience with experience to reply. Or, an Apple employee.

Let me clarify - I am trying to access my physical iTunes library (from legally-ripped media) via AppleMusic app on my Tesla. If I enable an AppleMusic subscription on my iPhone, my Tesla can access the library on my phone via the AppleMusic app on my car.

I have always been able to access my music stored on my phone via the Tesla’s Bluetooth app, but the interface to choosing music is in the phone, not through the Tesla touchscreen (which is far better).

If the AppleMusic subscription is cancelled, access to my physical library on my phone via the AppleMusic app in my Tesla ceases. No cloud-based media is accessed here - just using music physically present files on my phone.

I don’t want AppleMusic streaming, Just access to my physical library on my phone via AppleMusic app.

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Answer 5

jdo_apple

Community Specialist

Sep 26, 2023 1:42 PM in response to zupchuck

Thanks for replying, zupchuck, and that additional info. For additional questions about features of the stereo in a Tesla, please contact Tesla support directly:

Customer and Product Support | Tesla Support

Have a great day and thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!

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Answer 6

Jan 3, 2024 10:10 PM in response to zupchuck

What Tammy is trying to say is that you may have purchased music through iTunes. iTunes is not the same as Apple Music. Apple Music has always required a $9.99/month subscription (unless paying annually). Maybe you have some sort of free trial of Apple Music set up? Not sure but maybe check your settings on your phone, click on your name at the top, and click on subscriptions to see what kind of Apple Music subscription you may have.

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Answer 7

zupchuck Author

Level 3

595 points

Jan 4, 2024 11:24 AM in response to TammyW_03

"As far as your personal music library, you do not need a subscription to access it. If your iPhone is connected via Bluetooth or USB to your vehicle, you should be able to access the music on your iPhone."

To access my physical music library on my iPhone via the Tesla's Apple Music app - it appears I do need a subscription. Basic bluetooth connectivity from my iPhone to the Tesla works (but then I need to the phone itself as opposed to the nice Apple Music interface on the Tesla touchscreen). I've been accessing my music library that way for a couple of years now.

The question was regarding using Apple Music app on the Tesla and whether accessing the physical library without a subscription was possible.

I have contacted Tesla. Apple punts to Tesla, Tesla punts to Apple. And so on.

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Answer 8

zupchuck Author

Level 3

595 points

Jan 13, 2024 6:29 AM in response to kililimanjaro666

What I want is access to my physical library on my phone that is present in the Apple Music app on the Tesla when I have an active subscription (I used my 3 month free trail to avoid having to pay to see how it works).

I think what people are not realizing is that it is the PHYSICAL library on my phone I want access to via the comparatively wonderful Apple Music app (instead of the streamed music via the same).

You can use the Apple Music app on your phone to access the same files synced on your phone. The version on the Tesla won't allow the same unless you buy a subscription to access what you already legitimately own.

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Answer 9

Schusti

Level 1

8 points

Feb 27, 2024 2:21 AM in response to zupchuck

so it´s the same to me, with one more point: i have a itunes music match abo ! Normally my music on itunes is synced with the icloud, music that is not on the store will be uploaded... so i can access all my music in the apple music app, on my iphone, on my ipad on my apple tv... anywere (i thougt).. anywere ? not a all, not on the apple music app on my TESLA ! :( same to me like your experiences.. you must have a subscription on apple music or it will not connect. If you cancel the subscription offer you will be directed to a different apple- page, were you shall enter a code... from you device (it means TESLA).. but there is no code on the TESLA-Screen. ok, so i catched the QR-Code with an app that shows me the link of the QR-Code... and there is a code in the Link... haha .. but no luck, when i enter this Code in the Link on that "Code-Enter"-Page of Apple, it tells me "wrong code"... in my humble opinion, this is not a bug, this is intended ! They want subscriptions for apple music, with logging into your account without they dont earn extra money on apple. but wait.. the get 25€ every year for my imatch subscription, "so that i can access my music everywere"... nope i can not.. not in my Tesla. in the first line, this is bad code by apple... and apple should solve this imediately ! Well there must be a programmers-team from apple and Tesla for this... could apple not contact the people on Tesla, so that they please show the required Code on the Screen ? or even could apple not send a code to one of my apple devices, as it does everytime when i lock in with a new device ? Apple Can YOU DO ?

zupchuck wrote:

What I want is access to my physical library on my phone that is present in the Apple Music app on the Tesla when I have an active subscription (I used my 3 month free trail to avoid having to pay to see how it works).

I think what people are not realizing is that it is the PHYSICAL library on my phone I want access to via the comparatively wonderful Apple Music app (instead of the streamed music via the same).

You can use the Apple Music app on your phone to access the same files synced on your phone. The version on the Tesla won't allow the same unless you buy a subscription to access what you already legitimately own.

Reply

Does Apple Music on Tesla autos require a paid subscription?

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