Apple Music on Windows: A Mess Compared to Spotify?

For a while, Spotify had been wearing me out. Prices kept rising without any real improvements—no better sound quality, no groundbreaking new features. Eventually, I decided it was time for a change.

Since my family is already deep in the Apple ecosystem (iPhones, a MacBook Pro, and CarPlay in the car), switching to Apple Music made perfect sense.

On iPhone, Mac, and CarPlay? The experience is smooth and enjoyable. But on Windows, where I work most of the time, it’s a completely different story. The official Apple Music app feels like an unfinished prototype: slow, buggy, and often unusable. Here’s my honest review.

Install Apple Music on Windows 11 from Microsoft Store

To install the Apple Music (preview) app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Apple Music page.
2. Click the Get (or Install) button. (Click the More details option to open the Microsoft Store experience.)
3. Click the Open button.
4. Click the Continue button to agree to the preview terms.

Once you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11. It’ll also be available from the Start menu.

🚀 Slower to Launch Than Photoshop

The first issue appears the moment you open the app. Launching Apple Music on Windows takes ages. On my powerful PC, every other program—even heavy ones like Photoshop—opens in seconds. Apple Music, on the other hand, makes you wonder if you actually clicked the icon.

In 2025, waiting that long for a simple music streaming app is just unacceptable.

🖥️ Clean Interface, Laggy Navigation

Visually, the app looks fine: clean design, well-organized menus, easy to navigate. But once you start browsing, everything feels sluggish.

Every click comes with noticeable lag—switching tabs, scrolling through playlists, or going back a page. It feels clunky and unresponsive, which is the last thing you want from a streaming app.

🎶 Song Playback: A Total Gamble

And then comes the core issue: actually playing music.

• Sometimes, songs start instantly.
• More often, you get stuck on a “Connecting…” message that lingers for seconds—or forever.
• Occasionally, playback begins… but no sound comes out.

When that happens, the only “fix” is restarting the app. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it.

🔊 Volume Control That Randomly Stops Working

Another bizarre issue: the volume controls. Sometimes they respond perfectly. Other times, moving the slider does absolutely nothing. Once again, the only solution is to quit and reopen the app.

For anyone who listens to music while working, this kind of instability is beyond irritating.

🐌 An App That Runs Like It’s on Diesel

Overall, the app feels like it needs to “warm up” before it works properly. The first few minutes are slow, buggy, and glitchy—then, suddenly, things improve.

But this is a music player, not an old car engine. It should be reliable and ready to go instantly.

🍏 And This Is Apple We’re Talking About

What makes all this worse is that it’s coming from Apple—a trillion-dollar company that prides itself on flawless design and user experience.

Sure, Windows isn’t Apple’s top priority. Most of their users are on iOS and macOS. But releasing such a poor client for a paid service on a widely used platform is inexcusable.

🎧 Great Sound Quality… Wasted on a Poor Windows Client

The irony? Apple Music actually sounds better than Spotify. The audio quality is excellent, the catalog is strong, and recommendations are solid. Within Apple’s ecosystem, it’s fantastic.

But on Windows, all of that is overshadowed by an app that feels half-baked. I’m even considering switching to Cider, a $3.99 open-source alternative that promises a smoother, faster experience.

Until then, if you mainly use Windows, I can’t recommend Apple Music. Stick to Spotify, YouTube Music, or the web version of Apple Music instead. See Best Music Streaming Services of 2025: Affordable Plans Compared

❓ FAQ – Apple Music on Windows

1. Why is Apple Music so slow on Windows?

Because the official Windows app is poorly optimized. Apple focuses more on iOS and macOS, leaving the Windows version behind.

2. Are there alternatives to Apple Music on Windows?

Yes. Cider (an open-source paid client) is popular among users. You can also use the web version of Apple Music in a browser.

3. Is Apple Music better than Spotify on Windows?

No. While Apple Music offers better audio quality, Spotify is far more stable and responsive on Windows.

4. Should I switch to Apple Music if I mainly use Windows?

Not really. Unless you’re fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, Spotify or YouTube Music are better options for Windows users.

✅ Conclusion

Apple Music is a fantastic service on Apple devices: smooth on iPhone, reliable on Mac, seamless with CarPlay. But on Windows, it’s a disaster—slow, unstable, and often unusable.

If you’re all-in on Apple hardware, it’s worth it. But if you’re a Windows-first user, you’ll likely be happier with Spotify or YouTube Music.

Apple Music delivers great sound—but its Windows app is a deal-breaker.