Use AutoMix or Crossfade to transition songs in the Music app. On iPadOS 26 or later, with music from the Apple Music catalog, AutoMix works like a DJ.

AutoMix automatically selects the best transition, depending on the music, and it might trim silence at the beginning and end of a track. With Crossfade, each song fades in while the previous one fades out. Albums and some genres skip transitions, though.

Change how music transitions

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Music.
3. Tap Song Transitions, then choose an option.

   Note: Automix and Crossfade are not available while Hi-Res Lossless is turned on. To use Automix or Crossfade, select Lossless or another audio quality setting. See Play lossless audio.

About AutoMix

AutoMix works like a DJ, seamlessly transitioning between songs when you’re listening to music from the Apple Music catalog on iPadOS 26 or later.

Depending on the music, AutoMix automatically picks the best transition. When appropriate, it might trim silence from the beginning and end of a track, or use a simple crossfade rather than a more complex transition.

Note: Albums and some genres play without transitions.

AutoMix starts out on, but you can turn it off in the queue or in Settings.

Turn on Crossfade

You can set the Music app to fade in each song (gradually increase its volume) while the previous song is fading out—this is called crossfading.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Music.
3. Tap Song Transitions, then turn it on.
4. Tap Crossfade. Drag the slider to choose the length of the crossfade.

See also

• Play music on iPad
• Adjust the volume and silence on iPad

Use the queue to see a list of upcoming songs, add songs and videos to the queue, and see what you recently played.

You can add music right after the current item with Play Next, or add it to the end with Play After or Add to Queue. You can reorder the list, and AutoPlay can add songs to the queue for you.

Here’s how to queue up your music on iPad.

Use the queue

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the Queue button. Tap a song to play it and the songs that follow.

   To reorder the list, drag the Reorder button. To do more, see Manage the queue.

4. Tap the Queue button again to hide the queue.

Add music and videos to the queue

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While browsing or playing music, touch and hold a song, album, playlist, or video. Choose an option:
   • Add music right after the currently playing item: Tap Play Next.
   • Add music to the end of the queue: Tap Play After or Add to Queue.

Quick tip: While you stream music with HomePod, your friends on the same Wi-Fi network are able to add items to the queue.

Use AutoPlay to add songs to the queue

AutoPlay can help when you’re an Apple Music subscriber and you’re not sure what to play next. It adds similar songs to whatever you play and plays them at the end of the queue. With AutoPlay on, the AutoPlay icon appears at the top of the queue while a song is playing.

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the Playing Next button and tap the AutoPlay button at the top of the queue to turn AutoPlay on.

   When AutoPlay is on, the button changes color. Tap it again to turn it off.

   Note: When you turn off AutoPlay on a device that uses your Apple Account—your iPad, for example—AutoPlay is turned off on all other devices that use the same Apple Account.

Manage the queue

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the Playing Next button and then do any of the following:
   • Change the order of songs in the queue: Drag the songs into the order you want them to play.
   • Add more songs to the queue: Scroll below the queue and tap Add Songs to Queue.
   • Remove a song from the queue: Swipe left on the song and tap the minus button.
   • See how many songs are in the queue: Scroll to the bottom of the queue.

     When multiple songs are repeating, you can see how many songs will be repeated instead.

   • Remove all songs from the queue: Tap Clear at the top of the queue.

Quick tip: Friends on the same Wi-Fi network can reorder items in the queue, too, while you’re using HomePod to stream music.

See what you recently played

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the Queue button. Swipe down to see your playing history.

   To play a song in the history, tap it. To remove your playing history, tap Clear.

Turn on or off song transitions in the queue

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Playing Next button and tap the AutoMix button or the Crossfade button in the top-right corner to turn on or off AutoMix or Crossfade.

   To change between AutoMix or Crossfade, see Change how music transitions.

See also

• Play music on iPad
• Adjust the sound quality in Music on iPad
• Shuffle or repeat songs in Music on iPad

Play music you added or downloaded from Apple Music, music and videos you synced to iPad, and your iTunes Store purchases.

You can play songs from your library, stream recommended songs, and play music from the Lock Screen. You can also play songs across an artist’s catalog, mixing hits and deep cuts, and change the list of Library categories, adding ones like Genres and Compilations.

Here’s how to play music on iPad.

Siri: You can use Siri to search for and play music, add music to your library, and more. For example, ask Siri something like, “Play something I like.” See Play music and podcasts with Siri.

Play songs from your library

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Show Sidebar button and then tap a category under Library, such as Albums or Songs; tap Downloaded to view only music stored on iPad.

   Tip: To play songs across an artist’s catalog—mixing hits and deep cuts—go to an artist page, then tap the Play button next to the artist’s name.

3. Scroll to browse—or type in the search field to filter your results—to find what you want to play.
4. Tap an item, then tap Play, or tap Shuffle to shuffle an album or playlist.

   You can also touch and hold a playlist or album, then tap Play.

To change the list of Library categories, tap Edit, then select categories you’d like to add, such as Genres and Compilations. Tap any existing categories to remove them.

Stream recommended songs

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. Do any of the following to find music you want to play:
   • View recommendations tailored for you: Tap Home in the sidebar, then tap a playlist or album.
   • See what’s new in Apple Music: Tap New in the sidebar. Find music by mood, new releases, charts, and more.
   • Search the Apple Music catalog: See Search for music.
3. Tap an item, then tap Play, or tap Shuffle to shuffle an album or playlist.

   You can also touch and hold a playlist or album, then tap Play.

Play music from the Lock Screen or when using another app

Open Control Center, then tap the audio card.

Quick tip: Another way to identify a song playing on or near your iPad is by adding the Music Recognition control to Control Center. To add it, open Control Center and tap the Add button at the top left. Next, tap Add a Control at the bottom and tap the Recognize Music control. Then, whenever a song is playing, open Control Center and tap the Recognize Music button.

Play music shared on a nearby computer

If a computer on your network is sharing music through Home Sharing, your iPad can stream its music.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Music.
3. Tap Sign In below Home Sharing. Then sign in to your Apple Account.
4. Go to the Music app, tap Library > Home Sharing, and choose a shared library.

Set content restrictions

In Music, you can restrict access to explicit content, music videos, and music profiles, and you can also set restrictions for your child.

Sort your music

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Show Sidebar button and tap a category under Library.
3. Tap the More button and then choose a sorting method, such as Title, Artist, Date Added, or Release Date.

You can also shuffle and repeat songs, queue them up in a specific order, or transition them using Crossfade or AutoMix.

When you purchase access to movies, TV shows, music, music videos, ebooks, audiobooks, or ringtones from Apple, you also have the option to permanently download these items to a compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. Apple cannot revoke your downloaded content, and you can always access your downloaded content without an internet connection.

You can shuffle all the songs and albums in your library, which plays them in random order, or shuffle just a playlist or album. You can also repeat individual songs, playlists, or albums, or the entire queue.

When multiple songs are repeating, you can see how many will be repeated at the bottom of the queue. And you can queue up your music, or adjust the sound quality in Music on iPad.

1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the Playing Next button and then do any of the following:
   • Play your songs in random order (shuffle): Tap the Shuffle button. Tap again to turn off shuffle.
   • Repeat an album, playlist, or the entire queue: Tap the Repeat button.

     Note: When multiple songs are repeating, you can view how many songs will be repeated—just scroll to the bottom of the queue.

   • Repeat a single song: Double-tap the Repeat button.

See also

• Queue up your music on iPad
• Play music on iPad
• Adjust the sound quality in Music on iPad

To adjust the sound quality in Music on iPad, change the way music sounds in the Music app with EQ and Sound Check. EQ lets you choose an equalization (EQ) setting. Sound Check can normalize the volume level of your audio, and you can use either one, or both, whenever you play music on iPad.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding hearing loss, see Important safety information.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps and tap Music.
3. Tap one of the following:
   • EQ: Choose an equalization (EQ) setting.
   • Sound Check: Normalize the volume level of your audio.

See also

• Play music on iPad
• Adjust the volume and silence on iPad