YouTube Music appears to be readying a feature that proved a big draw for Google Play Music fans – the ability to upload your own music collection to the cloud. Google has published a new support document explaining how music uploads will work in YouTube Music.

YouTube Music 2
If you're on a computer you'll be able to add your personal music library either by dragging files to any surface on music.youtube.com, or by clicking on your profile picture and selecting "Upload music." The feature supports FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG and WMA files. The support document notes that music uploads cannot be completed in the YouTube Music mobile app, uploads will not influence the user's music recommendations in YouTube Music, and uploads stay private.

To view or manage uploaded music, you can tap (in the app) or click "Uploads" in the Albums section of the library. The big bonus here is that uploaded songs can be played in the background, ad-free and offline - even if you're not a YouTube Music Premium subscriber. It's basically the same feature Google Play Music offered, so that's good news for anyone who wants to switch to Google's new music streaming service.

Google is asking users looking to transfer their entire Google Play Music library to "stay tuned" for a seamless way to do so. "Nothing is changing with Google Play Music right now," says the document. "When we do replace Google Play Music with YouTube Music, we'll be sure to give you plenty of advance notice."

Top Rated Comments

Razeus Avatar
75 months ago

I’d like to point out that Apple Music has always had this as well. It’s quite convenient.
But Apple Music destroys your tags and album artwork in doing so. That's enough for me to have cancelled their service.

Plus this sounds like I can do this for free with Youtube. Another win.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DEMinSoCAL Avatar
75 months ago

I’d like to point out that Apple Music has always had this as well. It’s quite convenient.
Except this says that you don't need to be a Premium subscriber to upload and access your music collection. How would you do this with a non-paid Apple Music subscription? (is there even such a thing?)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B/D Avatar
75 months ago
@progx

You don't need to keep iTunes Match anymore (since July 2016 ('https://www.loopinsight.com/2016/07/18/apple-begins-rolling-out-itunes-match-with-audio-fingerprint-to-apple-music-subscribers/?utm_source=loopinsight.com&utm_campaign=loopinsight.com&utm_medium=referral')) if you subscribe to Apple Music. All features are included, and the matching algorithm now works with the iTunes Store database (not the Apple Music catalogue), so, your music is DRM free if you download it back from the cloud on any device, and you can keep the matched copies if you cancel Apple Music.

Previously, the matching algorithm worked with the Apple Music DB, and was identifying songs by metadata only (now it's using acoustic fingerprint). Thus, people were having DRM, metadata and artwork issues, which is not the case anymore.

Excuse my English.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
progx Avatar
75 months ago
Apple has had this service for quite some time, even before Apple Music, with iTunes Match. They still haven’t replaced it, but you can still get it for $24.99 per year. I’ve had it since launch!

I have Apple Music as well, but it doesn’t retain all the iTunes Match features. Which is why I keep both.

Must be Google is looking to rebrand its services under the YouTube banner.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2010mini Avatar
75 months ago

But Apple Music destroys your tags and album artwork in doing so. That's enough for me to have cancelled their service.

Plus this sounds like I can do this for free with Youtube. Another win.
all the original and custom album artwork never got changed when I used iTunes Match.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FightTheFuture Avatar
75 months ago
this sounds like I can do this for free with Youtube. Another win.
I already use google photos for the junk pictures I store to keep off local storage or iCloud photos. I’ll use this to store old podcasts and music files I’m too lazy to delete as well.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Spotlight

Report: Apple to Launch These New Products in 2026

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:34 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch at least 15 new products in 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman outlined what to expect from Apple in 2026 in the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter. He said the company is heading "into one of its most pivotal years in recent memory," with the rollout of major new Apple Intelligence features, intense regulatory pressure on the App Store,...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.1 With Liquid Glass Toggle, Slide to Stop Alarm, New Apple Intelligence Languages and More

Monday November 3, 2025 1:11 pm PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.1, the first major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.1 comes over a month after iOS 26 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.1 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General >...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
Finder Siri Feature

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini

Wednesday November 5, 2025 11:57 am PST by
The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google. For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more...
Early Black Friday Deals 2

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals

Sunday November 2, 2025 10:04 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini

Sunday November 2, 2025 6:06 am PST by
In his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today provided an update on the status of Apple Intelligence and the plans for it in 2026. Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Likely Launching Soon

Sunday November 2, 2025 5:49 am PST by
A new Apple TV and HomePod mini could launch as soon as this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested. In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple retail stores are planning an overnight refresh on the evening of November 11, where changes will be made after closing, such as refreshing displays and placing new products for the following day. The timing of the overnight...