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
78 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
78 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
77 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
77 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
78 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
78 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

imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Second Generation AirTag Feature

Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More

Monday January 26, 2026 6:07 am PST by
Apple today introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker. For those who are not familiar, the AirTag is a small accessory that you can attach to your backpack, keys, or other items. Then, you can track the location of those items in the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com. The new...
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple to Launch These 20+ Products This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 6:02 pm PST by
2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months. Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Apple Reportedly Aiming to Upgrade the MacBook Pro Twice This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 11:46 am PST by
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year. First up...