Here’s how to stop Apple Music from playing music indefinitely, even when you’ve already fallen asleep, regardless of the device you’re using.
Do you enjoy listening to music on Apple Music before going to sleep? If so, you’ve likely been searching for a method to have the music automatically pause once you drift off.
It would be fantastic if Apple Music could pause the music as soon as you fall asleep, but as of the time of writing, this feature is exclusively accessible in the Android app. On iPhone, Mac, and Windows, we’ll need to depend on traditional timers to achieve this.
We’ll guide you on how to configure sleep timers for Apple Music on all your devices.
Setting a Sleep Timer for Apple Music on an iPhone
Several compelling features justify the expense of subscribing to Apple Music. Nonetheless, there’s an incongruity in Apple’s design – the Podcasts app includes a sleep timer, whereas the Music app does not. Such disparities can lead to confusion, but we’re here to address this issue.
You have two options for setting a sleep timer in Apple Music on your iPhone, allowing you to choose the one that suits your preferences.
1. Employ the Clock App to Configure Sleep Timers for Apple Music
The Clock app provides a means to establish a timer that will cease playing music when the set time is reached. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Launch the Clock app on your iPhone and select “Timers” located in the bottom right corner.
2. Choose the duration for your sleep timer. We opted for 30 minutes, as that’s typically how long it takes us to fall asleep, but your preference may differ. After making your selection, tap “When Timer Ends.”
3. Scroll to the bottom of the list and tap “Stop Playing,” then press “Set.”
4. You’ll return to the timer setup screen. Press “Start.”
5. Finally, you can open Apple Music and play your desired songs. The music will automatically pause when the timer concludes.
2. Establish an Automatic Sleep Timer
Alternatively, you have the option to establish a sleep timer for Apple Music by creating automated routines on your iPhone. Using this approach, you can ensure that music stops playing automatically at a specific time daily.
This method is most effective for individuals with consistent daily schedules. If your sleep schedule tends to vary widely, it may not be the most suitable option. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Download and open the free Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the Automation tab at the bottom of the app.
3. If you’ve never set up an automation on your iPhone before, tap the blue button labeled “New Automation.” If you’ve already created automations, tap the plus (+) button in the top-right corner.
4. Select “Time of Day” and choose the time at which you want Apple Music to pause. The default repetition frequency is “Daily,” but you can opt for “Weekly” to specify particular days of the week under “Repeat.” Next, choose “Run Immediately,” and then tap “Next” in the top right corner.
5. On the following page, tap “New Blank Automation” and then “Add Action.”
6. In the search bar at the top, type “Pause.” Select “Play/Pause” (the one with the red play/pause icon next to it).
7. Once again, tap “Play/Pause” and choose “Pause” from the menu.
8. Finally, tap “Done” in the top right to complete the setup.
Now, you can start playing music in the evening, and your iPhone will automatically pause it at the designated time.
Configuring a Sleep Timer for Apple Music on a HomePod
If you enjoy playing music on a HomePod, it’s a straightforward process to establish a sleep timer for Apple Music. While your music is playing on the HomePod, simply voice the following command:
This command will activate your sleep timer. It’s worth noting that Siri’s performance can be inconsistent, so if you vary the phrasing of the Siri command, you may not achieve the intended outcome.
Setting a Sleep Timer for Apple Music on an Android Device
You do not have to install a third-party application to establish a sleep timer for Apple Music on your Android device, as this feature is already integrated into the app.
To configure it, follow these steps:
1. Launch the Apple Music app on your Android smartphone.
2. Play any song and tap the playback menu to access the Now Playing screen.
3. Tap the three-dot menu located next to the song name to reveal additional options.
4. Then, select “Sleep Timer.”
5. Choose your preferred time duration from the available options in the Sleep Timer menu.
Upon selecting an option, a confirmation pop-up will appear at the bottom. From this point onward, your Apple Music tracks will automatically pause after the specified duration.
Establishing a Sleep Timer for Apple Music on a Mac
With the introduction of the revamped System Settings in macOS Ventura, configuring a sleep timer directly within Apple Music is no longer an option. Instead, you can achieve this using the macOS Terminal app.
Here are the steps to follow:
1. Launch the Terminal app on your Mac.
2. Type the following command and hit Enter on your keyboard:
Enter your password to confirm.
This command instructs your Mac to initiate a shutdown after 60 minutes, as indicated by “+60.” Naturally, you can tailor this to your preferences, setting it to shut down after, for instance, 30 minutes by replacing “+60” with “+30”. To cancel the schedule, run the following command in the same terminal and press Enter:
Now, you can enjoy music before going to sleep, and your Mac will automatically pause it and shut down after the specified duration. While using this method may not be the most elegant solution for an Apple Music sleep timer, it effectively gets the job done. If Apple introduces a built-in sleep timer, it will certainly be a feature to look forward to in Apple Music.
Configuring a Sleep Timer for Apple Music on Windows
Once more, the most effective approach is to set up a system-wide sleep timer on Windows, which will automatically pause Apple Music.
Here are the steps to schedule a sleep timer on Windows:
1. Press the Windows key + R.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter.
3. Type “shutdown -s -t 3600,” where 3600 represents the number of seconds for the timer. You can modify this to any desired number. Then, press Enter.
This will lead to an automatic computer shutdown after the specified time, consequently pausing Apple Music as well.