How To Add Apple Music Playlists To Lock Screen In iOS 18.4

With iOS 18.4 Apple has added a new way to quickly play Apple Music playlists. Users now have the option to add their custom playlist to their Control Center, Action button, and most importantly the Lock Screen.

The feature is called Ambient Music, and is available under the Ambient Music section of the Controls page (the page that lists all of the controls for the Control Center and Lock Screen).

By default, Apple offers four Ambient Music playlists including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. You can also select your own playlists by following the steps below.

Note: Ambient Music feature is available in iOS 18.4 or later. Apple has not released iOS 18.4 to the public yet, so the feature is only available in iOS 18.4 beta for now.

Add Apple Music Playlist to Lock Screen

You can follow the steps below to add your own Apple Music playlists to the Lock Screen and quickly play them without unlocking your device.

1. Access the Lock Screen and long press anywhere.
2. Now tap on the Customize button and then tap on the Lock Screen card.
3. Tap on the ‘-‘ button located right above the lock screen shortcuts to remove existing controls from there and then tap on the ‘+’ option.
4. From the Controls menu find and look under the Ambient Music heading. You will find Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing options. Tap on any of these options to add them to Lock Screen.
5. Now tap on the newly added control and select the From Library option to add your own playlist to this control.

Add Apple Music Playlist to Control Center

1. Access the Control Center and long press in an empty area.
2. Tap on the Add a Control option from the bottom and scroll down until you find the Ambient Music heading.
3. Tap on one of the controls found under it to add it to the Control Center. These are called Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.
4. Now tap and hold on to the control you have just added to reveal more options. Select ‘From Library’ and add your playlist to these controls.

Now every time you tap on this control from the Control Center your playlist will start playing.