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18/8/2022 12 Comments

If I use Apple Music, how can I add music to a Photos slideshow. None of my music appears!

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(This article was initially published in April 2017 and has been updated in August 2022 with further information about adding music to a slideshow when you are on an iPad or iPhone.)

When preparing a slideshow of photos last week, using the Photos app on the Mac, we were wanting to play a particular music track with that slideshow.  This slideshow was just going to be shown to family as part of the celebration of the life of a loved one.

It seemed that this should be an easy thing to do.  We had completed the selection of photos for the slideshow and it was time to add the finishing touch - the music, a beautiful song by Ed Sheeran.

Frustratingly, we found that when we tried choosing the iTunes track that we wanted to use, it was 'greyed' and not able to be selected

I thought that because I had subscribed to Apple Music, I would be able to choose any track from my music library to use with my Photos slideshow. I thought all I needed to do was download the required track using iTunes, so that it was stored on my computer.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the case.  Apple Music tracks are protected by DRM (digital rights management), and (apparently) can only be streamed using iTunes - they cannot be used in Photos slideshows.  

I am not sure if this will change some time in future, but in the meantime we needed to find a way around this this limitation, as it was essential that we be able to play the chosen track with our slideshow.

Luckily,  we found a solution.

My daughter had recently purchased the CD version of the artist's album, and we were able to import the track from the CD to iTunes as an MP3 track.

Magically, the track then became available for selection in the Photos app, and we were able to play that beautiful track with our beautiful slideshow.

(Added in August 2022, in answer to the question from Paul B Little below)

The other option we could have used was to purchase the music from the Apple iTunes/Music store, and then download it to the device - whether that be the Mac or the iPad/iPhone.

If you have purchased the movie on another device, and then want to add it to a slideshow on another device, you must go to the iTunes Store app and choose the Purchased option at bottom right.  Select the Music option to see your music purchases.

Find the song that you have purchased, and tap the cloud symbol to download it to the device (a cloud with downwards arrow). Once the purchased track is stored on your device, it will become available for adding to a Photos Slideshow.
12 Comments
Greg
19/2/2019 09:00:47 am

The title of your article is poorly written. It gives the impression that you have a solution to using Apple Music in slide shows when all you are saying is go buy the CD. Not an Apple Music solution. " How to add music to a Photos slideshow when you have Apple Music."

Reply
-Paul B Litttle
18/8/2022 08:47:25 am

Can you explain (in real simple terms and steps) how to get a song into my iPad Pro the way with did with your funeral slide show.

Reply
Lynette link
18/8/2022 10:00:34 am

Hi Paul. I have updated the article to reflect how to add purchased music to your Slideshow. Purchase from iTunes Store, DOWNLOAD it, then it will be available. Lynette from iTandCoffee

Reply
laura
4/2/2024 10:09:27 am

Hi - you may never see this as it's been a while since you wrote this topic, but even after I've purchased and downloaded the music from iTunes, it still doesn't let me play it in an iPhoto slideshow. I haven't found any answers for this and have been searching for days. I'm in the same boat you were - creating a slideshow for my mom's celebration of life and cannot for the life of me figure out how to add custom music. Thanks for any help.

Lynette link
5/2/2024 08:24:34 am

Laura, in response to your query, we would need to book an appointment if you want me to take a look at why your music is not available to select. This can be done at, where you can book a 15 or 30-minute remote appointment.
Lynette from iTandCoffee

lynette link
5/2/2024 08:25:37 am

The link didn't show. Let me try again: https://www.itandcoffee.com.au/appointment-request.html

lynette link
5/2/2024 08:32:54 am

Hi Laura. Lynette again.

I have just remembered that I wrote another article about this issue, when I found a downloaded track still wasn't available - see https://www.itandcoffee.com.au/blog/why-purchased-downloaded-music-wont-play-in-photos-slideshow.

When I downloaded the track, it was in Dolby Atmos format.

Dolby Atmos format tracks won't play in Photos slideshows.

I tried removing the track's download and re-downloading it, but did not get a prompt again about Dolby Atmos - so the downloaded track still didn't work in the slideshow.

This was because there was Setting that I had enabled the first time I answered positively about Dolby Atmos. This setting can be found in Music -> Settings (called Preferences prior to macOS Ventura).

When I turned this off, then removed and re-downloaded the track, my slideshow music played.

Hopefully this works for you.

Ray
23/6/2024 11:19:48 pm

I downloaded my own copyrighted music and still not allowed to use it???

Greg Zwick
13/3/2023 12:11:59 pm

I am totally getting frustrated with Apple. I have all my photos of a recent event and want to make a slideshow. I recorded a song in a QuickTime file and want to use it in a slideshow as background music. It appears Apple doesn't have a way to let me do that. Am I missing something?

Reply
Megan
20/9/2023 09:47:18 pm

I have now bought songs from Amazon as MP3 so that I can add to a slideshow I am trying to creat by this weekend. Apple does not allow me to drag them into it however. If you have any idea how I can get this to marry I would be extremely grateful.

Reply
Kris
25/1/2024 02:27:37 am

This seems to work: 1/Purchase and /or Download MP3 file, 2/Import MP3 into Apple Music Library, 3/Create Slideshow Project in Apple Photos, 4/Add Music to Slide Show.

Reply
phil cohen
28/1/2024 07:29:15 am

i have apple tv and can get the albums as slideshow on my flatscreen.....however, the itunes i have on my mac will play with the slideshow on the mac, but NOT on my apple TV....i CAN get the songs through my TV, but not together with my slideshow. ?????

Reply

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