Apple Music’s Hidden Treasures: 10 Underrated Features That’ll Transform Your Listening in 2025

You know that moment when you’re vibing to your favorite playlist on Apple Music, earbuds in, world out, and you think, This is the life? I’ve been there—countless times—shuffling through my go-to tracks, tweaking playlists like a DJ, and chasing that perfect song for the moment. But here’s the thing: Apple Music, which hit the scene in 2015 and now boasts over 100 million songs, is packed with features most of us barely notice. These hidden gems can turn a good listening session into something downright magical. As a music nerd who’s spent way too many nights curating the ultimate road trip mix or geeking out over sound settings, I’m pumped to share 10 underrated Apple Music features that’ll level up your experience. I’m sticking to confirmed details from Apple’s updates, weaving them into a story that’s as fun as a spontaneous karaoke night. Ready to rediscover Apple Music? Let’s dive in and crank up the good vibes!

1. Spin a Radio Station from Any Song

Ever get hooked on a song and wish you could find more like it without the hassle? Apple Music’s got your back with custom radio stations you can create from any song, album, artist, or genre. It’s like having a personal DJ who nails your taste every time. I stumbled on this when I long-pressed a lo-fi track during a late-night study session, and boom—Apple Music spun up a station of chill beats that kept me in the zone for hours.

• How to Use It: Find a song, album, artist, or genre in Apple Music. Long-press it, tap “Create Station,” and check the “Recently Played” section on the Home tab to find your new station. It’s instant musical serendipity.

2. Apple Music Sing: Your Karaoke Superpower

Got dreams of rocking a mic at a packed venue? Apple Music Sing turns your device into a karaoke machine, showing real-time lyrics while letting you tweak vocal levels to star in your own show. It even has a Duet View for songs with multiple singers, perfect for duets with your bestie. I tried this with a cheesy 80s pop hit, and my living room transformed into a full-on concert—complete with my questionable dance moves.

• How to Use It: Play a song, tap the Lyrics icon (quotation mark) at the bottom left, then hit the microphone icon to start singing. Adjust vocals as needed. Works on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV 4K (2nd gen or later).

3. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos: Sound That Surrounds You

If you’ve never tried Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, you’re missing out on a 3D sound experience that feels like you’re at a live gig. With hundreds of thousands of tracks supporting this feature, it’s like the music’s swirling around you. I popped in my AirPods Pro, fired up a Dolby Atmos playlist, and swear I could hear the drummer right behind me—it’s that immersive.

• How to Use It: Look for the Dolby Atmos icon on songs or playlists. Use AirPods, Beats, or compatible speakers like HomePod. Enable it via Settings > Music > Audio Quality > Dolby Atmos. Trust me, it’s a game-changer.

4. Lossless Audio: Crystal-Clear Sound for Audiophiles

For those who live for every note and nuance, Apple Music’s Lossless Audio delivers uncompressed sound up to 24-bit/192 kHz across its entire catalog—no extra charge. It’s a dream for audiophiles with high-end setups. I tested it with wired headphones on a jazz track, and the sax sounded so crisp I got goosebumps.

• How to Use It: Go to Settings > Music > Audio Quality, toggle on Lossless Audio, and pick Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless. Heads-up: Bluetooth devices like AirPods can’t handle lossless due to bandwidth limits, so grab wired headphones or a DAC for the full effect.

5. Music Haptics: Feel the Beat

Introduced with iOS 18 in 2024, Music Haptics uses your iPhone’s Taptic Engine to turn songs into synchronized vibrations, letting you feel the music. It’s a stellar accessibility feature for deaf or hard-of-hearing users but also adds a cool tactile layer for anyone. I tried it on my iPhone 14 with a bass-heavy hip-hop track, and the pulsing vibes made it feel like I was at a club.

• How to Use It: On iPhone 12 or newer (except SE), go to Settings > Accessibility > Music Haptics and turn it on. Play a song in Apple Music, Apple Music Classical, or Shazam, and tap “Music Haptics” in the Now Playing view to toggle it. It’s like your phone’s dancing along.

6. Collaborative Playlists: Vibe Together

Planning a party or group road trip? Collaborative playlists let friends add, reorder, or delete songs, turning your playlist into a shared masterpiece. You can even react with emojis in the Now Playing view to hype each other up. I set one up for a friend’s barbecue, and watching everyone toss in their favorite summer jams was half the fun.

• How to Use It: Open a playlist, tap the “Collaborate” icon (head and shoulders), and share the link with friends. Works on iOS 17 or later—perfect for group music-making.

7. Music Video Playlists: Your Personal Music Channel

Apple Music’s music video feature lets you build playlists of high-quality, official videos, turning your Apple TV into a custom MTV. Unlike YouTube’s hit-or-miss uploads, these are pristine and ad-free. I curated a 2000s pop video playlist for a nostalgia night, and it was like reliving my teenage years, minus the dial-up internet.

• How to Use It: Search for an artist, hit their page, and scroll to the “Videos” section. Add videos to a playlist, then play or shuffle on your device or Apple TV. It’s your own music video marathon.

8. InSight: Snag TV Show Soundtracks

If you’re an Apple TV+ subscriber, InSight is a sneaky-cool feature launched in 2024. While watching a show, it identifies songs in scenes and lets you add them to a “Saved Songs” playlist in Apple Music. I caught a haunting folk tune during a thriller series, tapped to save it, and now it’s in my chill playlist rotation.

• How to Use It: Watch an Apple TV+ show on a supported device. When a song plays, use InSight to view details and tap to add it to your “Saved Songs” playlist. Requires an Apple TV+ subscription.

9. Smart Playlists with Comments: Nerdy but Awesome

Want to organize your music like a pro? Add comments to tracks in your library—like “workout banger” or “rainy day mood”—then use them to create smart playlists that auto-update. I tagged my high-energy tracks and made a smart playlist for morning runs; now it’s my secret weapon for crushing workouts.

• How to Use It: On macOS or Windows, right-click a song, select “Get Info,” and add notes in the Comments field under the Details tab. Create a smart playlist via File > New > Smart Playlist, filtering by Comments. It’s like giving your music a personality.

10. Skip When Shuffling: Keep the Flow

Some songs just don’t fit a shuffled playlist—think long intros or spoken-word tracks that kill the mood. Apple Music lets you mark songs to skip during shuffle, keeping your groove uninterrupted. I used this to dodge a meditative track in my party playlist, and the dance floor stayed lit.

• How to Use It: On macOS or Windows, right-click a song, choose “Get Info,” go to the Options tab, and check “Skip when shuffling.” Hit OK to save. Your shuffle game just got smoother.

Why These Features Are a Big Deal

Apple Music’s hidden features aren’t just cool tricks—they make your music feel more personal, immersive, and yours. Whether you’re singing your heart out, chasing crystal-clear sound, or building a playlist with friends, these tools turn listening into an adventure. I’ve been hooked on Apple Music for years, and unearthing these gems has made me love it even more. Plus, with tight integration across Apple’s ecosystem—iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod—it’s seamless for anyone rocking Apple gear. The fact that features like Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio come at no extra cost? That’s just icing on the cake.

Tips to Unlock Apple Music’s Full Potential

Ready to make these features your own? Here’s what’s worked for me:

• Dig Into Settings: Head to Settings > Music to play with audio quality, turn on Music Haptics, or enable Automatic Downloads for offline tracks.
• Master Shortcuts: Set up Siri shortcuts to launch playlists or stations from your Lock Screen—perfect for quick vibes.
• Browse Like a Pro: The Browse tab’s curated playlists, like “New Music Mix” or “Deep Cuts,” are gold for finding fresh tracks.
• Tap Into X: Search #AppleMusic on X for user hacks and reactions to new features. It’s a treasure trove of tips.

What’s Cooking for Apple Music in 2025?

Apple’s been dropping updates like hot singles, with iOS 18 bringing Music Haptics and collaborative playlists getting smoother with each release. Posts on X hint at more tweaks coming, like better search algorithms and a slicker interface for playlist management. After the success of Apple Music Replay 2024, which gave us shareable stats and year-end charts, I’m betting 2025 will bring even more ways to personalize your listening. Maybe a new way to discover live performances or deeper Apple Intelligence integration? My fingers are crossed.

Wrapping Up: Fall in Love with Apple Music All Over Again

Apple Music’s underrated features are like finding a bonus track on your favorite album—unexpected, delightful, and totally worth it. From Spatial Audio wrapping you in sound to collaborative playlists turning friends into co-DJs, these tools make every song feel like an event. I’m already planning to use Apple Music Sing for a holiday karaoke bash and tweak my smart playlists for summer drives. Whether you’re a die-hard subscriber or just kicking the tires with a free trial, these hidden treasures will make you see Apple Music in a whole new light.