Apple Music Shuffle lets you listen to songs in a random order instead of following the original sequence of a playlist, album, or library. But if you prefer to hear an album from beginning to end, Shuffle can be just as frustrating when it is turned on unexpectedly.
Fortunately, turning Apple Music Shuffle on or off only takes a few taps or clicks. The exact location of the control depends on whether you're using an iPhone, Android phone, Mac, Windows PC, or the Apple Music web player.
In this guide, you'll learn how to turn Shuffle on or off on Apple Music across different devices, how to tell whether Shuffle is actually enabled, and what to check if the Shuffle button is missing or unavailable.
Quick Guide: How the Apple Music Shuffle Toggle Works
Before going through the device-specific steps, it helps to understand the main playback controls.
- Shuffle (🔀): Plays songs in a random order. When it is enabled, the Shuffle button is highlighted or changes color.
- Shuffle Off (🔀): Tap or click the active Shuffle button again to return to the normal playback order.
- Repeat (🔂): Repeats the current song, playlist, album, or queue. It is separate from Shuffle.
- AutoPlay (∞): Adds similar songs to the end of the current queue. It is not the same as Shuffle and can affect whether the Shuffle and Repeat controls are available.
Quick check: If the Shuffle icon is highlighted, Shuffle is on. Tap it once to turn it off. If it is already dim or gray, Shuffle is off.
Part 1. How to Turn Shuffle On or Off on Apple Music on Different Devices Officially
Apple Music supports Shuffle across its major apps and the web player. In most cases, you simply need to start playing music and locate the Shuffle control. The steps are slightly different depending on the device you use.
How to Turn Shuffle Apple Music On or Off on iPhone and Android
On iPhone and Android, you can control Shuffle from the Now Playing screen. You first need to start playing a song, then open the current playback queue.
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app and play a song from your library, an album, or a playlist.
Step 2. Tap the player at the bottom of the screen to open the Now Playing screen. Then tap Playing Next to view the current queue.
Step 3. Tap the Shuffle button. Apple Music will then play the songs in the current playback collection in random order.
Step 4. When Shuffle is active, open Playing Next again and tap the Shuffle button. Once it is no longer highlighted, Shuffle is turned off and Apple Music returns to the normal playback order.
If you want to shuffle an album or playlist immediately without changing your general playback settings, select the item and click its dedicated Shuffle button. Alternatively, you can use a Siri voice command such as, "Hey Siri, shuffle my Apple Music library".
How to Turn Shuffle On or Off Apple Music on Mac and Windows
The basic way to control Shuffle is almost the same on Mac and Windows: start playing music, use the Shuffle button in the playback controls, and select it again when you want to turn Shuffle off.
Step 1. Open the Music app on Mac or the Apple Music app on Windows. Play a song from your library, an album, a playlist, or Apple Music. A song needs to be playing before the playback controls become available.
Step 2. Click or select the Shuffle button in the playback controls. When the button becomes highlighted, Shuffle is on, and Apple Music will play the songs in a randomized order.
If you only want to shuffle a specific Apple Music collection, open the album or playlist and select Shuffle there instead of changing the playback order for your broader library.
Step 3. Click or select the highlighted Shuffle button again. When the button returns to its inactive state, Shuffle is off, and Apple Music will follow the current playback order instead.
Mac: Shuffle Apple Music Albums or Groupings
If you only want to shuffle a specific collection, open the album or playlist and select Shuffle there instead of changing the playback order for your broader library.
Apple Music for Mac includes an additional Shuffle setting. From the macOS menu bar, select 'Controls > Shuffle > Albums'. You can also select Groupings. This is useful if you want variety between albums without completely breaking the track order within each album.
These options change what Apple Music randomizes. Instead of mixing individual songs, Apple Music can select albums or groupings in a random order while keeping the songs within each album or grouping in their original sequence.
You don't need to change any advanced settings just to turn Shuffle Apple Music on or off. For most users, the playback Shuffle button is all you need.
How to Turn Apple Music Shuffle On or Off on the Web Player
If you prefer not to install an app, you can also use the Apple Music web player. The web version includes a Shuffle control for playlists, albums, and music in your library.
Step 1. Go to music.apple.com and sign in to your Apple Account.
Step 2. Choose a song, album, or playlist from your library, or browse the Apple Music catalog and start playback.
Step 3. Click the Shuffle button in the playback controls. When the button changes color, Shuffle is enabled and songs will play in random order.
Step 4. Click the highlighted Shuffle button again. Once the button returns to its inactive state, Shuffle is taken off.
Bonus Tip: How to Take Shuffle Off on Apple Watch Apple Music App
Apple Watch also provides Shuffle controls in the Apple Music app, including when you are playing music directly from the watch.
Step 1. Open the Music app on your Apple Watch and play a song, album, or playlist.
Step 2. While viewing the playback screen, tap More Options, then tap Playing Next.
Step 3. Tap the Shuffle button to play the songs in random order.
If you are an Apple Music subscriber, Apple Watch can also stream music over Wi-Fi or cellular when supported, and downloaded music can be played without an internet connection.
See also: How to Play Apple Music on Apple Watch Freely Offline
Part 2. Apple Music Shuffle Not Working? Try These Fixes
Normally, turning off Shuffle on Apple Music only requires tapping or clicking the active Shuffle button again. If the button is missing, grayed out, or cannot be changed, the problem may be related to the current playback queue rather than Shuffle itself.
1. Check Whether AutoPlay Is Turned On
This is one of the first things to check if you cannot control Shuffle on iPhone or Android. When AutoPlay is enabled, the Shuffle and Repeat buttons become inactive because you cannot shuffle or repeat songs in the AutoPlay queue.
To check this on iPhone:
1. Open the Now Playing screen while a song is playing.
2. Tap Playing Next.
3. Look for the AutoPlay button at the top of the queue.
4. If AutoPlay is active, tap it to turn it off.
5. Check the Shuffle button again.
2. Make Sure a Song Is Playing
On Mac, Windows, and the Apple Music web player, the Shuffle control is available when music is playing. If you have only opened an album or playlist without starting playback, the expected playback controls may not be available yet.
Start a song first, then check the playback controls for Shuffle.
3. Check the Current Playing Queue
Shuffle works with the current playback collection or queue. If you have manually added songs, albums, or playlists to the queue, the resulting order may not match the original playlist or album sequence.
On iPhone, you can open Playing Next to see what is currently queued. You can also reorder, add, or remove songs from the queue.
If the playback order looks unusual, check the queue before assuming that Shuffle is malfunctioning.
4. Check Whether Shuffle Is Actually Enabled
The Apple Music Shuffle button may look different depending on the device or app version, but the basic indication is the same: an active Shuffle button is highlighted or changes color.
If the button is not highlighted, Shuffle is already off. If it is highlighted, select it again to turn Shuffle off. Apple documents this behavior on Mac, Windows, and the web player.
5. Restart or Update Apple Music
If Shuffle still does not respond normally after checking AutoPlay and the queue, try some basic app troubleshooting fixes:
- Close and reopen Apple Music.
- Start a different song, album, or playlist and test Shuffle again.
- Make sure your Apple Music app is up to date.
- If you are using the web player, refresh the page and sign in again if necessary.
Part 3. Bonus Tip: How to Get Full Control Over Apple Music Shuffle on Any Player (as Local Files)
Although Apple Music offers Shuffle controls on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, the web, and Apple Watch, some users report that its shuffle experience doesn't always meet their expectations, especially when they notice repeated songs or patterns in playback. Community discussions on Reddit and other forums often raise questions such as why Apple Music Shuffle does not feel truly random.
If you prefer more control over how your music is played, you can also use your Apple Music collection with a dedicated music player, USB-connected device, or another player with its own playback features.
In this case, a local music workflow can give you more flexibility. With AudFree Apple Music Converter, you can prepare Apple Music tracks as common audio files and transfer them to a compatible device or music player. You can then use the Shuffle function built into that player to randomize playback.
The exact playback and Shuffle options vary depending on the device or media player you use. Once your music is available as local audio files, you can manage playback with the controls supported by your device or a feature-rich media player such as foobar2000, VLC, Neutron Player, or Poweramp.
AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Convert Apple Music to MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, and M4B
- Preserve available audio quality and metadata such as ID3 tags
- Transfer the download audio files to supported devices for offline listening
- Process multiple Apple Music tracks at up to 17× speed for a more efficient batch-processing
- Create a local backup of your Apple Music collection for playback with compatible music players
- Step 1. Load Apple Music to AudFree Apple Music Converter
- Open AudFree Apple Music Converter, log in to your Apple Music account through the built-in web player, and add the Apple Music songs you want to use for local shuffle playback by '+'. You can select individual tracks, albums, or multiple songs depending on the size of your collection.
- Step 2. Choose the Output Format and Settings
- Click 'AudFree Apple Music Converter > Preferences' to open the output settings. Here you can choose a supported format such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, M4A, or M4B based on your intended use and the compatibility of your target device. You can also adjust available audio parameters, including the sample rate, bit rate, codec, and channel settings if needed.
- Step 3. Download and Convert Apple Music
- Confirm your settings and start the conversion process by clicking 'Convert'. AudFree will prepare the selected tracks as local audio files, which you can access from the designated output folder when the process is complete.
- Step 4. Turn Apple Music Shuffle On/Off Freely
- Once the files are ready, locate them in the output folder and transfer them to your compatible music player, USB drive, or other supported device.
Before transferring, please check that the target device or media player supports the audio format you selected.
See also:
• How to Use Apple Music with Roon
• How to Transfer Apple Music to USB Drive
- Step 5. Shuffle Apple Music Offline with Third-Party Players or Devices
- Once you have transferred your converted Apple Music files to your device or media player, you can use its native shuffle function to listen offline. Unlike Apple Music's built-in playback controls, the shuffle options will depend on your specific player's software. Most media players offer intuitive shuffle controls that allow you to play by folder, playlist, album, or across your entire local library.
This provides an alternative way to manage random playback when you prefer a local music workflow instead of streaming directly through Apple Music.
If you enjoy listening to music as local files like Apple Music above, you may also want more flexibility than the built-in shuffle features offered by services like Spotify, Tidal, or SoundCloud. For a more flexible listening experience across different music services, you can try AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder. It's an all-in-one tool that supports more than ten popular streaming platforms and can save music in up to lossless audio quality, giving you more control over how you organize and play your music locally.
Part 4. FAQs About Apple Music Shuffle
Why Does Apple Music Shuffle Keep Playing the Same Songs?
Apple Music Shuffle is designed to change the playback order, but random playback does not necessarily mean that every song will be played once before any song is repeated. The result can also depend on the current playlist, album, library, or playback queue. If you have a relatively small collection, repeated tracks may naturally appear sooner than expected.
If the same few songs seem to appear repeatedly, open Playing Next and check the current queue. Also make sure that AutoPlay or another queue setting is not affecting the songs being added to playback.
Does Apple Music Shuffle Play Downloaded Songs First or Stream Online?
By default, Apple Music shuffles your entire selected library/playlist regardless of download status. If you are offline or want to save cellular data, go to your 'Library > Downloaded' section first, then tap Shuffle at the top of that specific offline folder.
Why Can't I Turn Off Shuffle on Apple Music?
If you can't turn off Shuffle on Apple Music, one of these issues may be responsible:
- Shuffle is still enabled: Check the Playing Next queue and make sure the Shuffle button is no longer highlighted.
- Autoplay or queue settings: Autoplay and the current queue can affect how Apple Music continues playback and which controls are available.
- Temporary app glitch: Apple Music may occasionally fail to register a change correctly. Closing and reopening the app can help.
- Outdated app or system: Check whether Apple Music or your device needs an update.
- Different device interface: The location and appearance of the Shuffle control vary across iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, the web, and Apple Watch.
How Can I Get 'True' Random Shuffle Without Apple's Algorithm Restrictions?
Since Apple Music enforces DRM and algorithmic weighting on streaming tracks, the built-in shuffle often feels biased or limited on non-Apple media players. To achieve 100% unrestricted shuffle across any DAP, car stereo, or local media software (like VLC or Foobar2000), you can convert Apple Music tracks to DRM-free local MP3/FLAC files using AudFree Apple Music Converter and play them on a truly neutral local file player.
See also: How to Add Apple Music to Foobar2000
Conclusion
In short, it's easy to turn Shuffle on or off Apple Music across iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, the web, and Apple Watch. In most cases, you only need to start playing music, find the Shuffle control, and tap or click it to change its status.
If the Shuffle button is missing or unavailable, check the current playback queue and AutoPlay settings first. And if you want to use your Apple Music collection with a dedicated music player or another device outside the Apple Music app, preparing local audio files can give you more flexibility over how your music is organized and played.
Staff Editor
