How do I control Apple Music on my PC from my phone?
Install SofaDeck on the PC and pair your phone. Its Play/Pause, Next and Previous buttons send the Windows media keys, which the Apple Music app for Windows follows, and the Now playing card shows the song and artist on the phone. Volume buttons and voice ("next song", "volume 40") work too. It's free, and it works from an iPhone or an Android phone.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
Apple Music on Windows is an app from the Microsoft Store, and like the Music app on a Mac it listens to the keyboard's media keys. SofaDeck sends exactly those keys from your phone, so a phone across the room controls the music playing on the PC's speakers.
On Windows, SofaDeck also reads Windows' own media session list, the one the volume flyout shows, so the phone shows the song, the artist and the app that's playing.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the PC that plays the music.
- Pair your phone with the QR code and PIN. Any phone works, including Android.
- Add Previous, Play / Pause and Next as Media buttons, and Volume − / + (or use the Media remote template).
- Add a button that opens the Apple Music app from SofaDeck's imported Start Menu and Store apps.
- Open Now playing on the phone to see the current song.
Buttons to add for Apple Music
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play / Pause | Media key: Play/Pause | Pauses and resumes Apple Music. | Free |
| Next | Media key: Next track | Next song. | Free |
| Previous | Media key: Previous track | Previous song (or back to the start of this one). | Free |
| Volume − / + | Media keys: Volume down, Volume up | The PC's volume. | Free |
| Mute | Media key: Mute | Mutes the PC. | Free |
| Volume 30% | Set volume: 30% | Jumps straight to a set volume. | Free |
| Apple Music | App: Apple Music for Windows (imported Store app) | Opens the app. | Free |
| Apple Music web | Website: music.apple.com | Opens Apple Music in the browser instead. | Free |
| Screen off | PC power: screen off | Display off, music keeps playing. | Free |
| Sleep timer | Sleep timer | Stops the music by putting the PC to sleep later. | Free |
The free version holds one page of 12 buttons, so start with the ones you reach for most; Pro removes the limit.
Or just say it
Tap the microphone on the phone (or type in the say-or-type bar) and SofaDeck runs the command on the PC. Any button also runs by saying its label. The full voice command list has the rest.
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
next song / skip this | Media Next key. |
what's playing | Reads the song and artist from Windows' Now Playing. |
volume 40 | Sets the PC's volume. |
open Apple Music | Opens your Apple Music button, or music.apple.com if there's none. |
What's free and what needs Pro
Everything on this page is in the free version. Pro (from $6.99 once, no subscription) adds more pages, hotkey combos, macros and Smart pages that switch the phone to your Apple Music page when Apple Music comes to the front (Windows), if you want more later. See Pro.
Limits, honestly
- SofaDeck doesn't browse your Apple Music library or playlists on the phone; it controls playback on the PC.
- Media keys go to the app Windows considers active; if a browser video is also playing, pause it first.
- Now playing is Windows-only. On a Mac, SofaDeck sends the media keys to the Music app (allow it under Accessibility) but doesn't show the song.
- "play <song> on Spotify" is a Spotify search; there is no equivalent Apple Music search phrase.
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) and on the Mac (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). The phone needs only a browser: iPhone or Android, no app to install, on the same Wi-Fi as the PC.
Other ways to control Apple Music from your phone
On a Mac with an iPhone, AirPlay and the Music app's own controls are the most direct way. For an Apple Music library on Windows, or when the phone is an Android, SofaDeck gives you a remote without installing anything on the phone.
Apple Music is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Apple Music. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control Apple Music on Windows from an Android phone?
Yes. SofaDeck's remote opens in any phone's browser, so an Android phone controls Apple Music on the PC the same way an iPhone does.
Is it free?
Yes. Media keys, volume, Now playing and voice are all free.
Does it work with iTunes?
Yes, iTunes on Windows also follows the media keys.