Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

How to Use iOS 18.4's New Ambient Music Feature in Control Center

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,504
37,793


The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone adds an Ambient Music feature to Control Center. Below, we take a closer look at how it works.

iOS-18-4-Ambient-Music-Control-Center.jpg

iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, so the Ambient Music feature is not widely available yet. The update will likely be released to the general public next week.

To use the feature on iOS 18.4, open Control Center and tap on the plus sign in the top-left corner. Then, tap on "Add a Control" at the bottom of the screen, scroll down to the Ambient Music section, and add one or more of the controls.

Here is how Apple describes the four Ambient Music themes:
  • Sleep: Music for a restful sleep.
  • Chill: Music for relaxation.
  • Productivity: Music for focusing on tasks.
  • Wellbeing: Music for meditation and self-care.
You can add any of the four Ambient Music controls to your Control Center, and then tap on one to start a playlist of songs that matches the theme. The feature is free and easy to use, with no Apple Music subscription or app download required.

While the Ambient Music feature is turned on, music controls will appear on the screen, and there is also Dynamic Island integration on newer iPhones.

There are four playlists available for each theme, or you can set your own. To change the playlist, open Control Center, and then tap on the plus sign in the top-left corner of the screen. Next, tap on an Ambient Music control that you added to Control Center, and tap on the playlist name. A drop-down menu will show additional playlist options.
  • Sleep: Sleep Sounds, Bedtime Beats, Sound Bath, and Piano Sleep.
  • Chill: Piano Chill, Ambient Chill, Lo-Fi Jazz, and Pure Chill.
  • Productivity: BEATstrumentals, Binaural Frequencies, Pure Focus, and Classical Concentration.
  • Wellbeing: Pure Meditation, Spa, Beats & Breath, and Pure Calm.
To update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, once the update is released, open the Settings app and select General → Software Update.

Article Link: How to Use iOS 18.4's New Ambient Music Feature in Control Center
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/27/ios-18-4-new-music-feature/
  • Like
Reactions: katbel, ipedro and adrianlondon
blodyholy said:
I’m confused as to why this feature was relegated to the control center only? Seems like a stand alone or Music app integration as well makes sense.
Click to expand...
Because the control center allows 2 touch access if it's placed higher on the page. It's for common regular daily work or personal wellness needs. Verses accessing your Music app, where these stations exist along with dozens of other options that only trigger more ADHD content choice overload that you can't change the menu order of.

e.g. I've saved the Pure Focus playlist in Apple Music, and I use it many times a week, but it's never/rarely shown on my inital Apple Music load home screen, unless it's in recently played and I haven't listened to more than 3 other items. I have to search for it or click and scroll across many playlists just to find it.

Apple is making a user friendly iOS UI surfacing of several of its existing ambient Apple Music playlists, free for all iOS users regardless of Apple Music subscription. This is a great example of Apple doing human-centered design aligned with digital wellness.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: reinem85, GlassFingers, UpsetTheAppleCart and 1 other person
This looks like a cool addition.

I'm also a big fan of MyNoise, which has just tons and tons of sound/music generators that run the gamut from ambient to meditative to nature and environmental. The really cool part is that it lets you customize each one (like, dial down the sound of birds in a forest scene, for example). The sound gens are also purchases, not subscription. Not affiliated with it, just a big fan.
 
This is nice but Apple Music needs a Sleep Timer like the Podcasts app. Can't really use any of the sleep or meditation playlists on Apple Music because otherwise they play all night.

Also can't use the Timer app as a workaround because then you have to change the timer sound every time you need to set an actual timer.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: apples_arrogance, Mrkevinfinnerty, CPx and 1 other person
PPGMD said:
Will this crash as often as the Music app?
Click to expand...

No, the music app is undefeated in that area.

You can however turn on bedtime beats by accident all the time which will relax you as the Music app kicks you back to the home screen, again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back