This article explains how to select a song track, album, or other media from the iTunes Store and give it as a gift. These instructions apply to iTunes 11 and later and to the Music app in macOS Catalina (10.15) and later.

What to Know

  • Select the Music tab in iTunes (or choose iTunes Store in the Music app). Locate a song. Select the arrow next to the price.Choose Gift This Song. Enter the recipient’s email address, a message, and a time frame for delivery.Select a theme and choose Buy Gift on the confirmation screen. The recipient receives a link to download the song.

How to Gift a Song on iTunes

An iTunes credit is a failsafe gift option for any music lover, but sometimes, giving the gift of a specific song or album is more thoughtful.

When you know what the recipient likes, gifting a song is a surefire way to please them. Here’s how to do it.

  • In iTunes, select the Music tab in the iTunes Store. (In the Music app, select iTunes Store in the left sidebar. All other steps remain the same.)
  • Search for the song you want to gift. To speed things up, you may want to use the search box near the upper-right corner of the screen.
  • When you find the song you want to gift, select the drop-down arrow next to the purchase price.
  • Select Gift This Song in the menu that appears.
  • If you aren’t signed in to your Apple account, a dialog box appears after you click the Gift options asking for your security credentials. Enter your Apple ID and password, and select Sign In.
  • A window appears with the title “App Store & iTunes Gift.” Enter the email address of the person you want to send the gift to.
  • To include a message, enter it in the Message (optional) text box.
  • Choose a date to send the gift. Your options are either Now or Other Date. If sending your gift on a future date, specify when to send it using the calendar options.
  • Select Next when you finish entering this information.
  • Choose a theme for your gift. You’ll see a preview of how your gift will appear in the recipient’s email on the right of the screen. Select Next to continue.
  • On the confirmation screen, check that the details are correct. Then select Buy Gift to finalize the purchase.
  • The recipient will receive an email with a link they use to download the title at no cost to them.

How to Gift a Complete Album on iTunes

Gifting an album is similar to giving a song. Use the drop-down menu next to the album price and select Gift This Album. Follow the same instructions as for gifting a song to complete your purchase.

Beginning with macOS Catalina (10.15), Apple replaced iTunes on the Mac with three apps: Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV. The Music app contains the iTunes Store, so you can still gift songs.

In iTunes, select the Music tab in the iTunes Store. (In the Music app, select iTunes Store in the left sidebar. All other steps remain the same.)

Search for the song you want to gift. To speed things up, you may want to use the search box near the upper-right corner of the screen.

When you find the song you want to gift, select the drop-down arrow next to the purchase price.

Select Gift This Song in the menu that appears.

If you aren’t signed in to your Apple account, a dialog box appears after you click the Gift options asking for your security credentials. Enter your Apple ID and password, and select Sign In.

A window appears with the title “App Store & iTunes Gift.” Enter the email address of the person you want to send the gift to.

To include a message, enter it in the Message (optional) text box.

Choose a date to send the gift. Your options are either Now or Other Date. If sending your gift on a future date, specify when to send it using the calendar options.

Select Next when you finish entering this information.

Choose a theme for your gift. You’ll see a preview of how your gift will appear in the recipient’s email on the right of the screen. Select Next to continue.

On the confirmation screen, check that the details are correct. Then select Buy Gift to finalize the purchase.

The recipient will receive an email with a link they use to download the title at no cost to them.

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