How to Gift a Song on iTunes Using iPhone

How to Gift a Song on iTunes Using Your iPhone

There is very little that beats the feeling of sharing a track that reminds you of someone, or introducing a friend to an absolute earworm. If you want to send a musical gift straight from your pocket, Apple’s ecosystem makes it possible—though it comes with a few specific guidelines depending on whether you are sending an entire album or just a single track.

This guide walks you through how gifting works on iOS, what you need to know about single tracks versus albums, and alternative workarounds if you are trying to share a single song.

Understanding iOS Gifting: Single Songs vs. Albums

Before diving into the steps, it helps to know how Apple structures mobile gifting:

• Full Albums: You can gift a full album directly from your iPhone or iPad using the iTunes Store app.
• Individual Songs: Apple’s iOS version of the iTunes Store app natively supports gifting albums, but gifting individual single tracks requires a computer (Mac or Windows PC).

If you want to gift an entire album right now from your phone, follow the steps below. If you only want to send one specific song, check out the workaround section further down!

Step-by-Step: How to Gift an Album from Your iPhone

If you have found an album your friend will love, sending it over takes just a few taps:

1. Open the iTunes Store App: Locate and open the iTunes Store app on your iPhone. (If you don’t see it on your home screen, swipe down to use Spotlight search).
2. Find the Album: Search for or browse to the album you want to gift. Tap on it to open its dedicated page.
3. Tap the Share Button: Look toward the top-right corner of the screen and tap the Share icon (the box with an arrow pointing upward).
4. Select “Gift”: From the pop-up menu of sharing options, tap Gift. (Note: If you don’t see this option, ensure you are looking at an album rather than a single song).
5. Enter Recipient Details:
   • Type in your friend or family member’s Apple Account email address.
   • Add an optional personal message to give it a warmer touch.
   • Choose a future date if you want the gift to arrive on a special occasion, like a birthday.
6. Confirm and Purchase: Review everything, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your password, and complete the purchase. Your recipient will receive an email notification with a Redeem button to download the album straight to their device.

Workaround: How to Gift a Single Song

If you only want to send one single track and want to use your iPhone to kick things off, you have a couple of clever choices:

• The Desktop Route: Hop onto a Mac or Windows PC, open the Apple Music/iTunes app, navigate to the song, click the arrow next to the price, and select “Gift This Song.”
• Gift an Apple Gift Card: Send your friend a digital Apple Gift Card via email directly from your iPhone (via the App Store app under your profile icon -> Send Gift Card by Email). Include a note saying, “Use this to grab that track we were listening to!”
• Share a Direct Link: If you aren’t set on buying it for them, tap the Share button on the single song inside iTunes or Apple Music and text them a direct link. They can easily pull it up and stream or purchase it on their own device.

Troubleshooting Quick Tips

• Region Match: The recipient’s Apple Account must be registered in the same country or region as yours. (For example, a U.S. account cannot gift media to an Australian account).
• Family Sharing Restrictions: If you use Family Sharing and have “Ask to Buy” enabled, you won’t be able to purchase gifts until it’s resolved.
• Resending a Gift: Typed an email address wrong? Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Gifts, select the unredeemed gift, correct the email, and tap Resend Gift.