You're probably tired of clicking on those sketchy YouTube videos promising "unlimited 10-year codes" that just lead to a survey about your car’s extended warranty. Honestly, we've all been there. The internet is flooded with junk when it comes to apple music free codes, but here’s the reality: Apple isn't just handing out free money, but they are desperate for your long-term subscription data.
That desperation is your leverage.
Getting Apple Music for free is less about "hacking" and more about knowing which massive corporations are currently subsidizing the cost for you. Best Buy, Shazam, and even certain mobile carriers basically pay Apple on your behalf so they can look like the good guys. It's a win-win, provided you know where to look and—more importantly—how to stack these offers without getting blocked by the "New Subscribers Only" fine print.
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The Shazam Loophole Everyone Forgets
Shazam is owned by Apple. Because of that, it’s basically a permanent fountain of apple music free codes for anyone who knows how to navigate the app. You don't even need to identify a song to find it. Usually, there’s a banner hiding in the settings or the "My Music" section of the app that offers anywhere from two to five months for free.
Sometimes, they run seasonal promotions. During the holidays or major music events like the Grammys, Shazam has been known to bump these offers up. The trick is that even if you've been a subscriber before, Shazam's "trial" often resets after twelve months of inactivity. If you haven't paid for a sub in a year, try the Shazam link. It works way more often than it should.
Best Buy and the "Digital Purchase" Secret
Best Buy is arguably the most reliable source for these codes in 2026. They have a "Digital Download" section on their website where they "sell" Apple Music subscriptions for $0.00. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s a legitimate lead-generation tactic.
You "buy" the item, check out with a standard Best Buy account, and within ten minutes, an email hits your inbox with a unique redemption link.
The caveat? These are almost always for new subscribers only. However, "new" is a flexible term in the database world. If you use a different Apple ID—maybe that old iCloud account you used for your iPad three years ago—the code will usually fire right up. Just remember that if you go this route, your playlists won't transfer over automatically. You'd have to use a third-party tool like SongShift to move your library from the old account to the new one.
Why Your Mobile Carrier is Holding Out on You
Verizon, EE, and Vodafone have been bake-in partners with Apple for years. If you’re on a mid-tier or "Unlimited" plan, there is a very high statistical probability that you already have an apple music free code waiting in your carrier's app.
- Open your carrier’s "Benefits" or "Add-ons" section.
- Look for "Entertainment" or "Media."
- Check for a toggle that says "Apple Music Included."
Verizon, for example, often includes Apple Music in their "5G Get More" or similar legacy plans. People pay their bills for months without realizing they're also paying for a subscription they aren't using. It’s not exactly a "code" you type in, but rather a server-side entitlement. You just click "activate," and Apple recognizes your phone number as a paid-up member.
The Student Discount and the UNiDAYS Verification
If you have an .edu email address, you aren't just getting a code; you’re getting a lifestyle subsidy. Apple Music for students is roughly half the price of a standard sub, and it usually comes with Apple TV+ bundled in for free.
They use a service called UNiDAYS to verify you’re actually enrolled. If you've graduated but still have access to your alumni email, try it. Sometimes the verification system is lax, though in recent years, they’ve started requiring a portal login for the university. If you’re a student and you’re paying full price, you’re basically donating money to the world’s most valuable company for no reason. Stop doing that.
Avoiding the "Generator" Scams
Let's talk about what doesn't work. If a website asks you to "verify you're human" by downloading two apps or playing a game to Level 10 to unlock your apple music free codes, leave immediately. These sites are phishing for your data or trying to get affiliate payouts from app installs.
There is no software that "generates" a valid 16-digit Apple redemption code. Those codes are generated on Apple’s secure servers and activated only when a retailer like Target or Best Buy completes a transaction. Anyone claiming to have a "keygen" for Apple Music is lying to you. Period.
Target Circle: The New Player in Free Music
Target has become a massive contender in the digital rewards space. Their "Target Circle" loyalty program—which is free to join—frequently lists 2-month or 3-month Apple Music trials.
The beauty of the Target codes is that they often apply to "returning" subscribers who haven't had an active sub in the last six months. It's a much wider net than the "New Users Only" restriction you find on the Apple website itself. You sign up for Circle, go to the "Partners" tab in the app, and the code is usually sitting there right next to a free trial for iCloud+ storage.
The "New Device" Buffer
Buying a new pair of AirPods, a HomePod, or an iPhone? You get six months. That’s the standard. But here is what most people miss: you only have 90 days from the moment you first pair that device to claim the offer.
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If you wait four months, the "Redeem Now" button in your Settings app will vanish. If you just bought tech and don't see the offer, make sure your OS is updated. Apple hides these prompts in the "Service" section under your Apple ID name in the main settings menu.
Actionable Steps to Get Your Music Now
Stop searching for random strings of numbers on Reddit. Instead, follow this sequence to get the most mileage out of your hunt:
- Check Shazam first. It's the lowest barrier to entry. Open the app, go to settings, and look for the promotional link.
- Search Best Buy for "$0.00 Apple Music." Add it to your cart and check out. It takes five minutes.
- Join Target Circle. It’s free and offers a much better chance for "Returning" users to get 2-3 months without creating a new Apple ID.
- Audit your phone plan. Call your carrier or check the app. You might already be paying for this.
- The "New ID" Reset. If you’re truly desperate and have a massive library you don't want to lose, use an app like TuneMyMusic or SongShift to copy your playlists to a secondary Apple ID, then use a "New User" code from Best Buy on that second account.
Once you've redeemed a code, immediately go into your subscriptions and "Cancel." Apple allows you to keep the trial active until the expiration date, but cancelling now prevents that $10.99 (or whatever the current rate is) from hitting your card the second the trial ends.
Stay away from "code generator" sites. Stick to the retailers. Apple's ecosystem is a walled garden, but the gates are always left open for people willing to look for the right promo link.