You’re sitting on your couch, scrolling through your library, and that one song comes on. You know the one. The one where you absolutely have to hit that high note or pretend you’re headlining Glastonbury. For years, we all just mumbled through the parts we didn't know or screamed over the original vocals. But then Apple dropped Apple Music Sing, and honestly, it changed the vibe of house parties and solo car sessions forever.
It’s basically a studio-grade karaoke machine tucked inside your iPhone.
But here’s the thing: just hitting the lyrics button isn’t the whole story. Most people miss the nuance. They don't realize they can actually control the mix or that their older iPad might be the reason the "Sing" button is missing. If you want to know how to do karaoke on Apple Music without looking like a tech-illiterate amateur when the mic passes to you, there are a few specific boxes you need to tick first.
The Hardware Hurdle: Why You Might Not See the Mic
Before you get excited, we need to talk about your gear. This isn't just a software update; it’s a processing power thing. Apple Music Sing uses an on-device machine learning algorithm to strip vocals in real-time. That takes some serious "brainpower" from the chip.
If you’re rocking an iPhone 11 or anything older, you’re out of luck. You’ll see the lyrics, sure, but that little microphone icon—the magic wand of karaoke—won’t show up. You need an iPhone 11 or later, or one of the newer iPads (like the iPad Air 4th gen or the iPad Pro with the M1/M2 chips). Even the Apple TV 4K got in on the action, but only the 2022 version or newer.
It's kinda annoying if you have a perfectly functional iPhone X, but that’s the price of real-time audio processing.
Step-by-Step: Finding the "Secret" Slider
Open the Music app. Pick a track—maybe something by SZA or some classic Queen. Start playing it.
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Look at the bottom left. You’ll see the Lyrics icon (it looks like a little speech bubble with quotation marks). Tap that. Now, if your device is compatible and the song supports it, a tiny microphone icon with stars around it will appear just above the play/pause controls.
Tap the mic.
Boom. You’re in Sing mode. But don't stop there. This isn't just an "on or off" switch. If you press and hold that mic icon, or just slide your finger up and down on it, you can actually adjust the volume of the original vocals. You can mute the artist entirely if you’re feeling confident, or leave them as a subtle backing track if you’re worried about forgetting the melody. It’s a literal fader for the lead singer's voice.
The Duet Dilemma and Background Vocals
Apple actually did something pretty smart with the lyric display here. In the past, lyrics just scrolled by like a boring teleprompter. Now, if you’re doing a duet—think "Under Pressure" or "shallow"—the lyrics actually split.
One singer’s lines appear on the left, the other’s on the right.
If both are singing, the text centers. It makes it way easier to figure out who is supposed to be doing what without that awkward "Oh, was that my part?" moment. Plus, background vocals are often rendered in a smaller font or animated differently so you don't get them mixed up with the main hook.
Why Some Songs Won't Let You Sing
You’ll notice pretty quickly that not every song has the mic icon. It’s not a glitch.
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Apple has to "optimize" songs for this. While the library is massive—millions of tracks—some niche indie releases or older recordings might not have the vocal separation metadata ready yet. Honestly, if it’s a Top 40 hit from the last thirty years, you’re probably fine. If it’s a deep-cut B-side from a 1964 jazz session, don’t hold your breath.
Pro Tip: The Continuity Camera Trick
If you’re using an Apple TV 4K to host a party, there’s a feature most people ignore: Continuity Camera.
You can actually use your iPhone or iPad as a webcam for your TV. Your face (and your friends' faces) will appear on the big screen alongside the lyrics. It adds these trippy filters and effects that react to the music. It’s basically like being in a 2000s music video. You just place your iPhone near the TV, facing you, and select the camera icon on the screen. It’s a game-changer for parties.
Making It Sound Better (The Latency Issue)
Nothing kills the vibe faster than audio lag. If you’re trying to figure out how to do karaoke on Apple Music while using Bluetooth headphones, you might notice a tiny delay. Your voice and the music won't perfectly sync up in your head.
For the best experience, use wired speakers or your device’s built-in speakers. Bluetooth is great for casual listening, but for "performance," the latency can be a buzzkill. If you are using an Apple TV, make sure your "Wireless Audio Sync" is calibrated in the settings. This uses your iPhone’s microphone to measure how long it takes for sound to travel from your TV to your ears, then adjusts the video/lyrics to match perfectly.
Actionable Next Steps to Perfect Your Performance
- Check your version: Ensure you’re on the latest iOS or iPadOS. Apple frequently adds "Sing" support to more of the catalog with system updates.
- Find the Playlists: Search for "Sing" in the Apple Music search bar. Apple has curated dozens of "Sing" playlists ranging from "80s Classics" to "J-Pop" that are specifically optimized for the karaoke feature.
- Grab a Mic: If you’re serious, buy a cheap third-party Bluetooth microphone that has a built-in speaker. It won't "connect" to the app, but it gives you something to hold, which—honestly—is half the fun.
- Adjust the Mix: Don't be afraid to keep the original vocals at about 20% volume. It fills out the sound and hides any accidental off-key moments.
Karaoke is supposed to be messy and fun. Apple just made it a lot more accessible. Now go find a song you actually know the words to and start sliding that vocal fader down.