Use Shuffle and Repeat in Apple Music on Windows

At a glance

Control Shuffle and Repeat in Apple Music for Windows to randomize or loop playback within playlists, albums, or your entire library. The app uses icon colour changes for feedback, lets you restore album order without editing files, and applies repeat scope to the current view or queue. Confirm your playback settings with clear visual cues in the app.

In this guide

1. Quick controls and how to use them
2. Repeat-one vs repeat collection (repeat-all)
3. Active state and visual confirmation
4. Queue scope and where repeat applies
5. Restore album order without changing files
6. Verification and troubleshooting steps

Shuffle and repeat play in the Apple Music app for Windows are controlled directly from the playback area while any song is playing. Shuffle randomizes playback order within albums, playlists, or your current view, while repeat can be set to loop either the entire collection in view or just the currently playing track. The interface changes icon colours to reflect each active state, ensuring you can always verify which mode is enabled. Changing these modes does not alter your underlying music files or metadata.

Quick controls and how to use them

To access shuffle and repeat, start any song so that playback is active. The Apple Music app presents three core controls:

• Shuffle: Randomizes upcoming track order. Click the Shuffle icon in the playback controls; it brightens to indicate shuffle mode is on.
• Repeat (repeat-all): Loops the current collection after reaching the end. Click the Repeat icon once; when highlighted, repeat-all is active.
• Repeat One: Loops the current track continuously. Continue clicking the Repeat icon until a small 1 appears, showing that Repeat One is enabled.

This sequence must be performed while music is playing, or the controls remain inactive. At any time, click the respective icons to cycle between modes: repeat-all, repeat-one, and turning repeat off (icon greys out).

Repeat-one vs repeat collection (repeat-all)

Two distinct options for repeat exist:

• Repeat One: Cycles only the current track. The Repeat icon shows both a coloured state and a small 1.
• Repeat Collection (repeat-all): Loops all tracks from the current view—playlist, album, or whatever view the playback was started from. Only the Repeat icon is coloured.

The distinction is practical: repeat-one loops just a single track, while repeat-all covers whatever scope is currently queued. Unless playback starts from your entire library, repeat-all applies only to the visible or selected set of tracks.

Active state and visual confirmation

1. Initiate playback on a desired track.
2. Activate Shuffle by clicking its icon; confirmation appears via a colour change.
3. Set Repeat via its icon: coloured for repeat-all, coloured plus 1 for repeat-one. Clicking until grey disables all repeat modes.

For confirmation, observe the track sequence as playback proceeds. Under Shuffle, tracks play in a randomized order. When Repeat One is enabled, the selected track restarts automatically after finishing. With Repeat Collection, playback returns to the first item in the list upon reaching the end.

Queue scope and where repeat applies

The content affected by Shuffle or Repeat depends on both where you start playback and the Up Next queue in the app:

• If you start with an album or a playlist, repeat-all will loop just those items.
• If you begin playback from a broader context, like your full library or a smart playlist, repeat-all will include everything visible in that selection.
• Shuffle randomizes only what is queued; starting shuffle from a selected album or playlist affects just that selection.

Before setting repeat, review the Up Next queue (click the queue icon) to verify which tracks are included. Repeat collection applies only to those tracks in the active queue, providing granular control over listening sequences.

Restore album order without changing files

If album tracks appear in the wrong order inside the app, you can adjust their sequence for playback without modifying your actual files. Follow these steps:

1. Open the album in your library so only its tracks display in the main view.
2. Use the sort controls or click the Track Number column header to restore the intended sequence. If available, ensure track numbers are visible for reference.
3. Confirm the Up Next queue reflects the correct order by checking its contents before playing, then start playback from this album view.

These adjustments influence playback and display only within the app interface. The original album file order and metadata remain unchanged.

Verification and troubleshooting steps

1. Play a single track, set Repeat to repeat-one (1 appears), and let playback finish to verify the track restarts automatically.
2. Start a playlist or album, enable repeat-all (Repeat icon coloured), allow playback to reach the end, and confirm the first item replays.
3. For Shuffle, select a collection (such as an album), enable Shuffle, then check the Up Next queue to ensure the tracks are randomized and match only that collection.
4. If playback order seems incorrect, display or sort by track number within the album to clarify the intended sequence, then adjust if needed.

Example — checking repeat scope for a mixtape

Scenario: You have a 12-track mixtape saved as an album in Apple Music for Windows.
Steps:
1. Select the album so the app displays only its 12 tracks.
2. Press Play on track 1, then set Repeat to repeat-all (icon coloured).
3. Allow playback to run through all tracks; track 1 should play automatically after track 12 ends.
4. To loop only track 7, start playback on track 7 and set Repeat so the small 1 appears.

For further tips, test Shuffle and Repeat using a single album; check the Track Number column to ensure correct sequence, then observe the Up Next queue as playback proceeds.

Related: Make a Local Music Playlist in Apple Music for Windows and Build Useful Smart Playlist Rules in Apple Music.