Apple Music's AutoMix: AI-Powered DJ Feature in iOS 26 Goes Viral

AutoMix on iOS 26 is going viral. Here's how to try the hottest iPhone feature yourself

Think of AutoMix as an on-command, AI-powered DJ that transitions songs almost as well as a professional. Apple Music users have often watched Spotify take the lead when it comes to innovative features and personalized listening experiences. But with the introduction of the new AutoMix feature, Apple Music may finally be closing the gap -- and even setting a new standard of its own. Also: How to install iOS 26 beta on your iPhone (and which models support it) At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) last week, the company unveiled upgrades to Apple Music, including the ability to pin artists to the top of the display menu, AI-powered lyrics translation, the lyrics pronunciation option, animated cover art on your lock screen, and an AutoMix feature that's taking the internet by storm. As seen in the video above, AutoMix seamlessly transitions between songs, using AI to match the tempo and beat of the upcoming track, which is automatically selected using Autoplay. Apple describes it in Settings as "songs transition at the perfect moment, based on analysis of the key and tempo of the music." Also: ZDNET's WWDC 2025 recap with Sabrina Ortiz and Jason Hiner The feature builds on the previously available Crossfade option, which enabled smoother transitions between songs but did not mix the two songs together the way a DJ would. While Spotify users may be quick to point out that they had an AI DJ first, it's worth noting the differences. Spotify's AI DJ includes a narrated experience that guides listeners through tracks, placing less emphasis on seamless transitions and more on commentary and curation.. The iOS 26 update doesn't launch until the fall. As a result, to access AutoMix now, you have to install the developer beta. The beta gives users access to all of the latest features available in iOS 26, but since the features are not fully developed, you risk your device not performing at optimized efficiency and the features being buggy. Also: Spotify now lets you create an AI-made playlist with just a text prompt The beta version of the AutoMix feature, in particular, is pretty great, as seen in the video above and in my own experience. However, it is not representative of what the final experience will be, as Apple will likely iterate on the feature a couple of times before launching. If you are interested in downloading the developer beta, you can visit ZDNET's guide with step-by-step instructions. Once you have it downloaded, accessing AutoMix is easy. The steps are: click on Settings, Apps, Music, and Song Transitions. After toggling Song Transitions on, you can select AutoMix, and you are set. Alternatively, you can type "AutoMix" in the search bar in settings, toggle Song Transitions on, and tap AutoMix. You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sabrinaa.ortiz/.

How to use the viral AutoMix feature on iOS 26 (and which iPhone models support it)

Think of AutoMix as an on-command, AI-powered DJ that transitions songs almost as well as a professional. Apple Music users have often watched Spotify take the lead when it comes to innovative features and personalized listening experiences. But with the introduction of the new AutoMix feature, Apple Music may finally be closing the gap -- and even setting a new standard of its own. Also: How to install iOS 26 beta on your iPhone (and which models support it) At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) last week, the company unveiled upgrades to Apple Music, including the ability to pin artists to the top of the display menu, AI-powered lyrics translation, the lyrics pronunciation option, animated cover art on your lock screen, and an AutoMix feature that's taking the internet by storm. As seen in the video above, AutoMix seamlessly transitions between songs, using AI to match the tempo and beat of the upcoming track, which is automatically selected using Autoplay. Apple describes it in Settings as "songs transition at the perfect moment, based on analysis of the key and tempo of the music." Also: ZDNET's WWDC 2025 recap with Sabrina Ortiz and Jason Hiner The feature builds on the previously available Crossfade option, which enabled smoother transitions between songs but did not mix the two songs together the way a DJ would. While Spotify users may be quick to point out that they had an AI DJ first, it's worth noting the differences. Spotify's AI DJ includes a narrated experience that guides listeners through tracks, placing less emphasis on seamless transitions and more on commentary and curation.. The iOS 26 update doesn't launch until the fall. As a result, to access AutoMix now, you have to install the developer beta. The beta gives users access to all of the latest features available in iOS 26, but since the features are not fully developed, you risk your device not performing at optimized efficiency and the features being buggy. Also: Spotify now lets you create an AI-made playlist with just a text prompt The beta version of the AutoMix feature, in particular, is pretty great, as seen in the video above and in my own experience. However, it is not representative of what the final experience will be, as Apple will likely iterate on the feature a couple of times before launching. If you are interested in downloading the developer beta, you can visit ZDNET's guide with step-by-step instructions. Once you have it downloaded, accessing AutoMix is easy. The steps are: click on Settings, Apps, Music, and Song Transitions. After toggling Song Transitions on, you can select AutoMix, and you are set. Alternatively, you can type "AutoMix" in the search bar in settings, toggle Song Transitions on, and tap AutoMix. Apple removed the iPhone XR and XS from its list of supported devices with iOS 26, so any iPhone 11 or newer is compatible with the new operating system, including the iPhone SE. You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sabrinaa.ortiz/.

iOS 26 adds incredible new AutoMix feature to Apple Music - 9to5Mac

iOS 26 is full of new features for the Music app, including more expansive animated album art, in-app support for Apple Music Replay, and new pinning options. Perhaps the most impressive new Apple Music feature of all, however, is a new AutoMix. Here's how it works. Apple explains that AutoMix in Apple Music uses artificial intelligence to analyze the audio features of your music to seamlessly create transitions between songs. The result, Apple says, is a DJ-like listening experience for all Apple Music users: Apple Music delivers an elevated listening experience with AutoMix, which mixes one song into the next, just like a DJ. Using AI to analyze audio features, it crafts unique transitions between songs with time stretching and beat matching to deliver continuous playback and an even more seamless listening experience. When a transition between songs kicks in, you'll see a small "Mixing" animation on the Now Playing screen in the Music app. AutoMix for Apple Music in iOS 26 is enabled by default. You can turn it off by going to the Settings app: In this menu, you can choose between AutoMix or standard crossfade transitions, or disable song transitions altogether. Also worth pointing out: the new AutoMix feature in Apple Music isn't an Apple Intelligence feature. This means it's compatible with all iPhones capable of running iOS 26, which includes the iPhone 11 and newer. Keep in mind that iOS 26 is still in early developer beta, and things can (and will) change between now and when the update is released to the public later this fall. What do you think of the new AutoMix feature in Apple Music on iOS 26? Let us know in the comments.

This new iOS 26 feature for Apple Music is going viral - and as a Spotify fan, I'm feeling very jealous

When Apple hosted its recent WWDC 2025 event, we had our ears to the ground when it came to all things iOS 26, and as a music-streaming obsessive there's one new feature that immediately caught my attention - Apple Music's AutoMix. While Apple announced a total of three new upgrades for one of the best music streaming services, including a handy lyrics-pronunciation feature, it's the highly anticipated AutoMix function that has won over music fans. As someone who stands by their Spotify account I have to say that I like what Apple is doing, and though we'll have to wait until September for a full rollout, the feature has already gone viral. If you're not up to date on all things WWDC, AutoMix is essentially an AI tool in Apple Music that creates unique, on-the-spot mixes between songs - similarly to how a DJ would transition between songs in a live set. It works very differently to your standard crossfade feature found in both Apple Music and Spotify, which simply crosses from one song to another to avoid gaps of silence. It'll be a while yet before all Apple Music users have access to AutoMix - it's currently in developer beta testing, and will enter public beta in July. But thanks to those with early access, my TikTok feed is packed with sneak peaks and first impressions of AutoMix - and right now it's all I'm thinking about. From the videos I'm seeing at the moment, AutoMix creates a seamless playback experience using beat matching and time stretching to connect each song in a queue. And apart from the downside of having to sacrifice the first or last 15-20 seconds of a song for smooth mixing, AutoMix is already looking to be a exciting addition to Apple Music's ecosystem. I'm beginning to warm to certain AI features on music streaming platforms - most recently Spotify's AI DJ - after being put off for years, and so far AutoMix doesn't come across as overly intrusive, a trap that some AI music tools can fall into. Not only is it eliminating those awkward silences between songs like the crossfade function, but it's injecting a lot of fun and hype into listening sessions. Take a look at this TikTok video of Lady Gaga's Scheiße mixing with her recent hit Abracadabra, which has garnered over a million views. Users have been experimenting with lots of different tunes, and even blending different genres. This video of Pink Floyd's Time segueing into Michael Jackson's Thriller shows that AutoMix can work with very different sounds, and beat-match songs with varying BPM. This is also the first time I'm seeing an Apple Music feature make the rounds on the internet in the same way Spotify's Daylist, and even AI DJ, went viral when they were first released. AutoMix has already amped Apple Music's social aspect, providing users with a space where they can engage with other Apple Music users online, and share their reactions and experiences. I think this is a big step in elevating Apple Music's sense of community, even if it's still a way behind Spotify when it comes to social elements. That aside, AutoMix is just a very fun and uplifting new feature that I can't wait to see arrive with the full iOS 26 rollout - I hope Spotify is watching, and taking notes.