Google Outlines Final Shutdown Timeline for Play Music
Google reveals the exact schedule for shutting down Google Play Music as it pushes users to YouTube Music, ending music purchases this month and app access in October.
Google shares the final shutdown timeline for Google Play Music as the company pushes users to transition to YouTube Music. Starting in late August, users lose the ability to purchase or pre-order music from the Play Store, and the Music Manager desktop app stops working entirely. This change marks a significant shift as Google fully embraces streaming over digital downloads.
The actual deprecation of the Google Play Music app begins in September for users in New Zealand and South Africa before expanding to all other countries in October. However, Google keeps Play Music playlists, uploads, purchases, and likes available until December to give users ample time to move their data. People also have the option to use the Google Takeout tool to download their information or delete it completely.
To encourage the transition, Google highlights several recent additions to YouTube Music, including collaborative playlists with machine learning song suggestions and a redesigned now playing interface on Android. YouTube Music also arrives on Android TV and integrates directly with Google Maps for navigation playback. These features aim to make the successor service a compelling upgrade for loyal Play Music listeners.