Yes if you have an Android device (unfortunately, Apple doesn’t allow direct downloading of music to iOS devices like iPhones or iPads). You could, however, use our app and conveniently stream your purchases, including via Android Auto or Chromecast.”
But please keep in mind that downloading music files to an Android phone isn’t always straightforward. There are two sets of instructions below for downloading to your Android: a simple version and a more involved version. If you have a Samsung phone, you can likely get by with the simple instructions, and otherwise you may want to try the more involved ones.
Simple download instructions
- Download the .zip file from Bandcamp.
- In your downloads folder, tap on the .zip file to open it, and press Extract. If your phone won’t open the .zip file, take a look at the unzipping instructions below.
- Open Play Music and listen to your tunes.
More involved download instructions
- Download the .zip file from Bandcamp.
- In your Downloads folder, tap on the .zip file to open it. If it won’t open, download an app like File Manager or something similar. More info
- Unzip the file to your Downloads folder, and then move the unzipped music to the Music folder in your phone’s file system. More info
- Open Play Music and listen to your tunes.
If neither of these sets of instructions work, you may need to download to a computer first, then sync to your device.
Troubleshooting
In case you hit a snag when downloading to your Android phone, here’s how to solve a few of the more common problems. Also, see the download instructions above for reference.
Download a format you can play
It probably goes without saying, but make sure you have an app that can play the format of file you’re downloading. If you’re unsure, go for the standard MP3 option.
If you’re going to download FLAC, get an app that can play it and make sure you have a decent connection. FLAC album files are pretty big and if your connection flakes out you’ll end up with a corrupted .zip file.
Install an unzipping app
If you’re downloading an album and your phone can’t open .zip files, you’re going to need an app that can extract them (single tracks download as regular audio files, so no need to unzip). Try a file management app like File Manager by ASUS Computer Inc. The instructions on how to move your music to the correct folder below will assume you are using that app.
If you don’t have an app installed that can handle .zip files, your phone may refuse to complete the download at all.
Unzip and move the music to your Music folder
Your download will usually land in your Downloads folder, and you’ll want to move it to your Music folder, which will probably be /sdcard/Music. The directions below assume you are using File Manager to unzip your files.
If you downloaded a track and not an album, you can skip steps 3 through 5.
- Open “File Manager”.
- Tap “Downloads”, which brings you to root / sdcard / Download.
- Tap the .zip file you downloaded.
- Tap “Extract”, and press OK on the following screen.
- After it finishes extracting, press the Back button to return to root / sdcard / Download. The first item in Download should be your new folder.
- Long-press on your new folder of music to select it.
- In the options menu in the upper right, tap “Move to”.
- In the “Move to” dialog, tap “Internal storage” and then select “Music” and press OK.
- Open Play Music and listen to your tunes.
Help us to help you
If you’re looking at this page and thinking “That’s not how my phone works!” don’t just sit and stew – email us with your corrections, ideas and handy tips for making downloading music on Android a fun hobby for all the family.