AMExclusive (AME) is an open-source project designed specifically for Apple Music on Windows. It adds WASAPI exclusive audio output and forces Apple Music to use the highest available audio quality, with the goal of turning Apple Music into a more capable Hi-Fi player that can achieve bit-perfect output on supported hardware and configurations.
- Windows 11 x64
- Apple Music for Windows file version
1.6.4.90 - Verified package/framework build
1.1540.23042.0x64
This project has only been validated with the development and test versions listed above. Its behavior on other Apple Music versions is not guaranteed.
-
WASAPI exclusive output
Sends audio directly to the selected Windows output device in exclusive mode, avoiding the normal shared-mode Windows audio mixing path. -
Forced highest audio quality
Removes Apple Music's native low-bandwidth quality downgrade behavior and keeps waiting for the highest available lossless stream instead of automatically falling back to a lower audio specification. -
Bit-perfect output
Preserves the source sample format through the supported playback path and submits integer PCM directly to WASAPI, allowing bit-perfect playback when the source, device, and supported output format match.
In Apple Music, open Settings > Playback and use the following settings:
- Turn Crossfade off.
- Turn Sound Enhancer off.
- Turn Sound Check off.
- Turn Lossless Audio on.
- Set both audio-quality selectors below Lossless Audio to Hi-Res Lossless (ALAC).
- Turn Dolby Atmos off.
- Turn Exclusive Mode on.
- Enter an integer from
1through100milliseconds in Hardware buffer field and select Apply. The setting is used when exclusive output opens for the next song. The default is20ms; try a higher value if encountering playback problems. - Turn Spatial sound off.
With a separate DAC and amplifier, keep the Apple Music app volume, Windows output volume, and DAC output volume at maximum, and adjust listening volume only on the amplifier. With an integrated DAC/amp, keep the Apple Music app volume and Windows output volume at maximum, and adjust listening volume using the DAC/amp hardware control. Before applying these settings for the first time, lower the amplifier or DAC/amp hardware volume to avoid an unexpectedly high sound level.
To build from source, install Visual Studio 2022 or newer MSVC Build Tools, a Windows 11 SDK, CMake 3.24 or newer, PowerShell, and Apple Music for Windows.
cd mod
.\scripts\Build-Mod.ps1 -Configuration ReleaseThe installer will be generated at:
mod\build\dist\AMExclusive-Setup.exe
To install or upgrade, run AMExclusive-Setup.exe and choose 1. Then open Apple Music, go to Settings > Playback, and enable Exclusive mode.
To uninstall, run the same setup and choose 2, or uninstall AMExclusive from Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Thanks to the LINUX DO community for the discussion, support, and feedback provided during the development and testing of this project.
This project uses the following open-source projects:
- MinHook — provides the Windows x64/x86 API hooking foundation.
- rigtorp/SPSCQueue — provides the bounded single-producer, single-consumer queue used on the real-time audio path.
Thanks to these projects and their contributors. Complete version, copyright, and license information is available in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.
Project-authored source code is released under the MIT License. Third-party components retain their respective upstream licenses; see THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md.
AMExclusive is an independent and unofficial open-source project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by Apple Inc. Apple Music is a trademark of Apple Inc.
This project is not guaranteed to operate correctly across different software, hardware, driver, or audio-device configurations. Its use may cause unforeseen consequences, and users assume the associated risks.
This project does not distribute Apple software, Apple binaries, decrypted media, or DRM-free reference files, and it does not provide functionality intended to bypass DRM protection.