How to Browse Content at the iTunes Store

iPhone & iPod

Updated September 06, 2019

The main way most people find music, movies, TV shows, and other content to buy at the iTunes Store is by searching or by checking out the main pages of the store, but those aren't the only ways to find content. If you want something with fewer graphics and more organized lists, you can browse the iTunes Store. Just pick a category to browse—music or podcasts, for example—pick genres, subgenres, artists, and other details and browse all that the iTunes Store has to offer. This is a great way to discover content you're not already familiar with, although there's a huge amount to sift through.

Information in this article applies to iTunes 12.

Browse Genres and Categories at the iTunes Store

To browse content at the iTunes Store, follow these steps:

Begin by opening iTunes and going to the iTunes Store.
Scroll to the bottom of the iTunes Store window. In the Features column, click Browse.
The iTunes window transforms from the colorful, illustrated iTunes Store to a basic grid. Click on the kind of content you want to browse in the left panel. Options are:
Audiobooks, Movies, Music, Music Videos, Podcasts, and TV Shows.
After you make your first selection, the next column displays content. If you choose audiobooks, music, music videos, TV, or movies, you see Genre. If you choose podcasts, you see Category.
Continue making selections in each column to refine your browsing.
When you've navigated through the full set of columns for the kind of content you like, the final column displays the albums, TV seasons, or other choices that match your selection. Click an item in the final column to see the listings in the bottom half of the window.

Preview and Buy Content

After you select something in the far-right column, you see the listings for the item you selected in the bottom half of the window, depending on your choices.

For Audiobooks, you see all the audiobooks matching the Genre and Author/Narrator you selected. Double-click an audiobook to hear a 30-second clip from it.
For Movies, you see a list of all movies in the selected genre. Double-click a movie to watch its trailer.
For Music, you see an album's songs. Double-click a song to hear a 90-second clip from it.
For Music Videos, double-click a video to watch a 30-second clip.
For Podcasts, double-clicking your results plays the podcast.
For a TV Show, you see listings for all the episodes for the season you selected. Double-clicking an episode plays a 30-second preview.

Next to each item is a button. These buttons let you download, buy, or view the item you've selected. Click a button to take action.

To download free items or to purchase paid items, you need an Apple ID.

Apple Music Browse Screen

You'll find a different type of browsing experience by clicking Browse at the top of the iTunes Music screen. Rather than navigate through a grid of options, the Browse screen offers categories of music grouped by mood, decades, country, hits, what's new, and hot tracks, among other options. If you scroll down, you find a Genres link to music categories and music videos for more options.