During our conversation last month, we discussed an exciting new feature that is rumored to be included in the upcoming iOS 18 update for Apple Music. This feature, called Smart Crossfade, is designed to seamlessly transition between songs by eliminating any gaps of silence. Inspired by the technique used in radio, Smart Crossfade smoothly fades out the current song while simultaneously fading in the next song, giving listeners the experience of playing two songs consecutively without interruptions.
Apple introduced Crossfade for Apple Music in iOS 17 and plans to improve it in iOS 18 by adding a new Smart Crossfade feature. This enhancement will allow for smoother transitions between songs, with some tracks beginning right after the last word of the previous song.
Apple is making sure that the feature maintains the original sound of an album when turned on. An example of this can be seen in the order of songs on side 2 of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. This exceptional showcase of music, composition, and performance starts with “You Never Give Me Your Money” and ends with the short track “Her Majesty.” With the Smart Crossfade feature, the tracks will seamlessly blend into each other just like they do on the original album.
Smart Crossfade will be activated once Crossfade is enabled in the settings of the Apple Music app. Users have the option to adjust the duration of the crossfade from one to 12 seconds. Those who are Apple Music subscribers and using the iOS 18 beta can try out Smart Crossfade by navigating to Settings > Music and toggling on Crossfade. By customizing the settings, users can choose their desired length for the crossfade effect. While it is still possible to activate Crossfade in iOS 17, users will not be able to access the new features of Smart Crossfade until they upgrade to iOS 18.
