Apple Music finally gets a swipe gesture to change tracks and I’ve never been happier

Macworld

It’s a small thing, really. But then, the most impactful interface elements often are.

There are several reasons people prefer Spotify to Apple Music, and over time Apple has improved its service to make it more competitive, softening the impact of most of those Spotify advantages.

One of them has driven me crazy for years, though: With Spotify, you swipe left and right on the current song interface to skip to the next or previous song. With Apple Music, you have to tap the little > arrows.

Now, after all these years, iOS 26.1 is finally giving me my wish. Swiping navigation to change tracks! On the Now Playing screen, swipe left or right on the album art or on the track/artist info to jump to the next or previous track.




Foundry

But that’s not the only place swiping navigation was added in iOS 26.1. While playing music, you’ll see a little “miniplayer” at the bottom whenever you leave the Now Playing screen. This miniplayer can also be swiped left and right to change tracks.




Foundry

Importantly, this isn’t a change to how you navigate in Apple Music, it’s an addition. If you like the buttons, they’re still there and work as they always have.

Note that iOS 26.1 is currently in beta testing, and there is always a chance, however unlikely, that this change goes away before release.