iTunes 12: How to Shuffle or Repeat Music

Apple changed a lot with the release of iTunes 12, including the steps on repeating songs or playlists. Follow these steps if you need to learn how.

While in iTunes, press the “ALT” key, then select “Controls“.
Choose “Shuffle” or “Repeat“, then choose the desired setting.
Now, while playing a song, you should see the shuffle and repeat options respectively to the left of the Now Playing area. Click these icons to activate and deactivate shuffle and repeat. When lit in blue, they are activated. When black, they are disabled.
You can also right-click or control-click the icons to show the options.

Phantoms Cry says

May 12, 2016 at 5:15 pm

Thank you for this easy to read, simple guide. I was restlessly upset with iTunes for not shuffling how I wanted it to.
Jim Saunders says

January 23, 2016 at 1:14 pm

I can’t get shuffle to turn OFF on my iPhone 6 Plus. As a classical music person, I never, ever want shuffle. It’s driving me crazy. Any ideas?
Harry Lowery says

December 17, 2015 at 7:25 am

Thank you for this post. I have gone through the steps and hopefully I will now shuffle and repeat. However, I don’t get the REPEAT, or SHUFFLE icons, like I used to when I go to the mini player. Any suggestions?
OOOCCCDDD says

December 13, 2015 at 10:04 am

I tried the suggestion and still, on my iPhone6, Playlist songs will not shuffle. I tried asking Siri. She repsonded with “OK, turning on shuffle” – songs still would not shuffle.

The shuffle icon is available on each Playlist – but when I tap it, the songs still will not shuffle.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

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