Apple Music motion artwork: sizes and rules
Updated 3 October 2026 · Avoxvision studio
Apple Music shows two kinds of motion artwork: album motion, which animates an album cover, and artist page motion, which brings an artist page to life. Both are silent loops delivered as large video files, and both follow Apple's own sizes and design rules.
Album motion
| Version | Size | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Square, 1:1 (iPad, Mac, smart TVs) | 3840 x 3840 pixels | 8 to 35 seconds |
| Tall, 3:4 (iPhone) | 2048 x 2732 pixels | 8 to 35 seconds |
Files are .mp4 or .mov, encoded as H.264 or Apple ProRes 422 or 4444, at 45 to 100 Mbps, at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 or 30 frames per second, in Rec. 709 or sRGB, with square pixels and no audio track.
Artist page motion
| Version | Size | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Square, 1:1 (iPhone, Android) | 3840 x 3840 pixels | 8 to 75 seconds |
| Fullscreen, 16:9 (smart TVs) | 3840 x 2160 pixels | 8 to 75 seconds |
| Wide, 16:9 (Mac, iPad) | 3840 x 2160 pixels | 8 to 75 seconds |
Files are H.264 or Apple ProRes 422 or 4444, at 45 to 100 Mbps, with no audio track.
The design rules
- The first frame has to work as a still. For album motion it should match the album cover.
- The animation loops seamlessly, with no visible jump from the end back to the start.
- Album motion stays on the cover art for the whole animation, without multiple edits.
- No promotional copy, tour dates or other ad-like material.
- No flashing or flickering.
- No blurry, pixelated or poor-quality images, unless that is the intended style.
- For album motion, AI-generated visuals with distortions, such as distorted text or unnatural anatomy, are rejected.
Planning motion for one release
Spotify's Canvas is vertical and lasts 3 to 8 seconds; Apple's motion artwork is square, tall or wide and lasts longer. We plan all of them from the same artwork, so the release moves the same way on every service. See the Spotify Canvas guide.
At Avoxvision we make an animated artist page for Apple Music, designed in the same language as the releases, along with Spotify Canvases and animated covers.
Questions
Does Apple Music motion artwork have sound?
No. Apple asks for files without an audio track.
How long is Apple Music motion artwork?
Album motion runs 8 to 35 seconds; artist page motion runs 8 to 75 seconds.
What size is Apple Music album motion?
3840 x 3840 pixels for the square version and 2048 x 2732 for the tall iPhone version.
Can I use AI-generated motion?
Apple's album motion guidelines reject AI-generated visuals that show distortions, such as distorted text or unnatural anatomy.
Sources
Want your release to move?
Send us the cover and the release date on WhatsApp or by email. We will come back with a motion idea and a quote.
Send us your coveror call +972 50 443 3243, or email avoxvisionstudio@gmail.com