Android Basics: Use Google Play Music on your phone without using up a device authorization

Google launched its music streaming service, Google Play Music, at I/O 2013 and has since improved it by including YouTube Red. With the $10 all-access individual plan, you get unlimited music and an ad-free experience on YouTube, which can be an awesome deal. But Google’s 10 device authorization limit for streaming music can sometimes get in the way…

Due to copyright laws, Google wants to make sure people are not taking advantage of their Play Music accounts, which is why they have to enforce a 10 device limit. The caveat, though, is that you are only allowed to deauthorize a maximum of four devices per calendar year.

While most users will probably not have an issue with this, there are times — especially if you’re an Android writer, for example — that you just don’t want to use up one of your authorizations. Thankfully, there’s an imperfect solution: streaming from your phone or tablet’s mobile browser.

Full instructions below, in case you don’t know how to do this:

1. Open up the Chrome browser on your phone or tablet
2. Go to music.google.com. A splashscreen will load and direct you to the Play Music app to listen to music
3. Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the upper right-hand side of the screen and check the box next to Request desktop site
4. The website should now automatically reload with the full desktop version of the webpage
5. You will now be able to scroll around the website and start listening to music without using one of your device authorizations