How to Stop Apple Music from Messing up My Library

Part 1. Why Your Apple Music or iTunes Library Gets Messy

Here are some common problems that can make your Apple Music or iTunes library feel messy. You can try the simple fixes outlined here, and for more detailed, real-world steps, scroll down to Part 3.

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  Split or Incorrect Albums Caused by Metadata

  iTunes relies heavily on tags. If album or artist names aren't consistent across tracks, albums can get split, leaving songs from the same album scattered in your library. For example, a live version of a song might appear under the studio album, which can throw off playlists and organization. A simple fix is to select the tracks, right-click, and choose "Get Info". Make sure every song shares the same album name and artist. This usually pulls everything back into one neat, correctly grouped album.

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  Unavailable Songs Caused by Apple Music

  It's frustrating when your favorite songs seem to disappear. This can happen if an album was removed from Apple Music or if tracks weren't fully uploaded from your original source. Checking your iCloud Music Library settings often resolves the issue. If some tracks are still missing, you can re-add them from your CDs or other digital files, if available.

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  Sync Issues Caused by iCloud Music Library

  Sometimes music on one device doesn't match what's on another. For instance, you might add songs on your computer, but they don't appear on your phone yet. Turning off iCloud Music Library, restarting the app, and turning it back on usually prompts a fresh sync and clears up mismatched tracks.

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  Mismatched Versions Caused by iCloud Music Library

  iCloud Music Library can also replace local files with Apple's catalog versions, which might differ in quality, remix, or live/studio versions. If this happens, keeping iCloud Music Library off can prevent automatic replacements.

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  Auto-Added Playlists by Application Access

  Apple Music sometimes creates playlists automatically from apps that have access to your library, like Shazam's "My Shazam Tracks" or Peloton's "My Peloton Music". These playlists can appear unexpectedly or feel confusing, but they're easy to manage. Reviewing and removing any playlists you don't want keeps your library cleaner and easier to navigate.

Part 2. How to Fix Apple Music Messing Up Your Library

These steps help resolve issues when Apple Music or iTunes causes changes like unexpected items.

1. Check iCloud Music Library / Sync Settings

For Windows & Mac:

1. Launch iTunes or the Apple Music app.
2. Click Edit (Windows) / Music (Mac) > Preferences.
3. In the General tab, check iCloud Music Library / Sync Library.
4. Click OK to save changes.

For iPhone & iPad:

1. Tap the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Music.
3. Ensure Sync Library is toggled on.

For Android:

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Tap Menu > Settings.
3. Make sure Sync Library is enabled.

2. Sign Out and Back Into Apple Music

This often restores missing tracks and resolves syncing issues.

For Windows & Mac:

1. Open iTunes or Apple Music.
2. From the top menu, click Account > Sign Out.
3. Restart the app and sign back in with your Apple ID.

For Android:

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Tap Menu / Profile > Account > Sign Out.
3. Close and reopen the app, then sign back in.

For iPhone & iPad:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apple ID.
3. Tap Media & Purchases > Sign Out.
4. Wait for a while, then sign back in with your password.

3. Accept Recommendations and Updates

Apple Music may add songs or albums automatically based on your past activity or artist follows. You can manage these on iPhone or iPad, while desktop users mainly check the Recently Added section for new releases and review any unexpected additions manually.

For iPhone & iPad:

1. Open the Apple Music app and tap For You.
2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
3. Tap Follow Requests to view recent recommendations.
4. Tap the red "X" next to items you don't want added.
5. To take a step further, open the app, tap For You > Profile > Notifications.
6. Enable Allow Notifications.
7. Toggle Show in Library to control which new content appears automatically.

4. Update to the Latest App Version

Keeping the app updated fixes bugs, improves performance, and prevents syncing issues.

For Windows & Mac:

1. Launch iTunes or Apple Music.
2. Click Help > Check for Updates (Windows) or Music > About Music > Update (Mac).
3. Follow prompts to install the latest version.

For iPhone & iPad / Android:

1. Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Search for Apple Music.
3. Tap Update if an update is available.

5. Edit Metadata Manually

Sometimes tracks are mis-tagged, causing split albums or wrong sorting. You can first do the task on desktop, then turn on Sync Library or iCloud Music Library to receive those changes automatically.

For Windows & Mac:

1. Launch iTunes or Apple Music.
2. Find the track you want to edit.
3. Right-click and select Song Info / Get Info.
4. Update the Album, Artist, or Track Name to match other tracks.
5. Click OK to save changes.

Part 3. How to Clean and Organize Your Library

Here are some steps to help you maintain a clean, organized music library with easier browsing and views.

1. Back Up Your Music Library First

For Windows & Mac:

1. Launch iTunes or the Apple Music app.
2. From the menu bar, select File > Library > Export Library.



3. Choose a location on your computer or an external drive to save the backup.
4. Give the backup file a recognizable name, like iTunes_Library_Backup.xml.
5. Click Save.

Optional: For a full backup of your actual audio files, you can also use ViWizard Apple Music Converter on your PC or Mac. This ensures you keep every track with full metadata, ready to be loaded into a new library—not just the library information exported into a .xml file.

2. Turn On File and Folder Organization

For Windows & Mac:

1. Launch iTunes or the Apple Music app.
2. From the menu bar, select Edit (Windows) / Music (Mac) > Preferences.
3. Go to the Advanced tab.
4. Check Keep iTunes Media folder organized (Windows) or Keep Music Media folder organized (Mac).



5. Click OK to save.

3. Consolidate All Music Files in One Location

For Windows & Mac:

1. Open iTunes or Apple Music.
2. Go to File > Library > Organize Library.



3. Check Consolidate files.
4. Click OK.

This gathers all your music into the main media folder, making backups and organization easier.

4. Find and Remove Duplicate Songs

For Windows & Mac:

1. Open iTunes or Apple Music.
2. From the menu bar, choose View > Show Duplicate Items.



3. Review duplicates carefully.
4. Select the duplicates you don't need, right-click, and choose Delete from Library.
5. Confirm to remove them.

This frees up space and prevents confusion when creating playlists or playing albums.

5. Refresh or Add Missing Album Artwork

For Windows & Mac:

1. Open iTunes or Apple Music and find the track or album missing artwork.
2. Right-click the track/album and select Song Info / Album Info / Get Info.
3. Go to the Artwork tab.
4. Drag and drop the image from your computer or browser, or click Add Artwork to select a file.



5. Click OK to save.

This makes your library visually complete and easier to browse.

Part 4. How to Prevent Apple Music from Messing Up Your Library

Tip 1: Monitor Your Library Regularly

First, make it a habit to check your library often. Look at your Recently Added section, new playlists, and any unexpected changes in album sorting or missing tracks. Catching issues early makes it easier to fix them before they spread across your library.

If you want to skip the DIY approach, one of the best tools for keeping an eye on your Apple Music library is Music Library Tracker, which costs $3.99 on the App Store. This app automatically monitors your library for any additions, deletions, and other changes, ensuring you're always aware of what's happening with your songs. As streaming becomes more popular, song metadata can change, and tracks may disappear due to licensing issues. Music Library Tracker helps you track these changes.

Tip 2: Avoid Repeated Manual Imports

Another simple tip is to limit repeated imports. Importing the same tracks multiple times can create duplicates and messy albums. Before adding new songs, check whether they're already in your library. Consolidating files carefully helps keep your music organized and your playlists clean.

Tip 3: Back Up Your Library Consistently

Backing up your library is your safety net. Regular backups make it easy to restore your collection if anything goes wrong.

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a powerful tool for Apple Music users, allowing you to convert your entire library. To start, ensure both the iTunes app and ViWizard are installed on your computer. Select the content you want to convert and choose from formats like MP3, M4A, M4B, AIFF, WAV, or FLAC. The conversion process is fast, and once complete, you'll have local access to your Apple Music library without worrying about changes from Apple Music.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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• Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
• Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
• Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
• Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details