Apple Music Not Playing Downloaded Songs? Solved!

Part 1. Why Your Apple Music Downloads Won't Play

There are a few common reasons why downloaded songs on Apple Music might not play, even when they seem to be on your device:

• 

  Internet Connection Issues:

  Your downloaded Apple Music songs rely on a few things to play correctly. One of the most important is your internet connection. Even when you're offline, Apple Music sometimes needs to check your subscription or sync your library. If your connection drops or is unstable, a song might just refuse to play.

• 

  iCloud or Account Sync Problems:

  iCloud and your Apple ID also matter. Your downloads are tied to your account. If your library hasn't synced across devices or your Apple Music subscription ends, you may lose access to your downloaded songs. To check for your Apple Music subscription, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and make sure Apple Music is active and set for auto-renewal.

• 

  Corrupted or Incomplete Downloads:

  Sometimes downloads get interrupted. A weak connection or a full device can stop a song from downloading completely. If a track didn't finish saving, it won't work offline. Always double-check that your downloads are complete before going offline.

• 

  Low Device Storage:

  Low device storage can also cause problems. Even if a song looks downloaded, there may not be enough space for it to save properly. Freeing up space usually solves this. This issue is more common if songs are automatically downloaded with features like Automatic Downloads or Download Pins, which can add new music without you noticing.

• 

  Content or Parental Restrictions:

  Content restrictions can block songs too. If a downloaded song has explicit content and you've set up restrictions on your device, it won't play even offline. Parental controls still govern playback in these cases.

• 

  Unsupported Audio Formats:

  Some downloaded songs use Dolby Atmos or Lossless Audio. They sound great, but not all devices support them. Offline playback can fail if your device can't handle the format. To fix this, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Downloads and disable Download in Dolby Atmos.

• 

  Regional or Country Restrictions:

  Regional settings matter as well. Though traveling to a country where Apple Music isn't available is rare, if your device's country settings don't match your Apple ID, some downloads might not play. This can also happen if you set up a new device.

• 

  DRM Protection:

  Finally, DRM protection is a factor. Apple Music checks your Apple ID before playing. If there's an account issue, like a recent password change, your downloads might stop working until you reconnect and verify your account.

Part 2. How to Fix Apple Music Downloaded Songs Not Playing

Step 1. Check Internet Connection

For the first step, check your internet connection on your device. Open the Apple Music app and try streaming a song online to make sure your connection is stable. If you notice buffering or failure to play songs, switch networks or toggle Wi-Fi off and on to refresh the connection. A strong, stable connection helps downloaded songs verify their license and play properly.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure you are connected to a stable network.

Step 2 Switch to another available network if needed.

Step 3 Open Control Center (swipe down from top-right or up from bottom on older devices).

Step 4 Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on, wait a few seconds, then turn it off again.

Step 5 If Wi-Fi isn't working, go to Settings > Cellular and ensure Apple Music is allowed.

On Android

Step 1 Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi and connect to a stable network.

Step 2 Toggle Wi-Fi off and on to refresh.

Step 3 Go to Settings > Mobile Network and ensure mobile data is enabled for Apple Music.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Ensure your computer is connected via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Step 2 Open a browser and test a website to confirm connectivity.

Step 3 Restart your router if the connection is unstable.

Step 2. Restart Apple Music and Your Device

Next, close the Apple Music app completely. On an iPhone, swipe up from the bottom (or double-tap Home) to find Apple Music and swipe it away. Then restart your device. This can clear temporary glitches and refresh app performance, often solving issues with downloaded songs.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Open App Switcher (swipe up from bottom or double-tap Home) and swipe Apple Music away.

Step 2 Press and hold the Power button, then slide to power off.

Step 3 Turn your device back on and reopen Apple Music.

On Android

Step 1 Open Recent Apps and swipe Apple Music away to close it.

Step 2 Press and hold the Power button, select Restart, then reopen Apple Music.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Close Apple Music or iTunes completely.

Step 2 Restart your computer and reopen Apple Music.

Step 3. Sign Out and Back Into Apple ID

Now, head into your device settings and sign out of your Apple ID, then sign back in. This refreshes your account credentials and ensures your downloaded songs are correctly associated with your Apple Music subscription.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Open Settings and tap your name at the top.

Step 2 Tap Media & Purchases > Sign Out and enter your Apple ID password if prompted.

Step 3 Go back to Settings > Sign In and enter your Apple ID credentials.

Step 4 Open Apple Music and check if your library is loading properly.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Open Apple Music or iTunes.

Step 2 Go to Account > Sign Out.

Step 3 Restart the app and go to Account > Sign In, then enter your Apple ID and password.

Step 4. Refresh iCloud Music Library

From the Music settings, toggle Sync Library off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. This forces Apple Music to resync your library, repairing any download mismatches or missing files.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Go to Settings > Music.

Step 2 Toggle Sync Library off.

Step 3 Wait 5–10 seconds, then toggle it back on.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Open Apple Music or iTunes.

Step 2 Go to Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Music > Preferences > General (Mac).

Step 3 Uncheck iCloud Music Library (or Sync Library), click OK, then recheck it and click OK again to refresh your library.

Step 5. Redownload Problem Songs

Next, locate the downloaded songs that won't play, delete them, and tap the cloud icon to redownload. This ensures you have fresh, complete downloads, replacing any corrupted or incomplete files. Make sure you're connected to a stable Wi-Fi network or allow Cellular Data for downloads. Avoid downloading in Dolby Atmos if you experience repeated playback issues.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Open Apple Music > Library > Songs.

Step 2 Find the song that won't play, long-press it, and tap Remove > Remove Download.

Step 3 Find the same song and tap the cloud icon to download it again.

On Android

Step 1 Open Apple Music > Library > Songs.

Step 2 Tap the three-dot menu next to the song and select Remove Download.

Step 3 Tap Download again.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Open Apple Music or iTunes > Library.

Step 2 Right-click the song and select Remove Download.

Step 3 Click the cloud icon to redownload it.

Step 6. Free Up Device Storage

If your device is running low on space, Apple Music may struggle to manage downloads. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music and r. If space is taken by downloads, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Downloaded, toggle off Automatic Downloads and Download Pins to prevent new downloads, then clear out any old downloads you don't want to keep.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music.

Step 2 Remove unnecessary files or apps to free space.

Step 3 Go to Settings > Apps > Music > Downloaded and toggle off Automatic Downloads and Download Pins.

Step 4 Clear out old downloads you don't need.

On Android

Step 1 Open Settings > Storage > Music.

Step 2 Delete unnecessary downloads to free up space.

Step 7. Clear Apple Music Cache

On devices that support it (like Android), go to the Apple Music app settings and clear the cache. This removes temporary files and allows the app to fetch clean versions of your downloads.

On Android

Step 1 Open Settings > Apps > Apple Music > Storage.

Step 2 Tap Clear Cache.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Step 2 Navigate to the cache folder and delete associated files:

• Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\SubscriptionPlayCache
• Mac: ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/iTunes Media Cache

Step 8. Update the Apple Music App

Open the App Store, find Apple Music, and update to the latest version. Updates often include bug fixes that resolve playback issues for downloaded content.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Open the App Store.

Step 2 Tap your profile picture, scroll to Apple Music, and tap Update if available.

On Android

Step 1 Open Google Play Store > My apps & games.

Step 2 Find Apple Music and tap Update.

On Windows

Step 1 Open iTunes > Help > Check for Updates.

Step 2 Install updates via Apple Software Update.

On Mac

Step 1 Open System Settings > Software Update.

Step 2 Install any available updates that include Apple Music or macOS updates.

Step 9. Update Your System Software

Make sure your iPhone or iPad is running the latest iOS version. System updates can fix underlying issues affecting app performance, including interrupted offline listening.

On iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch

Step 1 Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 2 Tap Download and Install if an update is available.

On Android

Step 1 Go to Settings > System > Software Update.

Step 2 Download and install updates if available.

Step 10. Authorize Your Computer or Device

Finally, if you use a computer to manage music, make sure it's authorized with your Apple ID. If your PC or Mac is already authorized, you may need to deauthorize and reauthorize it, then try again.

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Open Apple Music (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).

Step 2 Go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer and enter your Apple ID credentials.

Step 3 If already authorized, select Deauthorize This Computer then reauthorize it.

Part 3. Best Alternative Solutions if Apple Music Downloads Still Won't Play

If you've been frustrated by constantly having to authorize new devices, ViWizard Apple Music Converter can help. Unlike regular Apple Music downloads, which only work on authorized devices, ViWizard lets you download and convert your songs into local files that can play on any device - iPhone, iPad, iPod, Windows, or Mac - without limits.

ViWizard can access your whole Apple Music library, including songs uploaded to match with iCloud Music Library. Its search feature makes it easy to find and download playlists, albums, or single tracks for offline listening. For conversion, it supports common formats like MP3, M4A, WAV, and FLAC, keeping the lossless audio and song info (ID3 tags). This way, you can listen offline, move music between devices freely, and keep your library organized - all without the restrictions of Apple Music's DRM system.

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

Free Trial Free Trial

* Security verified. 5, 481,347 people have downloaded it.

• 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

On Windows/Mac

Step 1 Download and install a trusted Apple Music converter on your computer.

Step 2 Open the software and sign in with your Apple Music account.

Step 3 Browse your library or playlists, then select the songs, albums, or playlists you want.

Step 4 Click the + button to add them to the conversion list.

Step 5 Go to Settings > Preferences > Output Format and choose a format such as MP3, M4A, or FLAC.

Step 6 Adjust options like the destination folder or file naming if desired.

Step 7 Click Convert to remove DRM and create fully playable local files.

Step 8 Once conversion is complete, open the output folder to access your music.

Step 9 Transfer the converted music to your device via USB, cloud storage, or a file transfer app.

Step 10 Open your preferred music player and import the files.

Step 11 Play your music offline. Those downloaded Apple Music songs will now work correctly.