Apple Music is great—until it stops working the way you expect. One common issue is when songs won't download. You tap the download button, but nothing happens. Or the songs get stuck and never finish.
We rely on offline listening more than we realize. Most other streaming apps make it easy. So when Apple Music doesn't download your songs, it becomes a real problem. I've run into this myself, often when I'm in a rush—like trying to download music before a trip. It's frustrating, and this isn't just a one-time glitch. Many users deal with this on iPhone, Android, or iPad.
But don't worry—you can usually fix this yourself without spending anything. In this guide, I'll walk you through the steps that actually work, starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced fixes. And if you want a more flexible way to save Apple Music offline—even on devices that don't support the app—I'll share a helpful tip at the end.
Let's get started.
Part 1. Apple Music Not Downloading: Basic Checks
1. Check Your Internet Connection
This is the first thing to try. If your connection is weak or unstable, Apple Music won't download anything. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data to see if one works better. Still not downloading? Enable Airplane Mode for about 30 seconds, then turn it off and try again.
Using Wi-Fi? Restart your router. On cellular? Make sure Settings > Music > Cellular Data is turned on, along with Downloaded Music. Toggling these off and on can help reset things.
2. Verify Your Apple Music Subscription
If your subscription has expired—even if it was a free trial—downloads will stop working. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and check your Apple Music plan. If it's inactive, you'll need to renew it before downloads come back.
And just a heads-up: Apple Music only allows downloads on supported platforms like the Music app or iTunes. If you're using a device that's not supported, that might be why it's not working.
3. Check Device Storage Space
No space = no downloads. If your phone is full, Apple Music can't save anything new. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what's using up space. If Music is taking up too much, consider deleting old downloads or unused apps.
You can also turn on Optimize Storage under Settings > Music. This automatically removes older songs you haven't played in a while, which helps keep space free for new ones.
4. Review Download Settings
Your settings might be the issue. For example, Automatic Downloads could be glitching. Try toggling it off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Go to Settings > Music > Downloads to find the switch.
Still stuck? Try manually removing a song that won't download, then download it again. Just go to Settings > Music > Downloaded Music, swipe left on the track, tap Delete, and re-download it from your library.
5. Update Your Device and the Apple Music App
Bugs happen—and updates fix them. If you haven't updated in a while, it could be why downloads aren't working. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, check the Play Store for any updates to Apple Music.
Updates often patch small bugs in the background. If your downloads are stuck or slow, installing the latest version might be all it takes.
Part 2. Apple Music Not Downloading: Advanced Fixes
If the basic checks didn't solve the problem, it's time to try more advanced steps. These usually fix stubborn download issues on Apple Music—especially when something behind the scenes is causing trouble.
1. Restart Your Device
Sometimes, the simplest fix really is just turning your device off and on again. If downloads are stuck or not starting at all, restart your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone. Give it a full minute before turning it back on. This can clear out background bugs and refresh system processes that might be interfering with Apple Music.
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On iPhone/iPad:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button on older devices) to open the app switcher.
- Swipe left or right to find the Apple Music app.
- Swipe the Apple Music app preview up to force close it.
- Press and hold the side button (or the top button on older iPhones like SE1 or iPhone 5). On newer models (iPhone X and later), hold either volume button and the side button together.
- When the "slide to power off" slider appears, drag it to turn off your device.
- Wait about 10-15 seconds.
- Press and hold the side or top button again until the Apple logo appears to turn your device back on.
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On Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Applications Manager or Apps & notifications (varies by device).
- Find and select Apple Music from the list of apps.
- Tap Storage (if available), then select Clear Cache and/or Clear Data.
- Go back and tap Force Stop.
- Press and hold the Power button until the device turns off.
- Wait for about 5 minutes before pressing the Power button again to restart.
2. Sign Out and Sign Back In to Apple ID
Your Apple ID ties everything together—your subscription, your library, your downloads. If there's a syncing glitch or authentication issue, signing out and back in can help. Once you're logged out, wait a few seconds, then sign back in with the same Apple ID you use for Apple Music. Reopen the app and try downloading your music again.
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On iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen to access Apple ID settings.
- Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
- Enter your Apple ID password if prompted, then confirm.
- After signing out, return to Settings and sign back in by entering your Apple ID and password.
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On Android:
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
- Select Account.
- Tap Sign Out at the bottom.
- After signing out, sign back in by entering your Apple ID and password.
3. Refresh Your Music Library (Sync Library)
If your songs aren't downloading across devices, or if certain tracks are missing, you may need to refresh your music library. Apple calls this Sync Library, and if it's off or stuck, downloads can fail. Try toggling Sync Library off and back on in Settings > Music.
On iPhone/iPad:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Music.
- Find Sync Library and toggle it off. Confirm if prompted.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Toggle Sync Library back on and confirm.
4. Reset Network Settings
Sometimes your phone's network settings get in the way—especially if there's a deeper issue with Wi-Fi or cellular data. If toggling Airplane Mode didn't help earlier, try resetting all network settings.
On iPhone/iPad:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone (or just Reset on older iOS versions).
- Tap Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Confirm to reset. Your device will restart, and you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks.
5. Reinstall the Apple Music App
If none of the above fixes worked, the app itself might be the problem. Uninstalling and reinstalling Apple Music can clear out bugs or corrupted data that may be blocking downloads.
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On iPhone/iPad:
- Find the Apple Music app icon on your home screen.
- Press and hold the icon until a menu appears or the icons start shaking.
- Tap Remove App or the small "x" on the icon.
- Confirm by selecting Delete App.
- Open the App Store.
- Search for "Apple Music."
- Tap the download icon (cloud with arrow) to reinstall.
- Open Apple Music and sign in with your Apple ID.
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On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for "Apple Music."
- Tap Uninstall, then Install.
- Open the app and sign in.
6. Disable and Re-enable Apple Music Downloads
Another trick is to refresh the download feature itself. This can reset the download behavior and sometimes fix issues with songs not saving to your device. If you prefer to manage downloads manually, you can leave Automatic Downloads off and download tracks directly from your library.
7. Repair Device System (Optional)
If you've tried everything and Apple Music still won't download, there may be a deeper system issue. This is rare, but iOS bugs or corrupted system files can affect app performance.
There are tools like Magfone iOS System Recovery that offer repair modes to fix system glitches without erasing your data. These tools are usually not free, so consider this step only if you're really stuck and want to avoid a full device reset.
Part 3. Best Alternative to Fix Apple Music Not Downloading
If all the usual fixes don't work, there's a more permanent solution: ViWizard Apple Music Converter.
Apple Music tracks come with DRM protection, which limits where and how you can play them. That's why downloads sometimes fail or can't be used outside the Apple Music app.
Why ViWizard Apple Music Converter Matters:
ViWizard Apple Music Converter removes this DRM and converts your songs into common formats like MP3, FLAC, or WAV. These files work on almost any device or platform, including unsupported Apple devices like iPod Nano, Shuffle, or Classic.
The converter keeps lossless audio and metadata intact, and you can organize files by playlists or albums. Once converted, your music is truly yours—you can keep and play it even if you cancel your Apple Music subscription.
ViWizard works on both Windows and Mac, making it an easy way to take full control of your Apple Music library when downloads won't cooperate.
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
The Bottom Line
The above tutorial has helped shed some light on how to deal with Apple Music won't download songs recurrent issues. You can try several options before finally deciding to contact Apple for help. Furthermore, the steps are precise, making it possible even for beginners to carry out successful troubleshooting. If you want to free you Apple Music playlists, don't miss ViWizard Apple Music Converter which is a great choice. Now just click the download button below and start to enjoy your Apple Music playlists on any device you like.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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