How to Fix Apple Music Library Not Loading [2025 Latest]

Part 1. Why My Apple Music Library Is Not Loading?

There are several reasons why your Apple Music library might not be loading. Here are some common issues to check:

• 

  iCloud Music Library Syncing:

  One major reason your Apple Music library might not load is an issue with iCloud Music Library. This feature syncs your music, playlists, and albums across all your devices. If it's not turned on or if there's a syncing problem, your library might not show up correctly. Ensure iCloud Music Library is enabled on all your devices. Sometimes, turning it off and back on can resolve syncing issues.

• 

  Network Settings:

  A slow or unstable internet connection can also cause your Apple Music library to load slowly or not at all. Apple Music requires a strong internet connection to load your library and play songs. Make sure you have a reliable Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

• 

  Geographic Restrictions:

  Apple Music's content availability can vary depending on your location. If you're traveling or trying to access music from another country, you might encounter restrictions. Some songs or playlists may be blocked and won't load or play. You can try adjusting your Apple Music settings to match your current region or use a VPN to access content from another country. Ensure your payment details are up to date as well.

• 

  Background Issues:

  Sometimes, other apps running in the background can slow down Apple Music. Try closing other apps and using only Apple Music to see if this resolves the issue.

• 

  Device Software Issues:

  Your device's operating system can also impact Apple Music performance. For instance, updates to macOS or iOS can include fixes for issues that might prevent your music library from loading. Ensure your device's software is up to date.

• 

  Device Storage:

  If your device is low on storage, Apple Music might struggle to load a large library. Check your device's storage and free up space if necessary. Additionally, managing your music library and downloads can help. You might also consider turning off Automatic Downloads in the app's settings to avoid potential issues.

Part 2. Why Your iTunes or Apple Music Library Isn't Loading

Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection

First, make sure you're connected to a reliable Wi-Fi or cellular network. If your internet is slow or unstable, try switching to a different connection, such as from cellular to Wi-Fi. If your network still isn't working, you may want to reset your network settings to fix any issues. Keep in mind, this will also reset saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and any VPN or APN configurations you've used before. After that, check other apps or websites to confirm your internet is working properly.

Step 2: Verify Apple System Status

Sometimes the problem is on Apple's end. Apple Music servers can experience downtime or technical issues. Before trying more complicated fixes like deauthorizing and reauthorizing your computer, check the Apple System Status page or the Apple Discussion community to see if there are any reported problems. If the servers are down, you may need to wait until Apple resolves the issue.

Step 3: Check Apple Music and iCloud Settings

Occasionally, settings within Apple Music or iCloud may cause the library not to sync. Double-checking that Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library) is enabled ensures your music collection is being pulled from Apple's servers. If it's disabled, your library will not appear correctly on your device, and toggling it back on may restore access.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes (Windows or older Mac) or the Music app (Mac).
2. Access Preferences:
   • Windows: Click Edit > Preferences.
   • Mac: Click Music > Preferences.
3. Go to the General tab.
4. Uncheck Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library in iTunes).



5. Close and reopen iTunes or Music.
6. Go back to Preferences and recheck Sync Library.
7. Allow some time for the library to refresh and sync.
8. Check if your Apple Music library loads correctly.

For Mobile (iPhone/iPad):

1. Go to Settings > Music.
2. Toggle off Sync Library.
3. Restart your iPhone.
4. Return to Settings > Music, and toggle Sync Library back on.
5. Open Apple Music and see if your library loads.

For Mobile (Android):

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Tap the three dots > Settings.
3. Make sure Sync Library is enabled.
4. If already on, toggle it off for 10–15 seconds, then toggle it back on.
5. Restart the app and check your library.

Step 4: Sign Out and Sign Back In

Signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in can refresh account authentication, which is sometimes at the root of library loading failures. Problems with authorization tokens or expired sessions can block the app from retrieving your content. Logging back in re-establishes the connection between your Apple ID and Apple Music's servers.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Click Account > Sign Out.



2. Close and reopen iTunes or Music.
3. Click Account > Sign In and enter your Apple ID and password.
4. Check if the library loads.

For Mobile (iPhone):

1. Go to Settings > Your Name > Media & Purchases.
2. Tap Sign Out and enter your Apple ID password if prompted.
3. Sign back in via Settings > Your Name > Sign In.
4. Open Apple Music and check your library.

For Mobile (Android):

1. Open Apple Music, tap three dots > Account.
2. Tap Sign Out and then sign back in.

Step 5: Restart Apple Music and Your Device

Restarting both Apple Music and the device itself often clears minor glitches that interfere with the app. This fully ensures it closes any hung processes, and restarting the device refreshes system memory and network connections. Together, these steps can eliminate temporary bugs preventing your library from showing up.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Close iTunes or the Music app.
   • Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find iTunes, right-click it, and select End Task.
   • Mac: Open Activity Monitor, select Music, and click the X button.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Reopen iTunes or Music and check if your library loads.

For Mobile (iPhone/iPad):

1. Swipe up from the bottom (or double-press the Home button on older models).
2. Find the Apple Music preview card and swipe it up to close the app.
3. Press and hold the Power button (or Power + Volume Down on newer models) until the slider appears.
4. Drag the slider to turn off your device.
5. Wait 10–15 seconds, then press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo shows.
6. Open Apple Music and check if your library loads.

For Mobile (Android):

1. Open Recent Apps (swipe up from the bottom, or tap the square/three-line button).
2. Swipe Apple Music away to close it.
3. Press and hold the Power button until the power menu appears.
4. Tap Restart (or choose Power off, then press the Power button again to turn it back on).

Open Apple Music and check if your library loads.

Step 6: Update iTunes/Apple Music and System Software

Running an outdated version of iTunes, the Music app, or your system software may also create compatibility issues. Updates often include fixes for syncing and cloud-based problems. Installing the latest updates ensures your device can properly communicate with Apple's servers and reduces the chance of persistent errors.

For Desktop (Mac):

1. Click Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update.
2. If an update is available, click Update Now and follow the instructions.
3. Note: Updating macOS usually updates the Music app as well.

For Mobile (iPhone):

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Tap Download and Install if available.
3. Open the App Store, tap your profile, and update Apple Music if pending.
4. Open the app and check if your library loads.

Step 7: Reauthorize Your Computer

Computers authorized with your Apple ID sometimes lose that authorization unexpectedly, especially after system changes or updates. Reauthorizing your computer reaffirms its right to access Apple Music content associated with your account. Without proper authorization, parts of your library may not load or remain inaccessible.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes or Music and click Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.



2. Enter your Apple ID and password.
3. Return to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.
4. Enter credentials again and check if your library loads.

Step 8: Refresh iCloud Music Library

Refreshing your iCloud Music Library forces the app to reload its database from Apple's servers. This can correct cases where outdated or corrupted data prevents the full library from displaying. A manual refresh can often re-sync playlists, albums, and songs that appeared to be missing.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes or Music.
2. Go to File > Library > Update iCloud Music Library.
3. Wait a few minutes while the library refreshes.
4. Check if your songs and playlists appear correctly.

Step 9: Clear Local App Cache

Clearing the local cache removes stored app data that may have become corrupted. Apple Music temporarily saves information to load faster, but if those files are damaged, it can stop the library from showing up correctly.

For Desktop (Windows):

1. Close iTunes.
2. Press Windows + R, type %appdata%\Apple Computer\iTunes.
3. Delete the contents of the Cache folder.
4. Reopen iTunes and check the library.

For Desktop (Mac):

1. Close Music app.
2. Go to ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Music/Data/Library/Caches.
3. Delete cache files and restart Music.

Step 10: Reset Network Settings (iPhone)

Resetting network settings can solve deeper connectivity issues. Misconfigured Wi-Fi or cellular profiles, old DNS entries, or saved proxy settings may interfere with Apple Music's ability to connect to iCloud. By restoring network settings to default, you give the app a clean slate for establishing connections.

1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
2. Enter your passcode and confirm.
3. Reconnect to Wi-Fi and open Apple Music to check the library.

Step 11: Contact Apple Support if Needed

If nothing works, contact Apple Support. They can check account or server-side issues. Visit the Apple Support website or use the Apple Support app. Explain that your library isn't loading and list which troubleshooting steps you've already tried to get real-time help.

Part 3. How to Export and Import Your Entire iTunes/Apple Music Library

Step 1: Export Your Apple Music Library

Apple's made it relatively simple to keep your music collection safe and transferable. Whether you're moving to a new computer, doing a clean install, or just want a safety net, exporting and backing up your library ensures nothing important gets lost.

When you export your Apple Music or iTunes library, you're creating a small file that holds the structure of your collection — things like playlists, ratings, and track details.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes (Windows or older Mac) or the Music app (Mac).
2. From the menu bar, go to File > Library > Export Library.
3. Choose a location on your computer to save the exported XML file.
4. Give it a recognizable name (e.g., Music Library Backup) and click Save.
5. This file contains your playlists, ratings, and track details, ready to be imported later.

Step 2: Back Up Your Apple Music Library

Backing up your library is where you save the actual music files. You may already copy your entire "iTunes" or "Music" folder for downloads or purchases, but this isn't a complete backup. Most of your library is made up of streaming music files, which are protected by DRM and can't be transferred to an external drive directly.

There's still an alternative way to download and transfer Apple Music songs, and it's both easier and more flexible. With ViWizard Apple Music Converter, you can convert your entire library to MP3 or other DRM-free formats. Once converted, the songs behave like regular audio files: you can transfer them, set them as ringtones, or listen without iTunes or the Music app. They'll even keep full metadata, so if the app ever fails, you can simply re-import them by choosing Add Files/Folder to Library and restore your collection.

ViWizard Apple Music Converter

Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.

Available on:

Free Download

Free Download

Secure Download

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Locate your main iTunes or Music folder:

   

   • Windows: Usually under This PC > Music > iTunes.
   • Mac: Usually under User > Music > Music.
2. Now put the entire folder to an external drive or cloud storage. To protect your streaming tracks, you can use ViWizard Apple Music Converter to create DRM-free versions.
3. Download and install the software on your PC or Mac, then sign in with your Apple Music account.



4. In the converter's settings, choose MP3 as the output format. You can also adjust options like bit rate, sample rate, or preserve album art to match your preferences.
5. Add the songs, albums, or playlists you want to back up to the conversion list.
6. Click Convert to start the process. ViWizard will generate DRM-free files that act like regular audio files. They are always ready if your library ever fails to load.
7. After conversion, make sure to back up these DRM-free files alongside your regular Music/iTunes folder.

Step 3: Import Your Apple Music Library

Finally, when you import your library, you use the exported file and your backup to rebuild everything on a new machine. Playlists appear just as they were, and your downloaded songs remain intact — so you can pick up right where you left off.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes or the Music app on the new computer.
2. From the menu bar, go to File > Library > Import Playlist.
3. Select the XML file you exported earlier and click Open.
4. To restore your music files, copy the backed-up iTunes/Music folder into the correct location:
   • Windows: Place it under This PC > Music.
   • Mac: Place it under User > Music.
5. Relaunch iTunes or Music, and your playlists, ratings, and songs should appear as before.

Summary

To conclude, we list some possible causes for the Apple Music library not loading and also suggest 7 solutions for anyone who has this problem. You can try the methods above one by one to fix the issue. Even the people who cannot solve this problem by the solutions can get another way to transfer Apple Music songs and listen to them offline – use ViWizard Apple Music Converter, which is available for everyone.