How to Fix Apple Music Not Syncing

Part 1. Why Is Apple Music Not Syncing?

Part 2. How to Fix Apple Music Not Syncing

When Apple Music isn't syncing, it can be incredibly frustrating. You just want to enjoy your favorite tunes without any hassle. Here are some simple solutions to help you get your Apple Music back in sync and improve its performance.

Method 1: Check Internet Connection

This one's easy to overlook, but as explained above, a stable internet connection is crucial for syncing Apple Music. A weak or unstable connection can mess with syncing. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or toggle Airplane mode on and off for about 30 seconds. That usually resets your connection. Once you're back online, check if your Apple Music library updates properly.

Method 2: Turn on Sync Library Setting

Apple Music relies on the Sync Library setting (also called iCloud Music Library) to keep your content updated across devices. Go to Settings > Music, and make sure Sync Library is turned on. If it's already on, turn it off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on again. This quick refresh often resolves background sync issues.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes or Music App:
   • On Windows, open iTunes.
   • On Mac, open the Music app.
2. On the menu bar at the top of your screen or the iTunes/Music window, click on Edit (Windows) or Music (Mac).
3. Select Preferences.
4. In the Preferences window, go to the General tab.
5. Check the box next to Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library on Windows versions).



6. Click OK to save your changes.
7. If Sync Library is already enabled, uncheck the box, wait a few seconds, then check the box again.
8. Click OK to save your changes.
9. Close and reopen iTunes or the Music app to ensure the changes take effect.

For iPhone:

1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Music.
3. Ensure the toggle switch next to Sync Library is turned on (green).
4. If Sync Library is already enabled, toggle the switch off, wait a few seconds, then toggle it back on.
5. Close and reopen the Music app to ensure the changes take effect.

Method 3: Sign Out and Sign Back In

Sometimes your Apple ID just needs a little reset. Sign out on your device, then sign back in using the same Apple ID you use on your computer or other Apple devices. If they don't match, your music won't sync—so double-check!

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. To Sign Out:

   

   • On the menu bar at the top of your screen or the iTunes/Music window, click on Account.
   • Select Sign Out from the drop-down menu.
   • Confirm that you want to sign out if prompted.
2. To Sign Back In:
   • After signing out, go back to Account on the menu bar.
   • Select Sign In from the drop-down menu.
   • Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Sign In.
   • Ensure you are using the same Apple ID that is signed in on your iPhone.
   • Close and reopen iTunes or the Music app to ensure the changes take effect.

For iPhone:

1. To Sign Out:
   • On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
   • Tap on your name at the top of the screen to open Apple ID settings.
   • Scroll down to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
   • You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID password to turn off Find My iPhone.
   • Choose which data you want to keep a copy of on your device, then tap Sign Out in the upper right corner.
   • Confirm that you want to sign out.
2. To Sign Back In:
   • After signing out, tap Sign In to your iPhone.
   • Enter your Apple ID and password, then tap Next.
   • Close and reopen the Music app to ensure the changes take effect.

Method 4: Restart Device

It's a classic fix for a reason. If things still aren't syncing, try restarting your phone, tablet, or computer. This clears out temporary glitches and gives your system a clean slate to work with.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

• On Windows:
  1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  2. Find iTunes or Music under the Processes tab.
  3. Right-click on it and select End Task.
  4. Click the Start menu.
  5. Select Power, then Restart.
• On Mac:
  1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities.
  2. Find Music or iTunes in the list.
  3. Select it and click the X button in the top left corner, then choose Force Quit.
  4. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner.
  5. Select Restart.

For iPhone:

• On iPhone with Face ID:

  

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle.
  2. Swipe left or right to find the Music app, then swipe up on the app preview to close it.
  3. Press and hold the Side button along with the Volume Up or Volume Down button until the power-off slider appears.
  4. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.
  5. To turn your device back on, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
• On iPhone with Home Button:
  1. Double-click the Home button to show recently used apps.
  2. Swipe left or right to find the Music app, then swipe up on the app preview to close it.
  3. Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the power-off slider appears.
  4. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.
  5. To turn your device back on, press and hold the Top (or Side) button until you see the Apple logo.

After your device restarts, open the Music app again.

Method 5: Check Cloud Statuses

If certain songs still aren't showing up, open the Apple Music app or iTunes and look for cloud icons next to your songs. If some of your songs have a cloud icon with an exclamation mark, it indicates an issue with uploading or syncing. If they come with a waiting mark, they're waiting to sync and won't appear on other devices.

If the songs were uploaded from your computer, check your local storage to locate any missing files. Open your music folder and make sure those files are still there.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes on your Windows computer or the Music app on your Mac.
2. Click on Library in the top menu or sidebar.
3. Ensure that the iCloud Status column is visible. If not, right-click on the column headers and select iCloud Status or iCloud Download to add it.
4. Look for the following cloud icons next to your songs and resolve them:

   

   • Cloud with a waiting arrow: Indicates the song is queued for syncing with iCloud but hasn't completed the process yet. Try updating your iCloud Music Library. Follow the steps in Method 6 to refresh the sync.
   • Cloud with an exclamation mark: Indicates an issue with the song, such as a problem with uploading or syncing. Click the exclamation mark next to the song. Select Locate and re-add the song to your library by choosing Find Files and pointing to the location of the song on your local storage.
   • Cloud with a deleted mark: Shows that the song was deleted from another device with Sync Library turned on. These songs were removed from another device. Check if you have the file locally, and if so, re-add it to your library.

Method 6: Update iCloud Library

Sometimes iTunes or the Music app will prompt you to update your iCloud Music Library—go ahead and do it. This manual refresh helps clear up sync issues and makes sure your library is current across all devices.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Launch iTunes on your Windows computer or the Music app on your Mac.
2. Click on File in the top menu.
3. Select Library from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on Update iCloud Music Library.
5. iTunes or the Music app will begin updating your iCloud Music Library. This process involves uploading any new or changed songs to iCloud and syncing them with your devices.

After the update is complete, verify if your music library is now syncing properly with your iPhone. Check both the iTunes/Music app and your iPhone to ensure that the music appears as expected and that any syncing issues are resolved.

Method 8: Update Device OS & App

Still having trouble? Check for software updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Then open the App Store and make sure your Apple Music app is updated too. Updates often include bug fixes that help with syncing problems behind the scenes.

For iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. If an update is available, tap Download and Install. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update. Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and is plugged into a power source during the update process.
5. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
6. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner.
7. Scroll down to find any available updates under Available Updates.
8. If Apple Music is listed, tap Update next to it. If it's not listed, the app is already up to date.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Update macOS or Windows OS:
   • On Mac: Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences. Click Software Update to check for and install any available macOS updates.
   • On Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
2. Update Music or iTunes:
   • On Mac:
     1. Open the App Store on your Mac.
     2. Click on Updates in the sidebar.
     3. If Apple Music is listed, click Update next to it. If it's not listed, the app is already up to date.
   • On Windwos:

     

     1. Open iTunes on your Windows computer.
     2. Click on Help in the top menu bar.
     3. Select Check for Updates. Follow the prompts to download and install any available updates.

Part 3. How to Force Sync Apple Music

If you want to force your Apple Music library to sync, that works too. First, turn off Sync Library, then turn it back on. For extra control, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and sync manually through iTunes or Finder. This helps ensure changes like newly added songs or deleted tracks are reflected.

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Open iTunes on Windows or the Music app on Mac.
2. Go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Music > Preferences (Mac).
3. Select the General tab.
4. Uncheck the box for Sync Library and click OK to save changes.
5. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer.
6. In iTunes or the Music app, select your device from the sidebar or the top menu.
7. Click on the Sync button in iTunes or the Music app. This will force a sync between your device and your iTunes/Music library, updating any recent changes.
8. After syncing is complete, return to the Preferences menu.
9. Recheck the box for Sync Library and click OK.
10. Check your iPhone or iPad to ensure that any recent changes, additions, or removals are reflected in your music library.

Part 4. Best Alternatives to Back Up and Sync Apple Music Anywhere

Converting your iTunes library, including Apple Music, iTunes music, podcasts, audiobooks, and Audible audiobooks, to MP3 format can offer several benefits, especially in preventing potential syncing issues. With MP3 files, you have the flexibility to manually sync your library anywhere, even on unauthorized devices, even after your subscription expires. One tool that can assist you in this process is ViWizard Apple Music Converter.

Why ViWizard Apple Music Converter?

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a professional tool designed to download and convert Apple Music to MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, and other universal formats. It bypasses DRM protection, allowing you to play your Apple Music on any device without limitations. With ViWizard, you can convert your entire iTunes library to MP3 format quickly and easily, maintaining the original audio quality.

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

Step 1Load Apple Music into the Converter

Start the ViWizard Audio Converter program and the iTunes app will be available immediately. To import Apple Music to ViWizard for conversion, navigate to your Apple Music library by clicking the Load iTunes Library button in the upper-left corner of the window. You may also drag and drop the local Apple Music files into the converter.

Step 2Tune the Audio Parameters from Apple Music

When you have loaded the music to the converter. Then, navigate to the Format panel. You can select the output format you want from the available options. You can select MP3 as the output format for playing on other devices. ViWizard has an audio editing feature that allows users to fine-tune some music settings for improved sound quality. You may, for example, alter the audio channel, sample rate, and bit rate in real-time. Finally, press the OK button to confirm the changes. You may also select the output destination of the audios by clicking the three-dot symbol next to the Format panel.

Step 3Begin Converting and Obtaining Apple Music

Now, click the Convert button to begin the download and conversion procedure of Apple Music. When the conversion is over, click the History button in the upper-right corner of the window to access all converted Apple Music files.

Summary

We have explored 8 solutions to fix the Apple Music library not syncing. The most common failure scenario is a network problem. So make sure all your devices are in an active network. ViWizard Audio Converter is a powerful tool to free Apple Music files. Start to enjoy your Apple Music at your will by clicking the download button below. If you still have questions about the article, please leave your comments below, we will reply to you ASAP.