Music won't download

Question

Level 1

4 points

Music won't download

I've been plugging away at this for awhile now and no luck ... help! I'm not able to download music from iCloud into the Music app on MacOS or iOS (phone and tablet). I'll focus on the Mac. Hardware/OS: Mac 27 inch, 2017, Intel processor running Ventura 13.2. Everything that can be updated is.

I open Music and most of my songs are greyed out. The download arrow icon doesn't appear between "Album" and "Time" and when I click on the download arrow at the top of the playlist, nothing happens.

I've tried "File -> Library -> Update Cloud Library" and I get "Loading your Cloud Library. This may take several minutes." at the top. I've let it run overnight and nothing changes. I've restarted the app, restarted the computer, logged out and back into my Apple ID and iCloud. No change. When I opened Music in safe mode, it would allow me to "Update Genius," yet when I "Update Cloud Library" nothing happens (including the aforementioned messages).

I'm out of ideas and it's a five hour drive for me to lug the Mac into a Genius Bar. What am I missing?

iMac 27″ 5K

Posted on Feb 9, 2023 12:05 PM

Reply

Answer 1

R_Gabriel

Community Specialist

Feb 11, 2023 06:30 PM in response to C-Bird

Hi C-Bird,

It might be helpful for you to speak with Apple directly about this issue. Click the link below for additional assistance on this matter.

Contact - Official Apple Support

Kindest regards!

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Answer 2

DiZoE

Level 4

3,033 points

Feb 11, 2023 11:28 PM in response to C-Bird

Hey C-Bird!

Can you say if you subscribe to the Apple Music Service? Or when you say music from the cloud, are you referring to your purchased music from the iTunes Store? Or, and finally, is the music you have on your Mac all imported from CD’s and other sources? How do you normally sync music across both devices? (Via iTunes/Finder, with a cable or when close together? Or via iCloud or your purchased content)?

Thanks, that info may help, although my first inclination from what you described, especially if subscribed to Apple Music, (Or Otherwise), is to open a new Music Library:

Use multiple libraries in Music on Mac - Apple Support

If you do subscribe, once you open a new Library, you can just enable Sync Library again in Music > Settings. Otherwise, your media can be moved to a new library if all is working okay.

And as far as your phone, if also subscribed, can go to Settings > Music > Sync Library, enable this and test.

I do have other suggestions, but those first questions I had.......knowing the answers to those may help, thanks!

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Answer 3

C-Bird Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 12, 2023 11:53 AM in response to DiZoE

I have cycled on and back off of Apple Music's paid service twice in the past 1-1/2 years -- currently off. As to the source, I've stored my music on various Mac's going back twenty years. Most were loaded from CD's back in the day, a ton from iTunes and a few from other download sources.

The files from the original CD's have not been physically located on the Mac for at least a half dozen years. Being subscribed or not subscribed to Apple Music doesn't affect the downloaded selections.

Thanks for the help!

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Answer 4

DiZoE

Level 4

3,033 points

Feb 12, 2023 02:15 PM in response to C-Bird

Thanks for that. So since not subscribed and the media isn’t on the Mac, is it stored on an external drive?

What does it show for just one of the file locations of a song?

Right Click song > Song Info > Files. (Or Show in Finder, then click Go > Show Path Bar.

Also what shows in Music > Settings > Files as far as the media location?

Same issue on your phone? So without being subscribed to Apple Music, are you just syncing the music to your phone using a cable?

Thanks!

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Music won't download

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