Why Your Music Isn’t Playing
You're likely encountering this issue because the songs you’re trying to play:
- Were not purchased through iTunes, and
- Were not synced from a computer using iTunes/Finder, and
- Are not part of your iCloud Music Library (Apple Music or iTunes Match)
So when you upgraded your phone:
- Only music stored in iCloud or purchased from Apple automatically returns.
- Anything else (e.g., music you ripped from CDs, downloaded elsewhere, etc.) doesn’t automatically sync back unless you manually re-sync it from your computer or use a service like iTunes Match.
Why Apple Doesn't Make This Clear
Because Apple:
- Assumes most users will buy through iTunes or use Apple Music
- Prioritizes “simplicity” over transparency
- Pushes users toward subscribing to Apple Music for streaming access
There’s very little up-front notice that backups don’t include all media unless it’s tied to Apple services or manually transferred.
What You Can Do
Option 1: Re-Sync from Your Computer
If you still have the music files:
- Open iTunes or Finder on your computer
- Connect your phone
- Sync the music manually (you can choose selected artists/playlists)
Option 2: Use iTunes Match ($24.99/year)
This uploads your music (even non-iTunes purchases) to iCloud Music Library so you can stream/download it to any device.
Option 3: Use a Third-Party Music App
You can upload your music to:
- Plex
- VOX
- Cloud music players that let you host your own files (e.g., via Dropbox or Google Drive)
