Downloading music to iCloud drive allows you to access your music collection from any device connected to your iCloud account. This provides a convenient way to stream or download your music library on the go without taking up storage space on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, there are some limitations and things to consider before using iCloud drive for music storage.
Quick Answers
– Yes, you can download purchased music from Apple Music or iTunes to iCloud drive. This music will not count against your iCloud storage limit.
– Music not purchased through Apple, like CD rips or downloads from other sources, will count against your available iCloud storage.
– Downloaded music can be streamed or downloaded again on any device signed into your iCloud account.
– Apple Music songs downloaded to iCloud drive will have a download icon next to them. iTunes Match songs will display a cloud icon.
– Music downloaded to iCloud drive will not automatically sync across devices. You’ll need to manually download songs on each device.
Count Towards iCloud Storage Limit?
Music you’ve purchased from the iTunes Store or are subscribed to through Apple Music does not count against your iCloud storage limit. This includes any music you download directly to iCloud drive from these sources. You can download as much purchased Apple music to iCloud as you want without affecting your available space.
However, any music imported from other sources like CDs, downloads from third-party sites, or ripping software will be treated like any other file and count against your total iCloud storage.
The amount that counts will depend on the file size and format. For example, a typical 3-4 minute song in MP3 format is usually between 3-5MB. So if you uploaded 100 non-Apple MP3 songs to iCloud drive, you’d use about 500MB of storage.
iCloud Storage Plans
Here’s a quick overview of the iCloud paid storage plans to give you an idea of how much third-party music you can back up:
– 50GB: $0.99/month – Enough room for around 10,000 songs
– 200GB: $2.99/month – Space for 40,000+ songs
– 2TB: $9.99/month – Room for 400,000+ songs
So unless you have an extremely large personal music library, even the lowest paid iCloud plan should accommodate downloading your collection.
Can I Stream My Music from iCloud?
Yes, one of the big advantages of storing your music in iCloud drive is being able to stream songs directly from the cloud.
As long as you have an active internet connection, you can play downloaded music in iCloud drive on any iOS device, Mac, PC, or via iCloud.com. It works just like streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or other cloud music services.
This makes iCloud drive a convenient central repository for your music collection. You don’t have to worry about syncing songs across devices or managing finite storage space. Simply stream whatever you want from the robust cloud library linked to your Apple ID.
Requirements for Streaming from iCloud Drive
To stream music stored in iCloud drive, you’ll need:
– An active iCloud storage plan with available space
– A stable internet connection for uninterrupted streaming
– The song(s) downloaded directly into iCloud drive
– The Apple Music app or iTunes on Mac/PC to access your iCloud music library
As long as you meet these requirements, you can seamlessly stream your music from any location.
Can I Download Music for Offline Listening?
In addition to streaming, you can also download songs from iCloud drive for offline listening when an internet connection is unavailable.
This works similarly to downloading music for offline playback within the Apple Music app. Any songs you download from iCloud drive will be marked with a download icon next to their names in your library.
Here are some important considerations about offline downloads:
– Downloads are device-specific – Songs downloaded for offline playback on your iPhone will not automatically appear on your iPad, for example. You’ll need to manually download them on each device you want to listen offline.
– There are no limits on how many times you can download a song for offline listening.
– Downloaded songs will remain available for offline listening until you manually remove the downloads.
– Downloading for offline does not remove songs from your iCloud library. They will still be available for streaming.
So downloading music from iCloud drive provides flexibility to switch seamlessly between streaming and offline modes based on your connectivity and access needs.
How to Download Music to iCloud
Uploading your music collection into iCloud drive is a straightforward process. Here are the general steps:
Purchased iTunes/Apple Music
1. Open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC.
2. Tap the Library tab to view your music collection.
3. For any song, album, playlist or other content, tap or click the download icon (downward arrow) next to its name.
4. The content will download directly into your iCloud Music library.
Personal Collection (CD rips, MP3s, etc)
1. Make sure the songs are stored locally on your computer.
2. On your Mac or PC, open the desktop iCloud drive folder.
3. Drag and drop any music files or folders you want to upload into the iCloud drive folder.
4. The files will automatically sync and upload to your iCloud library.
5. Once finished, you can access and download the music on your other devices using the Apple Music or iTunes apps.
No matter the music source, downloading to iCloud drive is a straightforward process. Just look for the download/sync icons in Apple Music or iTunes to send music to the cloud.
Pros and Cons of Using iCloud Drive for Music
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the notable advantages and potential disadvantages of using iCloud drive for your music library:
Pros:
– Access your collection anywhere via streaming
– Sync and share music across all devices on your Apple ID
– Download for offline listening on the go
– Purchased iTunes/Apple Music doesn’t count against storage
– Consolidates music into one central location
Cons:
– Counts against storage for non-Apple music
– Need stable internet connection for streaming
– Music downloaded from iCloud doesn’t sync automatically
– Limits listening to Apple devices or iTunes on Windows
– Extra step compared to direct device syncing
Overall, iCloud drive provides an excellent option for both storage and streaming. For most Apple Music subscribers or even moderate iTunes libraries, the pros likely outweigh the cons.
Alternative Options for Storing Music
Besides using iCloud drive, there are a few other alternatives worth considering for managing your music collection:
Local Device Storage
Storing songs directly on your iPhone, iPad, or computer keeps music self-contained on that device. This avoids streaming reliance and storage limits. But it provides no flexibility or syncing across devices.
External Drives
High-capacity external USB drives offer virtually unlimited affordable storage. This provides backup and sharing capabilities beyond what iCloud can offer. But it requires manual syncing and no streaming.
Third-Party Cloud Services
Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and others let you upload music to the cloud like iCloud. Storage and streaming options vary across platforms. These may work better for non-Apple device users.
Dedicated Media Servers
Local networked storage devices like NAS boxes or Plex servers give in-home access to large music libraries. However, this requires technical setup and lacks on-the-go flexibility.
There are pros and cons to each option above compared to iCloud. Choose the one that best fits your specific needs and usage.
Troubleshooting iCloud Drive Music Issues
Despite iCloud drive offering a fairly seamless music storage and streaming solution, you may occasionally run into issues. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common problems:
Music Won’t Download Offline
– Check that you have enough iCloud storage available for the download. Downloads require double the size temporarily.
– Make sure the device has the latest version of iOS/iPadOS or macOS. Older versions can affect downloading.
– Check that the device has a stable WiFi or cellular connection to complete the download.
– Toggle iCloud Music Library off and back on under Music settings to refresh the download status.
– As a last resort, sign out of iCloud completely on the device and sign back in to reinitialize the music library.
Missing Songs in iCloud Library
– Check Music settings to confirm iCloud Music Library syncing is enabled on all devices.
– Delete the app, restart your device, reinstall the app, and re-enable iCloud Music Library to rescan missing tracks.
– Make sure you have the latest versions of iOS/iPadOS, macOS and iTunes. Older software can disrupt library syncing.
– Check that missing content was definitely uploaded to iCloud from your computer or other sources as expected.
Can’t Stream Songs on Mobile Data
– Navigate to Settings > Music and toggle on High Quality Streaming over Cellular to enable streaming over LTE/5G networks.
– Your cellular data plan may restrict streaming services like Apple Music. Check with your carrier.
– Low cellular signal in your current location can disrupt streaming. Move somewhere with better reception.
Uploaded Songs Not Showing Up
– On your Mac or PC, confirm the music files were uploaded successfully into iCloud drive from your local storage.
– Give the upload adequate time to finish syncing across devices before expecting to see the new content everywhere.
– Sign out then back into iCloud on all devices to force a freshmusic library sync from the cloud.
Conclusion
Downloading music into iCloud drive provides Apple users with a seamless hub for cloud music storage and streaming. While limitations exist around device syncing and non-Apple music counting against overall storage, the pros generally outweigh the cons, particularly for those invested in the Apple ecosystem.
With the proper troubleshooting steps, iCloud drive music issues can typically be easily resolved. Overall, Apple has optimized the system well for accessing your personal music collection anywhere while maintaining full fidelity, convenience and integration with Apple Music.