Losing access to your Apple Music library can be incredibly frustrating. Your music and playlists are important to you, and not being able to access them is a big problem. The good news is that in many cases, you can get your Apple Music back. Here are some quick answers to common questions about restoring your Apple Music access:
I canceled my Apple Music subscription – can I get my music back if I resubscribe?
Yes! If you cancel your Apple Music subscription, your music library and playlists are stored for up to 6 months. If you resubscribe within that time period, your Apple Music access will be restored along with all your previous content.
I accidentally deleted some songs/playlists – can I get them back?
Unfortunately, if you manually delete songs or playlists they are permanently removed from your library and cannot be recovered. Make sure to backup your important playlists so you have a copy if this happens accidentally.
I switched Apple IDs – can I recover my music from my old account?
Yes, you can recover your music library when you switch to a new Apple ID. You will need to contact Apple support to merge your old and new accounts. This will consolidate your purchase history and restore your access.
I lost my iPhone – how do I get my Apple Music back on a new device?
As long as you are still using the same Apple ID, you can access your Apple Music on a new device. Simply install the Apple Music app, sign in with your account, and your library will be reloaded from the cloud. Be sure to backup your old device if possible to save downloaded music.
I accidentally unsubscribed from Apple Music – can I get my membership back?
Definitely. If you accidentally canceled your subscription, you can resubscribe at any time to regain access to Apple Music and your previous library. This will reinstate your membership as if it never ended.
Understanding iCloud Music Library
To understand how you can restore your Apple Music collection if you lose access, it helps to know how iCloud Music Library works. iCloud Music Library is Apple’s music backup system. It allows you to store your Apple Music content in the cloud and sync it across devices.
When you add a song, album, or playlist to your library, it is automatically uploaded to iCloud. This enables you to download and stream your music from any device signed into your Apple ID. It also acts as a backup if you were to lose music on one device.
iCloud Music Library has some key traits that enable music recovery:
- Content is linked to your Apple ID account, not a specific device
- Your library is safely stored in the cloud, not just locally
- Changes sync across your devices so your library is always up to date
- Apple retains your music for up to 6 months after an Apple Music cancellation
So in many cases, you can get your Apple Music back by simply reconnecting to iCloud Music Library from a new device or resubscribing to unlock your previous content.
Recovering Content with iCloud Music Library
Here are some common Apple Music recovery scenarios made possible by iCloud Music Library:
You bought a new iPhone
Sign into your new device with the same Apple ID used on your previous phone. Go to Settings > Music and enable iCloud Music Library syncing. This will automatically download your library from the cloud.
You accidentally deleted an album
Go to Settings > Music > Downloads and toggle “Show Apple Music” to see your entire iCloud Music Library history. You can re-download any albums that were accidentally erased.
You canceled your subscription
If you resubscribe to Apple Music within 6 months, your entire library will be restored as soon as you sign in. This includes playlists, favorites, recommendations and more.
You switched Apple devices
Logging into your new device automatically connects you to your iCloud Music Library. You may need to enable iCloud Music Library sync in Settings to download your content locally.
So in summary, iCloud Music Library acts as a continuous backup of your Apple Music collection. In many cases it can help you restore your library if you lose access or switch devices.
Recovery Options for Common Apple Music Problems
While iCloud Music Library enables you to restore your music in many situations, it is not foolproof. Here are some common Apple Music problems users encounter, along with the best recovery options for each scenario:
You accidentally deleted songs/playlists locally
If you manually deleted songs, albums or playlists from your iPhone or iTunes library, these items are permanently erased and cannot be recovered through iCloud Music Library. Your best option is to try restoring your device from a previous backup to a date before you deleted the music. Otherwise, the content will need to be re-downloaded if available.
You canceled your Apple Music subscription
When you unsubscribe from Apple Music, your music is stored in iCloud for 6 months. Resubscribing during this window will reinstate your entire library. After 6 months, some content may no longer be available if licensing agreements have ended. The best option is to resubscribe as soon as possible.
You lost your iOS device
If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is lost, stolen or damaged, you can restore your Apple Music on a new device as long as you are using the same Apple ID account. Be sure to put your old device into Lost Mode via Find My iPhone if possible. Also deactivate the old device from your iTunes account to secure it.
Your local library files were corrupted
If your music library is damaged or corrupted on your Mac or PC, you may need to delete the local files and re-sync your full content from iCloud Music Library. This will create a fresh local version of your library while preserving your playlists and favorites.
You switched Apple IDs
If you change your Apple ID, your purchase history does not carry over automatically. Contact Apple support to merge your old and new account which will restore your ability to download previously acquired songs and albums. Otherwise you may need to repurchase some content.
You want to recover deleted playlist
Playlists can only be recovered if you have an unmodified local backup or if you re-created the playlist and had it sync to the cloud before it was deleted. Otherwise there is no way to retrieve the song list from a deleted playlist. Start rebuilding it again from scratch to get it back.
Steps to Restore Deleted Apple Music Files
If you want to restore your missing Apple Music files, here is a step-by-step process:
1. Check iCloud Music Library
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Music. This will show you the content Apple is backing up from your library. Anything listed here can be re-downloaded if missing.
2. Restore from backup
Connect your device to your computer and restore from either an iCloud or iTunes backup. Choose a backup dated before you lost access to your music to fully restore your library.
3. Re-download missing items
Search the Apple Music catalog for any individual songs, albums or playlists that could not be restored from backup and manually re-download them to your device.
4. Resubscribe to Apple Music
If you previously canceled your subscription, resubscribe to Apple Music to unlock access to your previous iCloud Music Library content for up to 6 months.
5. Contact Apple support
For additional help recovering deleted content no longer available through iCloud Music Library backups, reach out to Apple support online or by phone. They can review your account activity and suggest next steps.
Best Practices to Avoid Losing Your Apple Music
To avoid losing your Apple Music access entirely, keep these best practices in mind:
- Enable iCloud Music Library sync on all your iOS devices and computers
- Create local iTunes backups regularly to supplement iCloud backups
- Avoid manually deleting content unless you are certain you want to remove it
- Manage your subscriptions carefully to avoid accidental cancellation
- Frequently backup important playlists in case they are erased
- Use Family Sharing to create a backup account for your Apple Music
- Put lost iOS devices into Lost Mode immediately using Find My iPhone
Following these tips will minimize the risk of losing your Apple Music library entirely. But if you do encounter problems, the recovery options outlined above should help you get your music back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about restoring lost Apple Music:
Can I recover songs I deleted months ago?
Unfortunately there is no way to recover tracks deleted more than 6 months in the past. Apple only retains your full music library history for 180 days after content is deleted.
What if I deleted music downloaded to my computer?
Music downloaded to your Mac or PC from Apple Music cannot be restored if deleted locally. You will need to re-download it by searching in the Apple Music catalog.
How long do I have to resubscribe to get my old music back?
You have up to 6 months after canceling your subscription to resubscribe and have your entire Apple Music library restored.
Can Apple help me merge multiple Apple IDs?
Yes, Apple support can help you consolidate two separate Apple IDs with different purchase histories into a single account to restore all your content.
What if I don’t have any backups from before I lost my music?
With no backups available, your only option is to re-accumulate your Apple Music content by adding items back into your library from the Apple Music catalog.
If I restore my iPhone, will it delete my Apple Music files?
No, restoring your iPhone using a backup will preserve your Apple Music library. Just be sure to use a backup that pre-dates any lost music issues.
How can I rebuild playlists that were deleted?
Start by searching your Apple Music history for the albums the playlist contained. You can then manually recreate the playlist using the Recently Added section to find those same albums again.
What should I do if I lost my Apple Music files due to a hard drive crash?
As long as you still have access to your Apple ID account, you can restore your iCloud Music Library on a new hard drive by re-downloading all content from the cloud.
Conclusion
Losing access to your Apple Music library can be frustrating. But in many cases, you can successfully restore your content as long as you act quickly. By utilizing iCloud Music Library, restoring backups, and resubscribing if needed, you can often get your Apple Music files back. Just be sure to follow best practices for account management and backups going forward to avoid losing your music again. With the right approach, you can reclaim your Apple Music collection, playlists and preferences.