Apple Music is Apple’s music streaming and subscription service that allows users to access over 90 million songs. One of the key features of Apple Music is the ability to sync music libraries between devices, but a common question many users have is whether Apple Music syncs all music or just some of it.
What music does Apple Music sync?
Apple Music is designed to sync most of the music in your library between devices where you are signed into your Apple ID. This includes:
- Songs purchased from the iTunes Store
- Songs uploaded to your iCloud Music Library from your computer
- Apple Music streaming songs added to your library
So in general, any music that you have added to your personal music collection through paid purchases, uploads, or by saving from the Apple Music catalog for offline playback should be synced across devices.
Does Apple Music sync all purchased music?
Yes, any music you have purchased from the iTunes Store is synced by Apple Music across devices. This includes music purchased many years ago. When you sign into Apple Music with your Apple ID, all previously purchased music is made available.
Does Apple Music match and sync music not purchased on iTunes?
In addition to purchased iTunes music, Apple Music also matches and syncs music from other sources through a process called iTunes Match. This works by scanning your local music library and matching any songs it can to songs available on the iTunes Store. Any music successfully matched is then synced across your devices.
iTunes Match is capable of matching music ripped from CDs, downloaded from other stores, acquired from file sharing sites, etc. However, obscure, very old, live recordings, and other hard to find tracks may not always match. But in general, a majority of your non-iTunes music will be matched and synced by Apple Music.
Can you choose which songs sync with Apple Music?
Unfortunately there is no way to selectively sync only certain songs or albums through Apple Music. It is designed to match and sync your entire personal music catalog. If you wish to not have certain songs sync across devices, you would need to delete them from your library.
What about music from other streaming services?
Songs from other streaming music subscriptions like Spotify will not sync to Apple Music. Apple Music can only sync music that is purchased from or matched by the iTunes Store. Streamed music from competing services is not supported.
Does Apple Music sync smart playlists?
Yes, Apple Music will sync any smart playlists you have created on your computer to your other devices. Smart playlists are playlists that update automatically based on parameters you specify, like genre, date added, etc. These dynamic playlists will stay synced across devices through Apple Music just like regular playlists.
What devices support Apple Music syncing?
Apple Music syncing is available on all devices where you can sign into your Apple ID that are running recent iOS or iPadOS versions. This includes:
- iPhone
- iPad
- iPod Touch
- Apple TV 4K/HD
- HomePod/HomePod mini
- CarPlay
On Macs, Apple Music syncing requires macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or higher. On PCs, Apple Music will sync across devices signed into the latest version of iTunes for Windows.
Does Apple Music work with Android phones?
Apple Music is available on Android, but music libraries will not sync between an iPhone and Android device. You can stream Apple Music’s catalog on Android, but only iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and iTunes for Windows support full library syncing.
Can Apple Music sync while streaming?
Yes, Apple Music will continue syncing your library even when actively streaming music. Songs are downloaded in the background so you can stream music uninterrupted while Apple Music brings your library up to sync on new devices in the foreground.
How long does it take for Apple Music to sync?
The time it takes for Apple Music to fully sync your library to a new device depends on the size of your library and your internet connection speed. It could be instantaneous for small libraries or take hours or longer for large collections of music over slower connections. Apple Music will actively sync in the background until the process is complete.
Does Apple Music sync playlist order?
Unfortunately Apple Music does not guarantee the order of playlists or the order of songs within playlists will stay the same when syncing. The order may shuffle when syncing to new devices. There is no setting to enforce playlist or song order during Apple Music syncing.
Can you recover deleted music through Apple Music syncing?
If you have accidentally deleted songs from your Apple Music library, connecting to a device where the music still exists can restore the missing songs through Apple Music syncing. However, music deleted from all synced devices will be permanently lost, as Apple Music cannot recover songs that no longer exist in any location.
Is synced music DRM-protected?
Yes, all music synced through Apple Music has Apple’s DRM protection applied. This prevents the music from being played on unauthorized devices or shared without restriction. Even your own ripped CDs will have DRM added during the matching process.
Can you opt out of Apple Music syncing?
There is no supported way to selectively disable Apple Music syncing while keeping other iCloud services like Contacts, Calendars, Photos, etc. active. Turning off Apple Music syncing requires fully disabling iCloud Music Library on all devices which will also stop access to Apple Music streaming.
What happens if you unsubscribe from Apple Music?
If you end your Apple Music subscription, music synced from the Apple Music catalog will become unavailable on your devices. However, any music purchased from iTunes or uploaded from your computer will remain available without a subscription. Your Apple Music account and playlists are preserved in case you resubscribe later.
Conclusion
Apple Music is designed to seamlessly sync purchased iTunes music, matched local music, and Apple Music streaming tracks across all of your devices. Nearly all music categories are covered, with some exceptions for extremely obscure live and indie recordings. Smart playlists also sync automatically through Apple Music. While convenient, the downside is a lack of control over selectively syncing music and enforcing playlist order. Overall Apple Music delivers a robust music syncing experience with wide device support, allowing access to your personal music library anytime, anywhere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Music sync music without WiFi?
Apple Music can sync music between devices using cellular data when WiFi is unavailable. However, it is recommended to use WiFi for large libraries or when adding new devices as music uploads can consume significant amounts of cellular data.
How many devices can sync with Apple Music?
There is no technical limit on the number of devices that can sync with Apple Music. You can add all devices associated with your Apple ID to your Apple Music account. Keep in mind discontinued legacy devices may lose Apple Music support.
Do all songs need to be downloaded for Apple Music sync?
No, songs do not need to be fully downloaded to sync between devices. Apple Music will download songs in the background after syncing your library’s metadata to new devices. This allows syncing without waiting for downloads.
Can you access music during initial Apple Music sync?
You can immediately stream Apple Music and listen to purchased iTunes music before the sync completes. However, matched and uploaded songs may be unavailable until they finish downloading in the background after the initial sync.
Does deleting music also remove it from Apple Music servers?
No, deleting music removes it from synced devices but not from Apple’s servers. To fully delete it requires contacting Apple Support to permanently remove it from your account.
Can Apple Music sync music to Apple Watch?
Yes, Apple Music on iPhone will automatically sync purchased, matched, and downloaded streaming music to an associated Apple Watch for offline playback when away from iPhone.
Does Apple Music sync work with iTunes on Windows PC?
Apple Music syncing works through the latest version of iTunes for Windows. Your music library will stay in sync between your PC, iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices.
Can you redownload lost music files synced by Apple Music?
Yes, go to Account Settings > Purchased to find music previously synced by Apple Music. Tap the download button to redownload any missing songs to your device.
How do I sync audiobooks and podcasts with Apple Music?
Audiobooks and podcasts purchased through Apple will automatically sync across devices through iCloud, separate from your Apple Music music library.
Where can you see how much music has synced to your device?
In Settings > Music > Downloaded Music, you can view how much storage space is being used by synced Apple Music and see which albums and playlists are downloaded.
Will Apple Music sync music I’m not authorized to share?
No, Apple Music will only sync music purchased by you or music you legally own the rights to through iTunes Match. Unauthorized copied music will not be synced.
Can Apple Music sync with iTunes on multiple computers?
Apple Music will only sync your library with one designated iTunes library at a time. Switching computers will require you to deauthorize the previous computer first.
Comparison of Apple Music and Spotify Music Sync
| Feature | Apple Music | Spotify |
|---|---|---|
| Syncs purchased music | Yes | No |
| Syncs personal library uploads | Yes | No |
| Syncs streaming songs | Yes | Only for downloads |
| Works across mobile and desktop | Yes | No |
| Selective sync options | No | Yes |
| Smart playlist sync | Yes | No |
In summary, Apple Music provides robust library syncing across devices but lacks selectivity. Spotify offers more selective syncing but does not sync full libraries or smart playlists.
Troubleshooting Apple Music Sync Issues
Music not syncing between devices
If music is not syncing between devices as expected, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Check internet connection is working on all devices
- Confirm devices are signed into same Apple ID account
- Check iCloud Music Library is enabled under settings
- Make sure automatic downloads are enabled under settings
- Restart any devices having issues and try syncing again
Some songs or albums missing
If some songs or entire albums seem to be missing when syncing, try the following:
- Stream the missing albums to redownload them
- Double check missing items are definitely in your library
- Check download settings to confirm there are no size limits
- Try deleting the app and reinstalling it
- Contact Apple Support for further troubleshooting
Music synced but download keeps restarting
If music appears synced but gets stuck restarting the download, it could be caused by:
- Poor internet connection or WiFi dropping out
- Insufficient iCloud storage space
- Device low on storage space
- Corrupted music files
- App needs force quitting and restarting
Check these potential issues on the problem device and reattempt the sync.
Playlists not staying in sync
If playlist order or content gets shuffled when syncing, try these tips:
- Double check playlist sync settings are enabled
- Consolidate playlists to include only available synced content
- Simplify long playlists to prevent sync issues
- Recreate playlists from your library after sync finishes
Unfortunately true playlist syncing can be unreliable at times when syncing large libraries.
Music synced but won’t play offline
If music appears in your library but won’t play offline:
- Check Downloaded Music settings to confirm content is marked for offline play
- For streaming music, enable offline playback in album or playlist screens
- Restart device and wait for pending downloads to complete
- Toggle Offline Mode on and off under settings
This should resolve any streaming or download issues preventing offline music playback.
Conclusion
Overall, Apple Music does an excellent job syncing purchased music, matched local files, and streaming content across devices. The main limitations are lack of selectivity over what syncs, no control over order, and some minor sync reliability issues. But for most users, Apple Music will provide a seamless music syncing experience across all your devices.
If encountering sync problems, double check your settings, internet connection, storage space, and thoroughly troubleshoot with Apple Support. With proper configuration, Apple Music’s sync should reliably access your personal music library everywhere.
