Having issues getting your music library to sync properly with iCloud Music Library? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. iCloud Music Library allows you to access your music collection across all your devices, but sometimes there are hiccups that prevent your tracks from uploading correctly. Here are some tips on how to troubleshoot iCloud Music Library syncing problems and force your music to upload.
Check Your Internet Connection
The most obvious reason your iCloud Music Library won’t sync is problems with your internet connection. Uploading your music library, especially if it contains thousands of tracks, requires a stable, fast internet connection. Make sure your wifi or cellular data signal is strong before trying to sync your library.
If you’re trying to sync a large music collection for the first time, it’s best to connect your device directly to your wifi router using an Ethernet cable. This will provide the fastest, most reliable connection to upload your tracks.
In some cases, you may need to reset your network settings on your iOS device before retrying the iCloud Music Library sync. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will wipe any stored wifi passwords, so you’ll need to re-enter those, but can resolve any network conflicts preventing syncing.
Update to the Latest iOS Version
Ensuring your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is running the latest iOS version will guarantee compatibility with iCloud Music Library. Apple is constantly improving the stability and speed of cloud syncing features in iOS updates.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any pending iOS updates. It’s a good idea to keep your device’s operating system fully up-to-date for the best performance.
Force Quit the Music App
Sometimes the Music app can get stuck trying to sync your library, preventing tracks from uploading. Force quitting the Music app will reset it, which can get things moving again.
On an iPhone X or later, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause slightly in the middle of the screen to bring up the app switcher. Then, swipe up on the Music preview to force quit it.
On older iPhones, double click the Home button to bring up the app switcher, then swipe up on the Music app preview.
Once you relaunch the Music app, try checking iCloud Music Library again to see if more tracks start uploading.
Toggle Off Sync Library
If force quitting the Music app doesn’t work, try turning off syncing for your library, waiting a few minutes, then turning it back on. This essentially resets iCloud Music Library and forces it to start a fresh sync.
Go to Settings > Music and toggle the switch off for Sync Library. Wait 5-10 minutes, then go back and turn Sync Library back on. Now try checking your library again in the Music app.
Sign Out Then In to iTunes & App Store
Signing out of your iTunes and App Store account everywhere and signing back in can help resync your iCloud Music Library.
On your iOS device, go to Settings > iTunes & App Store and tap your Apple ID. Choose Sign Out. Do the same on any other iOS devices and in iTunes on your Mac or PC.
Next, go back to Settings > iTunes & App Store and sign in again with your Apple ID. Your iCloud Music Library should now be forced to fully re-upload.
Disable Then Re-Enable iCloud Music Library
If nothing else has worked, turning iCloud Music Library off and back on again may be the nuclear option to force your music to upload. Just know this will remove any tracks already uploaded to iCloud.
Go to Settings > Music and turn off iCloud Music Library. This will remove any previously synced tracks from your devices. Now go back and enable iCloud Music Library again. Your iPhone will rescan your local music library and re-upload it to iCloud.
Factory Reset iPhone
The last resort if you still can’t get iCloud Music Library to sync is performing a factory reset on your iPhone. This wipes the device back to factory settings, removing any corrupted data that could be preventing syncing.
Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings. Once your iPhone resets, go through the setup process again, choose to sync with iCloud Music Library, and your entire library should now upload without issues.
Music Not Uploading? Try These Quick Fixes
Check your internet connection
Make sure you’re on a strong WiFi or cellular network.
Update your iOS software
Install the latest iOS updates for best performance.
Force quit the Music app
Closing and relaunching the Music app can get things moving.
Toggle iCloud Music Library off and on
Turn off syncing, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on.
Sign out then in to iTunes & App Store
Signing out and back in re-authenticates your account.
Disable and re-enable iCloud Music Library
Turn off the feature, then turn it on again for a fresh start.
Factory reset your iPhone
Wipe your device back to factory settings to eliminate any issues.
Why Is My Music Not Uploading to iCloud?
If your music won’t upload to iCloud Music Library, here are some common reasons why it may be failing to sync:
- Poor internet connection – Uploading a large music library requires a fast, stable internet connection. Weak WiFi or cellular signal will disrupt the syncing process.
- Not enough iCloud storage space – You need sufficient unused space in your iCloud account to upload your music. Upgrade your iCloud storage plan if needed.
- App issues – Bugs or glitches in the iOS Music app can sometimes interfere with iCloud Music Library syncing.
- Unsupported music file formats – Some music file formats like FLAC and ALAC aren’t supported by iCloud Music Library.
- Too many tracks – Libraries with over 100,000 tracks can experience problems syncing to iCloud.
- Corrupt data – Corrupted albums or tracks won’t upload properly. Delete and re-add them.
- Account or device issues – Signing out and back in to your Apple ID or factory resetting your device can resolve account or device-specific issues.
If you’re encountering upload failures, run through the troubleshooting steps above to identify and resolve the underlying cause.
Why is my iCloud Music Library stuck on “Uploading”?
There are a few common reasons your iCloud Music Library may appear stuck on “Uploading” and never finish:
- Poor internet connection – Uploading thousands of music tracks requires fast, stable connectivity. Weak WiFi or cellular can stall the process.
- Large library size – Libraries with over 100,000 songs will take a very long time to fully upload, even with a good connection.
- App issues – Bugs, crashes or glitches in the iOS Music app can freeze the upload process.
- Not enough iCloud storage – If you max out your iCloud storage space mid-upload, the process will halt.
- Unsupported formats – Files in WMA, FLAC, ALAC or other unsupported formats can’t be uploaded.
- Corrupted data – Damaged or corrupt tracks won’t sync properly.
Check the above potential causes if your iCloud Music Library gets perpetually stuck on “Uploading”. Getting a better internet connection, freeing up iCloud space, and removing problematic tracks are good ways to get it moving again.
How long does it take to upload music to iCloud?
The time it takes to upload your music library to iCloud can vary greatly depending on these factors:
- Library size – The bigger your music collection, the longer the upload time. Even a few thousand songs can take hours on a slow connection.
- Internet speed – With a fast connection over 100 Mbps, you can upload hundreds of songs per hour. Slower speeds dramatically increase upload time.
- File formats – Due to compression, smaller AAC files will be much faster to upload than large lossless files.
- Wireless vs wired – Using Ethernet for a direct wired connection provides faster and more reliable uploading vs wireless.
- Concurrent uploads – Uploading from multiple devices at once will slow down the process.
- App issues – Bugs or glitches in the Music app can interrupt uploading and add time.
As a very rough estimate, expect to upload around 200-1000 tracks per hour over a fast WiFi or wired connection. So a 10,000 song library could take 10+ hours to fully upload to iCloud Music Library in ideal conditions.
How to Speed Up iCloud Music Library Uploading
If your iCloud Music Library is taking forever to upload, here are some tips to help speed up the process:
- Use Ethernet – Connect your device directly to your router via Ethernet cable for the fastest wired upload speed.
- Turn off Wireless Sync – Go to Settings > General and disable wireless iTunes syncing on nearby computers to prioritize iCloud.
- Pause Other Downloads – Pause any App Store downloads, iOS updates, or iCloud Photo Library uploads until your music finishes.
- Disable Cellular Syncing – Turn off Music Library syncing over cellular data to prevent throttling.
- Delete Duplicate Tracks – Removing any duplicate songs saves upload time.
- Upgrade iCloud Storage – Buy more iCloud space if you’re running out of room mid-upload.
- Create Smart Playlists – Let iTunes organize songs into smart playlists so it only uploads the playlists.
- Leave Device Plugged In – Keep your device charging during the upload to prevent battery drain from stopping the process.
The faster your home internet connection, the quicker your media will upload to iCloud. But following the tips above should help ensure the process goes as smoothly and rapidly as possible.
How to Fix “Waiting to Upload” Issue in iCloud Music Library
Seeing a status of “Waiting to Upload” on tracks in your iCloud Music Library that won’t start uploading? Here are some ways to troubleshoot this problem:
- Check internet connection – Ensure your WiFi or cellular data signal is strong and stable enough for syncing.
- Toggle iCloud Music Library off/on – Turn the feature off in settings, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on.
- Force quit Music app – Fully close out the Music app from the app switcher to restart it.
- Sign out/in of iTunes & App Store – Sign out then back in to your Apple ID to revalidate your account.
- Check available storage – Make sure you have enough unused iCloud storage to upload the waiting tracks.
- Remove corrupt/duplicate files – Delete any damaged or duplicate files then re-add the healthy versions.
- Factory reset device – As a last resort, reset your iPhone or iPad to troubleshoot software issues.
An “Uploaded” status indicates files have been fully synced, while “Waiting to Upload” means they are stuck in the queue. Try the steps above to get them uploading properly again.
What happens when you delete music from iCloud Library?
Here’s what happens when you delete songs from your iCloud Music Library:
- The song is removed from any Apple devices using that iCloud Music Library, such as iPhones, iPads, or Macs.
- The song is no longer available for streaming or downloading from iCloud to those connected devices.
- If you have iTunes Match enabled as well, the song is also removed from the iTunes Match cloud locker.
- However, deleting music from iCloud will NOT remove the original copies from your computer’s local music library.
- Any playlists containing the deleted song will retain the greyed-out track name – you’ll need to manually remove it from playlists.
- If you have the song stored in your iCloud Photo Library or Shared Photo Library, it will NOT be deleted there.
- You can still re-add the song back to your iCloud Music Library from your computer or device music libraries to make it available again.
So in summary, deleting a track from iCloud removes it from synced devices but not the original music sources. You can get it back by simply re-uploading it.
Troubleshooting iCloud Music Library Tips
Having issues getting your music to properly sync with iCloud? Try these common troubleshooting steps:
- Check your internet connection – Make sure WiFi or cellular signal is strong.
- Update iOS software – Install latest iOS updates.
- Force quit the Music app – Fully close out the app then reopen it.
- Toggle iCloud Music Library off/on – Turn feature off, wait, then turn it back on.
- Sign in/out of iTunes & App Store – Sign out then back in to revalidate.
- Check available iCloud storage – Ensure enough free space for uploads.
- Remove problem tracks – Delete and re-add damaged or corrupt files.
- Factory reset device – For stubborn issues, reset the iPhone to defaults.
Following this basic iCloud Music Library troubleshooting checklist can get your tunes uploading and syncing properly again. Always make sure your iOS and iTunes software is up-to-date and your internet connection is strong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my iCloud music not syncing?
Common reasons iCloud music won’t sync properly include poor internet connection, insufficient iCloud storage, iOS or Music app issues, incompatible music formats, too many songs, and corrupted music files.
How do I reset iCloud music library?
To reset iCloud music library, turn off Sync Library in Settings > Music on your iPhone. Wait 5-10 minutes, then turn Sync Library back on. This will force iCloud to re-upload your music library.
How do I delete music from my iCloud library?
In the Music app, swipe left on a song, album or artist’s name and tap Delete. This removes it from your iCloud Music Library across synced devices. The original local copy is not deleted.
Why is my iCloud music upload stuck?
If your iCloud music upload gets stuck, it’s likely due to a poor internet connection, large library size, app issues, insufficient iCloud storage, unsupported formats or corrupted files. Address the underlying cause to get it moving again.
How do I speed up iCloud music uploads?
Tips to speed up iCloud music uploads include using a wired Ethernet connection, disabling Wireless iTunes Sync, pausing other downloads, upgrading your iCloud storage, removing duplicate tracks, creating smart playlists, and leaving your device plugged into power.
Conclusion
iCloud Music Library is a great feature, but can encounter upload issues at times. With a strong internet connection, sufficient iCloud storage, up-to-date software, and clean music files, you can troubleshoot most syncing problems. Remember to toggle the feature off and back on again, force quit the Music app, sign in/out of your Apple ID, delete problem tracks, or reset your device as needed to get your music properly uploading to the cloud again.
