Having issues getting your Apple Music library to sync properly across devices? A manual sync may help resolve any problems. Here are some tips for manually syncing your Apple Music library.
Check iCloud and iTunes Sync Settings
Before manually syncing, check that iCloud Music Library and iTunes sync options are configured correctly. This ensures your music library is setup properly to handle a manual sync.
- On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, go to Settings > Music and make sure “iCloud Music Library” is enabled. This allows Apple Music songs to be stored in iCloud and synced across devices.
- In the iTunes app on your Mac or PC, go to Edit > Preferences > Playback and make sure “iCloud Music Library” is checked. This syncs your iTunes library with Apple Music.
- Also check Edit > Preferences > Devices and make sure “Sync Music” is checked for any connected devices. This syncs iTunes music onto devices.
Sync Your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
To manually sync your iOS device like an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with your Apple Music library:
- Connect your device directly to your computer using the USB cable that came with your device.
- Open iTunes on your computer. iTunes should automatically detect your connected device.
- In iTunes, click the device icon in the upper-left corner.
- On the Summary sync page, check “Sync Music” and select “Entire music library” or “Selected playlists, artists, albums and genres.”
- Click Apply to sync your music library from iTunes onto your device.
This will transfer your iTunes music as well as any Apple Music songs saved in your library onto your iOS device. If you choose “Selected playlists, artists, albums and genres”, be sure to select the specific music content you want synced.
Sync Your Android Device
To manually sync your Apple Music library onto an Android phone or tablet:
- On your Android device, open the Apple Music app.
- Tap the Profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Tap “Settings” and scroll down to “Sync Library.”
- Tap “Sync Now” to manually sync your library.
This will transfer your saved Apple Music songs and playlists onto your Android device. Allow some time for the sync to fully complete.
Use iTunes to Sync with a Mac or PC
To sync your Apple Music collection across your computers and other devices logged into your Apple ID account:
- Open iTunes on your Mac or PC.
- Click Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer.
- Sign out of iTunes and the iTunes & App Store on all devices.
- Sign back into iTunes and the iTunes & App Store on all devices.
- Any music you purchased from iTunes should download automatically. Use iTunes to manually sync any Apple Music playlists or albums to devices.
Deauthorizing and reauthorizing your computer forces your iTunes library to freshly re-sync with all content including Apple Music.
Reset iCloud Music Library
If your music library has become corrupted or has missing tracks, turning iCloud Music Library off and then on again can re-sync it properly:
- On your iPhone, iPad, iPod or in iTunes, turn off iCloud Music Library in your settings.
- This deletes any downloaded Apple Music tracks. Make sure anything you want to keep is backed up.
- On your devices and in iTunes, turn iCloud Music Library back on.
- Your entire Apple Music collection will re-download. Make sure to stay connected to WiFi as it may take time.
This essentially resets your iCloud Music Library and Apple Music content. All of your tracks, playlists and albums will restore after some time. This can resolve issues caused by corrupted files or missing music.
Contact Apple Support
If you still have issues getting your Apple Music or iTunes Match libraries to properly sync, contact Apple Support for help troubleshooting:
- Apple Support app – Open the app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and start a chat session or call request.
- Online support – Request support on the Apple Support website. You can chat, email or set up a phone call.
- Apple retail store – Make a Genius Bar appointment and get hands-on help.
Provide details on when your sync issues started, what troubleshooting you’ve tried, and specifics on what music is missing or mismatched. This helps Apple Support determine how to get your libraries properly synced again.
Summary
Keeping your Apple Music collection properly synced requires iCloud Music Library and iTunes to be configured correctly. Manual sync options include using iTunes to sync to devices, the Sync Library button in the Apple Music app, and turning iCloud Music Library off and back on. For continued issues, contact Apple Support to help get your music libraries syncing properly again.
