Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services, with over 60 million songs available on demand. As with any app that relies on downloading and caching large amounts of data, sometimes the Apple Music cache can become corrupted or too full, which can cause issues with streaming and downloading music.
Resetting the Apple Music cache can often fix problems with music not downloading, songs getting stuck mid-stream, or other playback issues. Thankfully, resetting the cache is a simple process on Mac. Here’s a look at how to clear the Apple Music cache to troubleshoot problems.
Quit Apple Music
First, you’ll want to completely quit out of the Apple Music app. The easiest way to fully quit an app on Mac is to right-click on the app icon in the Dock and select Quit.
You can also use one of the following keyboard shortcuts to quit Apple Music:
- Command + Q
- Select Apple Music then File > Quit
This closes the app fully so it won’t interfere with deleting the cache files.
Navigate to the Music Cache Folder
Now that Apple Music is fully quit, you can delete the app’s cached content. To do this, you’ll navigate to the Music folder where this content is stored.
Follow these steps to get to the Apple Music cache:
- Open the Finder app
- Press Command+Shift+G to open the ‘Go to Folder’ window
- Paste in the following path: ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Music
- Press Go
This will open up the Caches folder that contains the Apple Music cache.
Delete the Cache Files & Folders
Once inside the com.apple.Music folder, select all of the files and folders and delete them by pressing Command+Delete.
Alternatively, you can delete the cache files individually. Be sure to delete files with names like ‘Cache.db’ and ‘mnfs.sqlite’.
Deleting these files clears out the old Apple Music cache so a fresh one can be rebuilt.
Restart Apple Music
The final step is to restart Apple Music for it to rebuild its cache and playlists based on your Apple ID and iCloud account.
To restart Apple Music, open the app like normal or select it from your dock. The app may take longer than usual to start up as the cache is recreated.
Once Apple Music finishes launching, you can test downloading content or playing songs to see if your issues resolving. The cache will slowly rebuild as you use the app over the next few days.
Reset Apple Music App Data
If simply deleting the cache files doesn’t work, you can also reset the Apple Music app data entirely. This will sign you out of the app, delete settings and preferences, and allow you to sign back in for a clean slate.
Here are the steps to reset Apple Music app data:
- Quit Apple Music
- Click Go > Go to Folder
- Enter the path: ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.Music
- Delete all files and folders
- Restart Apple Music and sign in again
This achieves the same result as deleting the cache, but also resets app data which can help in cases where caches don’t get rebuilt properly. Log out and log back in to start fresh.
Reset Music Library
For more serious Apple Music issues, you may need to reset your entire music library via Finder. This will clear and rebuild the music section of your Mac’s library.
Follow these steps:
- Open Finder and click Music in the sidebar
- Select Music in the top menu bar
- Choose Library > Reset Music Library
This will reset and rescan the music library data. It can take some time to complete. When finished, you can reopen Apple Music and your music should be back to normal.
Sign Out and Back In to Apple Music
One common fix for Apple Music issues on Mac is to sign out of the app completely, and then sign back in. This is useful if you’re having authentication issues or problems with songs you’ve added not appearing properly.
To sign out of Apple Music on Mac:
- Click Account > Sign Out
- Close Apple Music and reopen it
- Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in again
This will reload your libraries, playlists and preferences using your current iCloud data.
Check Apple Music Subscriptions & Billing
Some Apple Music problems may be tied to your subscription status or billing details. Check that your payment info is up to date and that you don’t have any billing issues or expired subscriptions.
To check Apple Music subscription status:
- Open the App Store app
- Click your profile icon in the lower left
- Manage subscriptions
You can update expired payment info here or restart an old subscription. Apple Music access requires an active subscription.
Update macOS Software
Outdated macOS software can sometimes lead to Apple Music glitches. Make sure your Mac is running the latest macOS updates for maximum compatibility.
To update macOS software:
- Click the Apple icon in the top left
- Go to System Preferences > Software Update
- Install any macOS updates that are available
- Restart your computer when done
Updating to the latest version of macOS helps ensure proper Apple Music functionality and performance.
Check Network Connectivity
Since Apple Music relies on streaming and downloading from the internet, network problems are a common cause of issues. Make sure your Mac has a solid Wi-Fi or ethernet connection.
Troubleshoot your network connection by:
- Reconnecting to Wi-Fi
- Trying different networks
- Checking ISP for outages
- Testing speed at Fast.com
A slow, spotty, or restricted network can interfere with Apple Music’s ability to stream and download songs.
Allow Apple Music Through Firewall
If you have security software or firewalls enabled, be sure to allow Apple Music access through the firewall so it can establish server connections.
Add Apple Music as an allowed app in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall.
Also add exceptions for Bonjour and Apple music services in any third party firewall apps you use.
Disable Audio Plug-Ins and Enhancers
Some third party audio plugins, enhancers, or EQ software can conflict with Apple Music’s streaming playback. Try disabling or removing these apps as a troubleshooting step.
In System Preferences > Audio, make sure to disable any audio plug-ins that aren’t required. Audio apps like Boom, SoundSource and Equalizer may need to be quit or uninstalled to prevent interference.
Check Hidden iTunes Account Balance
If you previously used iTunes, there may be a hidden balance remaining on your account that could interfere with Apple Music. Check for and use up any remaining iTunes balances.
To check iTunes account balance:
- Open App Store
- Click your profile
- View Account > iTunes & App Store
- Check current balance
Use up any funds by purchasing media before subscribing to Apple Music. A $0 balance is ideal.
Contact Apple Support
If all else fails, get in touch with Apple support for further troubleshooting assistance. Be ready to provide details about your issue, what steps you’ve tried already, and any relevant error messages you’re receiving.
Some ways to contact Apple support include:
- Apple Support app on Mac
- Getsupport.apple.com website
- Make a Genius Bar appointment
- Call 1-800-APL-CARE
Apple can walk through advanced troubleshooting, accept feedback on any bugs, or arrange a repair if needed. Their support team may be able to resolve an Apple Music issue that general troubleshooting can’t fix.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Apple Music problems begins with basic steps like updating software, checking subscriptions and network connections, resetting the app, and clearing the cache. For persistent or complex issues, Apple’s own support team can provide help identifying any underlying problems and get Apple Music working smoothly again.
