The “Syncing Library” message in Apple Music indicates that the service is syncing your local music library with your iCloud Music Library. When you enable iCloud Music Library, Apple Music will scan your local music files, match them to songs in the Apple Music catalog, and make them available across your devices through iCloud. The syncing process can take some time depending on the size of your library, which is why you may see the “Syncing Library” message.
This synchronization allows you to access your personal music collection on any device where you are signed into your Apple ID and have enabled iCloud Music Library. So if you add or edit tracks in your library on one device, the changes will eventually sync to your other devices after the syncing process completes. The “Syncing Library” message lets you know this behind-the-scenes syncing is underway.
Possible Causes
There are a few common reasons why you may see the “Syncing Your Library” message in Apple Music:
- Setting up Apple Music for the first time on a new device (according to this Apple discussion thread). During initial setup, Apple Music needs to sync your library, which can take some time depending on your library size.
- Your iCloud Music Library sync is stuck (according to this Apple discussion). Issues like poor internet connectivity can disrupt the iCloud syncing process, leading to the sync getting stuck.
- Software bugs or glitches. Sometimes a bug in the latest iOS version or the Music app itself results in syncing problems.
- Corrupted music files in your library prevent syncing. This usually happens if you tried to modify the music files or their metadata yourself.
In most cases, the “Syncing Your Library” message is a temporary one and gets resolved on its own after the sync completes. But if it persists, it likely indicates an underlying issue that needs troubleshooting.
First Steps To Try
As with most technology issues, some basic troubleshooting steps should be taken first before investigating deeper problems. Here are some initial things to try:
- Make sure all your devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc) are connected to the internet and can reach Apple’s servers. Try toggling Airplane Mode on and off to reset the connection.
- Force quit the Apple Music app on all devices by swiping it away in the app switcher. Then launch Apple Music again.
- Reboot each device by turning it off completely, waiting 30 seconds, and powering it back on. This will clear any temporary glitches.
- Check for available software updates on devices and install if any are pending. Keeping your system software up-to-date is important.
- Sign out of the App Store and iTunes Store on all devices, then sign back in. This resets these services which work closely with Apple Music.
- Disable iCloud Music Library on all devices, then re-enable it. Any device issues may be cleared up by resetting the iCloud Music Library sync.
Trying these basic steps first before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting can often resolve problems like Apple Music saying it’s syncing your library incorrectly.
Sign Out of iTunes & App Store
One potential fix is to sign out of your iTunes and App Store accounts on your iOS device. Syncing issues can sometimes occur if there are multiple accounts signed in that have different music libraries. By signing out, it ensures only a single Apple ID and its associated music library is connected to Apple Music.
To sign out, open the Settings app on your iOS device and tap on your name at the top. Then tap “Sign Out”. This will sign you out of the iTunes & App Store account as well as other Apple services like iCloud.
After signing out, you can sign back in with your preferred Apple ID that has the music library you want to sync. Make sure to enable iCloud Music Library after signing back in. This reconnects your music library so Apple Music can properly sync again.
Signing out and in again essentially resets Apple Music and resyncs your library. It often resolves sync problems caused by multiple accounts or library corruption. Just be sure to use the same Apple ID for iTunes, App Store, and iCloud to keep everything in sync.
Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251746277
Disable & Re-enable iCloud Music Library
One way to resolve syncing issues is to disable and then re-enable iCloud Music Library to force a resync. Here are the steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen.
- Select iCloud.
- Under Apps Using iCloud, toggle the switch off next to Music.
- Wait a few moments for iCloud Music Library to fully disable.
- Toggle Music back on in the same iCloud settings screen.
Turning iCloud Music Library off and back on again reconnects your device with the Apple Music servers. This triggers a fresh sync and redownload of your library content. Allow sufficient time for the process to fully complete. You may need to remain connected to WiFi throughout the sync. If issues persist, you can try deleting the Apple Music app data before re-enabling the service.
Source: https://www.tenorshare.com/iphone-problems/fix-apple-music-library-not-syncing.html
Delete and Re-download Music
One potential fix for sync issues is to remove any downloaded Apple Music content from your library and then re-download it. This essentially resets the cached music files and allows them to be downloaded fresh.
To delete music from your Apple Music library:
- Open the Apple Music app and go to Library > Downloaded to see your downloads
- Tap the Edit button in the upper right corner
- Tap the red minus icon next to any song, album or music video to delete the download
- Confirm the deletion
Once you’ve deleted the problematic downloads, you can then go back and re-download those items by tapping the cloud icon next to each one to download again. This will pull a fresh copy from Apple’s servers which could potentially fix sync problems.
Try deleting and re-downloading any albums or songs that seem to get stuck when syncing before trying more complicated solutions. According to Apple forums, this has resolved sync issues for some users.
Factory Reset iOS Device
As a last resort, you may need to perform a factory reset on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if the syncing issue persists after trying the other troubleshooting steps. A factory reset will erase all content and settings and restore the device to its original state. This should resolve any software issues causing problems with Apple Music syncing.
Before factory resetting, be sure to back up your device either to iCloud or iTunes so you don’t lose your data. Then go to Settings > General > Reset and tap “Erase All Content and Settings.” You’ll be asked to enter your passcode and Apple ID password. The device will reboot and restore to its factory settings.
Once the reset is complete, you can restore your data from your backup and set up your device as new. Try syncing your Apple Music library again. If the issue persists, you may need to contact Apple support for further troubleshooting.
Contact Apple Support
If disabling iCloud Music Library and re-downloading your music library does not resolve the issue, it’s best to reach out to Apple Support directly for further troubleshooting. Apple provides several ways to get in touch:
- Call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273 in the US or your local Apple Support phone number. Support is available 24/7.
- Start a live chat session with an Apple Support advisor through Apple’s Contact page.
- Schedule a callback from Apple Support using Apple’s Contact page.
When you contact Apple Support, be ready to provide details about your issue and what troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried. Support can then provide specialized assistance to resolve the “syncing library” error for good.
Preventing Future Issues
There are several steps you can take to avoid sync issues with Apple Music in the future:
- Keep your iOS devices, iTunes, and Mac operating system up to date. Install the latest software updates which often include bug fixes for syncing problems. See this source for more details.
- Make sure you have sufficient iCloud storage for your music library. Upgrading to a paid iCloud plan with more storage can help avoid sync conflicts. Check this Apple support article for managing iCloud storage.
- Turn off iCloud Music Library on devices you don’t want automatically synced. You can disable syncing on specific devices in Settings > Music.
- Sync your library manually rather than automatically if you are having frequent issues. You can manually initiate a sync from iTunes or the Music app.
- Avoid making major changes to your library like mass deletes or additions on multiple devices simultaneously. Change devices one at a time to give iCloud time to sync.
Following these tips should help minimize syncing problems with Apple Music going forward.
Conclusion
In summary, if you get the message that Apple Music is syncing your library and it seems stuck, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try. First, sign out of iTunes and the App Store on all your devices and log back in. Disable and re-enable iCloud Music Library. You may also need to delete your downloaded music and re-download. As a last resort, you can do a factory reset on your iOS device. Reach out to Apple support if you can’t resolve the issue.
The key is to be patient, methodically try different solutions, and contact Apple if needed. By troubleshooting the problem, you can get Apple Music syncing properly again, access your music library, and continue enjoying your subscription.