There are a few potential reasons why you may be unable to listen to Apple Music on your computer:
Your Computer Doesn’t Meet System Requirements
In order to stream Apple Music, your computer needs to meet certain system requirements set by Apple. Here are the minimum requirements:
- Windows 10 64-bit or later
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor or later
- 4GB of RAM
- Latest version of iTunes
If your computer doesn’t meet those specifications, it may not be capable of properly running Apple Music. Make sure your Windows version is up to date and you have sufficient RAM and processing power.
Restrictive Network/Firewall Settings
If you’re trying to access Apple Music on a public or corporate network, there may be firewalls or security settings blocking the streaming service. Music streaming requires certain ports and connections to be allowed that are often restricted on managed networks.
Try listening on a personal home network to see if that resolves the issue. If it does, you’ll need to speak with your network administrator about allowing access to Apple Music.
Apple Music Subscription Not Logged In
In order to listen to Apple Music on a computer, you need an active subscription tied to your Apple ID. Make sure you’re logged into iTunes and Apple Music with the proper account details.
Go to Account Settings > View My Account and confirm your Apple Music subscription is active. If it is, double check you’re logged in with the right Apple ID in iTunes.
iTunes Library Corrupted
In some cases, a corrupted iTunes library can cause issues streaming Apple Music. This is especially common if you’ve migrated to a new computer and transferred your iTunes library over.
Try creating a new blank iTunes library and set that as your default. Then log into Apple Music and see if you can stream properly with the fresh library.
If that fixes it, you can try importing your old library again in sections to isolate where the corruption lies.
Outdated Drivers and Software
Having outdated drivers and software versions can disrupt communication between iTunes and the Apple Music servers. Make sure you have the latest versions installed:
- Update Windows fully
- Update iTunes (Help > Check for Updates)
- Update audio drivers
- Update or reinstall latest graphics drivers
Once everything is updated, restart your computer and launch iTunes to see if Apple Music will open.
Apple Music DRM Protection
Apple Music uses digital rights management (DRM) protection on its streaming catalogue. This prevents unauthorized copying and distribution.
If the DRM authorization becomes corrupted, it can stop you from being able to play Apple Music. You can try deauthorizing your computer in iTunes and then reauthorizing it.
On Windows, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Reboot, log back into Apple Music, and reauthorize the computer.
Internet Connection Issues
Without a stable internet connection, Apple Music won’t be able to stream properly. Make sure your WiFi or ethernet is strong in the location you’re trying to listen from.
Slow speeds, packet loss, and high latency can all disrupt the music stream. Test your connection speed at fast.com and contact your ISP if it’s under 25 Mbps.
If on WiFi, try moving closer to the router or access point. If the problem persists across locations, it’s likely an issue with your router configuration or ISP service.
Account Country Mismatch
Apple Music has different libraries and licensing depending on country. If your Apple ID account region doesn’t match your computer’s set location, it can prevent Apple Music from working.
Make sure your computer’s region is set properly under Windows Settings > Time & Language > Region. And check that your Apple ID account region matches that location.
You may need to sign out and back into your Apple ID to refresh the account settings after a region change.
Corrupt Download Cache
Over time, the downloaded cache that Apple Music stores songs in can become corrupted. Clearing this cache forces a fresh download and often fixes playback problems.
Go to iTunes Preferences > Advanced and click Clear Download Cache. Restart iTunes and test playing an Apple Music track again.
Antivirus and Security Software Conflicts
Some overly aggressive antivirus, firewall, and security suites can block Apple Music even when properly configured. Add iTunes as an authorized app if your security tools allow whitelisting.
Try temporarily disabling your security software completely and testing Apple Music playback. If it works fine with them off, you’ll need to adjust configurations or switch security apps.
iTunes Installation Corrupted
In rare cases, a corrupted or incomplete iTunes installation can cause Apple Music issues. Completely removing iTunes with an uninstall tool and reinstalling fresh may resolve it.
Make sure to deauthorize your computer first so you don’t lose your music authorizations.
New Computer Not Yet Authorized
If attempting to play Apple Music on a brand new computer for the first time, you’ll need to authorize the device first. Apple limits authorizations to 5 computers.
Open iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Media Files Stored Externally
Apple Music won’t work properly if your iTunes media folder is redirected to an external drive. The streaming cache and DRM keys must be stored locally.
Go to iTunes Preferences > Advanced and make sure the iTunes Media folder location is set to the default internal path, typically:
C:\Users\USERNAME\Music
Parental Controls Restricting Access
If you’re logged into a child account or an account with parental restrictions, it may block usage of Apple Music.
Switch to an administrator account without restrictions enabled and test if Apple Music will open there. You may need to disable limitations or allow Apple Music access for the restricted user.
Browser Plugin Conflicts
Some browser plugins, especially advertisement blockers, can interfere with Apple Music working properly in the browser. Try disabling all plugins and testing Apple Music playback.
If it works with plugins disabled, turn them on one-by-one until you isolate the problematic plugin. You can then try to whitelist Apple Music or use a different blocker.
Audio Driver Issues
Problems with your sound card drivers can prevent Apple Music and iTunes from communicating. Install the latest audio drivers from your sound card manufacturer or Windows Update.
If updating drivers doesn’t help, try removing all audio devices from Device Manager except your primary sound card. Restart and test Apple Music with only the core driver enabled.
Region Locked Content
Certain songs and albums on Apple Music are region restricted due to licensing. If you set your account region different than your actual location, it can block you from playing some content.
Double check that your Apple ID account region matches your physical location. You may need to switch regions to access region-locked content.
Unsigned Apple Music Files
Apple Music files are DRM-protected with a signature tied to your account. If that signature becomes invalid or corrupted, Apple Music won’t play the files.
You can try re-importing the files or tracks into iTunes which may re-sign them to your account if authorized properly.
Apple Music Subscription Expired
If your paid Apple Music subscription ends, you’ll lose access to the catalog until you renew. Make sure your subscription is still active.
Check the expiration date under Account > View My Account. Renew if needed to keep listening.
iCloud Music Library Disabled
The iCloud Music Library allows you to access Apple Music across devices. If it’s disabled, you may be blocked from streaming.
Make sure iCloud Music Library is enabled in iTunes Preferences > General. If you only want Apple Music, disable Sync Library.
Incorrect Date and Time
An incorrect system date can cause DRM authorization issues. Make sure your computer’s date and time are set properly in Windows Settings.
If you dual boot different operating systems, check the time is synced between them as well.
Family Sharing Restrictions
If you have Family Sharing enabled, the account manager may have restrictions placed on your access to Apple Music or content filtering.
Check with the Family Organizer to make sure you have proper access permissions to Apple Music and related content.
Other Potential Workarounds
If you still can’t get Apple Music working, here are a few other fixes to try:
- Log out then back into your Apple ID
- Disable then re-enable iCloud Music Library
- Turn off then on Keychain in iCloud settings
- Review error logs in Applications > Utilities > Console on Mac
- Restart your router and modem
- Create a new Apple ID and try with a fresh account
Contact Apple Support
If you’ve tried all applicable troubleshooting steps and Apple Music is still not working, your last resort is to contact Apple support directly. They may be able to diagnose a deeper system issue and provide tailored troubleshooting guidance.
You can contact Apple support via:
- Online support portal
- Phone – 1-800-275-2273
- Make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple store
Provide as many details about your issue as possible such as error messages, screenshots, and the troubleshooting steps you’ve already attempted. Support will be able to pull up your account details for review.
In many cases, they can push through fixes remotely or escalate technical issues to engineering if needed. If your local storage seems to be the root cause, they may suggest a clean install, wipe, or replacement.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Apple Music problems requires a systematic approach testing different components like subscriptions, software versioning, account settings, and network configurations. Tracing the issue back to the source is key.
Try every applicable suggestion listed here, and don’t hesitate to engage Apple support if you remain stuck. With persistence and patience, you should be able to get Apple Music working properly again on your computer.
Music streaming services rely on complex integrations of hardware, software and networks. But thankfully Apple has a large knowledgebase and dedicated technical support to help resolve nearly any problem or glitch that arises.
