Quick Overview
There are a few common reasons why Apple Music may not be allowing you to download songs or albums for offline listening:
- You’ve reached your download limit – Apple Music allows you to have a maximum of 100,000 songs downloaded across all your devices. If you’ve hit that cap, you won’t be able to download anything else.
- The content is not downloadable – Some songs or albums may be restricted by the artist or label from being downloaded for offline playback.
- Connectivity issues – Problems with your internet connection, WiFi, or cellular data can prevent downloads from completing successfully.
- Software bugs – Occasionally bugs in the Apple Music app may cause download issues that can often be fixed by updating the app or your device’s OS.
- Account restrictions – Parental controls or other account restrictions could block you from downloading content.
- Storage space – You may be out of storage room on your device to save new downloads.
If you’re running into problems downloading from Apple Music, don’t worry – in most cases it’s an easy fix. Read on for detailed troubleshooting steps and solutions for the most common download issues.
You’ve Reached the Download Limit
One of the first things to check is whether you’ve reached the maximum number of songs and albums you can have downloaded from Apple Music at one time.
Apple Music sets a limit of 100,000 tracks that can be downloaded across all of your devices using the same Apple ID account. Once you hit that ceiling, you won’t be able to add any more downloads until you start removing some existing downloads to free up space.
To check how many tracks you currently have downloaded from Apple Music and see how close you are to the limit:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
- Tap on your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen.
- Tap on iCloud.
- Tap on Manage Storage.
- Under Apple Music, you’ll see the total number of songs you have downloaded.
If you’re at or very close to 100,000 tracks downloaded, you’ll need to remove some existing music downloads before you can add new ones.
To manage and delete downloads:
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Tap on the Library tab at the bottom.
- Tap on Downloads to see everything you have downloaded for offline playback.
- Swipe left on any album or playlist to reveal a Delete button. Tap this to remove the download.
Deleting albums and playlists you no longer listen to or need offline access to will free up space for new downloads.
Keep in mind that songs downloaded on one device also count towards the 100,000 track limit on your other devices. So removing downloads from just your iPhone may not free up space if you have a lot of music downloaded on your iPad as well. Manage downloads across all of your devices to stay below the cap.
Content is Not Downloadable
Certain songs, albums and playlists on Apple Music may be restricted from downloading for offline listening.
There are a couple reasons this can happen:
- The artist or record label has specified the content should only be available for online streaming.
- The content includes digital booklets or videos that cannot be downloaded.
- You’re trying to download a single that is only available on the full album.
- The song or album is no longer available on Apple Music.
If you try downloading a song, album or playlist and get an error that the content is unavailable for download, unfortunately there is nothing you can do. The artist or label has chosen not to allow offline listening, so you’ll only be able to stream the music while connected to the internet.
Make sure the content you’re trying to download does not include any videos or digital booklets, as these extra media types can’t be saved for offline playback.
You also may encounter issues trying to download a single song that is only available as part of the full album. Singles are not always available for individual download.
And if the music has been removed from Apple Music entirely, obviously you won’t have the ability to download it anymore either. Double check that the song, album or playlist is still in the Apple Music catalog if you suddenly can’t download something you previously could.
While it can be frustrating not being able to download certain content for offline listening, the restrictions are generally due to licensing requirements set by the artist or label.
Connectivity Issues
Problems with your internet connection can also prevent Apple Music downloads from completing properly.
Here are some common connectivity issues that lead to failed music downloads:
- Poor WiFi connection – An unstable or slow WiFi network can disrupt downloads. Try moving closer to your router or access point.
- Cellular data problems – Similarly, a poor cellular data signal or slow mobile network speed may interfere with downloads. Move to an area with better signal strength.
- Switching networks mid-download – If you start downloading on WiFi and then switch to cellular data, or vice versa, before the download completes, it will likely fail.
- VPNs or firewalls blocking access – Some virtual private networks and firewalls may block access to the Apple Music servers needed to download content.
To troubleshoot connectivity issues:
- Make sure you’re connected to a stable, high-speed internet connection – ideally over WiFi.
- Disable any VPN services or firewalls temporarily to test if they are interfering.
- Don’t switch between WiFi and cellular data during a download.
- Check for any issues with your ISP or cell carrier that may be causing network disruptions.
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off to reset your connections.
In most cases, moving to a location with a stronger signal and faster internet speeds will allow your Apple Music downloads to complete. Be patient and wait for downloads to finish before switching networks or putting your device to sleep.
Software Bugs
Less commonly, bugs or glitches with the Apple Music app itself can also get in the way of downloading content.
Some examples include:
- The app freezing or crashing during downloads.
- Error messages like “Cannot Download” or “Content Unavailable” appearing incorrectly.
- Downloads getting stuck indefintely and never completing.
- Music files disappearing after they have been downloaded.
Troubleshooting steps for software issues:
- Force quit and relaunch the Apple Music app.
- Update to the latest version of the Apple Music app and iOS/iPadOS or macOS.
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off to reset network connections.
- Log out of Apple Music and log back in to reset account.
- Delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store.
- Restart your device.
If the problem persists after trying these steps, get in touch with Apple Support. They can investigate any ongoing bugs that may be affecting the ability to download from Apple Music.
Make sure to also keep your iPhone, iPad and Mac up to date with the latest OS versions, as Apple releases periodic bug fix and performance updates.
Account Restrictions
Parental controls or other account restrictions applied to your Apple ID can block access to music downloads in Apple Music.
Parents may enable restrictions on a child’s account that limit the ability to add music downloads. Managing these settings requires the parent’s screen time passcode.
Employer accounts also sometimes place policy limitations on downloading content from Apple services like Apple Music.
Check with your parents or employer’s IT department if you think restrictions have been enabled on your Apple ID preventing Apple Music downloads.
On a personal account, make sure you don’t have any inappropriate content restrictions enabled:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time
- Enter your passcode if prompted
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Choose iTunes & App Store Purchases and Downloads
- Ensure “Music Downloads” does not have a checkmark limiting access
Removing any restrictions that block music downloads can allow you to start downloading from Apple Music again.
Out of Storage Space
If your iPhone, iPad or Mac is completely out of free storage space, that will block any new items from being downloaded, including Apple Music content.
To check your available storage space:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage
- You’ll see the total used space and available space
On Mac:
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left > About This Mac
- Click on the Storage tab
- View the storage usage breakdown
Make sure you have at least 500MB – 1GB of free space as a buffer for downloads. If your device is completely full, you’ll need to delete apps, photos, videos or other files to open up storage.
Offloading unused apps can quickly recover a lot of space:
On iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage
- Scroll down to see a list of installed apps and their sizes
- Tap on any app you want to remove, then choose Offload App
This removes the app itself while keeping all of your data and documents. You can reinstall the app later if needed.
Clearing old messaging attachments, cached files, and large photos or videos you no longer need can also help make space for Apple Music downloads.
Managing your iCloud storage can also let you save more room on your devices. Optimize your iCloud photos, turn off iCloud Drive, and delete old device backups to reduce cloud storage usage.
Making ample storage available ensures you won’t run into blocks downloading songs, albums and playlists from Apple Music for offline listening.
Conclusion
Fixing issues with downloading content from Apple Music typically involves one of the following solutions:
- Deleting existing downloads to get under the limit of 100,000 tracks per account if needed.
- Checking for licensing restrictions that prevent downloading certain songs, albums or playlists.
- Troubleshooting connectivity issues like poor WiFi or cellular signal.
- Updating software and restarting devices to resolve any Apple Music app bugs.
- Removing parental controls or other account download restrictions.
- Clearing up storage space on your device if it’s completely full.
Following the step-by-step troubleshooting guide outlined here should get Apple Music downloading properly again in most cases. Don’t hesitate to contact Apple Support if you need additional help resolving persistent download issues.
With the ability to save tens of thousands of songs, playlists and albums for offline playback, Apple Music downloads make it easy to enjoy your favorite music anywhere, anytime – even without an internet connection.