What are Smart Playlists in Apple Music?
Smart Playlists in Apple Music are playlists that update automatically based on rules set by the user [1]. For example, you can create a Smart Playlist that includes all songs by a certain artist or songs you have added over the past month.
To create a Smart Playlist in Apple Music, you set parameters like artist, genre, release date, etc. and the Smart Playlist will automatically update to include all the songs in your library that match those rules. So whenever you add new songs matching the criteria, they get added to the playlist.
The key benefit of Smart Playlists is that they save you time by updating automatically based on your preferences, rather than having to manually manage song additions and removals.
Common Reasons a Smart Playlist May Not Sync
There are a few common reasons why a smart playlist in Apple Music may fail to sync properly from your Mac to your iPhone:
iOS or macOS Not Updated
Make sure you have the latest version of iOS installed on your iPhone and the latest macOS on your Mac. Older versions of the operating systems may have bugs that prevent playlists from syncing correctly. Always keep your devices up-to-date for the best experience.
Syncing Not Enabled in iTunes
Open iTunes on your Mac and go to the summary page for your iPhone. Make sure syncing is enabled and that “Sync Music” is checked. If syncing is disabled in iTunes, your smart playlists won’t transfer to your iPhone.
Not Enough Storage Space
Your iPhone may not have enough free storage space to sync over all songs in your smart playlist. Check your available space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage and free up space if needed. Large smart playlists may fail to sync if your iPhone is low on storage.
Corrupt Playlist Files
Sometimes playlist files can become corrupted, preventing proper syncing. In iTunes, go to File > Library > Playlist and delete the problematic smart playlist. Then recreate it and try syncing again. This often resolves sync issues caused by corrupt playlist files.
Check iOS and macOS are Updated
Smart playlists rely on the latest Apple Music features and updates to function properly. If your iPhone or Mac is running an outdated version of iOS or macOS, it may not have full support for syncing smart playlists.
Apple releases regular software updates that fix bugs and add new capabilities. By keeping your devices up-to-date, you ensure compatibility with Apple Music and eliminate bugs that could prevent syncing.
On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the latest iOS version. On your Mac, use the Software Update section of System Preferences.
Once updated, try syncing your smart playlist again. Updating to the latest OS versions often resolves sync issues.
For more details on updating iOS, see Apple’s iOS update guide. For macOS, see their macOS update guide.
Enable Syncing in iTunes
One of the most common reasons for smart playlists not syncing from your Mac to your iPhone is that syncing is disabled in iTunes. For playlists and music to transfer from iTunes on your Mac to your iPhone, syncing must be enabled.
To enable syncing in iTunes on your Mac:
- Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB cable.
- Click on the Phone icon for your device in iTunes.
- Check the box for “Sync Music” under the Music section.
- Check the box for “Sync Playlists” under Playlists.
- Click Apply to confirm the changes.
With syncing enabled and your iPhone connected, your smart playlists created in iTunes should now sync across to your iPhone. You may need to manually trigger a sync after enabling this option. If you continue to have issues with playlists not transferring over, try some of the other troubleshooting tips covered here.
For more help on configuring syncing, see this guide: Can’t enable Syncing of contacts
Free Up Space on iPhone
One common reason Apple Music smart playlists may fail to sync to an iPhone is if there is not enough available storage space on the device. iPhones require available storage to be able to sync new content from iTunes or the cloud. Here are some tips for checking and freeing up space on an iPhone:
To check the available storage space on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. This screen shows how much total capacity the device has, as well as how much space is being used by various apps, photos, videos, music, and other data.
If the iPhone is low on space, try the following to free up storage:
– Offload unused apps – This removes the app but keeps documents and data. Apps can be redownloaded later from the App Store.
– Manage Photos – Review photos and videos and delete unwanted items. Also adjust camera settings to save space.
– Turn on iCloud Photo Library – Stores photos/videos in iCloud instead of on the device.
– Delete offline content – Remove downloaded playlists, movies, etc. that aren’t frequently accessed.
– Disable Music Downloads – Stops automatic downloads of new music purchased on other devices.
– Back up and restore – Back up data, then erase and restore iPhone to factory settings.
See this Apple discussion for more details on freeing up space for playlist syncing.
Once there is enough free space on the iPhone, try syncing smart playlists again from iTunes or the cloud.
Repair Corrupt Playlists
If the smart playlist fails to sync due to a corrupted playlist file, you may need to rebuild your Apple Music library. Corrupted playlist files can prevent syncing between devices and cause issues with missing or duplicated songs.
To check for corrupted playlists, open Music app and go to Music > Preferences > Files. Click “Check Library” to scan for issues. If problems are found, click “Repair” to fix (1). This will recreate the Apple Music library database from scratch while retaining your playlists and play counts.
You can also delete specific damaged playlist files to force a rebuild. Navigate to Finder > Music > Music Library.musiclibrary and sort by date modified to identify problematic playlists. Trash only the damaged files to prompt Apple Music to generate fresh versions (2).
Rebuilding your library can be time consuming but is often necessary to resolve stubborn sync issues caused by corrupt files. Make sure to back up your library first. With a clean slate, your smart playlists should reliably sync again.
Sync Playlists Manually
You can manually transfer playlists from your Mac to your iPhone using iTunes if automatic syncing is not working properly. Here are the steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the USB cable. Open iTunes if it doesn’t open automatically.
- In iTunes, click on your iPhone icon in the top left. Then click on the “Music” tab in the sidebar.
- Check the “Sync Music” checkbox. Then check the boxes next to the specific playlists you want to transfer to your iPhone.
- Click the “Apply” button to start syncing the selected playlists to your iPhone. The progress will show in the top right corner.
- Once completed, you can disconnect your iPhone and the playlists should now be available in the Apple Music app.
This manual syncing process allows you to selectively choose which playlists get transferred over. Make sure to leave the “Sync Music” checkbox enabled to keep your iPhone updated with any new playlists you create on your Mac.[1]
[1] https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/sync-music-to-your-device-mchlbf6a1fab/mac
Reset Sync History
One way to get stuck smart playlists to sync properly again is by resetting the sync history in iTunes. Resetting sync history clears the sync logs and data between your iPhone and iTunes, which can resolve issues caused by incomplete or corrupt previous sync sessions.
To reset your sync history in iTunes, first connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes. Then go to iTunes > Preferences > Devices and click the “Reset Sync History” button. This will reset iTunes’ memory of which tracks, playlists, and other data have previously been synced to your phone. [1]
After resetting, you may need to manually transfer any music, playlists, photos, etc. back to your iPhone as if you were syncing it for the first time. This is because resetting clears all sync data, in effect giving you a clean slate to re-sync from. Once your data is transferred back, your smart playlists should begin syncing as expected again. Just be patient as it may take some time for large libraries to re-download after a sync reset.
Contact Apple Support
If you are still unable to resolve the issue with your Apple Music smart playlist syncing after trying the troubleshooting steps above, you may need assistance directly from Apple Support. Apple’s support team are experts who can help diagnose the problem and provide solutions to get your smart playlists syncing properly again.
There are several ways to get in touch with Apple Support:
- Online chat and phone support is available 24/7 on the Apple Support website. You can chat with an advisor or request a callback.
- Call Apple Support by phone at 1-800-APL-CARE (800-275-2273) at any time to speak to a representative.
- Make a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store where specialists can troubleshoot in person.
When you contact Apple Support, explain the issue you are having with syncing your smart playlist. Be ready to provide details like your Apple ID, iOS version, and steps you have already tried. Apple’s team can then troubleshoot remotely or provide next steps to fix your smart playlist sync.
Alternative Third-Party Apps
If the built-in Apple Music and iTunes syncing options aren’t working, some users turn to third-party apps for more control over syncing their music library and playlists. Apps like iMazing allow for advanced iPhone management and provide additional sync settings beyond what Apple offers.
The key benefit of using a third-party app is the ability to selectively sync only certain playlists or parts of your library, rather than the all-or-nothing approach of the native Apple sync. This allows you to save storage space on your iPhone by only transferring the music you actually want access to on your device.
However, there are some drawbacks to relying on third-party apps. They require an additional purchase, add complexity to your setup, and may not integrate as seamlessly with Apple services. There is also no guarantee that they will work reliably long-term as OS updates are released. So it’s generally recommended to only try third-party apps as a last resort if you can’t resolve sync issues through standard Apple troubleshooting.