Check Your Apple ID and Devices
One of the most common reasons for an entire Apple Music library disappearing is that you are not logged into the same Apple ID across all your devices. Apple Music libraries are connected to a specific Apple ID. So if you are accessing Apple Music from multiple devices like an iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc., they all need to be logged into the same Apple ID for your library sync properly.
To resolve this, you should log out of Apple Music on all your devices, and log back in using the same Apple ID everywhere. This includes any computers, phones, tablets, TVs, or other devices that access your Apple Music library. Make absolutely sure it is the same Apple ID on every device.
You can log out of the Apple Music app directly on each device. On iOS, go to Settings > iTunes & App Stores, tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out. On Mac, go to Music > Account > Sign Out. Log out of all devices, then sign in again with the same credentials everywhere.
Once you have the same Apple ID set up on all devices, your full Apple Music library should sync across everything. If you still don’t see your full library, you may need to disconnect from iCloud Music Library and re-enable it to force a fresh sync. But using the same ID is key.
Update Apps and Software
One of the first troubleshooting steps for the Apple Music library disappearing is to ensure all apps and software are updated to the latest versions. According to an Apple support article, updating to the newest iOS, iTunes or Apple Music app can help resolve syncing issues that may cause missing songs and albums.
Make sure to install any available updates for iOS on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch by going to Settings > General > Software Update. You’ll also want to update to the newest version of iTunes on your Mac or PC, along with updating the Apple Music app on any devices. The Apple Music app gets periodic bug fix updates that may address problems with displaying your full library.
After updating your software, try force quitting the Music app, restarting your device and then relaunching the app. This will clear any cached data that could be causing problems displaying your library. Updating to the latest versions ensures compatibility between Apple Music and your devices which is key for a fully synced music collection.
Check iCloud and Sync Settings
One common cause of an entire Apple Music library disappearing is a problem with iCloud Music Library syncing. To fix this:
First, confirm that iCloud Music Library is enabled on all devices. This setting allows Apple Music to sync your library across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and more. Go to Settings > Music on iOS or Preferences > Music on Mac to check.
Next, verify that all devices connected to your Apple ID have “Sync Library” enabled under Music settings. This ensures new songs, playlists and edits to your library on one device will automatically sync to your other devices. If a device does not have syncing enabled, it can lead to missing songs and libraries falling out of sync.
Finally, check that all devices are updated to the latest OS and app versions. Older software versions may cause syncing and library issues. Make sure your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and other devices are updated to sync properly.
With iCloud Music Library and Sync Library enabled across devices, your complete Apple Music collection should automatically stay up to date and in sync.
Restore From a Backup
One option to restore your Apple Music library is to restore it from a previous iTunes or iCloud backup. iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch daily when connected to Wi-Fi, power, and with iCloud Backup turned on in Settings. iTunes can also be used to backup locally to your computer.
To restore from an iCloud backup on an iOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups and tap on the desired backup. Then tap Restore to restore your device from that backup. This will restore the data and content from the backup, including your music library.
To restore from an iTunes backup, first connect your device to the computer you used to create the backup. Open iTunes, select your device, then in the Summary tab check “Restore Backup”. Select the desired backup file and click Restore to restore the content on your device.
Just be aware restoring an old backup will also revert your device back to the state it was in at that time. So you may lose any new data or changes made since the backup. But it can be an option to retrieve a lost music library from an iCloud or iTunes backup.
Contact Apple Support
If you are unable to restore your Apple Music library on your own, it’s a good idea to reach out to Apple support directly for assistance. You can contact Apple support in a few different ways:
Phone: Call Apple support at 1-800-275-2273 to speak with a support representative who can help troubleshoot your issue. Be sure to have your Apple ID and any affected devices on hand.
Chat: Initiate an online chat with an Apple support advisor through Apple’s contact page. The chat allows you to get help directly from Apple without having to call.
Twitter: You can also tweet @AppleSupport for assistance. While they may not be able to resolve the issue fully over Twitter, they can help point you in the right direction.
The Apple support team has additional tools and insight into any potential issues with your account or devices. Reaching out to them directly via phone, chat, or Twitter is a good way to get your Apple Music library restored quickly if you are unable to fix it yourself.
Renew Apple Music Subscription
One of the most common reasons for an Apple Music library to disappear is an expired subscription or a failed payment. When your Apple Music subscription ends or a payment doesn’t go through, you will lose access to any music added from the Apple Music catalog as well as any playlists you’ve created.
To restore your library, you will need to renew your Apple Music subscription. You can do this by:
- Checking the App Store/iTunes for any subscription renewal/payment issues. Make sure your payment method is valid.
- Going to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions on your iPhone and confirming your Apple Music subscription is active.
- Visiting https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 and selecting ‘Manage’ to resubscribe.
Once your subscription is renewed, your Apple Music library containing playlists and saved music should automatically restore within a few hours. If not, try signing out and back into the Music app.
Reset and Re-upload Library
One option to restore your Apple Music library is to completely reset it and re-upload your music collection. This involves deleting your current iCloud Music Library so you can start fresh.
To do this, go to Settings > Music and toggle off “iCloud Music Library”. This will delete your synced Apple Music library from iCloud. Next, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Music and tap “Edit”. Select all songs and tap “Delete” to remove any downloaded music from your device.
Now you can re-enable iCloud Music Library in Settings to sync a clean version from your computer or iTunes. Make sure you have the latest versions of iTunes and the Music app. In iTunes, go to Account > View My Account and de-authorize any devices. Then re-authorize your computer and sync your music library to upload it to iCloud again.
According to discussions on Apple forums, resetting and re-uploading your library like this often resolves missing music issues. Just be aware it can take time to re-upload a large library.
Check Music App Permissions
One possible reason for your entire Apple Music library disappearing is that the Music app no longer has permission to access your music files and library. To fix this:
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music and confirm that Apple Music has access permissions enabled. Specifically, check that “Show Apple Music” is toggled on. This allows the Music app to fully access your Apple Music library and content.
You may also want to check Settings > Privacy > Media & Apple Music and confirm Apple Music has access to your media library. Toggle “Apple Music” on if it is disabled.
Finally, go to Settings > Music > Downloaded Music and check that “Automatic Downloads” is enabled. This will allow Apple Music to automatically download any songs, playlists or albums you have added for offline listening.
If Apple Music had its permissions revoked, re-enabling access in Settings should restore your ability to see and play from your full library again. As noted in this Apple forum thread, permission issues are a common cause of library access problems.
Try a Different Music Service
If you are dissatisfied with Apple Music or find the service unreliable, you may want to try switching to a different music streaming platform. Some popular alternatives to consider include:
Spotify (https://www.spotify.com/) – Spotify has a large music library and offers features like playlists and recommendations that are similar to Apple Music. It works across various devices and has free and paid subscription options.
YouTube Music (https://music.youtube.com/) – YouTube’s music streaming service gives you access to official songs, albums, thousands of playlists, and YouTube music videos. It offers a free tier with ads as well as a paid subscription.
Amazon Music (https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited) – Amazon Music provides access to over 75 million songs and thousands of expertly curated playlists and stations. It comes bundled with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Before switching, make sure to use Apple’s tools to download your Apple Music library so you have a backup. Then you can upload your music to another service and enjoy their features and reliability. Having choices for music streaming services ensures you can find the one that best fits your preferences and needs.
Prevent Future Library Loss
To help prevent losing your Apple Music library again in the future, there are a couple key steps you can take:
First, be sure to regularly back up your library. You can do this by connecting your device to iTunes on a computer and syncing to create a backup, or using iCloud backups for your iOS device. Maintaining current backups ensures you have a way to restore your library if needed. See Apple’s support article for more details on backing up your music library.
Secondly, consider using a secondary music service in addition to Apple Music. Services like Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube Music can give you an alternate place to access your music collection if you run into issues with Apple Music. While not a full preventative measure, having a secondary service allows you to easily switch over your listening if your primary library is lost or unavailable.
Taking preventative steps like regular backups and secondary services can help safeguard your Apple Music library. Being proactive reduces the chances of losing your collection, and ensures you have restoration options if needed.
