What Does It Mean for Listening To Not Update?
The “Listening Now” and “Recently Played” sections in Apple Music are designed to automatically update with the songs, albums, playlists, and stations you’ve recently listened to. However, sometimes these sections fail to update properly after listening to new content.
Specifically, “Listening To Not Updating” refers to when the songs, albums or playlists you listen to do not reliably show up in your Apple Music listening history. For example, you may finish listening to a playlist or album, but then not see it appear in the Recently Played section thereafter. Or the Listening Now card does not display the currently playing song.
In essence, it means your actual listening behavior in Apple Music is not being captured and displayed in your listening history sections. So others looking at your profile cannot see what you’ve listened to recently. And you may not be able to easily pick back up where you left off if your listening history has not been updating.
The main symptoms users notice are:
– Recently played not showing latest tracks or albums listened to
– Listening Now not updating with current song playing
– Listening activity and history seems frozen or delayed
This issue prevents users from easily resuming recent playback, browsing their listening history, and sharing what they’ve been listening to. Next we’ll explore the main causes and fixes for listening to not updating in Apple Music.
Causes of Apple Music Listening History Not Updating
There are a few key settings that can cause problems with Apple Music listening history not updating properly. The most common causes have to do with your internet connectivity, Background App Refresh, and iCloud settings.
If you are experiencing listening history issues, first check that you have a stable internet connection on your device. Listening history relies on your device being able to communicate with Apple’s servers to save your playback information. Without an internet connection, your listening data cannot be updated (Source).
Next, ensure that Background App Refresh is enabled for Apple Music. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it is turned on. Background App Refresh allows apps like Apple Music to update content while in the background. If it’s disabled, your listening history may not update properly (Source).
You’ll also want to check that you have iCloud Music Library enabled in your Apple Music settings, and that iCloud sync is functioning normally. Apple Music relies on iCloud to store your library data and listening history. If iCloud Music Library gets disabled or there are sync issues, it can prevent your playback information from updating (Source).
Check Your Internet Connectivity
One of the most common reasons Apple Music listening history fails to update is poor or intermittent internet connectivity. Apple Music relies on an internet connection to sync your listening activity across devices. Check if your issues occur only on WiFi or cellular data, as that can help narrow down where the problem lies.
On WiFi, ensure you have a strong signal and your router is operating properly. Weak or unstable WiFi can disrupt the syncing process. Similarly, low cellular signal strength in areas with poor coverage can also lead to syncing issues. Try moving closer to your router or into an area with better cellular reception.
Additionally, toggling Airplane mode on and off can help reset your connectivity. You may also want to disable WiFi Assist, which automatically switches to cellular data when your WiFi connection is poor. This constant switching between networks can confuse the Apple Music syncing process.
Overall, a strong and stable internet connection on both WiFi and cellular data is key for Apple Music listening history to update properly. Check your connectivity strength and troubleshoot any network issues.
Enable Background App Refresh
One potential cause of Apple Music listening history not updating is having Background App Refresh disabled. Background App Refresh allows apps like Apple Music to refresh their content in the background when not actively being used. With Background App Refresh disabled, Apple Music can’t update your listening history unless the app is open in the foreground.
To enable Background App Refresh for Apple Music on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it on. You can also enable it specifically for the Apple Music app by tapping the switch next to Music under the Apps Using Background App Refresh header. Enabling Background App Refresh can negatively impact battery life, so you may want to disable it again if the issue is resolved.
According to discussions on the Apple forums, enabling Background App Refresh is one potential fix for Apple Music listening history not updating properly.
Confirm iCloud and iCloud Music Library Are On
One possible cause for Apple Music listening history not updating is if iCloud or iCloud Music Library have been disabled. To check that these settings are enabled:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Ensure that iCloud is turned on by checking that the switch next to iCloud is green.
4. Scroll down and tap “Music.”
5. Confirm that “iCloud Music Library” is enabled by checking that the switch is green.
If either iCloud or iCloud Music Library were disabled, turn them back on and wait a few hours for your listening history to update in Apple Music. These features allow your playback information to sync across devices. Without them enabled, your listening activity may not register properly.
If you had to re-enable iCloud Music Library, it can take some time for your Apple Music library to fully upload and sync. Give it a few hours, restart your device, and check if your listening history begins updating again. For more help, see this Apple Music support thread.
Restart Your Device
One of the simplest fixes for Apple Music listening history not updating is to restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This forces your device to fully power down and clear any cached data that may be causing issues with Apple Music.
To fully restart your device:
- Press and hold the side button and either volume button at the same time until the power off slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn your device completely off.
- After at least 30 seconds have passed, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo to turn your device back on.
Allow your device to fully reboot and load back to the home screen. Then open Apple Music again and see if your listening history begins updating as expected. Often a simple reboot is all that’s needed to resolve temporary glitches like this.
If you only ever put your device into sleep mode by pressing the side button, a full power down helps clear any stuck processes that may be interrupting the syncing of your listening data. Make sure to regularly restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to keep the hardware and software running smoothly.
Update iOS Software
One potential solution is to update your iPhone or iPad to the latest iOS version. Apple frequently releases software updates that include bug fixes and performance improvements for Apple Music and other apps. The most recent iOS version as of writing this is iOS 16.3. Updating to the latest iOS could help resolve any software glitches preventing your listening history from properly updating.
To update iOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update on your device. Tap “Download and Install” to get the latest iOS version. Make sure your device is connected to power and Wi-Fi during the update process. The update may take some time to download and install. Once your device restarts, check if your Apple Music listening history now updates as expected. The latest iOS version may include specific fixes that address any listening tracking issues.
See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254536967
Reset Network Settings
One troubleshooting step to try is resetting your network settings on your iPhone or iPad. This will erase all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN and APN settings, and other network preferences. It often resolves connectivity issues like Apple Music not updating listening activity.
To reset network settings on iOS, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You will be prompted to enter your passcode. After resetting network settings, you’ll need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks and reenter passwords and other custom network settings. While inconvenient, this often resolves persistent connectivity issues like problems with Apple Music.1
Resetting network settings is worth trying if you continue having problems with Apple Music listening activity not updating. Just be prepared to reconfigure your device’s network connections afterwards. This should refresh the network stack and often fixes connectivity bugs.
Contact Apple Support
If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above and your Apple Music listening history is still not updating properly, it’s a good idea to contact Apple Support for further assistance. Apple provides several options for technical support:
You can call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273. Explain the issue you’re experiencing with your listening history not updating. The Apple support reps can walk you through additional troubleshooting steps or determine if your device needs servicing.
Apple also has an online support system where you can chat live with a support advisor or create a support case ticket. Visit https://support.apple.com/ and select Music > Apple Music to find support articles and start a chat or case. Describe when your listening history stopped updating.
There are also Apple Support Communities forums where you can post questions and get help from Apple customers and support staff. Search the forums for similar issues at https://discussions.apple.com/ before starting a new thread describing your problem with listening history.
Providing details like when the issue started, your software versions, and troubleshooting already attempted will help Apple Support diagnose the problem and provide steps to get your listening history updating properly again.
Listening History May Update After a Delay
One of the most common reasons your Apple Music listening history is not updating is simply because there can be a delay before it reflects your recent plays. Apple Music does not update your listening activity in real time. Rather, it can take hours or even days for your full listening history to populate in the app.
Apple Music relies on background processes that sync your full listening data from your devices to the cloud. This is especially true if you listen across multiple devices. So you may notice that your iPhone shows updated activity, while your Mac is still delayed. Give it a day or two, and your complete listening history should fully update across devices.
Listening history delays are a known issue in Apple Music, as noted on the Apple Support forums and Reddit. So don’t worry if your listens don’t show up immediately. As long as Background App Refresh is on, your data will eventually propagate.
Check back a day or two later before worrying that your listening history is permanently missing. In most cases, simply allowing time for the background sync will resolve missing listens appearing in Recently Played or other Apple Music features.
