Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about music not downloading from iCloud:
Your iCloud storage is full
If your iCloud storage is full, music and other content will not sync properly. Check your storage usage under Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Upgrade your iCloud storage if needed.
Your device doesn’t have enough storage
Make sure your iPhone, iPad or Mac has enough free storage for new music to download. Music won’t download if your device is low on storage.
You’re not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data
Your device needs an internet connection to download items from iCloud. Connect to a Wi-Fi network or ensure cellular data is turned on.
Your music library hasn’t fully uploaded to iCloud
It can take time for your full music library to upload and sync across devices. Keep your devices connected to the internet to allow the upload process to complete.
You don’t have iCloud Music Library enabled
Turn on iCloud Music Library under Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Music on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. This allows you to access your full music collection everywhere.
Why Your Music May Not Be Downloading from iCloud
There are several common reasons why music you purchased or added on one device isn’t appearing on your other devices via iCloud:
Your iCloud Storage is Full
One of the most common reasons for music not downloading from iCloud is that your iCloud storage is completely full.
iCloud gives you 5GB of storage for free. This storage space allows you to backup your iPhone, iPad and Mac and sync data like photos, messages, documents and music across your devices.
If you exceed the free 5GB, content will no longer sync properly until you purchase additional iCloud storage. You may be unable to download new music even if it shows as available in your iCloud Music library.
To check your storage, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. This will display how much storage you’re currently using.
If your iCloud storage is completely full, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid iCloud+ storage plan to allow music and other content to continue syncing properly.
Apple offers the following iCloud+ paid storage options:
– 50GB for $0.99 per month
– 200GB for $2.99 per month
– 2TB for $9.99 per month
Upgrading your iCloud storage should allow music and other content to start downloading normally again from the cloud.
Your Device is Low on Storage
Another common factor that can prevent music from downloading to your iPhone, iPad or Mac from iCloud is if that device has low or completely full local storage.
Even if you have space available in iCloud, your device itself needs to have sufficient free storage for new music to download and save locally on that device.
To check your iPhone or iPad storage, go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage. This will display a colored bar showing how much storage is still available.
On a Mac, you can check storage under About This Mac in the Apple menu. Click Storage to see total and available space.
If your device is low on space, take steps to free up storage:
– Delete unwanted apps, music, photos and videos
– Transfer photos/videos to an external hard drive or your computer
– Stream music instead of downloading it
– Turn on iCloud Photo Library to store photos in iCloud only
– Upgrade to a model with more storage if needed
Freeing up local device storage can help ensure sufficient room for music to download from iCloud when available.
You’re Not Connected to the Internet
In order to download music, apps, photos, documents or other content from iCloud, your device needs to maintain an internet connection.
If you’re attempting to download iCloud music and it’s not working, first check that you have an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection.
On an iPhone or iPad, check for the Wi-Fi or LTE symbol in the top status bar. Enable Wi-Fi or cellular data if disconnected.
On a Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu bar. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and connected to a network.
If you recently added new music to your iCloud Music library on another device, your iPhone, iPad or Mac will need an internet connection to download those new songs from the cloud.
Similarly, any new music purchases made need to download from Apple’s servers – so an internet connection is required for that content to sync from iCloud to devices.
If you have connection issues, try these troubleshooting steps:
– Reconnect/rejoin the Wi-Fi network
– Restart your router if the Wi-Fi is unstable
– Enable Cellular Data or try switching between 3G/4G/5G networks on an iPhone or cellular iPad
– Restart your device
– Check for any internet service outages in your area
Getting your device back online should allow your new music to start downloading from iCloud.
Your Music Library is Still Uploading
When you first set up iCloud Music Library on a device, it can take hours or even days for your full music collection to fully upload to iCloud.
This is especially true if you have a large music library of thousands of songs that all need to upload over the internet.
Until the upload finishes, your music might appear available in iCloud on one device but not yet download onto your other devices.
Check the upload progress under Settings > [Your name] > iCloud > Music on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. If you see “Uploading x amount of songs”, your music is still in the process of being added to iCloud.
Be patient and keep your devices connected to a power source and the internet to allow the upload to complete. All your music should appear across your devices once fully uploaded.
Also ensure you have sufficient iCloud storage for your full music library. You may need to purchase extra iCloud storage if your library exceeds the free 5GB allowance.
When the upload is totally finished, your entire music collection will now be available to stream or download from iCloud to any of your devices. Newly added music should immediately sync across devices as expected.
iCloud Music Library is Not Enabled
In order to download your iCloud music, the iCloud Music Library feature needs to be enabled on each of your devices.
This stores your music collection and playlists in iCloud and makes them accessible on any iPhone, iPad, Mac or PC signed into your iCloud account.
To enable iCloud Music Library:
On iPhone or iPad:
1. Go to Settings > [Your Name]
2. Tap iCloud
3. Tap Music
4. Enable iCloud Music Library
On Mac:
1. Click Apple Menu > System Preferences
2. Click Apple ID
3. Click iCloud
4. Enable iCloud Music Library
On PC:
1. Open Apple Music
2. Click Account > Settings
3. Enable iCloud Music Library
Be sure to enable the feature on any device you want to access your music collection from iCloud.
Once enabled, any new additions or edits made to your music and playlists on one device will automatically sync across the others. Streamed and downloaded songs will now persist across all your devices.
Troubleshooting Tips for iCloud Music Issues
If you’re still having issues downloading your iCloud music after checking the steps above, try these additional troubleshooting suggestions:
Update your Devices
Make sure your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and other Apple devices are running the latest OS versions. Keeping your devices updated ensures compatibility with iCloud services. Update under Settings > General > Software Update on iOS devices and System Preferences > Software Update on Mac.
Reset iCloud Music
Resetting iCloud Music deletes any stuck pending downloads and clears up other issues. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Music > Reset iCloud Music on iOS or iTunes > Account > View My Account > Reset iCloud Music on Mac. Your music will re-download correctly.
Authorize Computers
If downloading music to a new Mac or PC, make sure you authorize the computer by signing in with your Apple ID. On Mac, do this under iTunes > Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer. This verifies your identity and allows access to your purchased content.
Check Restrictions
On iOS devices, check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to make sure Apple Music and iCloud are not turned off. This could block access to your iCloud music library.
Contact Apple Support
If the above steps don’t solve your iCloud music issues, contact Apple Support. They can troubleshoot further and fix any underlying problems accessing your iCloud music that may require additional assistance to resolve.
Conclusion
In summary, common reasons preventing iCloud music from downloading include having full iCloud or device storage, being disconnected from the internet, your music still uploading, or iCloud Music Library not being enabled.
Try the troubleshooting tips outlined here to get your music properly downloading again:
– Upgrade iCloud storage if full
– Free up device storage
– Connect to Wi-Fi or Cellular Data
– Allow sufficient time for your library to fully upload
– Make sure iCloud Music Library is enabled
– Update devices, reset iCloud Music, authorize computers
With consistent internet connectivity and sufficient iCloud storage space, you should be able to reliably access and download your music library across all your Apple devices using the iCloud Music features. Contact Apple support if your issues persist.