Access audio files on iCloud not loaded into iTunes on iPhone Music app

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Level 1

5 points

Access audio files on iCloud not loaded into iTunes on iPhone Music app

I DJ and have a large library of music loaded onto iCloud (original, remix, samples, sets, etc.). I’m looking for a way to intuitively access these files, download them onto my phone, import them into the Apple Music app (or a different app), and arrange them into playlists. The only way I’ve been able to come up with for how to do this is to get on a computer with iTunes, open iTunes and iCloud, and drag/drop songs from iCloud to iTunes to import them to my iTunes library, and then, after the files are imported, download or stream them on my phone within the Music app.

Third party iPhone apps allow synchronization with other cloud services such as Dropbox, and you can accomplish what I’m doing without having to use a second device for audio files in those cloud services. However, since Apple doesn’t give permissions for using iCloud to third party apps, the other apps aren’t much use to me, and I’m having trouble finding any info on whether or not Apple Music can do this.

Does the Apple Music app on iOS support a more intuitive way for accessing and managing audio files in iCloud that are playable in the Files app, only using an iPhone? Note that I do pay for iTunes Match and additional storage for iCloud. If there is not a good answer for this, I may need to cancel these services and go with another vendor like Dropbox for cloud storage.

iPhone 6s, iOS 12

Posted on May 22, 2019 12:12 PM

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Answer 1

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Jun 1, 2019 7:59 PM in response to edscott001

You are certainly entitled to be disappointed if you so choose but threatening to leave Apple is of no value here.

This not a source for Apple support and is a user to user community of volunteers who answer questions.

Does the Apple Music app on iOS support a more intuitive way for accessing and managing audio files in iCloud that are playable in the Files app, only using an iPhone? Note that I do pay for iTunes Match and additional storage for iCloud. If there is not a good answer for this, I may need to cancel these services and go with another vendor like Dropbox for cloud storage.

Even your original post contains a threat. Do what you need to do.

iOS is a very secure OS and you can't get music in to the music app from any other source than iTunes or the iCloud Music Library.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

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Answer 2

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

May 23, 2019 7:54 AM in response to edscott001

Hi edscott001,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. If I understand correctly, you're looking for ways to access audio files in iCloud rather than syncing them using iTunes on a computer; is that right?

You mentioned Dropbox and similar third-party apps. You should be able to access content from those apps using iCloud Drive as shown below, and that may be a solution. This is from the article titled Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch:

"Add third-party apps

The Files app lets you add your third-party cloud services—like Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, and more—so that you can access all of your files on all of your devices. The files you keep in iCloud Drive automatically appear in the Files app, but you need to set up your other cloud services to access them in the Files app too.

Follow these steps on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 11 or later:

Download and set up the third-party cloud app.
Open the Files app.
Tap Locations > Edit.
Slide to turn on the third-party apps that you want to use in the Files app.
Tap Done.

If you don't see one of your third-party cloud services in the Files app, check with your cloud provider."

I hope this is useful to you!

Take care.

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Answer 3

edscott001 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 23, 2019 10:33 AM in response to edscott001

You didn’t understand the issue or answer my question. I want to access files on iCloud in the Apple Music app, or another music player app that can link to iCloud—without having to use my computer to import the files to iTunes. There should be a way to import files from iCloud and Apple Music only using an iPhone. Other cloud services and music apps available on iPhone support this, and if this is not supported by Apple Music (or another app with access to iCloud that you can recommend), then I’ll need to cancel my Apple subscriptions and use a different vendor.

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Answer 4

edscott001 Author

Level 1

5 points

May 30, 2019 9:22 PM in response to Joseph_S.

I’m pretty disappointed with the customer service here. Provide an irrelevant answer, and then never respond when I reply to clarify. I expect more than this—I guess it’s time to start looking at other options.

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Access audio files on iCloud not loaded into iTunes on iPhone Music app

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