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Downloading a playlist in iOS 13.2 no longer includes songs not in the library?

I have a playlist with a mixture of songs that were added to my library from Apple Music and songs that were added to the playlist directly from Apple Music.


Since upgrading to iOS 13.2 (although maybe it has been this way for longer), I noticed that downloading the playlist now only downloads songs that have been added to my library. What gives? Anyone have a fix? Surely this can't be the intended behavior.

iPhone 11 Pro, iOS 13

Posted on Oct 28, 2019 4:03 PM

Reply
6 replies

Nov 3, 2019 10:38 AM in response to Jeremy K.

Hi Jeremy K.,


Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! I understand some songs are not downloading to your Library in Apple Music. I am happy to help.


Let's make sure you have 'Add Playlist Songs' turned on under Settings > Music > Library > Add Playlist Songs. This will add songs to your Library when you add them to your playlists: Add and download music from Apple Music or the iTunes Store - Apple Support.


If you already have this setting turned on, try toggling it off and back on, then restart your iPhone: Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support, to test again.


If you need continued support, reach back out with an update please.



Thank you for your post.




Nov 4, 2019 6:21 AM in response to Jeremy K.

Jeremy K.,


I appreciate you getting back to me with this update.


To download music to your device, you should be able to hit the cloud icon next to the song, album, or playlist, which should then show a check mark next to the tracks to represent being added to your library: Add and download music from Apple Music or the iTunes Store - Apple Support. It sounds like that is not happening based on your description.


To confirm, when you navigate to Settings > Music > Automatic Downloads, do you have this turned on? When you add a playlist from Apple Music by hitting +Add, does it still appear in your Downloaded Music folder under Library? However, the individual songs are not part of your library unless you individually hit the + next to the songs?


If so, I would like to get you in touch with our technical support team to investigate this behavior in more detail. Please click on this link: Contact - Official Apple Support to connect with available support options in your country/region.


I appreciate the time you took to work with us in the Apple Support Communities!



Kindest regards.

Nov 4, 2019 10:17 AM in response to Jeremy K.

Jeremy K.,


Thank you for sharing these examples with me.


Based on the details, it does not appear this is expected behavior, as you should be able to download said items, but instead the download does not appear to complete. Let's have you reach out to our technical support team to investigate this behavior further for a resolution. Please click on this link: Contact - Official Apple Support to connect with available support options in your country/region.


Thank you again for your time.



Take care.

Nov 4, 2019 7:57 AM in response to i_rina

I don't have automatic downloads turned on. I don't want music that I've added to my library to automatically download, and I don't see what that has to do with playlist songs that aren't in my library.


I do have further evidence now that this is a bug, because I can see that playlist downloading works as it used to with a small test playlist. Here's what I did.


  1. Create a new playlist.
  2. Navigate to a song in my library and add it to the playlist.
  3. Go to the Browse tab and navigate to a song on Apple Music that isn't in my library. Add it to the playlist.
  4. Download the playlist. Both songs download as intended. In place of the "download" icon, the playlist shows the "☑️ Downloaded" label. You can also confirm that both songs were downloaded by going to the "Downloaded Music" section and seeing that the playlist contains two songs.


This is not what I experience with some of my longer playlists. Instead…


  • After downloading the playlist, the "download" icon still appears instead of the "☑️ Downloaded" label.
  • Pressing the "download" icon again causes it to spin for a second, then nothing happens.
  • I can confirm that some of the songs haven't been downloaded by going to the "Downloaded Music" section. For instance, I have a playlist with 101 songs, but in the "Downloaded Music" section, it only lists 66 of them.

Nov 3, 2019 5:50 PM in response to Sharon_419

That’s not what I want though. I have that setting turned off deliberately. I don’t want every single song I add to a playlist cluttering up my library.


Also, this used to work. So I don’t think it’s a matter of settings. Downloading a playlist used to download all songs in that playlist, regardless of whether they were in your library or not. It’s just broken now in 13.2.

Downloading a playlist in iOS 13.2 no longer includes songs not in the library?

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