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Can't download music on newly setup device

I just setup a used iPad for my personal use. It used to belong to a family member. I logged out of their AppleID and into mine. Most things are working properly (mail, messages, photos, etc). However, the Music app is giving me some problems. It has sync'd my library and I can play music from my library, but I can't download any music. I get the following dialog:



I'm not even sure what "Transfer" means, or what this messages is all about. I don't subscribe to iTunes Match, and didn't even know what it was until I got this dialog and looked it up.


Another related issue (and what I actually noticed first) is in Settings -> Music, if I try to enable "Automatic Downloads", it simply turns back off if I touch any other setting, or leave the Music settings and then come back. I had been trying to fix this issue for a while when I finally decided to just try to manually download some songs in Music, and ran into the above dialog.

Posted on Jul 18, 2021 12:58 AM

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Posted on Jul 18, 2021 1:10 PM

I think I figured it out. When the message says "This device is already associated with an Apple ID", it's referring to the previous owner's ID, not the my ID which I'm currently logged in with. "Transfer" means transfer the association to my (the current) apple ID.


The 90 day warning is still a bit unclear. I chose "Transfer" and now I can do more downloads (without seeing this dialog) and can also turn on "Automatic Downloads". I think it's saying that if I try to use this device with another Apple ID, I won't won't be able to use the mentioned features/services until 90 days has passed (I'm not sure if that is 90 days from today or 90 days from the day I switch to another Apple ID.


And one thing to add is that before doing this "Transfer", I first removed the association of this device with the previous owner's Apple ID. I have the login info for that ID, so I grabbed a Mac I have that I don't use Music with, ran Music and logged in with the previous owner's Apple ID. I then went to Account -> View My Account -> Manage Devices and removed the association. I'm not sure if this was a necessary step or not.


BTW, when I login to Music on a Mac using my Apple ID (not the previous owners), and go to Account -> View My Account -> Manage Devices, I see an interesting list of devices that have collected over the years. The iPad for which I just did the "Transfer" for says it has 90 days remaining in the association and I cannot remove it. Devices that have been associated for a long time I can remove. So now I think this 90 day warning is basically saying I can transfer the association to my Apple ID now, but won't be able to do another transfer for 90 days.

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Jul 18, 2021 1:10 PM in response to cjp987

I think I figured it out. When the message says "This device is already associated with an Apple ID", it's referring to the previous owner's ID, not the my ID which I'm currently logged in with. "Transfer" means transfer the association to my (the current) apple ID.


The 90 day warning is still a bit unclear. I chose "Transfer" and now I can do more downloads (without seeing this dialog) and can also turn on "Automatic Downloads". I think it's saying that if I try to use this device with another Apple ID, I won't won't be able to use the mentioned features/services until 90 days has passed (I'm not sure if that is 90 days from today or 90 days from the day I switch to another Apple ID.


And one thing to add is that before doing this "Transfer", I first removed the association of this device with the previous owner's Apple ID. I have the login info for that ID, so I grabbed a Mac I have that I don't use Music with, ran Music and logged in with the previous owner's Apple ID. I then went to Account -> View My Account -> Manage Devices and removed the association. I'm not sure if this was a necessary step or not.


BTW, when I login to Music on a Mac using my Apple ID (not the previous owners), and go to Account -> View My Account -> Manage Devices, I see an interesting list of devices that have collected over the years. The iPad for which I just did the "Transfer" for says it has 90 days remaining in the association and I cannot remove it. Devices that have been associated for a long time I can remove. So now I think this 90 day warning is basically saying I can transfer the association to my Apple ID now, but won't be able to do another transfer for 90 days.

Jul 18, 2021 1:13 AM in response to cjp987

In the event that You can't download, play, or access melodies


In the first place, check iTunes to check whether the tune is ineligible for transfer., on the off chance that you added the melody to your library from the Apple Music inventory, it may at this point don't be accessible on Apple Music.


  1. Close the Apple Music App
  2. Update iPhone Software
  3. Reset Network Settings
  4. Restart Your Device
  5. Sign out of Apple ID and sign back in
  6. Turn off and back on "Show Apple Music”


you can try that for fix your iphone


thanks

Jul 18, 2021 9:21 AM in response to Brianwayne

I should also mention that I have an Apple Music subscription.


In the first place, check iTunes to check whether the tune is ineligible for transfer., on the off chance that you added the melody to your library from the Apple Music inventory, it may at this point don't be accessible on Apple Music.


I tried songs from the Apple Music inventory (which I should be able to download to multiple devices with an Apple Music subscription) and songs that I had added to my library from my own CD's.


Close the Apple Music App
Update iPhone Software
Reset Network Settings
Restart Your Device
Sign out of Apple ID and sign back in
Turn off and back on "Show Apple Music”


I've done all of these. Note the "Turn off" option was only available while signed out. Once you sign in it goes away for some reason.


Can't download music on newly setup device

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