Apple Music: Subscription possible without ANY initial library sync?

Question

Apple Music: Subscription possible without ANY initial library sync?

Hi,

with my AirPods 3 I received 6 months of Apple Music for free. I didn't dare to subscribe yet, because I'm afraid of it's default library sync (formerly known as iCloud Music Library). I don't want any sync process to touch my music library and alter meta data.

I know, that Apple Music without library sync has disadvantages, but I'm ready to accept them (e. g. no playlists, no downloads). Streaming only is fine for me to test Apple Music and it's content.

But Apple's support articles state very clearly, that library sync is turned on by default in the newest iOS and Mac OS releases. I'm running Big Sur on my iMac and iOS 15 on my iPhones and iPads.

I searched the web and watched Youtube videos to be able to see a visualization of the subscription process on Big Sur. And yes - there seems to be no option any more to switch off library sync while signing up. It's just selecting the subscription plan, confirming Apple ID and payment details, setting up a music profile - and done!

I know that afterwards I immediately could go to the settings of the Music app and switch off library sync there - but what will happen in the meantime (5-10 seconds)? I guess library sync will have started and I just can cancel it... and that's not what I want. I want library sync being disabled anytime and my local library staying untouched.

And what happens to my iPhones and my iPad connected to the same Apple ID?

Of course Apple Music will be available on all my devices for streaming, but each device has it's own sync library switch... Will library sync be switched on by default and automatically an all my devices? And I have to try to switch it off on all my devices as fast as I can as soon as I signed up with Apple Music on my iMac? That would be horrible...

Can someone please clarify how library sync in Apple Music behaves by default and automatically in Big Sur and iOS 15 during the sign up process with Apple Music?

All I want is to be able to switch it off during setup on my iMac - and I want it to be and to stay off on my iOS devices linked to my Apple ID (and therefore to this subscription).

Is this still possible with Apple Music or not?

Thanks in advance for any help with this topic.

Best regards,

Michael

iMac 27″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 7:35 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

TheGoodLife99 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 21, 2022 10:27 AM in response to turingtest2

I did it!! And here is what happened:

As recommended I created a separate Apple Music library next to my main library. The new Apple Music library signed in automatically(!) to my Apple ID and it showed all my iTunes Store purchases as songs and albums by default (not downloaded).

Then I signed up to Apple Music from this new library... I was offered my 6 months for free, I had to create a profile by selecting some genres and artists... and that was it! No payment details, no question about library sync (as expected).

Curiously I checked in settings and library sync was switched off! Nothing about library sync during the sign up process and the default still seems to be "sync off" - at least in Big Sur 11.6.2.

I left it off for the time being. I can switch it on without any problem if I want to. It does only make sense if there is at least one more device that can profit from syncing. Or I might switch it on to test the "Add to Library" feature, local downloads and playlists.

Then I quit the Music app, restarted it with <option> pressed and selected my main library...

I was greeted with an unexpected message that my local library and my iCloud library will now be merged and I should agree to it!! After recovering from my shock I discovered the litte "Not Now" in the dialog box. I selected "Not Now" and found myself in my main library being untouched! As expected library sync ist now visible in settings, but it is switched off.

All Apple Music features that are possible without library sync are now available in my main library, too.

Then I grabbed my two iPhones and started the Music app (iOS 15.2.1) there... I expected a similar message about merged libraries on startup, but nothing! Music came up as before and it showed my manually synced music from my main library as usual. But... in library view there was a small message on top of the screen saying that library sync is switched off. I should click on the message to switch it on... Interestingly this small message stayed there and it didn't go away on its own. But there was a very little cross in the upper left corner of this message... it was a little challenge to hit exactly this little cross with my finger without accidentially activating library sync, but I managed to do it - and the message went away and never came back.

As expected library sync is off in settings on both iPhones.

Now my iPad (still iPadOS 15.2)... this was really straight forward: No message about merged libraries, no message about library sync switched off... everything as before, but library view has now a small, crossed out cloud icon. That's it!

Library sync is switched off as expected - and I guess touching the crossed out cloud icon in library view by accident will switch it on... I have to be careful here!

As expected Apple Music is available with all features that are possible without library sync on all my iOS devices. And on my Apple Watch! Of course nothing about library sync on my watch. I can play songs downloaded to the watch with the Watch app and I can stream directly from Apple Music if I want to.

My conclusion:

Yes, it works!! Apple Music is now on all my Apple devices, library sync is off (and was off!) everywhere and I'm ready to switch it on in my separate Apple Music library on my iMac if I want to.

As described the Music app behaves quite differently depending on the OS: Big Sur prompts to merge libraries, iOS 15 just displays a message that library sync is off (that can be closed with "small fingers") and iPadOS displayed the crossed out cloud icon without any interaction.

Most important: No OS or Music app dared to switch library sync on without my explicit permission!

Hope this helps other people who care about their carefully curated music libraries...

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,385 points

Jan 20, 2022 8:17 AM in response to TheGoodLife99

See Use multiple libraries in Music on Mac - Apple Support. You can create a separate empty library before you sign up for Apple Music. Each library has Sync Library enabled or not independently. See Turn on Sync Library with Apple Music - Apple Support. You iCloud Music Library will include any unhidden music purchases. See Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books - Apple Support to hide anything you don't want included.

I have about 65,000 tracks in my main library, and about 10,000 in my Apple Music library. The Apple Music library works across two Macs, three PCs, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and HomePods. I can add in music I own from my main library, or from the Apple Music catalog as I wish, all while leaving the original library untouched.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,385 points

Jan 20, 2022 11:16 AM in response to TheGoodLife99

In a library where Sync Library is not enabled it is still possible to browse and play Apple Music content, although I don't think you can add it to your cloud library. Another way would be to use https://music.apple.com.
With iOS devices you can either continue to sync with your existing library manually over USB, or turn on Sync Library to allow the device to sync with your iCloud Music Library over the air. When you first turn on Sync Library on an iOS device there is an option to merge or replace the library, making this a possible way for people to recover music from a device if they change computers without migrating their libraries. You don't need to explicitly remove the content first. As you say if you have content that isn't available in Apple Music you can add it to the iCloud Music Library to have it available in all your cloud enabled libraries and devices.

Music is either or, other content can still be synced with iTunes/Music.

tt2

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

278,385 points

Jan 20, 2022 2:14 PM in response to TheGoodLife99

Yes, both linked to the same Apple ID. You stay signed in and with the computer authorized to your Apple ID, but Sync Library (AKA iCloud Music Library) is enabled in one library, but not the other.

tt2

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Answer 5

Jan 20, 2022 8:56 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi turingtest2,

thanks for your response - it's really helpful especially because of your own setup.

But there are some questions remaining:

Assuming I create a separate empty library before signing up for Apple Music. I understand, that my main library will stay untouched and library sync will stay switched off. In my separate Apple Music library syncing can be switched on separately (automatically or by myself).

Question 1: One Apple ID, two libraries...

Both libraries (main and Apple Music) will then be linked to the same Apple ID, right? And Apple Music (at least the option to stream songs) will appear in my main library, too, right? What happens to the sync library switch in my main library? Will it really stay off by default? Or do I have to sign out of my Apple ID in the main library - loosing the ability to play my old DRMed iTunes songs?

What is your Apple ID setup with your libraries?

Question 2: iOS Devices

Today I sync my main library manually with the Music app to my iOS devices. Assuming there will be a separate Apple Music library linked to the same Apple ID... do I have to stop syncing manually with my main library first, delete all music from my iOS devices and then switch on library sync on these devices to get my separate Apple Music library synced? Meaning all music on my iOS devices will then come from my separate Apple Music library - and I have to copy songs from my main library to my Apple Music library, if they are not available in Apple Music and I want them on all my devices. Is this your setup?

I guess a "mix and match" of manual sync with main library and library sync with Apple Music library is not possible, right?

Thank you very much for your help!!

Michael

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Answer 6

Jan 20, 2022 2:10 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks again!

Just to be 100% safe, because you didn‘t state that explicitly:

Both libraries are linked to my Apple ID meaning I‘m signed in to the same Apple ID in my main library (without library sync) and in my separate Apple Music library (with library sync)? There is no need to sign in and out when switching libraries or to stay signed out permanently in my main library?

If you can confirm this from your setup, I will follow this route and mark my question as solved.

Thank you very much for your expertise!

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Apple Music: Subscription possible without ANY initial library sync?

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