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Level 1

8 points

Syncing library

I'm having problems with the iTunes/Apple Music app (on my iMac) syncing my music library to iCloud sort of randomly.

This is causing problems when working on updating metadata, artwork and other things (when the library is syncing I cannot work on the metadata and there is also problems with files appearing twice in the library, albeit temporarily).

I would like to be able to schedule syncing myself, without having to log in and out of the account. Is there a way to turn off automatic syncing and trigger it when I'm ready?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.12

Posted on May 25, 2022 3:06 AM

Best reply

brbo

Level 8

35,080 points

Posted on May 25, 2022 10:13 PM

Hi mklcrissn,

Welcome to the Apple Community.

Sorry I don't know of any way to control the timing of automatic syncing, to suit.

Seems, if the whole library contains many files, you may need to sync gradually, in smaller amounts, for ease of working.

Apple support have some articles online that may be helpful.

Identify cloud status icons in your music library on your Mac or PC - Apple Support

Problems syncing a video or music on Mac – Apple Support

And

Discussion thread:

Why won't my Mac sync with my music libra… - Apple Community

For Apple Support if needed:

(i.e) "get Support" links in the middle at the very bottom on their web-pages. (links below)

iCloud Support website

Music - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

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6 replies

Best reply

brbo

Level 8

35,080 points

May 25, 2022 10:13 PM in response to mklcrlssn

Hi mklcrissn,

Welcome to the Apple Community.

Sorry I don't know of any way to control the timing of automatic syncing, to suit.

Seems, if the whole library contains many files, you may need to sync gradually, in smaller amounts, for ease of working.

Apple support have some articles online that may be helpful.

Identify cloud status icons in your music library on your Mac or PC - Apple Support

Problems syncing a video or music on Mac – Apple Support

And

Discussion thread:

Why won't my Mac sync with my music libra… - Apple Community

For Apple Support if needed:

(i.e) "get Support" links in the middle at the very bottom on their web-pages. (links below)

iCloud Support website

Music - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

turingtest2

Level 10

273,093 points

May 26, 2022 4:18 AM in response to mklcrlssn

Short of temporarily taking your computer offline, or signing out of your Apple ID, there is no way to control this behaviour. iTunes shouldn’t prevent you making changes to metadata while it is updating iCloud Music Library. There is an issue when using AirPlay however where metadata changes can be ignored, which isn’t documented and might not be immediately obvious.

tt2

mklcrlssn Author

Level 1

8 points

May 31, 2022 4:47 AM in response to brbo

Hi,

Thanks for the various leads, but none of them seems to solve my problems. I have a very large library, which has already been synced and works well - it's when I add new songs that the problem occurs.

mklcrlssn Author

Level 1

8 points

May 31, 2022 4:50 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for your input. Taking iTunes offline temporarily seems to be the only way to work without syncing suddently interrupting updating of metadata, random duplicate files being created etc. This way I can at least control when to sync the library and not.

turingtest2

Level 10

273,093 points

May 31, 2022 3:41 PM in response to mklcrlssn

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

brbo

Level 8

35,080 points

May 31, 2022 3:58 PM in response to mklcrlssn

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

Cheers :-)

Syncing library