Music app only displays music library selections purchased through the iTunes store

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Level 1

9 points

Music app only displays music library selections purchased through the iTunes store

why does the Music app only display music library selections purchased through the iTunes store? My library is connected to a device that works with my MacBook Pro, but I use an older iPad to stream music now and then. I swear I used to be able to access any of the music in my library on that iPad, but over the past half year or so (???), the only music I can see on that iPad are the recordings I have downloaded from the iTunes store? I feel like I'm being Mac-lighted. When did this change happen? Why? And is there a way to see ALL my music that's part of my library on all of my devices?

Oh, and here's the thing that's really frustrating: My iMac desktop displays all the music in my library, including stuff I ripped from purchased CDs yesterday and music downloaded from the iTunes store today.

Is there some simple setting thing I have wrong? Is it that my iPad, whose software can no longer be updated, is somehow limited? Please, please advise.

iPad mini, iOS 9

Posted on May 16, 2023 12:46 PM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

272,280 points

May 16, 2023 1:30 PM in response to tccroc

Might you currently or have ever subscribed to Apple Music? Presumably the answer is “no”.

Check Settings > Music > Sync Library on your iPad and be certain it’s “on”.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

272,280 points

May 17, 2023 2:16 PM in response to tccroc

This sentence fragment from your initial post sounds like the root of the issue:

”My library is connected to a device that works with my MacBook Pro,…”

It sounds like your Music Library is housed in some offbeat location.

And, of course, you’ve said you use an “older iPad”, but we know nothing about the age of your MacBook Pro or its operating system.

Perhaps this will help.

Use Sync Library to access your music library across your devices - Apple Support

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Answer 3

tccroc Author

Level 1

9 points

May 18, 2023 9:17 AM in response to sberman

To be clear, my music files would take up too much space to store on my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018) running Big Sur 11.7.6. Therefore, my files and library file are stored on external hard drive plugged to the laptop when at home.

I can't run the "consolidate files" procedure that is one of the steps in the linked advice; I get the error pop up that reads "Copying files failed. An unknown error occurred." So, I can't follow the steps that follow, I suppose. I do have "sync library" turned on on the MacBook Pro.

My iPad (with version 9.3.5) does not show a "sync library" toggle, but it does have one that says iCloud Music Library. When I turn it on, I see all the music NOT purchased from iTunes, but none of the songs can be played. This is as I described before.

When I toggle on the "Show Apple Music" switch, I am able to see the music purchased through iTunes and play any of it. But I can't also see or play the music NOT from iTunes that is in my iCloud library. Again, it is starting to seem that something must have changed in the way the iCloud library/Music work together sometime in the last year or so. My iPad can't further update its OS, so maybe I've been left behind.

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Answer 4

tccroc Author

Level 1

9 points

May 17, 2023 6:39 AM in response to sberman

I do not have a Music subscription. When I toggle the Library on my iPad into the on position, after the cloud library displays, I can see all the albums NOT purchased through iTunes (but none of the ones purchased through iTunes). However, all the songs are grayed out and when I try to play them, I get the message "Item is not available."

When I toggle the Library to the off position and the iTunes albums are visible, all songs on those albums can be played.

So it seems I can only see either one group of albums or another. But in only one of these settings can I play any music.

Advice?

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Music app only displays music library selections purchased through the iTunes store

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