My iPhone music library has a lost of songs, but in iTunes is shows nothing on my device.

I went through this page:

If songs are missing from your music library after you turn on Sync Library - Apple Support


And several others I found on Google.


I am not subscribed to anything, but that never stopped the songs and music videos, etc, from showing "on my device" in iTunes.


But I just got this computer a few weeks ago, and haven't used itunes on it until now. I have sync turned on my iPhone. I am logged in with my apple id. I tried edit->preferences-device-reset sync.


Still nothing? It shows my playlists, and I deleted a few I don't want anymore and it removed them from my phone, so obviously it is seeing it. Just not showing anything for the media on it.


I am stumped.


Thanks,

Don

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 16

Posted on Jun 12, 2023 7:43 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 13, 2023 3:21 AM

Having re-read your post, it sounds as though you have synchronised your phone with a new iTunes Library (on your new computer).


However, Sync is one-way; from iTunes to the device. This means that the Sync will have removed all the music from your phone and (if you set any Sync options) added onto it only what is in your iTunes Library.


The first question therefore, is do you have your music in your new iTunes Library?

  • If you don't, you need to import the music from your other computer or backup to your new library. In the case of iTunes Store purchases, once you sign into your account in the new library, you can download the purchases from the store to your library.
  • If you do have your music in the new library, set some Sync options (on the Device/Settings/Music pane) in order to add it to your phone:


and then



If you use Sync Entire music library, (3.), the options in 4 are not displayed.

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7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 13, 2023 3:21 AM in response to reconscout2

Having re-read your post, it sounds as though you have synchronised your phone with a new iTunes Library (on your new computer).


However, Sync is one-way; from iTunes to the device. This means that the Sync will have removed all the music from your phone and (if you set any Sync options) added onto it only what is in your iTunes Library.


The first question therefore, is do you have your music in your new iTunes Library?

  • If you don't, you need to import the music from your other computer or backup to your new library. In the case of iTunes Store purchases, once you sign into your account in the new library, you can download the purchases from the store to your library.
  • If you do have your music in the new library, set some Sync options (on the Device/Settings/Music pane) in order to add it to your phone:


and then



If you use Sync Entire music library, (3.), the options in 4 are not displayed.

Jun 13, 2023 1:16 PM in response to reconscout2

Your first screenshot shows your device, while the second one shows your Library (not your device). Note also that the Music Playlists heading is what is on your computer, not what is on the phone.


However, it looks to me as though all the music listed in your Library is not actually on your computer; it's in the cloud, as denoted by the cloud symbol to the right of each song. To download the song, you need to click on the cloud icon. Is this music purchased from the iTunes Store?


I don't use this feature, so I have to make a best guess: I think that if you select all the songs you can then click on Download and iTunes will do the work for you.

    • in your library (not the device), use the Songs view
    • click on any song (so that the next command works)
    • click on Edit / Select All on iTunes' top bar menu
    • click on Song / Download on the top bar menu

With any luck, that downloads all the songs into your library


Once the music is on your computer (and plays on your computer), connect your phone to iTunes and select the Device / Settings / Music pane (1. in the screenshot). Make sure to click on the phone icon at the top (as indicated in the first screenshot in my first post) and then click on the correct Music heading (1.), as indicated in my screenshot:



  • once on this pane, click the Sync Music button (2.)
  • in (3.), if you select Entire Music library, all the music in it is added to your phone and you will not see section 4.
  • (section 4. only appears if you choose sync selected playlist, artists, albums and genres. That's a useful feature if your device does not have sufficient capacity for all your music)
  • tap the Sync or Apply button for these changes to take effect



Jun 13, 2023 7:05 PM in response to the fiend

Sorry about not redacting the info. My bad.


I think I might be getting somewhere, or I totally messed it up, lol.


I used to have apple music for a few months, then I cancelled it. That was on my previous computer, but I still didn't have these issues. Here is what I did with my new rig. I didn't want to fill up the C: drive with all my music. So I made a "Music" folder, then copied them to the D:

Then I went under Edit->Preferences->Advanced and selected the D:/Music folder

I didn't know that I had to hold Shift (on Windows) and tell it to "Make a new library" on the D: drive.

So I did. And I checked that all the folders and files it created on my C where the same on the new D library.

Then I moved all my music into the d:/iTunes/Itunes Media folder

But now when I open iTunes it now shows no music on my computer.



So obviously there is another step I am missing to have iTunes see the music in that folder. And I did go back and check the prefs and it shows the D:\iTunes\iTunes Media as the location for my music.


So I will keep searching for an answer, and keep checking this thread for a possible fix.


Thanks,

Don

Jun 14, 2023 12:33 AM in response to reconscout2

You're making progress.


First of all, the iTunes iTunes Media Folder Location is for new CDs that you rip. It will not cause iTunes to look there for existing files. That said, it is useful to set it to the same place as your existing music, so that any new CDs that you rip are stored with the rest of your music files .


The Add Folder to Library command does (as you've found) add the files on your computer to your Library, so well done.


Regarding the fact that you have duplicates, I'm not sure why that happened, but have a read of this tip from fellow user turingtest2, which should help you: Duplicate songs in iTunes - Apple Community.



Jun 13, 2023 1:03 PM in response to the fiend

I must have done something really wrong at the start. I attached several snapshots. In your 1st example, I have the same screen as you do. But once I click on the phone icon at the top, you will see from my snapshots, that what's displayed in iTunes is completely different, so I cannot do the next steps I need to do.


Hopefully, you can get me started in the correct direction so I can do steps 2-4.


Note under Music playlist below it shows the playlists I have, the songs in it, and I checked and all the songs that were on my phone before the new iTunes install are still there. And they are still in the music library on my computer.


I hope this makes sense, and I appreciate your help.


Thanks,

Don






[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Serial Number]


Jun 13, 2023 7:41 PM in response to reconscout2

I'm getting closer.

I had to choose "Add folder to Library." Now it lists all the artists, songs, etc. But, most of them have many duplicates (same name, size, bitrate, etc). If I have to go through and "Control Click" on the PC for all of the duplicates to delete them, I will spend weeks.


Is there an easier way?? I have "Organize library" turned on.


Thanks,

Don

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My iPhone music library has a lost of songs, but in iTunes is shows nothing on my device.

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