Music won't properly sync from Music app on Mac to iPhone

Question

Level 1

8 points

Music won't properly sync from Music app on Mac to iPhone

I can only get most of my music (downloaded from Amazon primarily) onto my iPhone if I find the songs in my Finder and then drag them to my iPhone in the Music app. Also, the artwork doesn't come with it even though it is all in my Music app. How can I properly get the music from my Music app on the Mac to iPhone? FYI all software is up to date. I find it very hard to understand how the accurate info on my Mac can't simply mirror to my iPhone. Syncing in the music app on the Mac does nothing.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.2

Posted on Oct 24, 2023 3:46 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eric_G1

Community Specialist

Oct 25, 2023 12:56 PM in response to wechelle

Hello wechelle,

This page can help provide some details and steps for syncing the music between the Mac and the iPhone: Sync music between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Sync music to your device

1. Connect your device to your Mac.

You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or using a Wi-Fi connection. See Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch over Wi-Fi.

2. In the Finder on your Mac, select the device in the Finder sidebar.

If you connect your device to your Mac using a USB cable and don’t see the device in the Finder sidebar, see If your device doesn’t appear in the sidebar.

3. Click Music in the button bar.

4. Select the “Sync music onto [device name]” checkbox to turn on syncing of your music.

With the checkbox selected, syncing is set to transfer all your music to your device.

5. To sync a selection of music, click “Selected playlist, artists, albums, and genres.”

6. Select the checkbox for each item you want to sync in the music list. Deselect the checkbox for any item you don’t want to sync.

7. Click Artists, Albums, Genres, or Playlists to see your content organized by that category.

Select syncing options:

* Select the “Include videos” checkbox to include videos when syncing.

* Select the “Include voice memos” checkbox to include voice memos when syncing

* Select the “Automatically fill free space with songs” checkbox to have your Mac fill the free space on your device with songs when syncing. Use this option if you have a large music library on your Mac but don’t have room to sync all of your music to your device. This option syncs as many songs as possible.

8. When you’re ready to sync, click Apply.

You can choose to sync your Mac and your device automatically whenever you connect them. See Turn automatic syncing on or off on Mac.

Before disconnecting your device from your Mac, click the Eject button in the Finder sidebar.

Intro to syncing your Mac and your devices - Apple Support

Cheers.

Reply

Answer 2

wechelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 26, 2023 8:16 AM in response to wechelle

Update: I tried anything and everything I could find on the internet to fix this. What eventually worked was backing my device up, completely resetting it, and then restoring it as a new device from the backup. The next time I manually synced the songs just started going on the device.

Reply

Answer 3

Ben_Z1

Community Specialist

Oct 26, 2023 7:14 AM in response to wechelle

Hi wechelle,

We appreciate that additional information. Based on what's happening, we would recommend reaching out to Apple Support. They would be the best equipped to investigate this issue with you further. Contact them here: Get Support

Take care.

Reply

Answer 4

wechelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 26, 2023 6:51 AM in response to Eric_G1

Thanks, but that doesn't help unfortunately. A couple tidbits:

My iPhone never shows up in my actual Finder sidebar. It only shows up in the sidebar within the Music app. The steps to resolve the device not showing up in Finder don't help.

In the Music app on the Mac, if I click the iPhone in the sidebar it populates the screen with information about my device and lists all of my music below it. However, this music isn't actually on the device.

Of course, items purchased from Apple show up with no problem. It is starting to feel punitive for trying to bring in music purchased elsewhere. Any other tips?

Reply

Answer 5

wechelle Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 26, 2023 7:20 AM in response to Ben_Z1

I'm afraid I will have to... again. I have done this already and just got transferred all around - often without warning. Then I get to explain the whole issue all over again to the new person who in this case would just transfer me. Nobody would take ownership to help, so it was frustrating to say the least.

Reply

Music won't properly sync from Music app on Mac to iPhone

Similar questions