iTunes now wants money for music downloads even though I have a current subscription

I pay monthly for my Apple subscription which has always included iTunes music downloads without paying for each song or album. I had to recreate my library and now when I go to download music, it is asking me to pay. Is this connected somehow to the fact I recreated my library? I'm logged in and my laptop is authorized. Hoping this is not how Apple is going to conduct business now.


Thanks,

Roger

Posted on Jan 30, 2026 1:44 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 31, 2026 10:56 AM

Install Music on your PC.

Install the Apple Music app on Windows - Apple Support


iTunes is used to sync content from your PC to an iPhone or to purchase music which you can still do even with an Apple Music subscription if you want. Music from your PC that you had synced to your phone using iTunes is different than music you can download with an Apple Music subscription. Music from your iPhone cannot be reverse synced to the PC using iTunes.


If you are not syncing your music content on your iPhone with your Apple Music subscription, you will not see the same content on 2 different devices. When syncing content with your Apple Music subscription, you do not sync with iTunes at all. It is either one or the other.

Use Sync Library with your Apple Music subscription - Apple Support


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 31, 2026 10:56 AM in response to Ramjet57

Install Music on your PC.

Install the Apple Music app on Windows - Apple Support


iTunes is used to sync content from your PC to an iPhone or to purchase music which you can still do even with an Apple Music subscription if you want. Music from your PC that you had synced to your phone using iTunes is different than music you can download with an Apple Music subscription. Music from your iPhone cannot be reverse synced to the PC using iTunes.


If you are not syncing your music content on your iPhone with your Apple Music subscription, you will not see the same content on 2 different devices. When syncing content with your Apple Music subscription, you do not sync with iTunes at all. It is either one or the other.

Use Sync Library with your Apple Music subscription - Apple Support


Jan 30, 2026 2:52 PM in response to Niel

Not sure what you mean. Your answer is vague. I appreciate it but, not really following. This did not happen until I recreated my library on my PC. I had a drive fail on me. For example, now, after my library rebuild I have one Trace Adkins album on my PC (I used to have 11) and when I go to my iPhone, I have the 11 Trace Adkins albums. This also happens with a multitude of other albums by other artists. I am logged into my active account on iTunes on my PC but, the albums I see on my iPhone are not the ones I see on my PC. My iPhone is still intact as far as my complete library so, I don't want to connect it to my PC and have the PC override what is on my iPhone. Apple makes this way more complicated than it has to be and, I'm paying them money every single month! Not a happy subscriber...

iTunes now wants money for music downloads even though I have a current subscription

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