Unable to view album songs in iTunes Store on iPad Pro

Yay! Removing the iTunes Store app & redownloading worked! Only mystery is why that app doesn’t appear in the App Store under my apps list. This freaked me out a bit (afraid it might not be available after deleting). But it was. Perhaps it’s not listed under App Store because it’s a “built in” app - on all iPads?

In any case, it did the trick!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

After my July 13th post, I figured out why you & I are having 2 different experiences with iTunes Store on iPad Pro. When I first open the app on my iPad Pro, the first tab on the left, “Music” includes a search window. If you try looking up an album there, it won’t open (unless you choose an album they are promoting on that page). 

If you click on a different tab, then return to “Music,” the search window disappears, completely! So you can only search under “Top Charts,” - the middle tab. Using the search window under that tab works fine!! (Guessing this is what you are doing.)

The “Purchased” tab, on the right, is completely useless (for someone who does not subscribe to Apple Music, anyway). 

My two older iPads still run the original version of iTunes Store, which works just fine. Because they can’t be updated to 26.5.2 - where all the bugs originated.

The non-functional “Purchased” tab looks like Apple launched an updated iTunes Store app - for 26.5.2 - before it was finished, in my opinion!! That, or per usual, they are “catering to Apple Music subscribers” (who don’t usually purchase music - go figure?) while leaving music owners who choose not to subscribe - in the cold. Business as usual…

Happy for you. Unfortunately, on at least two of my 4 iPads - my newer ones - both iPad Pro, running 26.5.2, one’s a 5th gen, the other says M5 - I STILL can’t open albums in iTunes Store (to view the song list before purchasing).

Now, it does work if you tap on an album displayed on the main screen (imagine that, they allow you to view an album they are promoting…🙄). But try typing in/looking up something else…

I just tried “Billy Joel” (any of his albums) and it didn’t work. Or I recently tried something obscure, the soundtrack to the Hallmark series “The Way Home” - which has its own issues: Apple shows 3 different albums, all with different numbers of tracks - because they were released on different days. A separate issue. But none of the 3 album “versions” with OPEN!!!

They NO LONGER CARE about valuable MONEY SPENDING CUSTOMERS who search for & PURCHASE music!!😠

In any case, the above 2, or any album you need to SEARCH, to find, will not open until you close the iTunes Store app at least 2 times and/or reboot the iPad. RIDICULOUS!!! And the iOS has even been updated since!!! It fixed NOTHING!!!

For now, if I want to view an album song listing, I just wait til I’m on my PC and do it thru iTunes for Windows. But even THAT has been “slow & glitchy” as of late. Also, the good news I just tried opening albums on my 2 older iPads:

Gold 7th Gen iPad running 18.7.9

Pink iPad Pro 9.7 inch running 16.7.16

Those work fine opening albums.

This is strictly a problem for NEWER IPAD Pros running the Newest Software!!…Amazing

Happy for you. Unfortunately, on at least two of my 4 iPads - my newer ones - both iPad Pro, running 26.5.2, one’s a 5th gen, the other says M5 - I STILL can’t open albums in iTunes Store (to view the song list before purchasing).

Now, it does work if you tap on an album displayed on the main screen (imagine that, they allow you to view an album they are promoting…🙄). But try typing in/looking up something else…

I just tried “Billy Joel” (any of his albums) and it didn’t work. Or I recently tried something obscure, the soundtrack to the Hallmark series “The Way Home” - which has its own issues: Apple shows 3 different albums, all with different numbers of tracks - because they were released on different days. A separate issue. But none of the 3 album “versions” with OPEN!!!

They NO LONGER CARE about valuable MONEY SPENDING CUSTOMERS who search for & PURCHASE music!!😠

In any case, the above 2, or any album you need to SEARCH, to find, will not open until you close the iTunes Store app at least 2 times and/or reboot the iPad. RIDICULOUS!!! And the iOS has even been updated since!!! It fixed NOTHING!!!

For now, if I want to view an album song listing, I just wait til I’m on my PC and do it thru iTunes for Windows. But even THAT has been “slow & glitchy” as of late.

OH NO!! I spoke too soon when I said the iTunes Store glitch was fixed!!!😫

Tried again, just now, to open an album and view the files on one of my iPad Pros (that were “fixed” yesterday by removing and re-adding the app). It’s happening again!! (Won’t open the album list) Looks like we will need to wait for them to fix this bug with the next update. It appears if you “nudge it” thru a reboot or redownload it helps, but it’s NOT PERMANENT.😞

Wow…how disappointing!!!

There appears to be some confusion between iTunes Store app vs. Music app on your iPad.

iTunes Store can only be used to purchase music or other digital content. This is where I was experiencing issues viewing album song lists - which is now fixed. The Music app is where you play synced music (or Apple Music, if you subscribe). Guessing you are referring to Music app if you’re concerned about losing synced songs when deleting the app.

Good question about what happens - never considered synced music being deleted, if the Music app is deleted and re-downloaded. I wonder if it deletes the settings of that particular device (which playlists to sync, how it is backed up) when connected to iTunes on your PC, too? If that data is saved - which I think it would be, if it’s associated with iTunes, not Music app - the music is easily resynced back onto the device. But, yes, I understand this is not possible for you, at present - so I get your concern about the music deleting.

Regarding the PC being down, my understanding is your iTunes account keeps track of any purchases you made & other music - added by you into iTunes - is saved, along with purchases, in an iTunes file on the PC. I believe iTunes purchases are easily restored remotely (whether they are all still “available thru iTunes” - esp your exact same copy of them - is uncertain, because of changing copyrights, agreements etc.) so duplicating your exact same library, in full, is dependent on the iTunes (music) file being available.

Maybe the PC hard drive can be salvaged so you can still access its content? The PC not functioning & a working hard drive are two different things…

OK, got it to work again after “tapping around” the app screen. But then there was no search field in the music tab, only the Top Charts tab - for a few minutes - until I closed out the app and reopened.

It will open albums featured on the first page. But if you search for one, that album won’t. It is quite buggy.

No one responded to my feedback I sent, last week, either. Perhaps they (Apple Support) are still researching/trying to fix before sending me a reply?

We sound like kindred spirits! Now I don’t feel so bad remaining on Windows 10 for the same reason! But I still support Apple, a LOT, thru ongoing purchases to build my library. Very disappointed they don’t appreciate those of us who buy, as much as those who “rent” (which is all streaming is, after all). 

I’ve found fewer & fewer reasons to use my PC other than for music - and more ways to use my multiple iPads for things I used to only do on my PC. Therefore, risking the security issues and lack of support from Microsoft (on my Dell) is a minor sacrifice - to continue enjoying my music collection. 

Another thing: I strongly believe iTunes on a PC sounds better than music played directly from an iPad or iPhone - especially when the equalizer is set “just right.” (I use wifi to play my music thru our whole house Bose speakers. I’ve also played synced music directly from an iPad or iPhone - and I’ve heard a difference.)  

iTunes for Windows user interface/functionality is much better on a PC than the app on iPad. Never understood why they’re so completely different. I know iTunes on a Mac (my sis has a Mac) is more like Windows than iTunes on iPad. My connection via my iPads (to my library), Apple Remote, helps - but it has limitations.

I just wish they would make iTunes (vs. Apple Music) more compatible with newer PC software, so we can keep “our way of enjoying music” up-to-date. It’s unnerving (and scary) seeing iTunes slowly becoming obsolete. Those of us who purchase and own music should not be penalized! Apple already made enough money from me, thru purchases made over the past decades, to cover an Apple Music subscription for the rest of my life.

Thank you. Will give that a try. I always avoid reloading apps until everything else is exhausted. I find it frustrating it’s needed, in the first place. 

Regarding storing music on the iPad iTunes app (per your reply) - I was under the impression there was only (on iPad) A) the iTunes Store, for new purchases, and B) the Music app - where I can find the music I synced from my PC.

Can see why music owners might avoid the “Music” app because it annoyingly tries to get me to subscribe to Apple Music after each iOS update. (I have turned down dozens of “Free 3 Months” offers.) I just switch over to “Library” (within the Music app) to find my synced playlists. Maybe this is what you meant by iTunes on iPad (for storing music)?

Anyway, I will try reloading the iTunes Store app on my 2 newer iPad Pros. Will post an update once successful! In the meantime, if there is an app similar to “iTunes for Windows” on iPad or iPad Pro - would love to know about it!!