Why won't my songs transfer from itunes to my iphone?

Hi,

I created a username just to put my input on this problem...

• Topic has been running from 2013 to 2017, over 12000 people have clicked "I have this problem too", and Apple still hasn't fixed the problem and provided a clear solution to all those "similar" problems
• This problem has been going through many IOS versions
• Apple doesn't care about you, especially when you want to manage your own library, because since Apple Music appeared, the Music app on the phone has decreased in quality
• Contract with mobile company ends in September... There is a 100% CHANCE I'm switching to Samsung or Huawai
• To super-helpy user turingtest2 level 10 trying to serve us with the generic "Restart from scratch" (backup/restore to factory/install backup/re-sync music): YES, IT WORKS... but it's a pain in the ***... will you pay for my 2 hours missed work every month because your music application *****? Plus, one time, the backup would just not reinstall, I had to clear my computer of every single trace of Apple (except music library) and reinstall everything.
• Another one to super-helpy user turingtest2 level 10 saying "oh, please understand our poor company Apple (cries a few tears), it's sooooo hard to program computer apps that will work with millions of users (cries again)"... COME ON... Did you really just say this? You are Apple... You started programming iPods made SPECIFICALLY for music before even someone ever thought there would be smart phones one day... Don't try to look pityfull, it just worsens your situation and we have no empathy for a company that treats us like this.
• Will someone at Apple try to contact me to try to resolve this and keep me as a customer??? NOPE, cause they don't care... period.
• 3 months countdown and it's BYE, BYE APPLE FOREVER.

Thanks to all the other users who tried to provide some working solutions, at least we can try to help ourselves together while Apple does nothing.

Try the following all-purpose steps for dealing with erratic syncing behaviour. They assume that all of the content you do want on the device is in your library ready for restoring. If it isn't see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device first. I would also recommend you copy everything out of the camera roll if you haven't already.

1. Backup device.
2. Restore as a new device.
3. Restore the backup you made earlier.

Use an encrypted backup if you want to preserve passwords, Wi-Fi settings, web history and health data where appropriate. I also suggest syncing with a selection of playlists (unless you're using iCloud Music library) rather than manually adding content as, if nothing else, the process above is easier to do if you ever have to go through it again.

tt2

turingtest2 wrote:

Search me, though I do know that writing software that works on your own computer is hard enough. Getting it to work reliably on millions of others all with slightly different combinations of installed software and hardware is where it gets really tricky. My general purpose workaround when you get the greyed out tracks issue is covered back on the previous page: Re: Re: Why won't my songs transfer from itunes to my iphone? Interference may come from anti-virus software which I would recommend be excluded from monitoring the iTunes library and media folders. Other than that there is unfortunately no obvious mechanism in iTunes to scan for these items and either transfer them properly on the next connection, or clean up the list that would suggest that they have already been copied even though they are not accessible.

tt2

I just encountered this same problem with my new iPhone 7. I backed up my old iPhone 6S and got a new phone yesterday. When I restored from backup however, the music all played fine until I left the house…

I figured it out! A million hours later and 4 in the morning but I figured it out. So I did everything updated my iPhone 7 newest software same w iTunes on my windows computer everything. Nothing worked. Until I had to go to my actual iPhone go to settings, music, then turn off iCloud Music Library and enable home sharing. Then once I did that I went back onto my computer went to iTunes and synced manually. All I did was on iTunes go to your phone section and click sync. Once I did so I was then able to add music. I dragged the music to the device and it was finally added. I domt know what's going on w apple and why it's become so much harder to sync music. It was so much easier back in the day. Anywho I'm just glad I finally figured it out. Now I can listen to my hypnobirthing tracks on my phone.

Search me, though I do know that writing software that works on your own computer is hard enough. Getting it to work reliably on millions of others all with slightly different combinations of installed software and hardware is where it gets really tricky. My general purpose workaround when you get the greyed out tracks issue is covered back on the previous page: Re: Re: Why won't my songs transfer from itunes to my iphone? Interference may come from anti-virus software which I would recommend be excluded from monitoring the iTunes library and media folders. Other than that there is unfortunately no obvious mechanism in iTunes to scan for these items and either transfer them properly on the next connection, or clean up the list that would suggest that they have already been copied even though they are not accessible.

tt2

I solved this problem.

what I did was manually remove all songs that are grayed out from iphone.

on itune

iphone>music will show all music in your iphone and look for songs that are greyed out.

remove them from library, and youre done.

An Apple rep quietly explained to my wife and me that Apple has gradually moved toward making the synch more cumbersome. They want people to migrate to Apple Music she explained. When iTunes started they had a slick interface that allowed for easy download and management of music. It has become needlessly complicated and unreliable - some songs are fully downloaded while other songs that were previously download are now suddenly awaiting to be downloaded. Apple provides poor official explanations for this.

I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if this were true. Of course you forum drone will mock. But, pray tell, what possible logical reason would there be for a multi billion dollar company releasing a product that can't properly do something as rudimentary as transfer some songs to a device? I like to manage my songs manually. I like specific songs. I don't want to radio stream or whatever else. And when I drag my itunes playlist to my phone there is like a 30-40% chance it will get stuck and be greyed out on the phone and never sync. Ever. I have to keep deleting the greyed out songs on my phone and re-drag them, sometimes many times before they work. Go ahead, make our day, drone, and give us a good explanation for this. There isn't. I have all the requirements, plenty of space, etc. This entire planet, your very life is a conspiracy. This is nothing. Don't worry about it. I'll buy an android next.

Amen my friend! I am so tired of their ****. The ONLY time i can play the music I tricking purchased is the i am on a strong wifi signal. I am out in the sticks, forget it, my library shrinks from around 7000 to about 200! Its wrong!

ok, I was cursing soundly about not being able to transfer music to my ipod too. I put and left on the wifi connection. Suddenly it was processing normally. Now I can't see how having wifi activated makes any difference not being a techie but give it a shot. I'll cross my fingers for you. 🙂

Hi guys. Been having this problem for soon long and Its so annoying. I don't have a total fix but something which may help some of you. I mainly use apple music so theres only a few tracks on my mac that i want on my phone that aren't available such as downloaded mixtape etc. They play fine on my iTunes and sync to my phone only to show as grey and do not play whatsoever, they even crash my phone slightly if it comes on shuffle. So annoying. However if you have iCloud music library turned on you can actually right click the tracks you're having problems with on your computer iTunes library and select 'add to iCloud music library'. It should be second on the list directly underneath 'add to playlist'. There will then be a loading circle show on top right hand corner of iTunes screen as it uploads. Once its finishes it should now show in your music library on your phone as long as you have everything set to sync across devices.

If this DOESNT show as an option iTunes is being a pain in the *ss but its ok theres still a way. You will need to delete the song from your iTunes, it should prompt and say that it will also download from iCloud library. Ok this.

Next locate the actual audio file on your hard drive wherever its been saved, double click, should automatically open and play in iTunes. The add to iCloud music library option should now be there.

This workaround only works one track at a time which is a bummer but if theres certain songs your desperate to be able to listen to on your phone its good enough.

Sorry if I've used wrong computer terms and if this is confusing but i don't know a lot about computers and terminology etc

Hopefully this will help at least one person!

To access shared libraries use the iTunes Remote app.

tt2

Make sure there's enough storage space on the iPhone.

Tap Settings > General > About

Then swipe down to: Available

BTW, you are clicking the Sync button bottom right side of the window correct?

Hi,

I get exactly the same problem.

I have checked that I have enough space on my iPhone but everytime I try to click and drake albums or playlists it shows as if it has sync'd but nothing appears to have transferred.

I have even rebooted my phone to see if identifies the new music but nothing has been copied.

I have even tried a sync but again the process goes through the motion but nothing transfers.

There are also no error message.

This has only started happening since I updated my iPhone to oS7.

Can anyone help ?