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Level 1

6 points

Songs won't sync to iPhone but play in iTunes

I have searched the discussion boards endlessly but can't find anything that solves my issue so I am posting my own thread. The vast majority of my music is purchased from the iTunes store and I have never had a problem syncing from iTunes on my MacBook to my iPhone 5. However, I have some music (mp3 files) that were acquired elsewhere and although the songs play in iTunes, they will not sync to my iPhone. The songs/playlists don't even show up on the phone and I cannot figure out why. Please help.

Note: I am running the most recent version of both iOS and iTunes.

Note: I have tried converting a song from mp3 to ACC and AIFF files

iPhone 5

Posted on Nov 17, 2013 1:50 PM

28 replies

slps01

Level 1

9 points

Apr 17, 2015 6:39 AM in response to fourty12

I have found a strange solution to the problem. I could not transfer certain mp3 files to my IPhone 5. I went to the Apple Store to talk to a Genius, and while I was waiting, I cleared my Iphone, then went to a couple of the files on my laptop, and in ITunes went to File>Create New Version>Create Apple Lossless Version. At that point I had both the mp3 file and an mp4 file in ITunes. When I synch'd with my Iphone, the files downloaded perfectly (only one copy).

I thanked the Genius who showed up, and went home.

When I got home I went through the same process of creating new versions of the files; I then trashed the mp3 files (but didn't empty the trash), and then attempted to sync again. This time it didn't work.

So I took the mp3 files out of the trash, adding them back into the ITunes library, so now I had two versions of each file in ITunes. I went back to sync, and lo and behold, the files transferred to the IPhone.

I didn't bother to ask Apple why this would work, but it did.

EB3625

Level 1

16 points

Oct 3, 2015 8:24 AM in response to slps01

All you have to do is turn off iCloud Music Library under the Music setting on your phone. Problem Solved.

Jan 2, 2016 8:40 AM in response to kydd23

Just wanted to say thank you, your solution was simple and it worked perfectly for me.

Jan 5, 2016 1:43 PM in response to nathanoc

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Happy New Year and ...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Feb 15, 2016 5:01 AM in response to fourty12

@apple same problem here, but only on files where .mp3 ist in uppercase... renaming the files helped me.

Mar 20, 2016 10:06 PM in response to nathanoc

thanks a lot. this helped me. 🙂🙂

Mar 21, 2016 12:22 AM in response to fourty12

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204095

mocgbr

Level 1

8 points

Aug 19, 2016 5:26 PM in response to nathanoc

Thanks that did it for me!

Matudeau

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2016 11:50 AM in response to nathanoc

Thnx!!!

Finaly (after hours searching) the answere.

Dec 1, 2016 8:43 AM in response to ShelWil

Brilliant advice on here. I just clicked on the small iPod icon and on the resulting page checked the 'Convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps' box and bingo it worked. Thank you so much.

Jul 7, 2017 10:00 PM in response to EB3625

On my iPhone7 Plus, I don't have an iCloud Music Library option under my Music setting. Where is it in the new iOS?

Aug 24, 2017 8:08 PM in response to fourty12

Thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I was experiencing the same problem in Aug 17 and your answer solved the problem.

denise w

Level 1

10 points

Sep 6, 2017 4:44 PM in response to fourty12

I am having the same problem, but I don't see where I can turn off iCloud Music Library under the music setting on my phone. I have an iPhone 6sPlus.

Songs won't sync to iPhone but play in iTunes