Itunes 12 does not have the "Manually manage music" option

I've just done these suggested solutions (which worked) on my iPad Air and I'll bet this "problem" is a silent strategy by Apple to make it difficult to use your own physical music files library (ripped from your CDs, Amazon downloads, etc.) and to encourage exclusive use of AppleMusic. Am I being paranoid? As an added bonus to having checked the "Manually manage music and videos" function, it also made my whole iBooks library disappear from the iPad. I have quite a few books in iBooks and it's a total tactical nightmare having to resync them all.

I think I finally found the solution (iPhone 6, iTunes 12.2.1.16).

When I used Cellular Data it seemed to work, not Wifi.

1) On your iPhone, go to "Settings" and turn on "Cellular Data".

2) Go back to "Settings" and scroll down to "iTunes & App Store" & turn on "Use Cellular Data".

3) Go back to "Settings" and scroll down to "Music" and turn off "iCloud Music Library". You should see "Genius" pop up above "iCloud Music Library". Notice when you go back to "Settings" and go back to "Music" it does not turn back on.

4) Plug your iPhone into your computer. Go to iTunes and click the iPhone icon in the top left corner. Go to "Summary" and under "Options" it now says "Manually manage music and videos". Check it.

5) Go to "Music" under "Summary" and check "Sync Music" and now you able to sync selected playlist like normal.

Hello there, Jenks855.

When wanting to manually manage content on your iOS device, the Knowledge Base article you were referred from provides some great information and practical steps for troubleshooting:

Manage content manually on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod - Apple Support

Manually add items to your device

1. Connect your device to your computer.
2. Open iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest version.
3. Choose the content that you want to add to your device from your iTunes library.
   
4. Drag the content to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. A panel should appear. Locate your device.
   

What if I can't manually add content to or remove content from my device?

To manually manage your content, check to make sure that the "Manually manage music and videos" option is turned on. Then:

1. Connect your device to your computer.
2. Open iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest version.
3. Locate and click on your device.
   
4. Click the Summary tab.
5. Click the box next to "Manually manage music and videos."
   
6. Click Apply. If you see a message that your device is synced with another library:

• iPhone can only add music or video from a single iTunes Library.
• iPad and iPod can add music from multiple iTunes Libraries, but video from only one iTunes Library.
• If you choose to manually manage your movies and music with the new iTunes Library, the iTunes content currently on your device will be erased and replaced.
• You can’t manually manage music while using iTunes Match on your device.

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

Cheers,

Pedro.

My thank you goes to jl_bush who stated

"You need to turn off the iCloud library in settings on the iPhone, then the manually manage music and videos option should be available again."

That's the trick, people. 🙂

Yes but as soon as you turn off the cloud if you downloaded any music for off line listening. That gets wiped out and u have to download whatever again. Don't understand why you just can't add outside music and not have to go back through all of that hassle!!

"Why would anyone even set this up to have the Icloud setting interfere? The two shouldn't have anything to do with one another."

Exactly! Worse than that, why have it so that iCloud is either on or off for all applications? I can't shut it off for music, and still sync Notes, etc. This is either massively dumb, or somehow nefarious as a way of conditioning us into using iCloud. Either way, I rebel. I refuse to use iCloud. This is a real let-down from Apple.

But if I turn off iCloud Music Library, it erases all Apple Music songs from my iPhone... and I really don't want that. Anyone have a way to manage music (I can't currently sync ANY playlists) wihout losing my Apple Music?

Seems like you need to switch off iCloud Music Library so you can Manually manage and download your music. Then once that is done you can turn the iCloud Music Library to recover your Apple Music. Terrible software - do they understand how people use it?

So, the turn off iCloud Library seems to work to manually sync songs I've had in my iTunes Library forever....The part that is STUPID (PLEASE SEE THIS APPLE!!!) is the fact that once you do this, it deletes all of the Apple Music songs that are stored on your phone, which means you have to turn it back on again and make sure everything is downloaded to your phone again!. God forbid I want to sync another song manually.

Sorry, I know these threads are not for complaining...I'm just hoping that someone from Apple actually looks through this stuff once in awhile as I'm pretty upset that I have to go through this nonsense to get songs on my phone..in addition to paying monthly for the Music service...really considering going back to Spotify.

Anyway, back to constructive stuff.... Turning iCloud Library OFF on the iPhone "Settings/Music/iCloud Library" and clicking "Manually Manage Music and Videos" under the iPhone summary page in iTunes allowed me to copy a playlist to my phone. Once that is done, go into your phone and turn iCloud Library back ON. One IMPORTANT NOTE: If you had any music that you downloaded from Apple Music, it will not be downloaded again. It will show up, but not be local. You'll have to copy it local again.

Really stupid!

The option for music isn't there. That's the problem.

This needs to me Fixed not all my music is going to be in Apple Music as much as I like it. I am a music nut and i have ton's of stuff from all over.

Like Livedown's of live shows that will never be on Apple Music.

I am agog. Not what you expect from Apple. What were they thinking? What if I am away from wi-fi? I can't listen to music, my own music, on my iPad because I was prevented from moving it? And for what reason?! I'm seething.

iPhone can only add music or video from a single iTunes Library.

Is this correct, you can only add music to iphone from one computer? I have different music on work computer vs. home computer. Would like to pick an choose music from both computers to put on my phone. Are you saying this is not possible? Seems like you could do this before and with a recent update to itunes it was removed.

A million thanks!!!! I spent hours reading suggestions that all failed and watching inept u tube videos . You are my hero!!!! 🙂

I copied and pasted your directions into my draft folder for future referral. How did you get to be so smart? he-he-he !!!!

Your instructions are clear and concise and perfect!!!!!😍

This procedure works great as long as your leave iCloud library off on your phone.

When I follow these steps, I am able to manually manage my music. But, when I turn iCloud library back on, it deletes some of the music from my phone. What is strange is that in iTunes, it indicates that the music is "on my phone" but it is not. I have tried restarting my iPhone, etc,. to no avail. So it seems my option is to leave iCloud library off so I can manually manage all of my music or turn it off, and not see all of my music.