Sitirian
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Why can't I transfer music from my Mac to my iPhone

Ok, Apple Music is both awesome and infuriating at the same time. With every iOS software update I lose my entire downloaded library and have to start all over again. I'm also noticing that versions are changing, even for songs I have owned for years. The newest issue is that I can't transfer anything from my Mac to my iPhone because I have iCloud Music Library enabled, which is required for Apple Music. So...I have albums on my Mac that are not available in Apple Music. I want them on my iPhone. Is there any way to do this without deleting my Apple Music library from my iPhone?

 

I really hope Apple Music is made better soon. I've had Apple Music since it launched and I love Apple and I like the potential that Apple Music has, but if this stuff continues I'm going to have to cancel. Not being able to transfer music I own onto my iPhone is just crazy.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.0.2

Posted on Jan 17, 2016 9:05 PM

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Sitirian

Q: Why can't I transfer music from my Mac to my iPhone

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  • Helpful answers

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jan 17, 2016 9:10 PM in response to Sitirian
    Level 7 (25,784 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 17, 2016 9:10 PM in response to Sitirian

    You need the complimentary iTunes Match to have any music that is not available in the Apple Music Library to be made available on iCloud Music Library:

     

    In addition, iTunes will upload to your iCloud Music Library those songs that we can’t find in our catalog, to make them available to you on all of your other devices.


    Here is the complete article:

     

    iCloud Music Library: Understanding differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match - Apple Support

     

    Apple Music is strictly a streaming service, so only music in the Apple Music Library is available on the iCloud Music Library under that service. iTunes Match is a match service that will match as well as identify unmatched music and will upload all to the iCloud Music Library for access on your devices.

     

    Best of luck,

     

    GB

  • by Sitirian,

    Sitirian Sitirian Jan 17, 2016 9:16 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 17, 2016 9:16 PM in response to gail from maine

    Thank you so much for the reply! This is good information.

     

    I'm going to do it, but it is mildly frustrating that I have to pay for a service (Match) because the other service (Apple Music) that I'm also paying for is preventing me front transferring music that I've already paid for (the physical CDs I have that are saved on the Mac and untransferable to my iPhone).

     

    Thanks again for the reply!

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jan 18, 2016 7:08 AM in response to Sitirian
    Level 7 (25,784 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 18, 2016 7:08 AM in response to Sitirian

    You are most welcome. Unfortunately, many people don't seem to be aware that Apple Music is a streaming music service, and as a result, don't know the ramifications of using it. The same is true of iCloud Photo Library - using it changes the way that you use and work with photos on your computer and iOS devices, and not everyone is thrilled with the change in the behavior of the process.

     

    Best of luck!

     

    GB

  • by Sitirian,

    Sitirian Sitirian Jan 19, 2016 7:42 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2016 7:42 PM in response to gail from maine

    I purchased iTunes match and for the most part it seems to be working pretty well. However the songs that I originally had issues with will still not transfer to my iPhone. I can see them and they will play, but I am not able to download them to my phone. I generally play only the songs stored on my device to save battery life as streaming music just kills it (understandably). So, I have a half solution, but it's better than nothing.

     

    I don't necessarily think it's the fault of the users. Apple Music has caused many issues with many people's libraries. I just wish that I could still manually transfer songs I own from my Mac to my iPhone without disabling the iCloud Music Library and thus losing all of my music.

     

    Thanks again for your help. I think it was the right solution, these songs are just problematic for some reason.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jan 19, 2016 8:18 PM in response to Sitirian
    Level 7 (25,784 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 19, 2016 8:18 PM in response to Sitirian

    Well best of luck. Not sure why your songs are not being uploaded by iTunes Match to the iCloud Music Library. Here is a troubleshooting support article that may help. It does have a specific section for music not showing up on your iOS devices. The songs are in the iCloud Music Library, correct? If not, then there is also a section for missing songs:

     

    Get help with iTunes Match - Apple Support

     

    Best of luck,

     

    GB