Level 1

62 points

Apple Music won't play songs - "Not playing"

So starting last week at some point, Apple Music on my iPhone seems to have just stopped working. It refuses to play anything that is not in my library, nothing from "For you", "Radio", or any saved Apple Music Playlists.

The now playing card only shows "Not playing". If I hit the play button enough times it seems to just pick a random set of songs from my library and start playing.

I have already tried:

Restarting the music app
Reinstalling the music app
Resetting network settings
Restarting the iPhone
Signing out of iCloud and singing back in.
Erasing all content and settings (I restored from backup, I might need to try this again without restoring)

No luck from any of the above. Anyone know how to fix this?

iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 11.3

Posted on Apr 10, 2018 11:02 AM

Top-ranking reply

OregonWoodman

Level 1

9 points

Posted on May 5, 2018 12:17 AM

I just encountered this issue on my Apple TV today. After reading about the corrupt cache file in this thread it had me thinking that the file is attached to a profile rather than the application itself. This was after trying all the basic troubleshooting. I then logged out of my iTunes/App Store profile and logged in under my wife’s account and launched Apple Music. This reset the application and appears to have overwritten the corrupt file with the new profile. I quit Apple Music, logged out of iTunes and back iin under my profile. I then relaunched Apple Music and this appears to have rewritten the data again, thus fixing the issue and allowing Apple Music to work correctly. I’d recommend trying this before performing a reset. Good luck.

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79 replies

GMTTX

Level 1

4 points

Dec 31, 2018 9:10 AM in response to Scott Willsey

OK I use android and I have to pay a bit more for Apple music. I am having that problem after 3 months of it working smooth. Wiping won't work and I can't even download music anymore. I don't know how to ask a Apple support guy or something so please help.

Jan 15, 2019 11:56 AM in response to cmx

I was able to fix by following these steps:

1.) delete Apple Music app

2.) Go into setting on iPhone and sign out of Apple id

3.) download Apple Music app back onto iPhone

4.) Go into Apple Music App and sign in with Apple ID; it will ask you to sign into Apple ID in settings (do this by clicking on appropriate button from dialogue box).

5.) Enjoy music!

Aug 19, 2018 5:14 PM in response to cmx

I had the same problem today. Super easy fix - if you have a song in the cloud download it. You will get some message about not being able to auto download for 90 days. Hit ok. After that song downloads you will have access to all of your songs in your library. Tried the signin/out trick with my wife to no avail but this was money! Good luck.

Jan 17, 2019 7:38 AM in response to cmx

So I had this problem as well and I have tried to delete the iTunes app and reinstall it, but that didn't help.

What solved the issue for me was to go to Settings -> iTunes and App Store -> click on Apple ID -> Logout and then Login again. No further restart was necessary.

Jan 19, 2019 9:22 AM in response to cmx

I have the same issue on my iPhone 8+. It started off like that and after installing the 12.1.2 update, it's still the same situation. Please, this seems as a serious issue, especially if you consider that the paying customers are not receiving their service. I should note that I only started a trial, but still...

Someone from Apple should reply.

Thanks

Bubzy57

Level 1

4 points

Jan 23, 2019 9:26 PM in response to cmx

So I got the same “ Not Playing” when I tried to play any streamed song. All I did to fix this was I went to the settings. In the settings you go to iTunes and App Store. You log out of your apple account. Then you go into Apple Music and sign in with your Apple ID which should be subscribed. You should be able to listen to any song and sign back in your account in the settings.

Sep 5, 2018 12:25 PM in response to MeghannMoonshine

Omg dude. It worked for me, ty so much.

dbe14

Level 1

4 points

Sep 7, 2018 5:30 AM in response to cmx

Try going to edit>preferences>playback and changing the "Play audio using" setting to "Direct Sound" instead of "Windows Audio Session". This fixed my similar issue.

Sep 15, 2018 1:18 PM in response to cmx

cannot play any music at all

Oct 9, 2018 10:15 PM in response to cmx

Hopefully everyone has downloaded 12.01 to fix this issue. It happened to me as well after the 12 update but the new patch fixed it.

pyperboy

Level 1

8 points

Oct 11, 2018 6:43 PM in response to cmx

I found a fix to this issue and apologies if it was already reported. I signed out of my iTunes account. Rebooted the phone and signed back in and it worked. Hope this works for you.

dante257

Level 1

15 points

Oct 12, 2018 11:10 AM in response to jagreenwood

Spotify is currently licking their fingers

Afrei2

Level 1

4 points

Oct 15, 2018 11:03 PM in response to cmx

My phone was doing this exact same thing and I just updated to the latest update (12.0.1) and it fixed the problem. Now my music works and can play songs. Hope this helps!

natekapi

Level 1

23 points

Oct 17, 2018 11:05 PM in response to cmx

Is the original thread poster still having this issue on iOS 12.0 or 12.0.1?

Oct 27, 2018 4:22 PM in response to cmx

I signed out of iTunes and Apple Music, restarted my phone, signed back into iTunes and Apple Music. It’s working!

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Apple Music won't play songs - "Not playing"