Songs in iCloud Music Library will not play on Mac

Question

llprimajr Author

Level 1

12 points

Songs in iCloud Music Library will not play on Mac

Several song in my iCloud Music Library will not play on my MacBook Pro (2017), iTunes Version 12.9.0.164

This problem began after updating software to macOS Mojave version 10.14

The effected songs DO PLAY on my iOS devises, just not on the MacBook.

The effected songs include songs purchased from iTunes, as well as uploaded to iTunes.

There are single songs from an album that do not play but the rest of the album plays, as well as entire albums.

All songs are store in iCloud. None are downloaded to my computer.

I have searched support threads and can find zero help.

I have done a factory reset of the MacBook and started from scratch, but the problem persists.

Help

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017), macOS Mojave (10.14), iTunes 12.9.0.164

Posted on Oct 20, 2018 1:17 PM

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Answer 1

llprimajr Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 21, 2018 8:11 PM in response to Joseph_S.

Thank You Joseph,

My MacBook is authorized and I have updated the library several times.

Songs still do not play.

As Examples:

Back in Black - AC/DC's Back in Black - Uploaded - Available for download (4 songs on this album with same status do not play, the rest of the album with the same status DOES play.

Van Halen (entire album) - Van Halen - Uploaded - Available for download - although this song lists as uploaded, I purchased from iTunes on September 24, 2014 (see attached)

There are ZERO songs downloaded to my MacBook.

ALL songs are listed as Available for Download.

It appears as if most of the unplayable songs are listed as UPLOADED, however most were purchased, not uploaded.

There are single songs from albums and entire albums.

Note that ALL SONGS play on my iOS devices. (iPhone Xs, iPad mini, iPad Pro)

Thanks again.

Reply

Answer 2

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Oct 21, 2018 2:34 PM in response to llprimajr

Hello llprimajr,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities! I understand that certain songs in your iCloud Music Library will not play in iTunes on your MacBook Pro. I would be happy to help provide some steps to help get you back to enjoying your music again.

To help isolate possible causes for this behavior, I would like to have you start by turning on iCloud Music Library icons and status columns. Check the status of the songs that will not play and follow the recommendations here:

About iCloud Music Library icons and status - Apple Support

You may also want to try to authorize the MacBook Pro to ensure it has permission to play these specific songs:

Authorize your computer in iTunes - Apple Support

Once it has been authorized, click on File in the menu bar at the top of iTunes, then click on Library > Update iCloud Music Library. Attempt to play the songs again once that process is complete.

If the songs do not play after trying those steps, some additional information that would be helpful to know is: what icon or status is shown next to the songs or do they appear grayed out? Do the songs skip or show an error when attempting to play?

Cheers!

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

272,783 points

Oct 22, 2018 5:09 AM in response to llprimajr

See Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books - Apple Support and check for hidden purchases. Will any of these tracks download and play then? Do you still have the source files backed up somewhere so they could be reuploaded if required?

tt2

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

272,783 points

Oct 23, 2018 11:08 AM in response to llprimajr

Obviously you are strongly advised to keep an offline copy of each track somewhere it can be retrieved from, but yes, once tracks have been matched or uploaded you can use the right-click context menu on a selection of tracks to Remove Download which will delete your local files while maintaining the links to stream from the store. See About iCloud Music Library icons and status - Apple Support to make sure you know what the status of each track is.

tt2

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Answer 5

llprimajr Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 23, 2018 10:43 AM in response to turingtest2

It appears as if Unhiding and downloading fixes the issues with the songs that I have purchased.

I have not addressed those that I have uploaded yet, as it is quite a task re-downloading ALL of the songs in "account> purchased".

Once I have identified those that I truly uploaded and find their real backups (as I have quite a few and those I have looked at will not play either) **will it be possible to remove all of the files from my computer and just utilize iCloud Music.

I try to keep my MacBook as clean as possible.

thanks

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