Are you facing issues with downloading songs on Apple Music? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many users have reported encountering problems when trying to download their favorite tracks. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the common reasons behind the Apple Music not downloading songs issue and provide you with practical solutions to resolve it. Additionally, we’ll share a valuable tip on how to play Apple Music on any device of your choice. So, let’s dive in and troubleshoot this problem together.
Understanding the Reasons Behind Apple Music Not Letting You Download Songs
There could be several reasons why you’re unable to download songs on Apple Music. Let’s explore the main factors that might be causing this issue:
1. Expired Apple Music Subscription
If your Apple Music subscription has expired or if you were using a free trial that has ended, you won’t be able to download songs. The download function is exclusively available to Apple Music subscribers on limited platforms, such as the Apple Music/iTunes app.
2. Unstable Network Connection
Apple Music requires a stable internet connection for successful downloads. If your network connection is weak or unstable, it can prevent downloads from completing.
3. Insufficient Device Storage
If your device is running low on storage, you may encounter issues when trying to download additional content. Ensure that you have enough available storage space for downloading songs by deleting unnecessary files or apps.
4. Download/Device Limit Reached
Apple Music imposes a limit on the number of songs you can download per device and per Apple ID. Subscribers can download up to 100,000 songs in their personal libraries, and the download limit is the same across all devices and platforms. If you’ve reached the maximum number of devices connected to your Apple Music account, you won’t be able to download content on additional devices.
5. Regional Download Restrictions
Certain songs or albums may not be available for download in your region due to licensing restrictions. If you’re trying to download specific content and it’s not available, it could be due to regional limitations.
Now that we’ve explored the reasons behind Apple Music not letting you download songs, let’s move on to the solutions.
How to Fix Apple Music Downloading Issues
Here are 10 useful tips to troubleshoot the problem of Apple Music not downloading songs on your devices. Follow these instructions in order, and hopefully, you’ll be able to resolve the issue:
Solution 1: Check Your Apple Music Subscription
The first step is to ensure that your Apple Music subscription is active for downloading new content. Here’s how you can check your subscription status:
- On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Settings app.
- Tap on your username.
- Tap on “Subscriptions.”
- Confirm that the Apple Music subscription is not expired.
Solution 2: Check Your Device Storage
Ensure that your device has enough available storage space for downloading songs. You can check your iPhone storage by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on “General.”
- Select “iPhone Storage.”
- Locate the “Music” app in the storage breakdown and check how much space it occupies.
If the Music app is taking up too much space, you can optimize the storage or delete downloaded songs. To optimize the Music storage:
- Go to Settings > Music on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to see “Optimize Storage” under DOWNLOADS.
- Ensure that the “Optimize Storage” option is toggled on.
To delete downloaded music:
- Go to Settings > Music on your iPhone.
- Scroll to the DOWNLOADS section and tap on “Downloaded Music.”
- Swipe left on “All Songs” and choose “Delete.”
Solution 3: Check Your Internet Connection
Ensure that you have a stable and reliable internet connection for downloading songs. If your current connection is causing issues, try switching to a different internet network. If you’re using cellular data for downloading Apple Music songs, make sure it’s enabled for downloads.
Solution 4: Reset Download Settings
If you’re using an Android device, clearing the cache of the Apple Music app can help resolve download-related issues. Here’s how:
- On your Android device, go to Settings > Applications Manager.
- Scroll down to Apple Music and select it.
- Swipe left on “All Songs” and choose “Delete.”
You can also try resetting any related settings by toggling them off and back on.
To enable Cellular Data for Apple Music on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll to Music.
- Tap on Cellular and ensure that the “Cellular Data” option is toggled on.
If Cellular Data is already enabled, toggle the “Downloaded Music” option off and back on.
To enable Automatic Download for Apple Music on your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to Music.
- Scroll to DOWNLOADS > Automatic Downloads.
- Toggle the switch next to “Automatic Downloads” to disable this setting.
- Wait for 30 seconds and then toggle “Automatic Downloads” back on.
This ensures a seamless downloading experience by allowing your iPhone to automatically download any iTunes purchase that you add to your Apple Music library.
Solution 5: Reset Network Settings
Resetting network settings can resolve connectivity-related issues. Here’s how you can do it on your iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
- Select “Reset” and then choose “Reset Network Settings.”
Solution 6: Restart the Apple Music App
Restarting the Apple Music app can potentially fix downloading errors. Here’s how you can force stop the app on your iPhone or iPad:
- Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen or double-click on the Home button to access the app switcher.
- Swipe left or right to find the Apple Music app running in the background.
- Pause on the Apple Music app’s preview and swipe it up to force stop it.
If you’re using the Android version of the Apple Music app, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Go to Applications Manager.
- Go to Apps.
- Scroll to Apple Music and select it.
- Tap on “Force Stop.”
Solution 7: Sign out and back in to Apple Music
Refreshing your session and account settings by signing out and back into your Apple Music account can resolve various issues. Follow these steps to sign out on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your username at the top of the screen.
- Scroll down to “Log out” and tap on the button.
- Enter your password to confirm.
- Once logged out, go back to the Settings app and log back in.
If you’re using the Android version of the Apple Music app, you can log out directly:
- Open the Apple Music app on your Android device.
- Tap on the vertical three dots in the top-right corner and select “Account.”
- Tap on “Sign out” near the bottom of the screen.
- Once signed out, proceed to sign back in.
Solution 8: Restart Your Device
Sometimes a simple restart of your device can clear out temporary glitches that may be affecting the Apple Music app’s performance. Restart your mobile device by following these steps:
- Press and hold the side button (top button on iPhone SE1, 5, or earlier; either volume button and the side button on iPhone X, 11, or 12) from the side of your iPhone.
- Swipe the slider to turn it off.
- Press and hold the side button to turn it on.
If you’re using an Android device, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. When your device is shut down, wait for 5 minutes, then press and hold the Power button to start your phone.
Solution 9: Update/Repair Your Operating System
Updating your iOS or iPadOS can help resolve underlying issues with the operating system, which may be causing the Apple Music not downloading songs problem. Here’s how you can update your operating system:
- Tap on the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Go to the General option and click on “Software Update.”
- Scroll down to the “Download and Install” option to install a newer version of the operating system.
If the above solutions don’t resolve the issue, it’s possible that your iOS has some underlying problems. You can use third-party tools like ViWizard iOS System Recovery to repair the operating system and fix Apple Music won’t download songs issues. This tool can efficiently repair up to 50 types of iOS-related problems, including the Apple Music app not downloading songs.
Solution 10: Download Apple Music on Other Devices
To overcome the limitations imposed by Apple on downloaded songs, you can use a smart Apple Music converter like ViWizard Apple Music Converter. This tool allows you to convert Apple Music and iTunes songs to MP3 or other common formats, removing any DRM restrictions. With ViWizard Apple Music Converter, you can also customize the output audio parameters and edit the tags of your Apple Music tracks. The software supports batch conversion at a blazing-fast speed.
Conclusion
In this troubleshooting guide, we’ve explored the common reasons behind Apple Music not letting you download songs and provided you with practical solutions to resolve the issue. Remember to check your Apple Music subscription, ensure sufficient device storage, and maintain a stable internet connection. Resetting download settings, network settings, and restarting the Apple Music app can also help. If all else fails, consider updating or repairing your operating system. And to overcome Apple’s limitations, use a reliable Apple Music converter like ViWizard. Now, you can enjoy your Apple Music playlists on any device you like.
