Is your purchased music missing from your iTunes or Apple Music?
You can buy and download your favorite artist’s music through Apple Music or iTunes Store. The music file then is stored in your Apple device so you can play it anytime you want. But it is very frustrating to lose something you paid for. With digital products like these, the thought of having to potentially pay for it again is the worst.
However, you don’t need to do that. To fix this issue you will need to change some settings on your device. In a worst-case scenario, if your device gets wiped out, you can still download the music with no charges. Since you bought it, you still have the right to own it.
But how can you search for your missing music? Our guide for today will help you fix your purchased music that is missing from iTunes or Apple Music. With the methods provided below, you will be able to find and restore your missing music in no time.
Let’s get started!
- Check the Connection Settings
- Check All Music in Library
- Unhide Music Files
- Logout Apple ID and Login Again
- Update iTunes to Latest Version
- Contact Apple Support
How to Fix Purchased Music Missing from iTunes or Apple Music Issue: 6 Ways
1. Check the Connection Settings․
If you are not connected to iTunes or Apple Music, there is a possibility you have a connection problem. We recommend that you connect your Apple device using a Wi-Fi connection. This usually works faster as compared to using your cellular data. If you want to know more on how to successfully connect to the internet using Wi-Fi, check out this guide.
Another possible reason why you can’t connect to your iTunes or Apple Music is due to incorrect time settings in your device. If your device and server do not sync in time or time zone, you will not be allowed to connect. Basically, that would be a security feature of the server. To check that you have the correct time settings, just go to the Settings, then click on General, and then Date and Time option.
If you are using Mac, you click on System Preferences and then click on Date & Time settings.
It is also possible that the servers in your country are down at the moment. If this happens, you won’t be able to connect to the server and access your music files. Apple provides a helpful dashboard with information on the various Apple services. Look for both the iTunes and Apple Music services and see if the status shows as green (‘Available’) or red/orange (‘Down/Maintenance).
If you are still not seeing your music files, check our next method.
2. Check All Music in Library․
Not everyone has unlimited cellular data network access. Apple has an option on iTunes and Apple Music apps for those who don’t have cellular data network.
You can choose to access only the music that you have downloaded and not the ones that are on the server. With this, you will not be able to stream it via the cellular data network accidentally.
Here’s how you can change your options:
If you are using iPhone or iPod Touch
- Go ahead and open your Music application on your Apple device.
- Now, check your screen if it shows Showing only music on this device. That means you are only viewing your downloaded music files.
- Finally, tap the Library option in the bottom-left portion of the screen to see all music.
If you are using an iPad
- Go ahead and open your Music application on your iPad.
- Then, choose the Library option in the bottom-left portion, then tap the Library dropdown menu from the top-left portion of the screen.
- Now, check if you are seeing the Showing only music on this iPad at the top of the screen.
- Finally, tap the Back option to see the full list of music in your library.
If you are using Mac or PC
- Go ahead and open your Apple Music or iTunes application.
- Now click the sidebar or drop-down menu to view your music library.
- Finally, click on View, and then All Music option to view the full list of your music files.
After you have viewed the full list of your music, you should be able to see your missing music files. But if you are wondering why it is still not showing on your list, you will have to consider some factors. The methods below will show you how to overcome these factors in order to fix the issue.
3. Unhide Music Files․
When Apple introduced the “Family Sharing” feature, it became beneficial for many users, who wanted to share their favorite things with family members. But one of the drawbacks of this is that other family members might be able to access your personal music.
One scenario is that your music might be too explicit for young audiences. With the “Family Sharing” feature, you can hide music so that younger members of your family cannot access it.
With this, sometimes we tend to forget that our files are included in this feature. In order to see it, you will need to disable the feature.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Go ahead and open the Apple Music app or iTunes on your computer.
- Then, find the menu bar on your computer screen or iTunes screen, click Account option, and then click View My Account.
- Now scroll down to the Cloud section, then Hidden Purchases, and click Manage.
- Next, on the list of Music, Movies, or TV Shows at the top of the screen, click Music.
- Finally, select the music that you want to unhide and then click Unhide option below.
After unhiding your hidden music files, you will be able to see them now. But what if you still can’t see them? Let’s proceed to Method 4 to see how else you can make purchased music visible on iTunes or Apple Music.
4. Logout Apple ID and Login Again․
It is possible that your Apple ID credentials files in your Apple device are corrupted. There could be more reasons why this happens, but usually, it is because of the cache features of the device. In order to update the session and credential data, you will need to refresh your connection to the server.
Here’s how you can do it:
For iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
- Go ahead and iTunes Store app on your Apple device.
- Now scroll down and tap your Apple ID and tap on Sign Out. Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
- After your device has restarted, go back to the iTunes Store app.
- Then, tap Sign in to your [device] to log in to your account.
- Finally, enter your Apple ID and the correct password of your account.
If you are using Mac or PC
- Go ahead and click on the iTunes or Apple Music app on your computer.
- Then, click on the menu bar, click your Account, and click Sign Out option. Restart your Mac or PC.
- After your device successfully started up, go back to Step 1 and Step 2 to Sign In your account.
- Finally, enter your Apple ID and password to sign back in.
Right after you have rebuilt your sign-In credentials, you will be able to connect back to the server correctly. With this, you should be able to see all your music files. But if you are still not able to do so, let’s see how else you can fix purchased music missing from iTunes or Apple Music issue.
5. Update iTunes to Latest Version․
There is a chance that your iTunes application is having an issue due to bugs. This is a common issue with applications that are constantly being developed. Since it is connected to a server and these servers are being updated too, compatibility issues sometimes happen. To be sure that bugs are fixed, make sure you update your iTunes to the latest version.
Here’s how you can do it:
If you are using Mac
- Go ahead and open the App Store on your Mac.
- Then, click Updates option at the top of the App Store window.
- Finally, if any iTunes updates are available, click Install.
If you are using PC
- Go ahead and open the iTunes application on your PC.
- Then from the menu bar at the top of the iTunes window, choose Help, then Check for Updates option.
- Finally, follow the instructions to install the latest version. You can also check for updates through the Microsoft Store.
After removing the possibility of a buggy application, you will be able to use iTunes with no issues. With that, you should be able to see all your music. But what if you are still having issues with purchased music from iTunes? Let’s see how else you can fix this problem․
6. Contact Apple Support․
There is an advanced procedure that can possibly resolve this issue. As soon as it may be possible that your iTunes library is corrupted, the only way to fix this is to delete the corrupted files from the library. After that, they are being replaced with new ones to fix this problem. You can try and do it yourself. But if you are not confident enough, you may need to visit your nearest Apple Store for support.
An Apple-certified technician is your best friend when there is a software level fix. They will be able to help you out efficiently if you tell them the procedures you did in the attempt to fix it yourself. It will cut short redundant procedures and save you a lot of time․
You may want to check the status of your account as well. To check, you may need to talk to an Apple representative for support.
And this wraps up our guide on how to fix your purchased music missing from iTunes or Apple Music issue. If you have questions related to this topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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