Music files on iphone disappeared when I tried to add music from PC

Question

Level 1

4 points

Music files on iphone disappeared when I tried to add music from PC

I tried to transfer an album from my music file to my iphone using itunes. But itunes couldn’t find the music on my iphone device list.

I checked my iphone and all the music – probably 400 songs or so – were there.

I transferred the album (4 songs) to the device. Now my music icon shows only those 4 songs; all the music previously seen on the iphone music icon is missing.

However, I’m looking at iphone storage and it hasn’t changed at all: 90.9 GB of 128 GB used. So the 10-20 GB worth of music is still there.

How do I recover the music files, or at least, how do I delete them and add back all the files? They are mp3s, for the most part, on my PC. All are my files, from CDs 10-20 years ago; none are downloaded from iTunes.

If I can't get the files back, how can I clear the music files to recover the free space.

iPhone 7

Posted on Mar 30, 2020 5:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Apr 1, 2020 7:05 PM in response to irpy

Hello irpy,

Thanks for asking the Apple Support Communities for help with missing music.

Since you mention that the space is still being used, I first recommend checking your viewing options aren't set to that album. This article will help: View albums, playlists, and more in Music on iPhone - Apple Support

Also verify the other music wasn't hidden: Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books - Apple Support

If you still can't find your music, and since it sounds like you are manually syncing music from your computer, I recommend checking if the music was inadvertently removed. When you sync music, if you do not have the previous music checked, it will be removed and only the newly checked songs or music. This article has info and screenshots: Sync music between your Mac and iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Reply

Answer 2

Teddy_B

Community Specialist

Apr 3, 2020 5:08 PM in response to irpy

Hello irpy,

Thanks for checking the articles provided. Since you still can't find your music or reclaim your space, I recommend contacting AppleCare for more help.

Use this link to contact AppleCare: Contact - Official Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Reply

Answer 3

irpy Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 3, 2020 3:13 PM in response to chuck_3rd

Alex, Thanks for the suggestions. Nothing worked.

I have no hidden music file - I've never purchased any, and I don't use icloud storage for music, photos, pocasts, . . . My music app shows 64 MB (with the few songs I can see), but the iphone storage indicates over 25 GB of Audio storage. If there's no way to recover what's there but not accessible, I guess I have to do a 'clean' reinstall of everything including all my music and everything else now on my 12 GB iphone 7. Please suggest a link that helps me do that without losing all the other apps and data. Thanks,

PS. I've never had much luck backing up my iphone to my PC. It never gets most of the app data, even tho I check off backup app data. And it has never backed up all my music to my PC no matter what I do -- I have it set to manage my own

PSS. I have been using anytrans to transfer photos from iphone to PC, if that might be useful.

Reply

Music files on iphone disappeared when I tried to add music from PC

Similar questions