User profile for user: web_ed
web_ed Author
User level: Level 1
23 points

Manual Music sync NO LONGER working

OS 15.7.2

iOS 26.1


I have recently cancelled my Apple Music subscription, and now my music library (i.e. all music files stored locally on my computer) no longer syncs to my iPhone.


My full music library still shows in Apple Music App, and all songs can be played / accessed there as well, as normal. I can also add local music files to the Library, and they will show up, as normal. Again, music files are all stored locally, not downloaded from Apple Music.


"Manually manage music" option is not working, as is "Sync automatically". WiFi syncing, USB cable, same result. "Sync only checked music" disabled. "Sync library" also disabled since subscription is cancelled.


What could be the issue here?


Thanks

iMac 27″ 5K

Posted on Nov 24, 2025 4:37 AM

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User profile for user: web_ed
web_ed Author
User level: Level 1
23 points

Posted on Nov 28, 2025 7:08 PM

The issue has now been solved (thanks to Servant of Cats for pointing me in the right direction).


For what it's worth, here's what I did (this may help somebody in a similar situation; some steps may be "overkill" but I cannot qualify them individually):


  1. Wipe iOS Apple Music content; uninstall iOS Apple Music App, reboot iOS device, then re-install
  2. On your Mac, de-authorize your computer in Apple Music and log out of your Apple Account
  3. Reboot Mac, then log in to your Apple Account
  4. Authorize your Mac in Apple Music
  5. Connect iOS device (I use USB), chose the connected device in Finder, then un-check "sync music onto iOS device" (under Music tab) as well as "manually manage music" and "automatically sync when connected" options (under Main tab), and make sure no music content is selected to sync, then do a sync
  6. After sync completed, eject then disconnect iOS device, reboot both iOS and Mac and re-connect iOS device
  7. Check either "sync entire library" or manually choose music / songs, as required (Ref. step 5)
  8. Sync


This worked for me for a library of over 42K songs, note no music content was downloaded / purchased as part of Apple Music subscription.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: web_ed
web_ed Author
User level: Level 1
23 points

Nov 28, 2025 7:08 PM in response to web_ed

The issue has now been solved (thanks to Servant of Cats for pointing me in the right direction).


For what it's worth, here's what I did (this may help somebody in a similar situation; some steps may be "overkill" but I cannot qualify them individually):


  1. Wipe iOS Apple Music content; uninstall iOS Apple Music App, reboot iOS device, then re-install
  2. On your Mac, de-authorize your computer in Apple Music and log out of your Apple Account
  3. Reboot Mac, then log in to your Apple Account
  4. Authorize your Mac in Apple Music
  5. Connect iOS device (I use USB), chose the connected device in Finder, then un-check "sync music onto iOS device" (under Music tab) as well as "manually manage music" and "automatically sync when connected" options (under Main tab), and make sure no music content is selected to sync, then do a sync
  6. After sync completed, eject then disconnect iOS device, reboot both iOS and Mac and re-connect iOS device
  7. Check either "sync entire library" or manually choose music / songs, as required (Ref. step 5)
  8. Sync


This worked for me for a library of over 42K songs, note no music content was downloaded / purchased as part of Apple Music subscription.

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
33,959 points

Nov 25, 2025 6:50 AM in response to web_ed

If you had not fixed it using a third-party app, you could have tried

  • Doing a manual synchronization with no songs selected on the Mac
  • Disconnecting the iPhone
  • Plugging the iPhone back in
  • Doing a manual synchronization with the desired songs and albums


I could be mistaken, but I believe that worked a while back for someone else. The hypothesis was that it basically cleared out old, useless "Sync Library" copies of songs so that they couldn't fool manual synchronization into not transferring new copies of purchased music.

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
33,959 points

Nov 25, 2025 6:51 AM in response to web_ed

web_ed wrote:

However, now another quirk: most of my unique Playlists have all songs "grayed out" on my iPhone, showing the error message "This item is not currently available in your country or region" - even though I am still in the same Country / Region as when I cancelled my Apple Music subscription.


When you cancel an Apple Music subscription, I believe that you lose any playlists that contain subscription songs.

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User profile for user: web_ed
web_ed Author
User level: Level 1
23 points

Nov 25, 2025 2:12 AM in response to web_ed

For now I have transferred the files from Mac to iPhone via a third-party app, and from what I can tell the full Library (over 42 K songs) is showing in the iOS Apple Music app as normal.


However, now another quirk: most of my unique Playlists have all songs "grayed out" on my iPhone, showing the error message "This item is not currently available in your country or region" - even though I am still in the same Country / Region as when I cancelled my Apple Music subscription.


Note the said "grayed out" songs do however play normally when selected and played via the iOS Apple Music Song-, Artist- and Album tabs......go figure.


Glad if someone can please help me solve this.

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Manual Music sync NO LONGER working

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