Are you tired of manually transferring music between your devices? Learn how iCloud Music Library can streamline your music collection across all devices. Discover its pros and cons, and learn how to turn it off without losing your music. Read on for a seamless music experience.
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In this digital age, music lovers constantly seek ways to enjoy their favorite tunes seamlessly across various devices. Enter iCloud Music Library, a versatile tool offered by Apple that allows you to synchronize your music collection across all your devices. With iCloud Music Library, you can access Apple Music or iTunes Match on any device by simply signing in with your Apple ID. However, while some users embrace the convenience of this service, others prefer to turn it off due to concerns about unstable streaming servers and potential metadata issues. Continue reading to learn how to disable iCloud Music Library and discover its benefits and drawbacks.
Introduction to iCloud Music Library
iCloud Music Library is an exclusive feature available to Apple Music subscribers, allowing them to synchronize their personal music libraries to the cloud effortlessly. With this feature, users can access their music collection on up to ten devices linked to the same Apple Music account.
Simply sign in with your Apple ID to enjoy the following benefits:
- Store an impressive collection of up to 100,000 songs without using up your iCloud storage.
- Stream and download tracks from the iTunes Store on up to 10 devices.
Turning Off iCloud Music Library on Your Windows Computer
To turn off iCloud Music Library on a PC, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open iTunes.
Step 2: Go to the Edit menu and select Preferences.
Step 3: In the General tab, find the iCloud Music Library box and uncheck it.
Step 4: Click OK.
Turning Off iCloud Music Library on Your iPhone
If you own an iPhone, whether it’s the latest model or an older version like the iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, you can easily turn off iCloud Music Library. Here’s a simple walkthrough:
Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down until you locate the Music option, which should be roughly halfway down the page. Tap on
Step 3: Look for the toggle switch labeled Sync Library and tap on it. This action will shift the switch from the on position (green background) to the off position (gray background).
Step 4: A prompt will appear on the screen. Tap on Turn Off to confirm your decision.
Note: The Sync Library option will only be visible to those who are current subscribers of Apple Music.
Turning Off iCloud Music Library on Your Mac
To turn off the synch feature on a Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch the Apple Music app.
Step 2: Navigate to the Music menu and select Settings.
Step 3: In the General tab, locate the Sync Library box and uncheck it.
Step 4: Click OK.
Once you deactivate iCloud Music Library, the following will no longer be available:
- The cloud-based copy of your iTunes library.
- Matched or uploaded songs on your Mac that were synced across your devices.
- Songs saved from the Apple Music catalog.
To preserve your saved songs, albums, and playlists, it is crucial to back up your Music or iTunes Library before turning off the service.
However, you will still be able to access and stream songs and content purchased through iTunes, even without the enabled feature.
Disabling iCloud Music Library: What Happens?
When you turn off iCloud Music Library, your Apple Music catalog, and iCloud-stored iTunes library will be removed from your device. Only locally stored songs will remain unaffected. Remember to turn off the feature on each device individually.
How to Turn on iCloud Music Library
If you have made the decision to synch all your saved music once more, you can effortlessly manage this task using your iPhone, Mac, or PC. Just follow the steps below:
Using a PC:
Step 1: Launch the iTunes app.
Step 2: Click on Edit in the app’s Menu bar.
Step 3: Choose Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Explore the General
Step 5: Tick the iCloud Music Library box in that section.
Step 6: Press OK to save the changes.
On an iPhone:
Step 1: Access your device’s Settings menu.
Step 2: Locate and tap on Music.
Step 3: Switch on the Sync Library toggle to enable synchronization.
On a Mac:
Step 1: Open the Apple Music app
Step 2: Click on Music in the Menu bar.
Step 3: Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Go to the General tab.
Step 5: Check the Sync Library box.
Step 6: Click OK to confirm the changes.
Troubleshooting iCloud Music Error
If you encounter the error message stating “This account does not have iCloud Music enabled” while trying to use Apple Music, follow these steps to resolve the issue:
Step 1: Make sure you have a stable network connection.
Step 2: Visit the Apple System Status page and look for the green/yellow/red Apple Music icon to check for service interruptions. Detailed information will be available under the yellow/red icon if there are any technical issues.
Step 3: Restart your device.
Step 4: Ensure you have the latest versions of iOS and iTunes installed on your iPhone and PC.
Step 5: Sign in and out of your Apple account.
Step 6: Turn off and on Sync Library.
Disabling iCloud Music Library Without Losing Files
When you disable iCloud Music Library, your original music files, and playlists remain intact. However, the synced copies of your music will be removed from your devices when you turn off music synchronization. Unfortunately, apart from this exception, there is no alternative method to keep your synced music files.
Is iCloud Music Library the same as Apple Music?
No, they are distinct but interconnected. iCloud Music Library, part of Apple’s iCloud service, enables you to store and access your music collection across all Apple devices. On the other hand, Apple Music is a streaming service offering an extensive music catalog, curated playlists, and personalized recommendations.
Though separate, the iCloud Music Library seamlessly integrates with Apple Music. If you subscribe to Apple Music, any songs or playlists you add will automatically update your library.
Conclusion
iCloud Music Library offers a convenient solution for music lovers who want to sync their music collections across multiple devices. To disable iCloud Music Library, you can do so on your Windows computer, iPhone, or Mac by following the above simple steps. Turning off the feature removes the cloud-based copy of the iTunes library and the matched or uploaded songs synced across devices. However, locally stored songs and content purchased through iTunes can still be accessed and streamed.
