Apple Music Missing Some Albums & Songs (8 Common Reasons)

It can be incredibly frustrating when you go to play your favorite songs in your Apple Music library only to find they seem to have disappeared with no explanation.

In this article, you will discover why Apple Music may be missing certain albums and songs and what you can do to resolve the situation.

Table of Contents

1. Insufficient Storage Space Available on your Device

Apple Music, like all other music streaming services, requires a certain amount of available storage space on your device in order to function at its best.

If the device that you are using to listen to Apple Music doesn’t have sufficient storage space free and available, you may find that certain songs and albums may disappear from your music library.

You can check how much free storage you have left on your device by going to Settings> General> Storage.

The specifics of how to navigate to your storage settings will differ slightly depending on the device you are using, but the process will always be simple.

When you have discovered your device is running low on space, all you have to do is clear up some storage by removing unnecessarily large files or by deleting any applications that you no longer use or want.

For more information, check out our easy answer guide to Apple Music and storage.

2. iCloud Music Library is Malfunctioning

When you discover that certain songs or albums are missing from your Apple Music library, it could indicate that there is a problem with your iCloud.

If iCloud has been switched off, you will find that certain music will not appear on your device.

There are a few reasons for this, such as accidentally turning the function off, or your iCloud may have been automatically disabled after an update.

However, there is little reason to panic because turning on your iCloud library is incredibly straightforward. Simply follow the steps outlined below to reactivate iCloud.

How to Turn On iCloud on your iOS Device:

Before beginning, ensure you are logged in with the correct Apple ID and password for your Apple Music account.

Open up ‘Settings’ on your iOS device.
Navigate to ‘Music’
Under the ‘Library’ section, ensure that iCloud Music Library is toggled ON. If it is not, simply tap the button to the ON position.

How to Turn On iCloud on your Mac:

Begin by opening up Apple Music on your Mac desktop.
Navigate to ‘Music’
Next, select ‘Preferences’
Choose ‘General’ then select ‘Sync Library’.
Click OK to confirm.

3. Your Device Needs a Reboot

Sometimes when you experience missing music from Apple Music, it can be simply because of a system error with your device.

When this happens, you may also experience problems with other apps and the general function of your device. This can all be easily resolved by turning your device off, waiting a few moments, and then turning it back on again.

This tried and tested method can work wonders with resolving common malfunctions and system delays across multiple devices.

4. Apple Music is Missing Songs because the App Needs an Update

Updating apps, including Apple Music, is crucial to help them perform at their best. App updates enable the use of new features, fix any bug problems, and also improve security for the user.

If you find Apple Music is missing certain songs or albums, then it may be worth checking whether there is an update ready to be installed.

The good news is that updating the Apple Music app on your device is incredibly straightforward; all you need to do is follow the steps below.

How to Update Apple Music on iOS:

Start the process by opening the App Store on your iOS device.
Tap on your profile icon, located in the top right corner of your device’s screen.
Always refresh the list of updates available by dragging the screen downwards from the top. You will momentarily see a small loading icon before being presented with an up-to-date list of all updates available.
Scroll through the list and locate the Apple Music app.
If an update is available, simply tap the ‘Update’ button next to Apple Music’s icon.

It’s worth being aware that you will only see the update button next to Apple Music if an update is currently available. If not, the option will not be visible, and you are running the latest version of Apple Music.

How to Update the Apple Music app on your Android Device:

Begin by opening the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet.
To find the Apple Music app, simply type ‘Apple Music’ into the search bar at the top.
An ‘Update’ button should be found next to the Apple Music icon if an update is currently available.
Just tap ‘Update’ to begin the installation.

When there is no ‘Update’ option available, it means that your Android device is currently running the latest version of Apple Music and there are no updates ready to install.

5. You no longer have an Active Subscription to Apple Music

It may sound obvious, but if you are unable to access certain songs in your Apple Music library, it could be an indication that you no longer have an active subscription to the service and you need to renew it as soon as possible.

Don’t worry, though; renewing your Apple Music subscription is incredibly straightforward.

To renew your Apple Music subscription on your iOS device, follow these steps:

Open the ‘Settings’ application on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on your name at the top.
Next, tap on ‘Subscription’ and click ‘Renew’ next to Apple Music if it’s expired.

6. There is a Problem with the Cloud Status of the Missing Song

If you are about to play a particular song and notice it is missing from your library on your device, it’s worth checking the song or album’s Cloud status.

To check the Cloud status of songs on your Mac or PC, follow these simple steps:

On your PC, open up iTunes and select ‘Music’ from the Menu.
Next, select ‘Library’
For Mac, simply open the Apple Music app.
Select ‘Songs’
Next, select ‘View’ and then ‘Show View Options’
Finally, select ‘Cloud Status’ and then ‘Cloud Download’.

There will be 5 status options visible:

Apple Music – this indicates the song is available across synced devices.
Waiting – this indicates the song is waiting to be downloaded.
Removed – this means the song has been removed from a device that has sync enabled.
An exclamation mark – the song cannot be located. Simply click ‘Locate’.

7. The Song or Album has Regional Restrictions

Certain songs and albums on Apple Music have locational restrictions and, as the folks at vpncentral.com point out:

“Apple Music is region-locked, meaning that some users can’t take advantage of the full service.”

If you find that you cannot access certain songs on Apple Music, then it may be because that particular content is restricted in your location.

Apple Music is currently available in 175+ countries, but unfortunately, certain content may not be available in some regions.

If there’s content that you wish to access, but your location or region prevents you from listening to it, then try using a VPN to bypass the problem.