Apple Music is a music, video streaming, and audio service developed by Apple Inc. Many iPhone users like to enjoy music using the Apple Music app. Once you subscribe to the service, you can use it on all compatible devices that you signed in with the same Apple ID. Apple Music allows you to download songs to play offline which is the best feature as it doesn’t need an internet connection.
But, there are some users who are complaining that their Apple Music is not playing offline. If you are also going through this issue, then read this guide, here you will find some effective solutions to fix Apple Music not playing offline.
Before knowing the solutions, you may wonder why Apple Music is not playing offline. Hence, below check out the reasons for this problem.
Why Apple Music Is Not Playing Offline?
There is not any exact reason given by Apple Support for not playing Apple music offline. But there are some reasons which are reported by users due to which they face this problem.
These are the causes:
- If your iCloud Music Library is disabled.
- Apple Music app is crashing.
- Outdated OS and Apple Music app.
- Device system freezing.
- Low storage space.
- Some bugs on your device.
These are some of the reasons reported by the users. So, whatever the reasons behind it, luckily you have some solutions to fix the problem.
So, let’s move to the solutions to fix Apple Music not playing offline.
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Solution 1: Restart Your Device
It may be possible that due to some bugs or glitches on your iOS device is causing the issue and restarting it may fix the problem. So, simply restart your iPhone and or restart your iPad then check Apple Music is playing offline or not.
Solution 2: Close And Re-open Apple Music App
Another simple method to fix Apple Music not playing offline/not working is by closing and restarting the Apple Music application. Just close the Apple Music app or you can close all the running apps from background and then re-open the Apple Music app. I hope now you can listed offline music on Apple Music.
Solution 3: Update Apple Music App
If you have not update the Apple Music application for a long time then this can also be the reason why Apple Music not playing offline. Therefore, you are advised to update your Apple Music app.
Follow the below steps to learn how to update Apple Music app on iPhone or iPad.
Step 1: On your iOS device, open the App Store app.
Step 2: Then enter the name of the app in the search box.
Step 3: Now, tap on Update button next to Apple Music app to install the latest update.
Solution 4: Check Storage Space On Your iOS Device
It is possible that your iOS device has low storage space and due to this the downloaded music may be being removed to make space on your smartphone for important day to day works. So, simply check the storage space on your iDevice and if it is low then make some space to fix the problem.
To check storage space on iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage. Here, you will get the details for your device storage. If you find the storage space low then delete unwanted data and apps to free up space.
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Solution 5: Offload Apple Music App
You can also remove and reinstall Apple Music app to fix Apple Music not playing downloaded songs offline. Offloading the Apple Music app will not delete the downloaded songs, it will still be available after reinstalling it.
Now, follow the below steps to do the same.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > General.
Step 2: Then hit on iPad/iPhone Storage.
(Pic Credit – guidingtech)
Step 3: Now, select Music app from the app’s list.
(Pic Credit – guidingtech)
Step 4: Hit Offload app and then hit on Offload app again to confirm the process.
(Pic Credit – guidingtech)
Step 5: Next, restart your iPhone or iPad and then open App Store and search for the Apple Music app in the search bar and re-download it.
(Pic Credit – guidingtech)
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Solution 6: Sign Out And Sign In To Apple Music App
As you know that Apple ID is needed to login to Apple Music app or iTunes Store on iPhone. Therefore, to fix the issue, you can try to sign out from your Apple Music app and sign in back. And if you have other Apple ID then try to log in and then log out to Apple Music app or iTunes with other Apple ID.
Solution 7: Enable iCloud Music Library
If Apple Music not playing songs offline then you should enable iCloud music library option on your iDevice.
So, follow the below steps to check if this option is enabled on your iOS device or not. If it is not enabled then enable it using the below steps.
Step 1: On your iOS device, open Settings app.
Step 2: Then, scroll down and select Music.
Step 3: Now, check iCloud Music Library option is enabled or not (this option should be enabled by default).
Step 4: If it is not enabled then toggle it to the on position to enable it.
Now, open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, or iPad and you will get your songs there. Tap on the download option to download your selected music for playing it offline.
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Solution 8: Update Your iPhone
If your iOS device is not updated to the latest OS then it can also cause problems while playing offline music on Apple Music app. So, you should check the update for your iPhone, and if it is available then install it immediately.
Below, learn how to update iPhone to the latest OS version.
Step 1: Run the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: After this, tap on General.
Step 3: Then hit on Software Update.
Step 4: Now, check if there is an update for your iPhone. If it has, then simply tap on Download and Install button to install it.
Solution 9: Remove And Re-download Songs From Apple Music To Your Library
Sometimes, the songs which you have downloaded to play offline might be incomplete, damaged, or fail to download correctly and due to this, you are unable to play offline music on Apple Music. So, to fix it, you need to remove the downloaded songs and then re-download them.
Below learn how to remove downloaded songs:
Step 1: On your iOS device, run the Apple Music app and choose the songs that you wish to delete/remove.
Step 2: After this, press and hold the track and then hit on Remove icon.
Step 3: When Remove Download icon is displayed then tap on it to confirm it.
Note: If you find the download button next to the song title then it indicates that the songs are stored in the cloud but not on your iOS device. And to play it offline, you need to download the songs.
Once you delete the songs, follow the below steps to re-download the songs.
Step 1: Check if you have added the songs to your library. If not then hit a playlist, track, or album and tap on “+” icon to add a single song or you can hit on “Add to Library” icon to add all playlists/albums.
Step 2: Now, tap and hold music that you have added to your library, and then hit on Download like cloud icon to download the songs on your iPhone and listen to them offline.
Note: You must enable Sync Library to download songs from Apple Music to your library. For this, you need to go to Settings > Music and turn on Sync Library.
You can also use the above steps if you wish to play songs to Apple Music offline. Simply add music over an internet connection, download the songs that you have added to play it offline.
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Solution 10: Reset All Settings Of iOS Device
If there are some incorrect settings on your iOS device then it can also cause Apple Music not playing issues. Hence, to fix it you need to reset all settings on your iPhone or iPad.
Here, follow the simple steps to reset all settings on iPhone or iPad.
Step 1: On your iOS device, open Settings app.
Step 2: Then hit on General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Step 3: Next, tap on Reset > Reset All Settings.
Step 4: Then hit on Reset again to confirm your action.
Solution 11: Restore Your iPhone Or iPad Using iTunes
If still you are unable to play Apple Music offline then you can restore your iOS device via iTunes. This method will delete all the device data and restore it with the data available on that iTunes backup file.
Here, follow the steps to restore your iPhone or iPad using iTunes.
Step 1: On your computer run the latest version of iTunes and then connect it to your iPhone or iPad using USB cable.
Step 2: When your device is prompted in iTunes then click on your device.
Step 3: After this, go to Summary tab and then click on Restore iPhone/Restore iPad button.
Now, you need to wait until the restoration process gets completed.
Wrap Up
I hope this guide was able to provide all the solutions to fix Apple Music not playing offline. And I hope you have solved the problem and now you are enjoying songs on Apple Music offline without any issue.

Max Field
Max Field is a founder of recoveriphone-data.com. He is an iOS lover and loves to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions and more related to iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, iTunes and iCloud.