'Why is Apple Music not playing?': 4 ways to fix your Apple Music app if it won't play music

August 2024 · 5 minute read

Are you about to start a jog, but can't get your psyche-up song to play? Or are you trying to pump up the jams at a house party, only to have Apple Music go silent?

Don't worry — you're not alone. Apple Music is a well-made app, but it's not uncommon to run into errors where the app simply won't play any music.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

iPad (From $329.99 at Apple)

What to do if Apple Music won't play

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There are a number of easy fixes you can employ to get Apple Music working again. Here's how to fix Apple Music on your iPhone or iPad.

Check your internet connection

Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Steven john/Business Insider

First, make sure you have a good connection. Ideally, you'll want to be connected to a strong Wi-Fi signal, but a stable cellular data connection will work too.

Check your internet connection through another app. If pages in Safari will load quickly, for example, then clearly your internet connection is fine.

If your iPhone or iPad won't connect to any internet signal, try putting your phone into Airplane Mode and taking it out. If that fails, restart your device. If even that doesn't work, you should reset your device's network settings.

Open the iPhone or iPad's Settings app and tap "General," then tap "Reset" near the bottom of the next page. Now tap "Reset Network Settings" and then enter your passcode.

Note that this will erase all the Wi-Fi passwords saved on your device.

If your Wi-Fi signal isn't working on any device, you might simply need to restart your router.

Restart the Apple Music app

Close the Music app via the App Switcher. William Antonelli/Business Insider

Try force closing the Apple Music app and opening it again. This will refresh the app, and make it load all its temporary data again, which can fix common errors.

To do this on an iPhone or iPad without a home button, swipe up slowly from the very bottom of the screen until you're shown a list of all the apps you've opened recently. On an iPhone or iPad with a home button, just double-click the button. Once you've reached this screen, swipe up on any app you want to force close — like Apple Music.

Restarting your device will also do the trick.

Redownload the song you're having trouble with

You can delete any song you've downloaded. Steven John/Business Insider

If it's only a single song or two that won't play, you can try deleting and redownloading the song. 

To delete an Apple Music song, open the app, tap "Songs," find the tune that won't play, then hold your finger down on it. When a menu pops up, tap "Delete from Library."

Then redownload the song from the Apple Music library.

Reset your Apple ID login

You might need to sign out of your Apple ID account. Steven John/Business Insider

If nothing else has worked, your last move before seeking help from Apple is to sign out of your Apple ID.

Open the Settings app and tap your name or image at the top of the menu. On the next page, scroll down and tap "Sign Out," then enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

Sign back in, and see if Apple Music is now working

If even this doesn't work, you might need to contact Apple.

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Steven John Freelance Writer Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC. When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com. Read more Read less

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