How to Turn Off iCloud Music Library on iPhone, iPad & Mac

Turning off iCloud Music Library (now called Sync Library) stops your Apple Music and iTunes library from syncing across your devices. This means songs added on one device won’t appear on others, and your library becomes local to each device. You might want to do this to save storage, fix syncing issues, or if you prefer managing music manually. Before starting, make sure you know your Apple ID password and have a backup of any music you’ve added that isn’t from Apple Music, as disabling the feature may remove downloaded songs from your device.

What You’ll Need

• Your Apple ID and password
• An active internet connection (to verify your Apple ID)
• Sufficient storage on your device to keep any music you want to keep locally (optional but recommended)

Step-by-Step

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top.
3. Tap Music.
4. Toggle off Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library on older iOS versions).
5. A pop-up will appear asking if you want to keep or remove the music downloaded on your device. Choose Remove to free up space, or Keep to retain the downloaded songs locally.
6. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

On Mac (macOS Catalina or later)

1. Open the Music app.
2. From the menu bar, select Music > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS).
3. Click the General tab.
4. Uncheck Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library).
5. Click OK.
6. Wait for the app to process the change. Your library will become local to that Mac.

On Mac (macOS Mojave or earlier)

1. Open iTunes.
2. From the menu bar, select iTunes > Preferences.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Uncheck iCloud Music Library.
5. Click OK.

Common Mistakes

• Not backing up before disabling: If you have music that isn’t from Apple Music (like imported CDs or downloaded files), disabling the library may remove them from your device. Always back up your music library to a computer or external drive first.
• Confusing Sync Library with iCloud Backup: Sync Library only syncs music, not your overall device backup. Turning it off doesn’t affect your iCloud Backup settings.
• Expecting music to stay on all devices: After turning off, each device keeps only the music that was downloaded on it. You’ll need to manually transfer files if you want them elsewhere.
• Forgetting Apple Music subscription status: If you have an active Apple Music subscription, turning off Sync Library may limit some features like downloading songs for offline listening. You can still stream, but your library won’t sync.

Tips

• If you only want to stop syncing on one device, turn it off there and leave it on others. This lets you keep the cloud library on your main device.
• Before turning off, make sure any music you’ve added from Apple Music is downloaded to your device if you want to keep it offline. You can check by looking for the download icon next to each song.
• If you’re running low on storage, turning off Sync Library and removing downloaded music can free up significant space.
• Consider using a third-party cloud service or external drive for your personal music files if you want them accessible across devices without Apple Music.

Troubleshooting

If the toggle doesn’t turn off, or you get an error message:

• Check your internet connection: A stable connection is required to verify your Apple ID. Try switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data or vice versa.
• Restart the Music app: Force-quit the Music app (or Settings on iOS) and try again.
• Update your software: Make sure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is running the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS version. Older versions may have bugs that prevent the setting from changing.
• Sign out and back into Apple ID: In Settings (iOS) or System Preferences (macOS), sign out of your Apple ID, restart your device, and sign back in. Then try turning off Sync Library again. Note: This may affect other iCloud services.
• If music disappears after turning off: This is expected if you chose to remove downloads. If you chose to keep them and they vanished, check your storage space; the device may have automatically removed some files to make room. You can re-download from the iTunes Store if you purchased them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my music if I turn off iCloud Music Library?

No, you won’t lose the music in your iCloud Music Library itself. It stays in the cloud. However, downloaded songs on your device may be removed if you choose that option. You can re-download them later from the cloud if you re-enable Sync Library or from your purchase history.

Can I still use Apple Music without iCloud Music Library?

Yes, you can still stream music from Apple Music, but your library won’t sync across devices. You won’t be able to add songs to your library on one device and see them on another.

Does turning off iCloud Music Library affect my iCloud backup?

No, it only affects music syncing. Your iCloud backup (photos, app data, etc.) remains unaffected.

How do I turn it back on?

Simply follow the same steps and toggle the switch back on. You’ll need to be signed in to your Apple ID, and your device will re-sync with the cloud library.

What’s the difference between iCloud Music Library and Sync Library?

They are the same feature. Apple renamed iCloud Music Library to Sync Library in iOS 13 and macOS Catalina. If you see either name, it refers to the same setting.

Will turning it off stop Apple Music from suggesting songs?

No, Apple Music’s recommendations are based on your listening history, not your library syncing. You’ll still get personalized suggestions.

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