6 Best Fixes for Apple Music Playlists Not Syncing Between Mac and iPhone

Apple Music lets you create playlists of your favorite songs. You can make and organize a playlist on your iPhone based on how you want to listen. But what if you can’t listen to that same playlist on your Mac?

Users often complain about Apple Music playlists not syncing between Mac and iPhone. This happens when the syncing requirements aren’t met or there’s another issue. If you’re experiencing this problem, here are some effective solutions that can help you fix it.

1. Enable Sync Library on Mac

To sync your Apple Music playlists from iPhone to Mac, check if your Mac is allowed to do so. This is necessary to synchronize the playlist data between your Apple devices. Enable the option to sync your music library on your Mac.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Use Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search on your Mac. Type “Apple Music” and press Return.

Step 2: Click on “Music” at the top-left corner of the Menu bar.

Step 3: Choose “Settings” from the contextual menu.

Step 4: Check if ‘Sync Library’ is enabled under General settings.

Click the checkbox to enable the feature.

Step 5: Close the window and wait for the sync to complete.

2. Check the Internet Connection on Mac

Internet connectivity is an essential aspect to consider. To assess the strength of your Mac’s internet connection, run a speed test. The speed of your internet directly impacts how swiftly your playlists sync between your Mac and iPhone. If you have a Dual Band router, connecting to the 5GHz frequency band is recommended, along with positioning yourself in close proximity to the router.

3. Enable Mobile Data Use on iPhone

To ensure playlists sync correctly, check if Mobile Data is enabled for the Apple Music app on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open iPhone Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Music.

Step 3: Tap the toggle next to Mobile Data to enable access.

Step 4: Close Settings on your iPhone and check later if the problem is solved.

The syncing of apps between your iPhone and Mac is facilitated by iCloud. Check if the Apple Music app has been enabled for iCloud Drive syncing on both devices.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on your profile name at the top.

Step 3: Tap iCloud.

Step 4: Tap Show All under Apps Using iCloud.

Step 5: Scroll down and check if the toggle for Music app uses iCloud for syncing data.

On Mac

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top-left and select System Settings. Step 2: Click on your profile name at the top-left.

Step 3: Click on iCloud on the right side.

Step 4: Click iCloud Drive.

Step 5: Click on Options next to Apps Syncing to iCloud Drive.

Step 6: In the Documents section, check if Music is selected.

Click the checkbox to enable the same if needed.

Step 7: Click Done at the bottom-right.

Close the window and check for a solution.

If the problem persists, force quit and restart the Apple Music app on your iPhone and Mac for a fresh start. Here’s how.

Force Quit Apple Music on Mac

To make the content more concise and impactful, I would eliminate redundant words or phrases in the provided text. Here’s the revised version:

“Step 1: Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the Menu bar.

Step 2: Select Force Quit from the contextual menu.”

Step 3: Force Quit Applications window, select Music from the apps list and click on Force Quit bottom right side.

Step 4: Relaunch Apple Music on your Mac.

Force Quit Apple Music App on iPhone

Step 1: Swipe up and hold the Home Screen to reveal background app windows. Step 2: Swipe right and find the Music app. Then swipe up to remove it.

Relaunch Apple Music on your iPhone and check if the problem is solved.

6. Update Apple Music

To make Apple Music work properly on your Mac and iPhone, update their respective software.

Step 1: Open Spotlight Search by pressing Command + Spacebar. Type “Check for Software Updates” and press Return. This will open the Software Updates menu in System Settings (System Preferences in macOS Monterey or earlier).

Step 2: Download and install any available updates. Step 3: Open Apple Music to see if the problem is solved.

Update iOS

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone.

Scroll and tap on General.

Step 3: Tap Software Update.

Step 4: Download and install any available updates.

Step 5: Check if the problem is solved.

Let The Playlists Sync

Playlists allow you to stream your favorite songs and sing along using the Apple Music Sing feature on your iPhone.