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Apple Reportedly Solves Widespread iCloud Music Library Sync Issues

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Apple experienced ongoing server issues with its iCloud Music Library service over the last 72 hours, based on multiple user reports across the internet, leaving many Apple Music subscribers unable to access their music libraries. However, the problem appears to have been solved, at least for now.

icloud-music-library-issue.jpeg
Image via MacRumors forum member Nikonoclast​

iCloud Music Library allows PC, Mac and iOS users to store their personal music library online, by matching uploaded tracks to songs listed on the iTunes Store or uploading tracks directly if no match is available. The service is included as part of every Apple Music subscription, and is also available as a standalone service called iTunes Match.

However, reports of persistent iCloud Music Library syncing problems gathered pace over the last few days, with users taking to the MacRumors forums, the Apple Music subreddit, Twitter, and Apple's support forum to voice their frustration.

The issue occurred whenever an Apple Music library sync was attempted within the Music app on macOS or in iTunes on Windows PCs. For those affected by the problem, syncing failed and users were met with the error "Genius results can't be updated right now. The network connection was lost."

The message appeared despite all other systems working fine on the local network, and left affected users unable to access their synced playlists and music on Mac, PC and iOS devices. Users reported that logging out and in again, reauthorizing their machine with Apple Music, restarting, and even reinstalling macOS did nothing to rectify the situation.

Apple's system status page didn't indicate any problem with iCloud servers, Apple Music, or the iTunes Match service when the problem was widespread, yet Apple support staff were said to be able to reproduce the issue. However, there are indications that Apple has got on top of the problem overnight, so it's worth trying to sync your music library again if you were one of those affected.

(Thanks, Justin!)

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Solves Widespread iCloud Music Library Sync Issues
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/11/25/icloud-music-library-sync-issues-reportedly-solved/
they never fixed the issue where iCloud/iTunes match was matching the wrong mixes of uploaded music. i had unreleased remixes of Daft Punk, but it matched the Tron remixes that were released. 👎 lost some music forever since I thought Apple was reliable enough for me to delete copies.
 
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farewelwilliams said:
they never fixed the issue where iCloud/iTunes match was matching the wrong mixes of uploaded music. i had unreleased remixes of Daft Punk, but it matched the Tron remixes that were released. 👎 lost some music forever since I thought Apple was reliable enough for me to delete copies.
Click to expand...
I thought that issue was fixed years ago? Hmmmm.

In any case, I’m sorry you lost files; in a perfect world that would never happen. However, it doesn’t seem like you’re accepting responsibility for the data loss. Your error wasn’t placing too much trust in Apple, it was your lack of a backup.

Even if you’re still blaming Apple instead of yourself, hopefully you’ve at least learned that backups are not optional.
 
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Omg I had this issue and thought it was big sur and done a clean install I am so happy it’s fixed
 
farewelwilliams said:
they never fixed the issue where iCloud/iTunes match was matching the wrong mixes of uploaded music. i had unreleased remixes of Daft Punk, but it matched the Tron remixes that were released. 👎 lost some music forever since I thought Apple was reliable enough for me to delete copies.
Click to expand...
iCloud Music Library is not reliable at all. Subscribing to Spotify and syncing your local music with iTunes is the safe option.
 
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Went on longer than 3 days, as this was affecting me last week! It wasn't the Genius data in my case, it was the iCloud Update (the part that actually syncs your library with Match), but kept giving me a similar network error message. Eventually it did manage to connect again.

Of course, all the times it failed, it had begun the sync and failed in the middle, so I'd get partially iCloud-matched files, files that would get marked "ineligible" for Match even though they weren't (one was marked ineligible even though it was Purchased, not Matched!) Once it managed to reconnect and sync properly, it doubled parts of my library. Numerous files now show available for download from Match, even though I already have copies downloaded locally; they now show up as second copies in the library.

I've had THAT particular bug numerous times over the years. I wish they'd fix THAT. I keep having to clean up my library of doubled-up files. Happens on both Windows and macOS.
 
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Mousit said:
Went on longer than 3 days, as this was affecting me last week! It wasn't the Genius data in my case, it was the iCloud Update (the part that actually syncs your library with Match), but kept giving me a similar network error message. Eventually it did manage to connect again.

Of course, all the times it failed, it had begun the sync and failed in the middle, so I'd get partially iCloud-matched files, files that would get marked "ineligible" for Match even though they weren't (one was marked ineligible even though it was Purchased, not Matched!) Once it managed to reconnect and sync properly, it doubled parts of my library. Numerous files now show available for download from Match, even though I already have copies downloaded locally; they now show up as second copies in the library.

I've had THAT particular bug numerous times over the years. I wish they'd fix THAT. I keep having to clean up my library of doubled-up files. Happens on both Windows and macOS.
Click to expand...

Yep. I was reporting problems last week.

forums.macrumors.com

Anybody got problems with Match?

Since upgrading to Big Sur I have had problems with Match. Mainly it just times out. Anybody else? Initially I thought it might be related to the outage, but that is apparently resolved now. Nothing is reported on Apple Status pages.
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
 
PickUrPoison said:
I thought that issue was fixed years ago? Hmmmm.

In any case, I’m sorry you lost files; in a perfect world that would never happen. However, it doesn’t seem like you’re accepting responsibility for the data loss. Your error wasn’t placing too much trust in Apple, it was your lack of a backup.

Even if you’re still blaming Apple instead of yourself, hopefully you’ve at least learned that backups are not optional.
Click to expand...
Damn. I came here to randomly moralize to strangers but you beat me to it.
 
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Please solve the iCloud Tabs issue. My history and iCloud tabs haven’t been working correctly for about 3 weeks now.
 
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spent a few hours yesterday with this issue. my luck the article comes out the next day. damn you 2020
 
PickUrPoison said:
I thought that issue was fixed years ago? Hmmmm.

In any case, I’m sorry you lost files; in a perfect world that would never happen. However, it doesn’t seem like you’re accepting responsibility for the data loss. Your error wasn’t placing too much trust in Apple, it was your lack of a backup.

Even if you’re still blaming Apple instead of yourself, hopefully you’ve at least learned that backups are not optional.
Click to expand...
Apple fanboy much? Apple Music is garbage compared to Spotify.

Their music sync back end is just awful and mired from their legacy iTunes / iCloud match code.

Even on Apple’s hardware (my Macs and iPhone), I constantly had issues with tracks randomly ‘graying out’ in my playlists, becoming unplayable, causing me to have to re-add them. Then missing album artwork randomly. And as an added bonus, if you ever cancel your Apple Music subscription, they automatically delete all the playlists you compiled tied to your account after 30 days! So if you ever leave and come back, you’re SOL.

And don’t even get me started on their cross platform support. Their Windows iTunes client is just broken. Randomly stops music playback. For no reason. And no fix in sight. Settings menus are pixilated. Doesn’t properly recognize when you switch between speakers and headset input (requiring hard restart of app to detect the change). Also no PS5 or Xbox Apple Misic client support.

Guess which platform I never have sync or music playback issues on (that also has great cross platform support?) Spotify!

I wanted to like Apple Music. I really did. But Apple is just too afraid to go ‘cloud only’ in their new Apple Music app (like Spotify did) and that’s holding them back.

And they don’t have the devs or want to put money behind their Windows or Android clients, which is a shame - as a revenue stream, software services like streaming music is a huge opportunity for Apple, but they keep blowing the experience - for Apple device and non-Apple users alike.
 
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the one day i decide to re download my library on my laptop the servers screwed up a bunch of my tracks. It's been back and stable since last night (mountain time)
 
As one of the last "buy all my albums" guys - I have to say I'm mostly happy with Apple. It was a bit of a rocky transition but this is why I don't stream music. When the end of the world comes and cell and internet is down, I'll be in my lawn chair watching the apocalypse with Megadeth playing.
 
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hlfway2anywhere said:
As somebody who has used iTunes Match / iCloud Music Library since 2011, it sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about but go off.
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I've tried Apple Music with my local files and it was not a pleasant experience but go off.
 
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