Apple Music Songs "unavailable" in Apple Music, I uploaded from the CD

[TomGolden]

All,

I have been using Apple Music on my MacBook Pros and iPhones for a long time now. I had around 200 CD's that I ripped onto my MBP using Apple Music (or whatever it was called back around 2010. I have recently noticed a few individual songs that are "greyed out" on my iPhone (14 Pro Max, iOS 26.2), even though these are from some of the actual CD's I imported into Music. I try to download the songs from Apple Music online, but get an error message "unavailable in your region". It is only a single song from an entire album. I am in the US, not using a VPN or anything that might indicate I am in another country.

I just want to understand why this happens, with songs I imported into Music from CDs I own. And what, if anything I can do about it so I can play the song.

Example: Boston 'Walk On' album, song #1. This is a screen shot of what I see on my iPhone.

 

[Timmy D]

I think it's because you are downloading from Apple Music, which sometimes doesn't have the full album. If you keep your music locally on your Mac you should be fine, but you will need to sync your iOS devices to your AP. At least this is what I do with no issues. I have also used Apple Music Match with very little issues.

One more thought: Apple Music is separate from say the iTunes Store and your own CDs you've uploaded.

 

[MrkJensen]

I have the same issue, music is an app there is just getting worse and worse.

 

[TomGolden]

I think it's because you are downloading from Apple Music, which sometimes doesn't have the full album. If you keep your music locally on your Mac you should be fine, but you will need to sync your iOS devices to your AP. At least this is what I do with no issues. I have also used Apple Music Match with very little issues.

One more thought: Apple Music is separate from say the iTunes Store and your own CDs you've uploaded.

The Boston album/song I specifically mentioned is from a physical CD that I ripped into iTunes on my MBP around 15ish years ago. I did sync my iPhone directly with my current MBP, I may try to do so again just to see if that helps. I have never actually purchased any music from iTunes/Apple Music, I just download and stream using Apple Music on my iPhone.

Thank you for the replies so far.

 

[Timmy D]

The Boston album/song I specifically mentioned is from a physical CD that I ripped into iTunes on my MBP around 15ish years ago. I did sync my iPhone directly with my current MBP, I may try to do so again just to see if that helps. I have never actually purchased any music from iTunes/Apple Music, I just download and stream using Apple Music on my iPhone.

Thank you for the replies so far.

Have you looked in iTunes to see if that song was uploaded? If it wasn't there should be a cloud with a downward arrow. I was just able to download the Boston album with all songs available, but not in your boat. I am going to test out a few albums that I know aren't on AM by ripping them and uploading to see what I experience. I did find an article saying a user could upload 100,000 songs to AP. They had to each be below 200MB and not originally purchased from iTunes. Which sounds like you shouldn't have any issues. odd

 

[TomGolden]

Well, looks like I can't sync my iPhone with my MBP afterall. iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 26.2, but my MBP is an old 2013 model running an Intel CPU, and MacOS BigSur 11.7.10. So none of the steps in the Apple Music Guide to sync the iPhone, either vis USB cable or WiFi exist in thie outdate MacOS version, and the hardware will not allow any newer upgrades to MacOS.

 

[TomGolden]

Have you looked in iTunes to see if that song was uploaded? If it wasn't there should be a cloud with a downward arrow. I was just able to download the Boston album with all songs available, but not in your boat. I am going to test out a few albums that I know aren't on AM by ripping them and uploading to see what I experience. I did find an article saying a user could upload 100,000 songs to AP. They had to each be below 200MB and not originally purchased from iTunes. Which sounds like you shouldn't have any issues. odd

I just read the same article on the AM Help site.

Looking at iTunes on my iPhone, it only lists the first 3 Boston albums, Walk On i snot shown.