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    What is Sync Library for Apple Music and should you disable it

    Sync Library (formerly known as iCloud Music Library) is responsible for ensuring a consistent and full-fledged Apple Music experience across all your Apple and non-Apple devices. Here’s more on it, including what happens if you turn it off.

    What is Sync Library?

    Sync Library, as the name suggests, is a feature available with every Apple Music and iTunes Match subscription that syncs and makes your songs, playlists, smart playlists, pinned music, favorite music, and more from Apple’s stock Music app available on all devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple Account.

    For instance, imagine you have Sync Library enabled on both your iPhone and Mac. Now, when you add a new song to your music library on iPhone or create a new playlist, these changes will also reflect in the Music app on your Mac. Similarly, deleting an item will take effect on all devices where Sync Library is enabled.

    What happens if you turn off Sync Library?

    Disabling “Sync Library” vastly diminishes your Apple Music experience. Here are some of the notable changes:

    • Your existing Apple Music songs, playlists, albums, artists, pinned music, downloads, and more will disappear from the Music app on that device. They won’t show up until you turn Sync Library back on.
    • Smart playlists created on your Mac or PC will be removed from the iOS device where you turn off Sync Library.
    • Your songs and albums purchased from the iTunes Store will no longer be available on that device.
    • You can’t download Apple Music songs for offline listening.
    • You can’t add songs from Apple Music to your own music library or add them to playlists.
    • Changes you make to your Apple Music library on other devices will not appear on this device.
    • You can’t transfer music from other services, such as Spotify, to Apple Music.
    • However, after disabling Sync Library on iPhone or iPad, you’ll regain the ability to sync music manually from your Mac or Windows PC to it (image below).

    Can you use Apple Music after turning off “Sync Library”?

    You can use the search box in the Music app, find what you want to listen to in Apple Music’s vast catalogue of 100 million songs, and stream those tracks and albums even when Sync Library is off. You can also view the lyrics and use other features such as Lyrics Pronunciation & Translation, AutoPlay, AutoMix, and Apple Music Sign karaoke. However, as mentioned above, after disabling Sync Library, you won’t be able to add Apple Music songs to your library, playlists, or download them for offline playback.

    Should you turn off Sync Library?

    You should not turn it off if you want the full Apple Music experience on that particular device. However, if you don’t want to use Apple Music on a device, then you can turn it off. Secondly, if you want to use a particular iPhone or iPad only for playing select local songs, then you can turn off Sync Library and add those select items manually to the iOS device.

    How to turn Sync Library on or off

    If Sync Library is off, the Music app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS will show banners to turn it on. Alternatively, you can enable or disable Sync Library from the Music app settings of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, or Windows PC.

    iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro

    1. Open the Settings app.
    2. Tap Apps from the bottom and select Music.
    3. Turn Sync Library on or off.

    Mac

    1. Open the Music app.
    2. Click Music > Settings from the top menu bar.
    3. Check or uncheck Sync Library from the General tab.

    Windows PC

    1. Open the Apple Music app on your PC and make sure you’re signed in with your Apple Account.
    2. Click the three dots Sidebar Actions icon at the top and select Settings.
    3. Turn Sync Library on or off from the General section.

    Other devices

    You won’t see the option to enable or disable Sync Library on Apple TV, HomePod, Android devices, and other non-Apple platforms. On these devices, just make sure you’re signed in with your Apple Account with an Apple Music subscription, and you’ll be able to access all your songs, playlists, favorites, etc.

    Is Sync Library relevant if you don’t have an Apple Music subscription?

    No. Sync Library isn’t applicable if you don’t have an Apple Music subscription or an iTunes Match subscription. You can add or remove music manually to your iPhone or iPad using Finder on Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows PC.

    Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/10/08/sync-library-apple-music/

  • iOS 26: Apple’s new Wallet app revamps boarding passes for smoother air travel

    iOS 26: Apple's new Wallet app revamps boarding passes for smoother air travel

    Apple has unveiled a major update to the Wallet app in iOS 26, enhancing the boarding pass experience to simplify air travel. The upgrade introduces real-time flight tracking, integrated baggage location tools, and instant airport navigation. Boarding passes now leverage Live Activities, allowing travelers to check flight status directly from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island on newer iPhones. Additionally, users can access terminal maps and track luggage in real time using Apple’s Find My app, functionalities once exclusive to third-party apps.

    Thomas Westerholm for Newsweek:

    For frequent flyers, managing check-in details, gate changes and baggage claims across various platforms has long been a pain point.

    Apple’s new integration promises to simplify this process, consolidating updates into a single interface while extending visibility to friends and family. When a user shares their flight, others can view the Live Activity without seeing sensitive information like seat numbers or boarding groups.

    United’s adoption of the iOS 26 boarding pass update signals growing airline participation. Apple says nine other carriers—including Delta, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia—will follow suit.

    Additionally, new shortcut buttons located beneath the boarding pass now link directly to Apple Maps for terminal navigation and to the Find My app for luggage tracking. The Wallet app also automatically refreshes flight data such as gate assignments and departure times.


    To use your boarding pass in Apple Wallet, you need an iPhone or an Apple Watch with the latest version of iOS or watchOS and Face ID or Touch ID active.

    1. Open the app, email, or other communication that contains your boarding pass.
    2. Tap Add to Apple Wallet.
    3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
    4. If necessary, tap Add in the upper right corner.

    When you add a boarding pass to the Wallet app on your iPhone, you automatically add it to the Wallet app on your paired Apple Watch.

    If you don’t see an option to add your boarding pass to the Wallet app, contact your airline to make sure they support boarding passes in the Wallet app.

    1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
      • If prompted, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
      • Double-click the side button (iPhone with Face ID) or double-click the Home button (iPhone with Touch ID).
    2. Tap your boarding pass.

    3. Scan your boarding pass or present it to the attendant.

    To use a boarding pass on your Apple Watch, open the boarding pass and scan or tap the display of your Apple Watch, or present it to the attendant. You might need to unlock your device to show your boarding pass before scanning or tapping it.

    With eligible boarding passes you’ve added to Apple Wallet, you can share Live Activity and your flight status with other iPhone users.

    1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
    2. Tap the boarding pass that you want to share.
    3. Tap Share Flight Tracker and choose which recipient you’d like to share your boarding pass Live Activity with via Messages.
    4. The recipient can then tap Follow through the shared Live Activity and begin receiving real-time updates about your flight status.

    To use the Live Activity feature, you and your boarding pass recipient must have an iPhone with the latest version of iOS installed.

    1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
    2. Tap the boarding pass that you want to share. Then hold your iPhone a few centimeters from the top of the other person’s iPhone. A glow will appear on both iPhones that indicates a connection is being made.
    3. Hold the devices near each other until the boarding pass appears, then tap Share.

    .

    Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2025/10/07/ios-26-apples-new-wallet-app-revamps-boarding-passes-for-smoother-air-travel/