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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/