If you are an Apple Music subscriber, the iCloud Music Library feature allows you to sync your music library across all Apple devices where you are signed in with the same Apple ID. While this feature is useful, it also has some drawbacks. For example, if you have a huge music catalog, downloading and syncing music across your Apple devices will consume a lot of time and data. If this syncing does not meet your needs or you do not plan to stick with Apple Music in the long term, you can simply disable this feature. Read on to learn how to stop iCloud Music Library from syncing with your Apple devices.
What happens if you turn off iCloud Music Library?
When you turn off iCloud Music Library, your Apple Music library and playlists will stop syncing across your devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID. It will also remove all previously synced music, including your Apple Music downloads. You’ll only be able to access songs stored locally on your device.
Remember that you need to disable iCloud Music Library for each Apple device individually. Let’s see how to disable this feature on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows.
Disable iCloud Music Library on iPhone or iPad
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Music. If you have iOS 18 installed, go to Settings -> Apps -> Music.
- Under Library, switch the Synchronize library switch.
- You will receive a warning that this action will remove all Apple Music content and downloads from your iPhone music library.
- Tap Turn off to confirm your action.
Disable iCloud Music Library on Mac
- Open the Music app on your Mac.
- Click on Music in the top menu bar and select Settings.
- In the new pop-up window, navigate to General tab and uncheck the box next to Synchronize library.
- Finally, click OK to save the changes.
- You can enable Apple Music syncing at any time by checking this box again.
Disable iCloud Music Library on a Windows PC
In addition to an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you can easily turn off iCloud Music Library on a PC. If you use iTunes to listen to music on your Windows PC, follow these steps to change your sync settings:
- Open the iTunes app on your PC.
- In the top menu bar, click Edit and select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Now deactivate the iCloud Music Library Option.
- Finally, click OK to save your changes.
That’s how easy it is to turn off iCloud Music Library on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows PC. If you feel that Apple Music syncing isn’t meeting your needs, just turn it off. And if you change your mind at some point, you can easily turn it back on using the same steps. It’s worth noting that if you don’t have an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription, you won’t see the option to turn off iCloud Music Library on your device.
