Getting the "iCloud Music Library Can't be Enabled" error? You're not alone.
This error usually happens when Apple's servers are being slammed; patience and persistence wins out. Here's how we got iCloud Music Library to work.
How to enable iCloud Music Library on your iPhone and iPad
- Launch Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap Music (note, the icon has changed colors).
- Toggle iCloud Music Library to On.
- Choose if you want to Replace or Merge your library. (I ultimately chose Merge when it worked).
- If you get the error again, dismiss it.
- Repeat steps 3-4 until it works.
You may have to wait a while and repeat, in case the servers are really getting slammed.
Questions?
Did this fix your problem? Let me know if it works for you!
Reader comments
Getting the 'iCloud Music Library can't be enabled' error? Here's a fix!
I went to battery and turned off low power mode and then back to music and could turn on the iCloud music library finally. There are certain things that can't be done if you have chosen low power mode.
Here's the problem and the fix, beginning to end (at least what fixed it for me).
1. I flip the "iCloud Music Library" setting ON under Settings–Music. The "Genius" setting was already ON. But it disappeared when I turned on the other switch.
2. Checking the Apple Music App, I realized that it was eternally "Loading" when I would open the My Music Library/Playlist tab. Then I checked the music settings again and turned off "iCloud Music Library" (iCML). Another check showed "loading." Still! Going BACK to settings, I noticed it wasn't turned off! iCML was still on! So I turned it off, went back in the settings and then forward in the settings, and realize it was back on! I couldn't turn this thing off.
3. So I rebooted my iPhone, then tried it again. And it worked! The thing actually turned off, and the "genius" setting reappeared. But I fiddled with it, and it stopped working again.
4. So I rebooted the device, and flipped the switch, and it worked again.
5. Then, I turned off "genius."
6. Then I rebooted the device again, and flipped the switch back on with "genius" turned off.
7. Finally! Checking the music app, no more effing loading and iCML is turned on. It's just buggy
What's that Genius setting? I don't see that on my iPhone or iPad with 8.4 installed.
For me, iCloud Music Library was already enabled after updating from 8.3. Likely because I already had iTunes Match (which seems to be replaced by this) enabled.
Well I got an error on my Beats 1, It says The operation could not be completed an unknown error occurred (-12880)
I have tried all the fixes that people have listed but they didn't work for me at all BUT I have eventually found a fix that worked immediately.
I installed IOS 8.4 on my iPad and iPhone 6 and tried enabling iCloud Music Library well over 100 times with no joy. I rebooted my iPhone and while I was rebooting mysteriously the iPad allowed me to enable iCloud Music Library. At the time I had not spotted the significance and put it down to chance. Eventually after trying all the fixes that people have suggested over and over again I decided to put the iPad into Airplane Mode (i.e disconnect it from the network) and then try to enable on the iPhone. It worked immediately !!!!! So - if you have more than one device and can't get things working, try putting one device in Airplane mode while you enable iCloud Music on the other device. Hope this works for all of you who are still having major issues
What happens when you merge your libraries ?
I'm waiting for my iTunes library on my Mac to show up on My Music on my devices. Finally got the iCloud Music Library toggle to stick but nothing is showing up. (Does something need to be enabled on my Mac?) In the meantime, I'm just rebuilding my Spotify playlists with Apple music. Hoping when my purchased content finally syncs up, it'll match and not duplicate.
Worked indeed; no need to switch WiFi on/off. Just repeat until it sticks. Thanks.
If it helps to figure this problem out: I am not an imatch user.
I was having the same issue. Once I toggled the wifi on off it gave issues a few times after that but it eventually worked. I would recommend rebooting your iPhone before trying again.
Close Running Music App then go enable in settings then relaunch Music app it working doing that.
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For those that got it to stick, are any merging their libraries? If so, how long did that take, and how does it seem afterwards?
It Worked For Me !!!! Thanks. It took about 8 times for mine to enable.
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I just wish 8.4 would download. Been stuck for a few hours on the Update Requested step. :( Same thing with my iPad as well.
In case others had this issue, I deleted my iOS Beta profile, rebooted and then 8.4 came down. Thanks goes to @mckersive for the suggestion.
Worked for me after I rebooted the phone.
I think the cause of this is people who have music stored locally on their phone which is NOT in their iCloud music library. We all updated ours in the family at the same time and my sister was the only one who got this error.
I suspect it was something in her settings and checked automatically download music option. As I suspected it was disabled.
I enabled it, tried again, selected merge, and it worked straight away!
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Hmm I just tried this at i'm further along than before. For now its stuck at 'loading library' within the app. Its clearly downloading something though. I'll let it do its thing for a while. Fingers crossed.
*update* it stopped working after 5 minutes and went back to not being able to enable.
Another issue is my LG Bluetooth headphones are basically useless now.
Massive issue with audio breaking up. Working buttery smooth prior to update.. now, nothing plays right. Seems Apple messed up the Bluetooth again.
Apple's software has really ***. First we have to replace my fiance's 6 plus because the camera quit working and freezes every time you open the app even after complete resets of the device. My touch id is average at best. Constantly doesn't even recognize that my finger is placed there. Many people have reported these issues but apple does absolutely nothing about these major issues and issues small bug fixes that no one experiences. Complete fail. Probably going to have to switch back to my nexus 6 and return this apple watch before the 14 day return policy is up.
Lately? if you've a Nexus 6, you've not been here long. lol
Never heard of the camera issue. Apple will replace it likely though.. As for touch ID.. My mom's iPhone 5s is the same way.. but I gave her my iPhone 6 Plus to test out for a week and same thing happens to her with mine.. I take it back, and it works every, single, time..
Some people, like her who plays an string instrument, just cannot use Touch ID because it relies on 1, don't use lotion (she love's her lotions, lol).. and 2, any kind of constant change to finger print, screws it up.. like finger picking a string instrument. /shrug..
Yeah i talked to an apple chat person and they set up and appointment for tomorrow for her because i wanted to see 8.4 fixes it for her tonight. I've had the iphone 6 plus since it came out then switched to the nexus 6 once I was able to get it for a couple months and then switched back to the 6 plus. I really can't decide between the two. Maybe me going to the gym everyday has somehow screwed up my finger prints
i was able to get the option to stick but when i go to try and save to a playlist it shows a check mark saying added but nothing is in the playlist...
Can anyone help? Whenever I click "Add to my music" on a certain song or album, I see the check mark. I go to my "My Music" and nothing is there. I have repeatedly gone back to add to my music and still no luck.
I'm having the same problem. Tried disabling iTunes Music Library it and enabling it again in settings but now I'm stuck in a never-ending loop of being unable to re enable it so I'm guessing it's something to do with that?
Everyone has just got home from work here in the UK so I'm guessing the server is rammed.
Hopefully. Guess I will continue with Spotify in the meantime ...
Yes!! Me too wth!! I have not had any issue with my iPad 2, or my kids iPod 5th gen. But my 5s is doing the same thing. And not even carrying over from my iPad ( same ID ) if anyone can help I'm all ears!!!
I just want to know how to NOT have icloud music shown in my library... I dont even have the option this article shows
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Is this another case of having to be connected to wifi?
no this is another case of garbage apple software that is released with some major flaw and takes another update to fix it.
With the randomness I'm guessing it's more of a case of server overload. Everyone has a different resolution when really it's all probably random luck. Turning off WiFi is the only thing I have found that will consistently let me turn it on.
Delete the music app from the running apps then try. Worked for me
I turned my wifi off, toggled the option on, then turned my wifi back on and everything seemed to work fine. No errors after that!
This worked for me, too. Take that back. When I toggled wifi back on, it broke again.
Thanks for that tip. I also can't turn on icloud music when I'm on WIFI. However, when I turn it back on, it breaks again.
Is iTunes 12.2 supposed to be available? I can access Apple Music on my iPhone but not on my Mac....
And where the heck are my playlists now on my phone? :-(
Same question here! My playlists I made on my Mac are not on my iPhone any more!
It didn't work for me.
I don't even see the "Replace or Merge" option that you mention in Step 4 show up.
Same here, I don't get that screen, no matter how many times I've turned the iCloud Music Library off & on.
For me it`s working only, if i turn genius on. Then again. And it`s working as designed.
I've tried a gazillion times and the only way it works is with WiFi disabled. But once you turn WiFi back on it breaks again.
I'm curious if this is impacting everyone or only users who have a match account. I personally have match.... anyone else?
I have iTunes Match and haven't encountered any problems with Apple Music and iOS 8.4. I used the Music app for a while without Apple Music, then enabled my free trial and everything worked perfectly, both on iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2.
I also updated from 8.4b4... Maybe that is part of the problem. But there are a ton of people with this problem. I sort of doubt all these people came from the beta. Who knows.
I don't use iTunes match, but got this error. My wife and son also do not use iTunes match, but had no problems.
My wife is able to enable and disable the switch on her phone and never has a problem re-enabling it, but if I disable it, the problem repeats itself over and over.
I have iTunes Match and since 8.4 I cannot activate iCloud Music on either my iPhone or MacBook Air. Keep getting the error message and cannot do a thing to make it work.
iOS 9.3.2
I have the same problem as ermax18 with both my iPhone 6+, and My iPad Air (1st model). But I am unable to access the iCloud Music Library, at all on both devices. It doesn't matter is the iPhone is on WiFi, or Verizon, the iPad on WiFi, or tethered to the iPhone, or a Verizon Jetpack MiFi. I was on the phone with Apple Support and the "Genus" I was talking to was not helpful. It was a little hard to take. I started with IBM mainframes back about 1970's. basically all he had me do was sign in and out of the iTunes & App Store. This did not help at all.
I have a pitiful iPod 5 and this is happening to me as well. I don't have iTunes Match, but I do (obviously) have Apple Music. The problem is, Every time that i try to turn it on it automatically toggles itself back off.