I have a iPhone 12 Pro Max one day oddly I went to restore my iPhone from a iCloud backup and apparently idk what happened to my music?( I thought iCloud backup backs up everything like you’d Mac does when you sync there) I want to transfer my music from my iMac but here’s the catch my iPhone's lightning port doesn’t work anymore so I can’t sync to my iMac Is there anyway I can get my music back on my iPhone?as I need music when I workout otherwise I can’t focus right
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Music help
- Thread starter pspman71
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
iPhone can also sync wirelessly with a Mac. I think you check one box in Finder to allow it to do so. Connect wirelessly, synch Mac-stored music to iPhone and you should be good to go again.
It will be slower than a wired sync so if you have a lot of music to sync, you'll have to be patient while it does it SLOWLY.
It will be slower than a wired sync so if you have a lot of music to sync, you'll have to be patient while it does it SLOWLY.
The catch is it NEEDS a wired connection before you can start a wireless sync. If OP never did that before, he’s toast. The other option is to drag music files in iTunes library to a folder and transfer that folder to certain third party music player or a file manager and listen from there. Chunky but it works.
iCloud backup DOES NOT backup everything. In fact, Apple website already mentioned things that WILL NOT be backed up in fine prints (damn the fine prints). Music synced to your device is one of them. Others are photos if you use iCloud Photo Library. Also apps themselves (apps just got downloaded from the App Store if they are still available, which may not be the case later).
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I don't think so. That link I included says that if it is not turned on...
Whether that will work or not for OP, I don't know. But it's easy enough to try. I can read that that option requires a wired connection or not.
Another thing to try: give the port a good compressed air blast to be sure it's not a bit of lint causing the "port not working" problem. And of course, try more than one lightning cable as they were notorious for fraying and thus failing. And Apple says cable must support BOTH Data and charging, not just the latter and to try connecting direct to computer, not through any hub or adapter.
Last edited:
I clearly remember on iTunes you need to connect by wire once first. Then you can go wireless. Finder I think it’s the same. I did turn on wireless transfer but later turned off because it was so slow and so bad.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
OK, if that's true- and I don't know for sure- OP does refer to...
...which MAY mean that he has connected via wire in the past. Now, whether that means he had to tick the box then... or just make the one-time wired connection and now he can use the method described to connect wirelessly now, I don't know. But worth a try.
Update: I decided to try it myself but could NOT get Mac to "find" my iDevice by that method. So that wire does in fact appear to be key to then get to click the toggle. Too bad.
Another potential workaround: sign up for iTunes Match on that Mac. That should then create links through the Music app on the iPhone. No cord required. I believe this would work. I believe it is still $25/yr.
And in a little investigation for other options I see an opportunity to "Sync Apple Music library" since OP already has iCloud. On:
...which MAY mean that he has connected via wire in the past. Now, whether that means he had to tick the box then... or just make the one-time wired connection and now he can use the method described to connect wirelessly now, I don't know. But worth a try.
Update: I decided to try it myself but could NOT get Mac to "find" my iDevice by that method. So that wire does in fact appear to be key to then get to click the toggle. Too bad.
Another potential workaround: sign up for iTunes Match on that Mac. That should then create links through the Music app on the iPhone. No cord required. I believe this would work. I believe it is still $25/yr.
And in a little investigation for other options I see an opportunity to "Sync Apple Music library" since OP already has iCloud. On:
- iPhone: Settings, Music, throw the Sync Library tab
- Mac: open Music app, Settings, General tab, check Sync library, OK button
Last edited:
Ahh the iTunes Match.
Anyway, I think the third which is apple’s preferred option is to use Apple Music. But if that is on, say good bye to music syncing forever as long as sub is on. I have heard countless stories of people enabling Apple Music and their entire curated local iTunes library got completely destroyed and irrecoverable (assuming no separate backup) and will never enable that for as long as possible.