Top 5 Ways to Fix Missing Add to Library in Apple Music

There was a time when I wanted to add a song to my Apple Music library, but couldn’t find the ‘Add to Library’ button (i.e. the + icon). This led me to research the subject and it turned out that I was not alone. Several Apple Music users are facing similar predicaments. Luckily, I was able to restore the missing ‘Add to Library’ icon right away. I will walk you through some effective troubleshooting methods that I (and other Apple Music users) have adopted to fix the problem in this guide.

The ‘Add to Library’ icon will sometimes disappear if there is a bug with the operating system or if Apple Music is having difficulties syncing your library between your devices. There are more reasons why this happens and we have explained everything in detail below. But before continuing, you can try restarting your iPhone/iPad as the first calling port. If that doesn’t work, move on to the solutions listed below.

1. Resync Apple Music Library

The ‘Add to Library’ button may disappear if your device is having trouble syncing changes made to your Apple Music between all devices connected to your Apple ID. To fix this, restart Apple Music’s Sync Library on your device. For this, follow the steps below. Make sure to close the Apple Music app before continuing.

Stage 1: Launch the Settings menu and select Music.

Step 2: Turn off Sync Library and select Close at the confirmation prompt.

Note: This will remove all your songs from Apple Music. But don’t worry, they will be restored when you re-enable library sync.

Wait a few seconds and turn the option back on. Now launch Apple Music and check if the missing ‘Add to Library’ icon is restored.

2. Check Internet Connection

This issue can also be caused by glitches in your internet connection. If you are using cellular data, disable it and turn it back on. You should also check if you still have an active internet plan. For a wireless connection (read: Wi-Fi), make sure the router is turned on and actively transmitting data.

You can also enable Airplane mode, turn it off again and see if that helps. If the plus (+) icon stays out of nowhere, refer to the helpful troubleshooting guides linked below for detailed solutions to some common network connectivity issues on iPhone/iPad.

• Top 8 Ways to Fix Cellular Data Not Working on iPhone
• How To Fix iPhone Connected To Wi-Fi But Internet Not Working Issue
• A Complete Guide to Fix iPhone Not Connecting to Wi-Fi

3. Check Apple Music Subscription

The ‘Add to Library’ icon may also disappear if your Apple Music subscription has been paused (perhaps due to payment issues), expired, or cancelled. Here’s how to check if your Apple ID is linked to an active Apple Music subscription.

Stage 1: Launch the settings menu and tap your name.

Step 2: Next, select Subscriptions.

You should see your Apple Music subscription plan alongside other details like the plan expiration date. If you don’t see an active plan on this page or the subscription says ‘expired’, add a valid payment method to your Apple ID and resubscribe to the music streaming service.

To subscribe to Apple Music, launch the app, go to For You and tap the profile icon in the upper right corner. Finally, select Manage Subscription to view and subscribe to Apple Music subscriptions available in your region.

4. Sign In to Apple ID

While this didn’t help restore the missing ‘Add to Library’ icon on my Apple Music, some users were able to resolve the issue by signing out of their Apple ID and signing back in.

Stage 1: Launch your iPhone’s Settings menu and tap your name to reveal the Apple ID menu.

Step 2: Then tap the Sign Out button at the bottom of the page and follow the prompt.

Reconnect the Apple ID to your device by signing in and check if the Add to Library button is restored.

It’s worth mentioning that logging out of your Apple ID will delete downloaded Apple Music songs from your device. This means that after logging out, you will need to re-download the previously recorded songs to your device. To learn more about the effects of turning off the Apple ID from your iPhone or iPad, we recommend reading this detailed guide.

5. Update iOS

To get the most out of Apple Music, it is recommended that your device has the latest OS version. Make sure you have the latest iOS version installed for iPad and iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available iOS updates.

Note: iOS software updates can only be downloaded using a Wi-Fi network, not cellular data.

Fill Your Library

Restoring the missing ‘Add to Library’ icon meant I could add many songs I loved and enjoyed to my Apple Music Library. If you still cannot add music to your library after following all the solutions and steps above, the problem may be with the server. In this case, check the health status of Apple Music for possible server glitches or downtime.

Next: ‘Request timed out’ error message when playing or downloading a song in Apple Music? Check these solutions to fix request timeout issues from next connection.