iCloud Music with itunes library

bhars007 wrote:

In a nutshell, I would have to pay the $11/month Apple Music subscription in order to have my iPhone music synched or backup up in iCloud with my other iPhone data even though I'm paying for Apple storage.

I don't see a technical barrier, is it to force Apple Music subs?

If you want your music synced to iCloud (it's not a backup, and iCloud backups still won't contain music), and available on all devices logged in to the same Apple Account, then yes, you need to subscribe to Apple Music.

It's not a backup, it's a synchronization service. So if you delete anything on any device, it will be deleted on iCloud and on every other linked device.

Personally, I don't see much use in having music in iCloud, so not sure it's a good strategy to get people to subscribe to Apple Music. Apple Music on its own is already useful enough, since it offers streaming access to a large catalog of commercial music. The iCloud library is more of a secondary feature.

Also as mentioned, even if you do subscribe to Apple Music and choose to use the Sync Library option, you still won't see any music on iCloud Drive or the iCloud.com website and doesn't directly use iCloud Storage, for matched tracks.

It's stored in a secure area that is not user accessible.

If you just want to keep music synced between a computer and an iPhone the direct cable sync may be a better option..

click here ➜ Sync iTunes content on PC with your devices - Apple Support

bhars007 wrote:

• I don't see my music in iCloud although I have other iphone data synced (photos, contacts, etc.) and I have storage available.

not subscribed to Apple Music

• only have iTunes library on local device that was at one time synced to my iphone music

• both devices are associated with my Apple account and can download purchases or subscriptions

• Music is enabled in "Saved to iCloud"

Music is not directly accessible on iCloud in any way.

If you subscribe to the Apple Music service, you get access to the iCloud Music library, which you can access in the Music App on any device logged in with the same Apple ID that has the "Sync Library" option turned on in the Music app settings, but the music itself is still not visible or accessible on the iCloud website or through the Files app in iCloud Drive.

Since you aren't subscribed to Apple Music, then there is no music in iCloud at all.

iCloud Backups don't backup music either, as its either already in iCloud if using the subscription service, or was synced from a computer which is presumed still has it and can be synced from again if required.

The option in iCloud settings is a bit of a mis-direct, since it doesn't actually save your music to iCloud.

click here ➜ Use Sync Library with your Apple Music subscription - Apple Support