• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AppleToolBox

Tools and Fixes for Mac, iPad, iPhone & iWatch

Search posts

  • About
  • Contact

CONNECT WITH US

CATEGORIES

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac/MacBook
  • AirPods
  • Apple TV
  • News
  • Apple Services
  • HomePod
  • Reviews

SITE

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Search posts

You are here: Home / Apple Services / How to Download All iTunes Match Songs

How to Download All iTunes Match Songs

By Andrew Myrick 0 comments Last updated August 6, 2020

In a world where everyone’s music listening needs have been taken over by streaming services, there are those who keep “traditional” music libraries. Despite coming in later than others, Apple Music is turning into the de-facto music streaming option for everyone, including Android users.

Related Reading

  • 5 Fixes when your Apple ID hasn’t been used with iTunes or the App Store
  • Purchased music missing from iTunes or Apple Music? Try these settings
  • How to back up your iTunes library before upgrading to macOS Catalina
  • Apple Music or Photos slow to sync on macOS Catalina? How-to fix
  • How to see how many songs you have in your Apple Music or Spotify library

The great thing about using Apple Music is its obvious integration with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. But while iTunes as we know has been changed forever, it’s still possible to keep a more traditional library of music.

Contents

  • What is iTunes Match?
  • iTunes Match vs iCloud Music Library
  • How to check to see if you have iTunes Match
  • How to set up iTunes Match if you don’t have it
    • Enable Sync Library from an iPhone or iPad
    • Enable Sync Library on a Mac
  • How to download All iTunes Match Songs
  • How to cancel iTunes Match

What is iTunes Match?

iTunes Match in Music App

A few years ago, Apple opted to try and help iTunes users with iTunes Match. It was introduced as a part of the iCloud suite of web-based services. Essentially you have to upload your music collection, and then your music becomes available on any compatible device.

It’s not exactly the same as Apple Music, as you are streaming from Match, instead of Apple’s streaming service. There are some limitations to this, although not many users ever reach that 100,000 song limit.

The biggest benefit of Match is that if iTunes/Apple Music can locate the song in its library, you have access to the highest quality version. Uploaded music that is not found in iTunes, is limited to using either the AAC or MP3 format.

iTunes Match vs iCloud Music Library

The truth of the matter is that iTunes Match and iCloud Music Library work in tandem. These are not two entirely separate services from Apple. The music uploaded via iTunes Match syncs with your iCloud Music Library.

Then, when you go to listen to your files on a different device with the same Apple ID, iCloud Music Library kicks in and provides the files. These files show a cloud-download icon, allowing you to download them directly to your devices if you want to.

How to check to see if you have iTunes Match

Before simply signing up, you want to double-check to see if you’ve already subscribed to Match. It’s pretty easy to do so, provided you know where to look.

  1. Open iTunes or the Music app on your Mac.
  2. From the sidebar, click on iTunes Store.
  3. Scroll all the way to the bottom, and under Features, tap iTunes Match.

If you are already subscribed to this music service, then the window says: “Your iTunes library is now available in iCloud.” There’s also a subheading, sharing how many songs are available via Match and iCloud Music Library. This helps you to recognize whether something is amiss in your library or not.

How to set up iTunes Match if you don’t have it

The first thing to take note of is that if you are a paying-subscriber to Apple Music, iTunes Match is included. Meaning you not only have access to all of your music but the entire Apple Music catalog.

  1. Open iTunes or the Music app on your Mac.
  2. From the sidebar, click on iTunes Store.
  3. Scroll all the way to the bottom, and under Features, tap iTunes Match.
  4. Click the Subscribe button.
  5. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
  6. Confirm your billing information.
  7. Click Subscribe.

In the event that you don’t have Apple Music, iTunes Match will set you back for $24.99 per year. Compared to the $120 from Apple Music, it seems like a heckuva deal. But the savings are definitely more for those who have an enormous personal library including music not found elsewhere.

Once you’ve subscribed, you must enable “Sync Library” in order to access those files across your devices.

Enable Sync Library from an iPhone or iPad

Sync Library on iPhone

  1. Open the Settings app on your device.
  2. Scroll down and tap Music.
  3. Toggle Sync Library to the On position.

Enable Sync Library on a Mac

Sync Library on Mac

  1. Open the Music app.
  2. From the menu bar, tap Music.
  3. Click Preferences.
  4. Tap the General tab at the top of the window.
  5. Check the box next to Sync Library.
  6. Click OK.

How to download All iTunes Match Songs

Regardless of whether you’ve just decided to stop using the new Music app or just need to download your songs, it’s important to be able to. Maybe you want to unsubscribe from iTunes Match altogether, but don’t want to lose your files. Here’s how you can download all of your iTunes Match songs:

Smart Playlist iTunes Match Rules

  1. Open the Music app on your Mac.
  2. Right-click Playlists, and select New Smart Playlist…
  3. From the Smart Playlist panel, create the following rules
    • Bit Rate is less than 256kbps
    • Media Kind is Music
      • Any of the following are true: (option-click the plus button in the window)
        • Cloud Status is Matched
        • Cloud Status is Purchased

Once the Smart Playlist has been created, you’ll be able to download the songs from your library.

  1. Press CMD+A on the keyboard to select all songs.
  2. Right-click the highlighted songs.
  3. Tap Download.
  4. All of the files will be downloaded to Music folder under the user who is logged in on the Mac.

Download all iTunes Match Songs

Depending on your internet speed and the number of songs, this process could take some time. Make sure that your Mac doesn’t automatically go to sleep, and stretch your legs a bit. Once complete, you can move the downloaded files just like you would any other files.

How to cancel iTunes Match

Open Account in Music App
Manage Subscriptions from Music App

Now that your music library is downloaded locally, you likely want to cancel your iTunes Match subscription. Even with the update to macOS Big Sur, it’s pretty easy to manage those subscriptions.

  1. Open the Music/iTunes app on your Mac.
  2. Click iTunes Store in the sidebar.
  3. On the right-hand side, click Account under Music Quick Links.
  4. Enter your password, or sign in to your account if prompted.
  5. Scroll to the bottom until you find Settings.
  6. Next to subscriptions, tap Manage.
  7. Locate iTunes Match from the list and click Edit on the right-hand side.
  8. At the bottom, click the Cancel Subscription button.
  9. Click the Confirm button.

Confirm subscription cancellation

Shortly after, an email will arrive in your inbox confirming the cancellation of the subscription. If it doesn’t come right away, just give it some time and double-check your SPAM folder. It’s important to note that if you cancel iTunes Match before the year is up, you will still have access until the date the subscription runs out.

Related Posts:

  • Photo of someone using Apple Music on their smartphone
    How to Fix Apple Music Not Working on iPhone / iPad
  • An iPhone, Mac, and MacBook on a table
    How to Transfer Your Photos from iCloud Photos to…
  • Android to Mac File Transfer Header
    How to Transfer Files from Android to Mac
  • Repair and Rebuild Missing or Incorrect Thumbnails in Photos
    Mac: Repair and Rebuild Missing or Incorrect…
  • pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-6860464
    How To Start Using Regex With The Shortcuts App
  • How to Use AirPods Max With Android Hero
    How To Use iMessage on Android
  • photo of a person listening to music and searching their phone
    How to See How Many Songs You Have in Your Apple…
  • 2023 Mac Studio lifestyle – 1
    macOS Could Not Be Installed, How-To Fix
  • Apple Watch Series 7 – 9
    How to Download Songs to Your Apple Watch
Andrew Myrick
Andrew Myrick

Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.

Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Fix Apple Music Crashing on Windows 11
  • How to Run Android Apps on iPhone Without Jailbreak
  • How to Share Screen on Teams on MacBook
  • How to Use Microsoft Teams on Mac for Collaboration
  • How to Fix Bad AirPods Sound Quality on PC
  • Use This Trick to Sync Apple Notes and Microsoft Word

Connect with us

Footer

ABOUT

  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

GUIDES

  • iOS & iPadOS
  • Apple ID
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • iTunes
  • FaceTime
  • iMessage
  • Siri
  • Books and iBooks
  • Game Center
  • AirPlay

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • FeedBurner
  • YouTube

© Copyright 2010-2024 Guiding Tech Media · All Rights Reserved

This site and its content are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Apple, Inc. · Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited

Last Updated on August 6, 2020 by Mitch Bartlett