8 Ways to Fix the Resource Unavailable Error in Apple Music on iPhone (2024)

Apple Music may boast features like Spatial and Lossless Audio, but it still needs a lot of optimization. An issue that we faced recently is that when we tried to play certain songs, we were shown a Resource Unavailable Error in Apple Music. If you have been facing this issue as well, here’s how you can fix it.

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If you are wondering what this issue even means, we’ll help you understand before we proceed to the methods to resolve it. Having said that, we tried around eight possible ways to fix the issue, and we were able to successfully resolve it. But first things first.

What Is the Apple Music Resource Unavailable Error

The Resource Unavailable Error in Apple Music is something that we faced while playing certain songs only, and we suspect that the app is having some trouble fetching data from the server. All it shows is the error message and refuses to play the affected song, leaving you with the option to play another song.

However, we were able to quickly troubleshoot and fix the issues, and thankfully, a few rudimentary methods like restarting or reinstalling Apple Music helped us fix it. We found some other effective methods too. Scroll down to fix the issue.

How to Fix the Resource Unavailable Error Message on Apple Music

Here are the eight different, tried-and-tested ways using which you can resolve the issue affecting your Apple Music. Let’s start with checking your network connection.

1. Check the Network connection

Since this is an issue related to Apple Music not being able to fetch songs from the server, you need to check if a slow or unreliable internet connection on your phone is causing it.

Therefore ensure that you are operating on a cellular network with an active plan, or a high-speed Wi-Fi network with good signal strength.

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2. Check Apple Music System Status

If the servers of Apple Music are down, it is possible music playback is affected too and you might be facing the resource unavailable error on Apple Music.

However, you can check the system status of Apple Services on this dashboard and see if Apple Music is affected or not.

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3. Restart iPhone

Restarting the iPhone refreshes all the services running on iOS, and lets you start a fresh session.

This is known to solve many software-related issues and certainly has a good chance of fixing the Resource Unavailable Error on Apple Music too. Therefore, here’s how you can restart your iPhone.

Step 1:Firstly, shut down your device.

  • On iPhone X and above:Press and hold the volume down and the side button.
  • On iPhone SE 2nd or 3rd gen, 7, and 8 series: Press and hold the side button.
  • On iPhone SE 1st gen, 5s, 5c, or 5: Hold the power button at the top.
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Step 2:Drag the power slider to turn off the device.

Step 3:Next, turn on your device by pressing and holding the power button on your iPhone.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, you can try restarting the Apple Music app on your iPhone.

4. Restart Apple Music

Restarting Apple Music shuts down all of its services and starts it up again once the app is reopened. Since it essentially refreshes the app, there is a good chance it can help you get rid of the Resource Unavailable Error while playing music.

Step 1: Swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to launch the app switcher on iPhone. If you are using an iPhone with a home button, double tap on the same.

Step 2: Swipe up to clear the Apple Music app.

Step 3: Relaunch the Apple Music app from your home screen.

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If this does not fix the issue too, you can try reinstalling Apple Music.

5. Reinstall Apple Music

Apple Music is one of those system apps that you can uninstall and reinstall if needed on the App Store. Since it deletes the app and all of its stored data, it may help you get rid of the issue. Here’s how you can reinstall Apple Music.

Step 1: Long-tap on the Apple Music icon.

Step 2: Tap on Remove App.

Step 3: Tap on Delete to uninstall the app.

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Step 4: Use the link below to download Apple Music from the App Store on your iPhone.

Download Apple Music

If this does not work too, you can try downloading the song from Apple Music.

6. Download the Affected Song

Sometimes the Resource Unavailable Error on Apple Music might only restrict online playback of the song but probably won’t cause any issues when you are trying to download the song.

However, in our case, it did not allow us to download the affected song too, but you can go ahead and see if it works for you.

Step 1: Tap on the three-dot icon next to the song you want to download.

Step 2: Tap on Download.

After downloading the song, play it offline. Hence, this eliminated the need to fetch the song from the server in the first place. Therefore, the chances of facing the error are slim.

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If this does not work too, check if Apple Music has access to mobile data.

7. Enable Cellular Data Access to Apple Music

If you are facing the Resource Unavailable Error on Apple Music while using mobile data only, check if you have enabled internet access for it in the first place. If not, you need to provide mobile data access, and here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Mobile Data.

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Step 3: Scroll down to find Music and ensure to turn on the toggle for the same.

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However, if this does not work too, you can try resetting the network settings on your iPhone.

8. Reset Network Settings

Resetting Network Settings will reset all the network-related configurations on your iPhone and establish a fresh connection. There is a good chance that Apple Music can fetch the song from the server after a reset of network settings and not show the error message anymore.

Note that this option forgets the Wi-Fi passwords from your iPhone and resets all the network configurations you’ve made.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on General.

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Step 2: Tap on ‘Transfer and Reset’.

Step 3: Tap on Reset.

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Step 4: Tap on ‘Reset Network Settings’.

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

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That is all you need to do to fix the resource unavailable error on Apple Music. However, if you have any more questions you can take a look at the FAQ section below.

FAQs on Resource Unavailable Error on Apple Music

1. Does the Resource Unavailable mean that the song is deleted from Apple Music?

Resource Unavailable Error mainly indicates that the song is not being fetched from the servers, and there is a good chance the song was removed from Apple Music.

2. Are there any missing songs or albums on Apple Music?

Yes, despite having over 80 million songs in its library, Apple Music does miss out on a few songs, and this can be attributed to the record label not wanting to put up the song on the platform.

Enjoy Apple Music Without Errors

When we faced this error, it was frustrating as we were trying to play one of our favorite songs. However, it didn’t last long thanks to the methods using which we were able to fix the issue. Therefore, these methods will help you too if you are stuck in a similar situation. Once resolved, you can enjoy Apple Music error free!

As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of technology, particularly in the realm of digital music streaming, I can provide valuable insights into the reported issue with Apple Music and offer solutions based on my demonstrable expertise.

Analysis of the Apple Music Resource Unavailable Error:

The article discusses a specific problem encountered while using Apple Music—the Resource Unavailable Error. The error seems to occur when attempting to play certain songs, and the suspicion is that the app is struggling to fetch data from the server. The author claims to have faced this issue and successfully resolved it using various methods.

Here is a breakdown of the concepts and solutions presented in the article:

  1. Issue Description:

    • Resource Unavailable Error: This is the main problem encountered in Apple Music. It prevents the playback of certain songs, and the assumption is that the app is having difficulty retrieving data from the server.
  2. Methods to Resolve the Issue:

    • Network Connection Check:
      • The article suggests that a slow or unreliable internet connection might be the cause. It recommends ensuring a stable cellular network or a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.
    • Apple Music System Status Check:
      • Checking the status of Apple Music servers is advised. If the servers are down, it could impact music playback.
    • Restart iPhone:
      • Restarting the iPhone is proposed as a solution to refresh all iOS services, potentially resolving software-related issues.
    • Restart Apple Music:
      • Shutting down and relaunching the Apple Music app is suggested to refresh the application and potentially fix the Resource Unavailable Error.
    • Reinstall Apple Music:
      • Uninstalling and reinstalling Apple Music from the App Store is recommended to eliminate potential app-related issues.
    • Download the Affected Song:
      • Attempting to download the song that triggers the error is proposed as a workaround. Playing the downloaded song offline might bypass the need to fetch it from the server.
    • Enable Cellular Data Access:
      • Ensuring that Apple Music has access to mobile data is recommended, especially if the issue occurs only when using mobile data.
    • Reset Network Settings:
      • A more extensive solution involves resetting all network-related configurations on the iPhone to establish a fresh connection with the hope of resolving the error.
  3. FAQs:

    • Meaning of Resource Unavailable Error:
      • The article clarifies that the error indicates the song is not being fetched from the servers, and it doesn't necessarily mean the song has been deleted from Apple Music.
    • Missing Songs or Albums on Apple Music:
      • Acknowledges that despite having a vast library, Apple Music may lack certain songs or albums due to decisions made by record labels.

In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide for users facing the Resource Unavailable Error on Apple Music, offering multiple solutions ranging from basic troubleshooting steps to more advanced actions like resetting network settings. The presented information is practical and aligns with common strategies for resolving digital service-related issues.

8 Ways to Fix the Resource Unavailable Error in Apple Music on iPhone (2024)
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