You open iTunes or the Apple Music app, but the songs you bought are gone. It is frustrating, especially if you paid for them years ago.
In most cases, your purchased music is not gone forever. The songs may be tied to another Apple Account, hidden from your purchase list, not downloaded on this device, or blocked because your computer is not authorized.
Use the checks below to find the most likely cause and get your purchased iTunes music back.
Why Purchased Music Disappears from iTunes
Purchased music can disappear from iTunes for a few common reasons.
| Possible Cause | What It Means |
| Wrong Apple Account | The songs were bought with another Apple Account. |
| Not downloaded on this device | The songs are still in your purchase history, but not saved here. |
| Hidden purchases | The songs were hidden from your Purchased list. |
| Computer not authorized | Your Mac or PC cannot play or download those purchases yet. |
| Sync Library issue | The songs show on one device but not another. |
| Store or region issue | The song may not be available in your current country or region. |
Start with your Purchased list. If the songs are there, you can usually download them again. If they are not there, check Hidden Purchases next.
Also, make sure you are checking the right type of music. iTunes Store purchases are not the same as Apple Music subscription songs. Purchased songs are bought from the iTunes Store. Apple Music songs are tied to your active subscription.
How to Get Purchased Music Back on Mac or Windows
Use this part if your songs disappeared after you reinstalled iTunes, changed computers, updated your system, or opened the Apple Music app on a new device.
On newer Macs, music is managed in the Apple Music app. On Windows, you may use Apple Music for Windows or iTunes for Windows.
1. Check the Apple Account
First, make sure you are signed in with the Apple Account used to buy the songs.
| On Mac |
Open the Apple Music app. Click Account in the menu bar. Check the account shown there. |
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On Windows
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Open Apple Music for Windows or iTunes for Windows.
Check the account shown under your name or under Account.
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If this is not the account you used to buy the music, sign out and sign in with the right one. Then check your Purchased list again.
2. Authorize Your Computer
If your purchased songs will not play or download on your Mac or PC, your computer may not be authorized.
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app or iTunes.
Step 2. Choose Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.
Step 3. Sign in with the Apple Account used to buy the music.
Step 4. Go back to Purchased and try to download the songs again.
Apple lets you authorize up to five computers at a time. If you reached the limit, deauthorize an old computer first.
3. Redownload Purchased Music
If the songs are still in your purchase history, download them again.
| On Mac |
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app. Step 2. Choose Account > Purchased. If you use Family Sharing, you may see Family Purchases.
Step 3. Find the song or album.
Step 4. Click the Download button.
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On Windows
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Step 1. Open Apple Music for Windows or iTunes for Windows. Step 2. In Apple Music for Windows, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then click Purchased.
Step 3. In iTunes for Windows, choose Account > Purchased, then choose Music.
Step 4. Find the song or album.
Step 5. Click the Download button.
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4. Check Hidden Purchases
A song may be missing because it was hidden from your purchase list.
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app or iTunes.
Step 2. On Mac, choose Account > Account Settings.
Step 3. On Windows, open your account settings from Account or your name in the sidebar.
Step 4. Find Hidden Purchases or Hidden Items.
Step 5. Click Manage.
Step 6. If you see the missing song, click Unhide.
Step 7. Go back to Purchased and download it again.
How to Get Purchased Music Back on iPhone or iPad
If the songs are missing only on your iPhone or iPad, use the iTunes Store app first. This is the direct way to redownload music you bought from Apple.
1. Redownload Music from the iTunes Store App
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On iPhone
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Step 1. Open the iTunes Store app. Step 2. Tap More.
Step 3. Tap Purchased.
Step 4. Tap Music.
Step 5. Tap Not on This iPhone.
Step 6. Find the song or album.
Step 7. Tap the Download button.
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On iPad
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Step 1. Open the iTunes Store app. Step 2. Tap Purchased.
Step 3. Tap Music.
Step 4. Tap Not on This iPad.
Step 5. Find the song or album.
Step 6. Tap the Download button.
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If you use Family Sharing, choose the family member first, then check their purchased music.
2. Check Media & Purchases
If the songs do not appear in Purchased, check the account used for media purchases.
Step 1. Open Settings.
Step 2. Tap [your name].
Step 3. Tap Media & Purchases.
Step 4. Tap View Account.
Step 5. Make sure this is the same Apple Account used to buy the music.
If it is not the right account, sign out of Media & Purchases and sign in with the correct one.
Note: Signing out of Media & Purchases can remove downloaded Apple content from this device. Do this only after you check the account.
3. Check Hidden Purchases
Step 1. Open the Apple Music app.
Step 2. Tap your photo, initials, or account button.
Step 3. Tap Account Settings.
Step 4. Tap Hidden Purchases.
Step 5. If you see the missing song, tap Unhide.
Step 6. Go back to the iTunes Store app and download it again.
What If the Songs Are Still Missing?
If the songs are still missing after the checks above, use this quick guide.
| Situation | What to Do |
| The song is grayed out | Check the Apple Account, computer authorization, restrictions, and region availability. |
| The song is on one device but not another | Check Sync Library or add the local file back to your library. |
| The song file is still on your computer | Drag it back into Apple Music or iTunes. |
| The song is not in your purchase history | Contact Apple Support. |
| The download button is missing | Check whether the song is already in your library. |
Do not reset network settings as a first fix. That is usually too much for this issue. A stable internet connection is enough to check your purchase list and download songs again.
If the music is not in your purchase history, not hidden, and not under another Apple Account, Apple Support is the right next step. A third-party tool cannot restore a missing Apple purchase record.
How to Avoid Losing Access Again
After you get your purchased songs back, keep a local backup. This helps if you move to a new computer, reinstall iTunes, or clean up your library later.
For iTunes Store purchases, download the songs first. Then back up your music folder or your full iTunes library. If the songs you are missing are Apple Music subscription tracks, they work differently. They are not the same as iTunes Store purchases. For that case, read how to back up your Apple Music library.
Make Local Copies After Your Music Is Back
If your purchased iTunes music is back, but you also have Apple Music tracks you want to manage offline, TuneFab Apple Music Converter can help save supported Apple Music songs as local audio files for personal use.
It is not an Apple account repair tool. It cannot fix your Apple Account, unhide purchases, restore missing iTunes Store records, or bring back songs that Apple no longer shows in your purchase history.
Use it only after your music is accessible again.
FAQs About Purchased Music Missing from iTunes
Why is my purchased music missing from iTunes?
Your purchased music may be missing because you are using the wrong Apple Account, the songs are hidden, your computer is not authorized, or the songs have not been downloaded to this device.
Can I redownload music I bought from iTunes?
Yes. Open the Purchased page in the iTunes Store app, Apple Music app, or iTunes for Windows. Then download the songs again with the same Apple Account used for the purchase.
Can TuneFab restore missing iTunes purchases?
No. TuneFab cannot restore Apple purchase records, fix your Apple Account, or unhide purchases. It can only help with local copies of supported Apple Music tracks after your music is accessible.
Conclusion
If your purchased music is missing from iTunes, check the simple things first: the right Apple Account, Purchased list, Hidden Purchases, and computer authorization.
If the songs still do not appear in your purchase history, contact Apple Support. After you get them back, make a local backup so the same problem is easier to handle next time.
