Apple Music Down: Widespread Outage Causes Frustration for Users

If you’re currently experiencing issues with Apple Music, there’s no need to troubleshoot the app on your iPhone or Mac as the service is facing a widespread interruption.

As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple’s System Status page has confirmed an ongoing Apple Music outage since 11:40 a.m. Eastern Time. While the exact scale of the issue is uncertain, Apple acknowledges that “some users are affected,” with a red alert triangle indicating a more serious problem than usual.

Downdetector has also observed an increase in reports over the past few hours, peaking at around 238. However, it’s possible that this number reflects the lower likelihood of Apple Music users reporting outages compared to more traditional web-based services.

Despite Apple’s generally reliable services, Apple Music has experienced a higher number of outages in recent months, including two in April within days of each other.

The duration of the current outage is uncertain, but Downdetector reports show a downward trend from its peak at around 1:39 p.m. An outage on April 16 lasted over 19 hours, while another three days later was resolved in under six hours.

The issue is not affecting all users, and Apple notes that those experiencing problems may do so intermittently. Offline listening of downloaded music on Apple devices can mitigate the impact of these issues, as an internet connection is not required.

However, some users have encountered issues necessitating the activation of Airplane Mode to prevent the Music app from connecting to a malfunctioning Apple Music back-end.

Speculation arises regarding the cause of the increased disruptions, with suggestions of ongoing server-side stability issues or infrastructure updates in preparation for new AI features at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

It’s worth noting that rival service Spotify has also faced elevated outages in recent months, possibly due to its expansion into new areas like lossless music and podcasts.