Why isn't Transfer Music showing in Apple Music?

Quick answer

Usually it's one of three things: you don't have an active Apple Music subscription, your iPhone or Music app isn't up to date, or you're in a country where the feature isn't offered. You can also skip the phone and start it at music.apple.com.

Apple lists the requirements on its Transfer Music support page: a paid Apple Music subscription, an iPhone or iPad on the latest iOS or iPadOS (or the latest Apple Music app on Android), and Sync Library turned on. The tool isn't available in mainland China, Myanmar or Russia, and Apple Music itself isn't sold everywhere, so check Apple's country list if you travel or changed regions.

Check these in order:

1. Update iOS in Settings, then General, then Software Update.
2. On iPhone, look in Settings, then Apps, then Music for Transfer Music from Other Music Services. In the Music app, tap your photo or monogram.
3. On Android, open Apple Music, tap More, then Settings.
4. Still nothing? Go to music.apple.com, sign in, click your photo in the top right and pick Transfer Music.

If the option appears but Spotify is grayed out, that's a different problem, covered in our Spotify Currently Busy guide. And if nothing works, TuneMyMusic moves playlists into Apple Music from any browser.