Why won’t my Apple Music work through Verizon?
Apple Music is a popular streaming music service from Apple that offers access to over 90 million songs. Many Verizon customers take advantage of included Apple Music subscriptions through their phone plans. However, some users encounter issues getting Apple Music to function properly on Verizon’s network.
There are several key reasons why Apple Music may not work as expected for Verizon customers. The most common factors involve incompatible cellular data standards, data throttling or usage limits imposed by Verizon, WiFi connectivity problems, outdated carrier settings, iOS/app issues, account and billing conflicts, device incompatibility, and general tech support challenges. This article will explore these key troubleshooting areas to help Verizon users get the most out of their Apple Music subscription.
Incompatible Cellular Data Standards
One potential reason Apple Music may not work properly on Verizon is due to incompatible cellular data standards between carriers. Verizon primarily uses CDMA technology for its older 3G network, while most other carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) are not compatible with each other. iPhones sold for Verizon are CDMA-only models. This means they lack the GSM components needed for Apple Music features that rely on a GSM data connection. According to Apple’s support forums, many users have experienced issues with Apple Music on Verizon’s CDMA 3G network that were resolved when switching to LTE or WiFi. 1 2
LTE Data Speed Throttling
Verizon has been known to throttle video streaming speeds for its mobile customers, even those on unlimited data plans. This throttling can impact services like Apple Music when streaming songs, particularly for high-quality lossless audio (Source 1). Verizon claims they don’t throttle specific services, but many users report issues streaming HD or 4K video over LTE (Source 2). The throttling seems to primarily impact video quality, with typical caps being 480p or 720p resolution when streaming over mobile data.
This throttling could prevent Apple Music users from taking full advantage of HD audio streaming over LTE, resulting in lower-quality compressed audio. While music streaming may not be as impacted compared to video, the limitations can affect songs streamed in Dolby Atmos or Apple’s Lossless formats. Workarounds include using WiFi instead of mobile data, or upgrading to Verizon’s premium unlimited plans which don’t throttle video resolution.
Cellular Data Usage Limits
Apple Music streaming can be disrupted by cellular data usage limits or “data caps” imposed by wireless carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Many wireless plans have monthly data allowances, after which speeds may be throttled or additional charges applied. According to CableTV.com, AT&T caps data usage at 1,024 GB per month without unlimited data add-ons. Verizon does not impose defined data caps on cellular plans, but may throttle speeds after a certain threshold according to Verizon’s FAQ page. Streaming large amounts of music and video with Apple Music can quickly eat through monthly data allowances.
Exceeding a plan’s data cap causes carriers to dramatically slow or “throttle” data speeds, interrupting streaming. According to AllConnect, throttled data speeds may fall below 1 Mbps, too slow for high quality Apple Music streaming. To avoid data throttling, Apple Music users on limited data plans must carefully monitor usage or switch to WiFi when possible. Unlimited data plans provide one solution, but can be more expensive.
WiFi Connectivity Issues
One of the most common reasons why Apple Music may not work properly is due to WiFi connectivity problems. If your iPhone is connected to a WiFi network that has a weak signal, interference from other devices, or configuration issues, it can disrupt the streaming of music from Apple Music.
Here are some tips to troubleshoot WiFi connectivity issues with Apple Music:
- Move closer to your WiFi router or access point for a stronger signal. Apple Music needs a steady and reliable WiFi connection to stream properly.
- Check for possible interference from other WiFi networks or devices like cordless phones and microwaves. Try changing the channel on your WiFi router to reduce interference.
- Make sure you have the latest router firmware and have set up your wireless network correctly according to Apple’s recommendations (1).
- Toggle WiFi off and then on again on your iOS device to refresh the connection.
- Forget the WiFi network on your iPhone and reconnect to it from scratch.
- Reset your iPhone’s network settings under Settings which will erase all WiFi networks and rebuild them (2).
If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and your WiFi network is still not providing a solid connection, you may need to get aWiFi extender, upgrade your router, or switch to a more reliable WiFi network.
Outdated Carrier Settings
One potential cause of issues with Apple Music on Verizon is outdated carrier settings on your iPhone. Carrier settings contain key data like network connection specifications that allow your iPhone to connect properly to Verizon’s cellular network.
Apple and Verizon release periodic updates to these settings which can improve connectivity issues that may disrupt streaming from Apple Music. If your carrier settings are outdated, it’s a good idea to update them.
You can manually update your iPhone’s carrier settings by going to Settings > General > About. If a carrier update is available, you’ll see an option to update. Tap the Update button and your iPhone will download the newest carrier settings.
The process only takes a few minutes over WiFi or cellular data. Once completed, you can test if Apple Music streaming works better on Verizon’s network.
For step-by-step instructions from Apple, you can visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109324
iOS or App Issues
One common reason for Apple Music not working properly through Verizon is bugs or glitches within iOS or the Apple Music app itself. Apple frequently releases software updates to fix issues, but sometimes problems slip through that cause crashes, freezes, playback errors, or syncing problems.
For example, some users encountered crashes and freezing in the Apple Music app after updating to iOS 15.5 (Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254659621). Apple later fixed this with iOS 15.6.1. More recently, early adopters of iOS 17 beta reported Apple Music bugs leading to skips, crashes, and playback problems (Source: https://www.tenorshare.com/ios-17/fix-ios-17-apple-music-bugs.html).
If you suspect an iOS or Apple Music app bug, try updating your iPhone software to the latest version. You can also try deleting and reinstalling the Apple Music app. Resetting network settings may help clear out any problematic cached data. Filing a bug report with Apple can help them identify and fix the issue in a future software update.
Account and Billing Problems
Apple Music subscription issues can sometimes be caused by problems with the Apple ID account or billing details, especially if you recently changed payment methods or switched your subscription plan. Here are some steps to check your account status and billing details:
1. Open the App Store app on your iOS device and tap on your profile icon in the top right. Tap “View Apple ID” and sign in if prompted.
2. Under “Subscriptions”, check if your Apple Music subscription is active. Tap on it to verify the status, renewal date, and billing details.
3. To update payment info, tap “Payment Information” and enter valid card details. You can also visit https://support.apple.com/billing to update billing.
4. If you see any issues with your subscription status or billing, contact Apple Support for help. You can call them directly or access support options at https://support.apple.com/music.
5. Check if your iCloud storage is full, which can affect Apple Music. Upgrade your iCloud storage if needed.
By reviewing your account details in App Store, you can identify and resolve any underlying billing, subscription or iCloud issues that may be preventing Apple Music from functioning properly.
Device Compatibility Factors
Device compatibility issues can sometimes cause problems with Apple Music functionality. Apple Music requires iOS 12.0 or later on iPhones and iPads, and macOS Mojave 10.14 or later on Macs (Apple Music). Using older operating systems or unsupported devices may result in problems streaming Apple Music. Make sure your device firmware and software are fully up to date for the best Apple Music experience.
On Android devices, Apple Music requires Android 5.0 Lollipop or later (Apple Support). Using an older Android OS version that is not supported may prevent the app from functioning properly. Check your Android version and update if needed.
Hardware factors like cellular modem, WiFi chipset, Bluetooth compatibility, and audio codecs supported can also impact connectivity and audio quality. Older devices may lack full support. Make sure your Android device is relatively modern and designed for media streaming for optimal performance.
Finally, settings like power saving modes, battery optimizations, and background app limitations can interfere with streaming. Check your device settings and disable any battery savers or background app restrictions that may be enabled.
Contacting Customer Support
If you are still experiencing issues with Apple Music after trying the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, it’s time to reach out to customer support for additional help.
For issues specifically related to your Verizon cellular plan, billing, or account, contact Verizon Wireless customer support at:
Verizon Customer Service
1-800-922-0204
Verizon support can help troubleshoot cellular data connectivity problems impacting Apple Music streaming. They can also assist with plan changes, upgrades, or modifications if needed to resolve data speed or usage limit issues.
For problems with the Apple Music app itself, your Apple ID account, or media playback and streaming, contact Apple support at:
Apple Support
1-800-275-2273
Apple’s team can provide troubleshooting for iOS, app, and account-related issues. They can also confirm if your iPhone model and iOS version is fully compatible with Apple Music.
Contacting the dedicated customer support teams at Verizon and Apple is the best way to get additional help if you’ve tried the self-service troubleshooting tips without success.