The biggest problem with subscription services likeĀ Apple Music, Spotify and others is the unnerving fact that labels make songs available for streaming on a time-limited basis. As a result, some of the tracks you add to Apple Music playlists may no longer be available for streaming, leaving you with no other choice but to purchase them on the iTunes Store.
Starting with iTunes 12.4, there’s a new iCloud status of ‘No Longer Available’ which you can use to create a dynamically updated playlist containing the songs that you added to your Apple Music library that are no longer available for streaming, here’s how.
How to create ‘No Longer Available’ smart playlist in iTunes
1) Open iTunes 12.4 or later on your Mac or Windows PC.
2) Select File ā New ā Smart Playlist in the iTunes menu, or press the Option (ā„)-Command (ā)-N shortcut on the keyboard.
3) In the Smart Playlist window, set the following conditions:
- MatchāClick the Match popup menu and select Music.
- iCloud StatusāIn the Rules menus right below, select iCloud status and set its value to “is” and then choose “No Longer Available” from the menu.
- Live UpdatingāTick this box so that the playlist dynamically updates.
Click OK to finish creating your playlist.
4) Name your custom playlist.
5)Ā Select Music in theĀ popup menu in the iTunes sidebar on the left.
6) Collapse the All My Playlists section and click your newly created smart playlist.
Any Apple Music tracks thatĀ you previously added to your playlists or library that are no longer available for streaming should be listed here.
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