Problem with syncing songs from Mac to iphone

What can I do when a downloaded song has a cloud icon with a line through it. I believe this song is ineligible for syncing with iCloud and is stopping my playlist being synced to my phone - when I delete it the playlist syncs. Unfortunately I need this song as it is a download created by Rock Choir so that I can practice for a concert. Can I trick iCloud into syncing it?

Posted on Sep 18, 2026 11:01 AM

1 reply

WheelieNick

Level 9 (74,110 points)

Sep 18, 2026 2:28 PM in response to KittyPink666

The easiest way to make the file eligible is to use the Apple Music app (or iTunes) on your computer to convert it into a standard format that iCloud accepts.

Verify your settings: Open Apple Music/iTunes on your computer. Go to Settings (or Preferences) > Files > Import Settings. Make sure Import Using is set to AAC Encoder and the Setting is set to High Quality (128 kbps) or Plus (256 kbps).
Convert the track: Select your Rock Choir song in your music library. Go to the top menu bar, click File> Convert > Create AAC Version.
Add to Cloud: A duplicate version of the song will appear. Right-click this newly created version and select Add to Cloud Library.
Clean up: Once the new version uploads successfully (the cloud icon should disappear), add this version to your playlist. You can delete the original low-bitrate file.