Apple Music Error Code 4: How to Fix It

Easy 10-20 minutes Medium Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
4
Brand
Apple Music
Product Type
music_streaming
Severity
Medium
DIY Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Fix Time
10-20 minutes
Apple Music Error Code 4 means a download failed due to a licensing issue — your device couldn't verify that you have the rights to save that song or album for offline listening. This typically happens when your Apple Music subscription has lapsed, your Apple ID authorization is out of sync, or a DRM (Digital Rights Management) token on your device has become corrupted. The good news is that this is almost always fixable in a few minutes without any special tools.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code 4

  1. Check Your Apple Music Subscription Status

  2. Sign Out of Apple Music and Sign Back In

    Make sure you remember your Apple ID password before signing out. If you use two-factor authentication, have your trusted device or phone number nearby.

  3. Deauthorize and Reauthorize Your Device

  4. Remove and Re-Download the Affected Songs

  5. Update the Music App and Your Device OS

  6. Reset Network Settings (Mobile Devices)

    Resetting network settings will erase all saved Wi-Fi passwords. Make sure you have your Wi-Fi network password available before proceeding.

  7. Clear the Music App Cache (Android / PC)

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When to Call a Professional

Contact Apple Support directly (support.apple.com or call 1-800-275-2273) if Error Code 4 persists after completing all steps, if your subscription shows as active but downloads still fail for every song, or if your account has been flagged for unusual activity. Apple Support can inspect your account's license and authorization status server-side and escalate to their DRM or billing teams if needed. You should also contact Apple if you recently changed your Apple ID email or password and are experiencing widespread issues across multiple devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apple Music Error Code 4 mean?
Error Code 4 in Apple Music means a song or album download failed because your device could not obtain or verify a valid DRM (Digital Rights Management) license. This is usually tied to a subscription issue, an expired authorization, or a corrupted license token stored on the device.
Why do I keep getting Error Code 4 even though my Apple Music subscription is active?
An active subscription is necessary but not always sufficient. Your device also needs a valid, synced authorization token. If you recently changed your Apple ID password, switched devices, or had a network interruption during a previous download, the token can become stale. Signing out and back into your Apple ID in the Music app almost always refreshes the token and resolves the error.
Does Apple Music Error Code 4 mean I lost my downloaded music?
No. Error Code 4 only means the download attempt failed — it does not delete music you have already successfully downloaded. Songs that were previously downloaded and licensed correctly will continue to play offline. Only the songs that failed with Error Code 4 need to be re-downloaded.
Can a VPN cause Apple Music Error Code 4?
Yes. Some VPN servers block or reroute Apple's DRM license verification requests, which prevents downloads from completing. Try disabling your VPN entirely, then attempt the download again. If it succeeds without the VPN, you may need to configure your VPN to exclude Apple Music traffic or use a different VPN server location.
How do I fix Apple Music Error Code 4 on a Windows PC?
On Windows, open iTunes and go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, then reauthorize it. Also try deleting the SC Info folder located at C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes — this clears the local DRM cache. Restart iTunes, sign back into your account, and attempt the download again. Make sure iTunes is updated to the latest version via the Microsoft Store or Apple's website.

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