Lyrics Not Showing

Apple Music Apple Music

Severity: Minor

What Does This Error Mean?

Apple Music lyrics don't show when the song has no lyrics in Apple's database, or you're not subscribed. Not every song has lyrics available — it depends on what rights Apple has licensed. Tapping the speech bubble icon on the Now Playing screen opens lyrics when available.

Affected Models

Apple Music on iPhone
Apple Music on iPad
Apple Music on Mac
Apple Music on Apple Watch

Common Causes

Song doesn't have lyrics available in the Apple Music database
Apple Music subscription required — lyrics are not on the free tier
Lyrics view not opened — the speech bubble icon wasn't tapped
App or operating system needs an update
Specific language or region not supported for lyrics

How to Fix It

Tap the speech bubble icon on the Now Playing screen to open the lyrics view.

On iPhone, open the full Now Playing screen and look for the quote/speech bubble icon at the bottom.
Check that your Apple Music subscription is active — lyrics require a paid subscription.

Lyrics are not available on the free Apple Music tier or free trial after it expires.
If the speech bubble icon is missing, the song may simply not have lyrics available in Apple's database.

Try a well-known popular song to confirm lyrics work on your device — if they do, the original song just has no lyrics.
Update iOS, iPadOS, or macOS to the latest version.

Lyrics display bugs are sometimes fixed in OS updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Force-close the Music app and reopen it, then navigate back to the song.

On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe the Music app away to force-close it.

When to Call a Professional

This is a content availability or subscription issue. No professional is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every song on Apple Music have lyrics?

No. Lyrics availability depends on licensing agreements with publishers. Most popular mainstream songs have lyrics, but older, indie, or international tracks may not.

Do I need a paid Apple Music plan to see lyrics?

Yes. Lyrics are a paid feature — they require an active Apple Music subscription. They are not available on any free tier.

Why do Apple Music lyrics disappear mid-song?

This is usually a synced lyrics timing glitch — the lyrics are there but lose sync with the audio. Restarting the song or toggling the lyrics view off and on usually fixes it.