Why Is Content Unavailable on YouTube Music: Reasons & Fixes

Part 1. Why Is Content Unavailable on YouTube Music?

Why are so many songs unavailable on YouTube Music? Many YouTube Music users may wonder why some of their favorite songs or albums are suddenly unavailable. This can be a confusing and disappointing experience. Understanding the underlying reasons for content unavailability can help users navigate this issue more effectively. Let's take a closer look at the main reasons why content might be restricted on YouTube Music.

❓ Licensing Restrictions

One of the most common reasons for unavailable songs on YouTube Music is licensing restrictions. Music streaming platforms often secure licenses based on geographical regions, meaning that certain songs may only be available in specific countries. If you are located outside these regions, you might see an error message when trying to play restricted content.

❓ Account or Subscription Level

YouTube Music offers both free and Premium tiers, with some content reserved exclusively for Premium subscribers. If you find that YouTube Music online or downloaded songs are unavailable, it may be due to the limitations of a free account.

See also: How to Get YouTube Music Premium for Free

❓ Content Removal

Occasionally, songs or albums are removed from YouTube Music due to changes in licensing agreements between the platform and the record labels. When these agreements expire, YouTube may have to remove the content, making it unavailable to users.

❓ Platform Updates

Sometimes, YouTube Music updates its content library, which can temporarily make some songs or playlists inaccessible. These updates are usually brief, but they can impact availability, causing some users to see the 'Content Unavailable' message until the platform finalizes its updates.

Part 2. Solutions to Fix YouTube Music Content Is Unavailable

Knowing why YouTube Music content is unavailable is only half the battle. Fortunately, there are various solutions to address this problem. Whether the issue is due to licensing restrictions, subscription level, or region-based limitations, users have options to work around these barriers and enjoy their music. Below are some practical solutions that may help you regain access to unavailable content on YouTube Music.

✔ Use a VPN to Access Region-Restricted Content

YouTube Music's content library varies depending on the country or region. If you're encountering unavailable content due to geographic restrictions, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help. A VPN can change your device's IP address to appear as if it's in a different location, allowing access to specific regional content.

✔ Switch Accounts or Upgrade to Premium

If you're a free-tier user, upgrading to YouTube Music Premium can grant access to a more extensive library and exclusive content. Alternatively, signing in with a different account that has Premium status may provide access to unavailable content.

Step 1: Go to YouTube Music's settings or visit the YouTube Music Premium page.

Step 2: Choose the Premium subscription and follow the instructions to upgrade.

Step 3: Once upgraded, access the additional Premium content and features.

✔ Clear YouTube Music Cache

Sometimes, content may appear unavailable due to temporary issues within the app itself. Clearing the cache can resolve these glitches.

Step 1: Go to your device's settings. On Android, find 'Apps' > 'YouTube Music' > 'Storage usage'. On iOS, find 'General' > 'iPhone Storage' > 'YouTube Music'.

Step 2: Next, tap 'Clear Cache'/'Clear Data' on Android or 'Documents & Data'/'Offload app' on iPhone.

Step 3: Reopen the app and try accessing the content again.

✔ Update the YouTube Music App

Using the latest version of the app also can fix some problems.

Step 1: Visit the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Step 2: Search for YouTube Music and check if there's an available update.

Step 3: If an update is available, install it, then reopen the app.

✔ Try Other Music Platforms

If specific content is entirely removed or still unavailable, you may find it on other streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal. Each streaming service has its own licensing agreements, so content availability may vary.

Part 3. How to Save YouTube Music Locally to Avoid Unavailability

Due to many different factors, it is hard to keep songs unavailable on YouTube Music all the time. So, we advise you to save your favorite YouTube Music songs as local files in advance. You can use AudFree Audio Capture to help you. This tool can download audio from any app on computers, including YouTube Music. You can convert music from encrypted format to various free formats, like MP3, AIFF, etc. What's more, the downloaded songs can be stored in the local folder, meaning you can access them even though they are unavailable on YouTube Music.

Step 1Open AudFree Audio Capture

Download and install AudFree Audio Capture on your computer. Open it and add Chrome as the audio source by clicking 'Select/Add an App'.

Step 2Set YouTube Music output formats

Hit the 'Format' bar and choose an audio format. For more settings, you can go to its 'Edit' option located on the right side. Next, save your choices by hitting 'Create and apply'.

Step 3Download YouTube Music tracks

Click the 'Start' button and go to https://music.youtube.com/ on Chrome. Then, play the desired track or album on YouTube Music. AudFree will automatically start recording. Next, click AudFree's 'Stop' icon to end the process. It will download songs as an audio file by default if you don't press Stop.

Step 4Store YouTube Music songs locally

Now, you can see captured tracks on the tool. Please hit 'Edit Tag' or 'Trim' to edit something. Then, click 'Save' to store them as local files. From now on, feel free to use the downloaded songs and you don't have to worry if YouTube Music song is unavailable.

Video GuideAvoid songs being unavailable on YouTube Music

Don't worry about YouTube Music content being unavailable. Download and save it to your device forever.

Part 4. In Conclusion

"Why is content unavailable on YouTube Music?" After reading Part 1, you can understand the reasons behind it. And you can explore different solutions to overcome these restrictions in Part 2. For those seeking a way to avoid YouTube Music songs being unavailable, AudFree Audio Capture provides an efficient and easy-to-use option. You can use it to export songs from YouTube Music to computers, so you can use and play them offline without using YouTube Music. In this way, whether YouTube Music content is unavailable or not is none of your concern.