Apple Working to Add Home Sharing for Music in iOS 9

homesharingWith the release of iOS 8.4 and the new built-in Apple Music service, Apple removed Home Sharing for music on iOS devices, a move that many Home Sharing users have been upset about.

It was unclear if Home Sharing for music would be re-added in the future, but according to iTunes chief Eddy Cue, Apple is planning to add Home Sharing to iOS 9. In response to a tweet about the removal of Home Sharing for music, Cue tweeted "We are working to have Home Sharing in iOS 9."

Wording in the release notes for the last iOS 8.4 beta suggested that Home Sharing and Genius Mixes were "not currently available," hinting that the features could return at a later date, and it appears that is indeed Apple's plan.

While Home Sharing for music has been removed in iOS 8.4, the feature is still available for video. Home Sharing for music also remains available on the Mac and the Apple TV. It is unclear when Home Sharing for music will be introduced in iOS 9, but the next beta is expected later this week.

In recent weeks, Apple has been embracing social media, with Eddy Cue answering several questions about Apple Music and related services. Cue also used Twitter to announce Apple's plans to pay artists during the Apple Music free trial after an open letter from Taylor Swift, and he informed users about an upcoming iOS 9 beta seed that will add Apple Music to the new operating system.

Related Forum: iOS 9

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

ShadovvMoon Avatar
136 months ago
In other news, Apple removes a feature only to reintroduce it later as innovation.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vladzaharia Avatar
136 months ago
The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth, really; we were finally moving away from DRM on music entirely and now here it is, coming back with a vengeance.
It's impossible to do streaming without DRM, by sheer fact that you have a time-limited subscription that could technically end at any time. You need some way to cut off access to the music when this finishes, hence you need some sort of DRM. Without it, nobody would subscribe past the trial. They'd get a trial, download all the songs they want, and then cancel and keep the songs. With purchases, going DRM-less makes the most sense, since it's a one time transaction.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
136 months ago
I wonder if this is because Home Sharing had a hole in its DRM that Apple couldn't leave open with Apple Music.

Before it was fine; music from the iTunes Store has no DRM so it's okay if FairPlay wasn't entirely secure for music. But now with Apple Music, a hole in FairPlay is serious because people can use it to remove DRM from the "rented" music and keep it forever.

The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth, really; we were finally moving away from DRM on music entirely and now here it is, coming back with a vengeance.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justmewhoelse Avatar
136 months ago
Is it me, or has Apple lost it's direction/mojo? Way too much amateurish crap being released pretty buggy and/or lame? Apple seems to be reacting instead of acting/leading.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nfl46 Avatar
136 months ago
Eddy has to stop with his Twitter leaks. Where's the secrecy?
Actually, this is good that he responds to some tweets. I am liking this new Apple where they are being a little more open.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Arran Avatar
136 months ago
...I don't want to have to mess with creating playlists and using up next to listen to my music in the car.
Agreed. In my car is where I listen to my music most of the time. The cluttered UI is a dangerous distraction.

Looking at it all, I get the feeling the "suburban commuter in the car" persona wasn't even considered by the UI designers. It seems completely skewed towards musically-promiscuous, late-teen, early 20's commuters who ride the subway or the train to work, who have both hands free and are happy to interact heavily with the device as they listen.

That "urban-hipster" use-case should certainly be an option, not the default. Better yet, it should be a separate app that draws from the same local music database as the traditional iTunes mobile app.

Give me the old iPhone app back please Apple. I don't need this other stuff getting between me and my music.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)