Apple Working to Add Home Sharing for Music in iOS 9 - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Today With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and changes coming with iOS...
deep black iphone 18 pro

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way

Saturday September 12, 2026 3:27 pm PDT by
As noted by Nicolas Lellouche, who writes for the French tech website Numerama, Apple has updated its tech specs pages for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to clarify which models are equipped with its new C2 cellular modem and where. Apple now says the iPhone 18 Pro has a C2 modem worldwide, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the chip in every country except for the U.S. According...

Top Rated Comments

ShadovvMoon Avatar
146 months ago
In other news, Apple removes a feature only to reintroduce it later as innovation.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
146 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
146 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)
146 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)
Arran Avatar
146 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)
146 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)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors