Apple Music on CarPlay - Streaming issue with Sky Mobile

[Mark3209]

Hi everyone

firstly, I know this has been asked/answered several times previously on Apple Support pages…however most of the responses are fairly old and I’ve literally tried everything, but still the issue persists.

Whenever I’m in the car (connected to CarPlay), I go to choose music to listen or ask Siri to play music, and it just sits there, doesn’t play and finally displays either the ‘Not authorised’ or other reason that the song can’t be played….it then moves onto the next song, and can’t play that, so moves on and can’t play that etc etc…

I’ve got an iPhone 13 fully updated to iOS 16.3.1.

as previously stated, I’ve tried all of the previous solutions (toggle streaming on and off within settings, restart phone (hard and soft), open and close music app etc etc) but nothing has resolved the issue.

My wife and I have different brands of car (Cupra and Hyudnai) and the same issue persists through both MMIs / Infotainment systems, so the problem isn't with the cars' software, which is also fully updated in both vehicles.

I've also had the Network settings resent to my phone, but this hasn't resolved the issue either.

The latest thing I've tried is to lower the Audio Quality within Apple Music - this has made it slightly better, but I emphasise 'slightly' - its still very ittermitant in terms of streaming what it wants to and not what I want it to!?!

for further reference, I’m on Sky Mobile and the problem exists whether I’m on 3, 4 or even 5G…However, the issue doesn't seem to affect users of other networks..

My brother, wife and I all have different handsets (all iPhones), but all on Sky Mobile and all experience the same problem regardless of our wherabouts in the country.

please help as this is becoming VERY annoying indeed!?!

Oh, Apple Music seems to work fine at home when I’m on WiFi, and I once installed the free version of Spotify to see if that worked, and it does, without any of the issues of Apple Music as described above. My preference is to use Apple Music as I find it to be a better service in my opinion.

Wonder if anyone else has experienced this issue?

[Tennants+Super]

Same issue on my phone plus my wife's. Have tried all the suggested fixes found on internet but issue persists. 

[Supertys9]

I've had this same issue too. Apple Music only works when using Wi-Fi. The only thing I've found is that I have to download music to play when I don't have Wi-Fi, which is annoying. I have mix cloud and that works fine even on 3G so the problem is definitely a link between sky mobile and Apple. It's actually getting to the point where we are thinking of leaving as my wife has the same problem and have never had this issue when we was with EE. 

[Tennants+Super]

I drive a VW Tiguan, is it a issue with same make?

[Mr+Pinny]

I've also been having the same issues, was thinking it must be an issue with sky mobile and Apple Music. I hope something changes it's driving me mad😡

[Mark3209]

No it's nothing to do with vehicle or manufacturer- I have a CUPRA (VAG car like yours), my brother a BMW and my wife has a Hyundai - it's the same issue in all of them....

it's a sky mobile issue.

Quite why they don't acknowledge it and do something about though, I'm not quite sure?! 

[ir27]

I have the exact same issue and have done ever since I switched to sky mobile.

If I hotspot through an EE networked phone then no problem. 
if I use a VPN service then also no problem (essentially hiding from Sky mobile that this is Apple music)

Sky must be blocking Apple music streaming somewhere. 

[Melpzz]

I've recently switched to Sky Mobile and I don't have a car, but am also having issues on my iPhone 14 with Apple Music. I'm getting so annoyed. I can't listen to music when I'm out and about as it says it's timed out or not authorised it's not as if it eventually works it just never plays and I give up. I called Sky and the man said it's not them but Apple (he would say that), but surely Sky should want to

fix the issue for it's customers as I've never had the problem on other networks.

It's really is doing my head in.

[Tennants+Super]

I have been in contact with Apple on numerous occasions over the last few weeks to pin point the issue. Now working with senior engineers, who have said there is an update coming out soon which may help the issue, (not definite). They have given me several things to try, I still have a few to go through. Speaking to Apple is really easy (way easier than as sky!!!), get through to them with them within minutes. I am running iOS 16.4.1 and the issue is persist. Earlier this I week connected phone to Mac, to carry out another suggested step to diagnose the problem.  However, when the phone connected it said there was an update (was already running latest software), but I proceeded. Not sure what the update was but it took approx 40mins. Now, over the last couple of days the music has worked! Still monitoring the situation, time will tell if fully fixed

[Melpzz]

Thanks for the glimmer of hope, I'll be waiting for the update as I've no time nor am I tech savvy enough to be trying to diagnose.

Fingers crossed 🤞🏿 

[Mark3209]

It's sadly NOT an Apple issue - I've been down that route already and spoken with one of their US based engineers to assist - they tried everything live with me, and nothing solved it.

Furthermore, my brother has gotten so fed up with it, he's just moved over to EE and guess what?? That's right, Apple Music now works faultlessly.....

it's most certainly definitely a Sky Mobile issue, and sadly Sky wouldn't have a clue how to solve it, hence why they blame Apple.

the aforementioned Apple update is very very unlikely to resolve this issue. 😔🤬

[Melpzz]

I've just joined on a 24 month contract and am only now getting used to my new phone, to switch now would be such an inconvenience, though it seems it may have to be that way.

This is soooo frustrating!!! 

[Leah-Anna]

I have just left EE after 7 years. I have streamed Apple Music on my 2 hour round trip for the last 18 months with no issue. I have been with sky for 1 month and have not been able to stream and other than downloaded music I have had to resort to listening to the radio. 100% a sky issue that they need to acknowledge and resolve as I will be transferring myself and family back to EE! 

[Melpzz]

Its terrible isn't it?

Sky need to be paying attention. I'm going to enquire about leaving. It's pointless 

[Supersonic56785]

Thank goodness I found this thread. Actually thought I was going crazy and doing something way out of the ordinary. 

I to have switched from EE and have had a few issues with sky mobile since joining. Apple Music displaying the "timed out" and "not authorised" messages every time I try and stream anything from Apple Music on any mobile data connection be it 3G 4G or 5G (but open YouTube or Netflix and works like a dream) also had the very common "EE port number over to sky mobile now can't receive security authorisation txts for mobile banking etc etc issue" I logged this issue and it was sorted within 4 days but this Apple Music one is certainly digging its heals in. Hopefully some kind of background fix is being sorted but now knowing how sky mobile will try and blame anyone else rather than themselves I'm not holding my breath.