Apple says iOS 9 will bring back Home Sharing for music

When the iOS 8.4 update was released recently, Apple removed the Home Sharing for music feature from iOS devices, and a large number of users have been upset about it. There had been no mention of Home Sharing's discontinuation before the release of iOS 8.4, and until today it was unclear if the feature would make a return. Eddy Cue, Apple's iTunes chief, has now stated that they are working to have Home Sharing be available again when iOS 9 is released later this fall.

Cue took to Twitter to reply to a user with the comment "We are working to have Home Sharing in iOS 9." Home Sharing let users stream music from a computer running iTunes to an iOS device when both were connected to the same WiFi network. The feature can still be used for video content, and music can still be streamed from a computer to an Apple TV.

@inklake We are working to have Home Sharing in iOS 9.

— Eddy Cue (@cue) July 6, 2015

Many users were surprised with iOS 8.4, as the release notes simply stated that Home Sharing, and Genius Mixes as well, were "not currently available," leaving it open-ended if the features would return. Cue's comment doesn't make it clear exactly when Home Sharing will become part of iOS 9. The next beta for the mobile OS is due to be released later this week, but it seems likely users will have to wait until the final release of the software.

Interestingly, this makes the third time recently that Apple's Cue has used Twitter to acknowledge and respond to ongoing issues. Just a few weeks before the launch of the Apple Music service, when an open letter from Taylor Swift prompted Apple to change its policy on paying music artists, Cue used to Twitter to announce the decision. He also previously tweeted that iOS 9 would increase the limit on iTunes Match songs from 25,000 to 100,000.

SOURCE Eddy Cue/Twitter