Why does iTunes insist on adding cloud music to my genius playlists?

[chippe01]

I'm getting really annoyed about this. I don't use iCloud, I turned it off on both the iPhone (6+) and in iTunes (12.3).

Since the new music app in iOS SUCKS BIG TIME, and keeps losing my Genius playlists and also deleting them from iTunes, I create genius playlists in iTunes, then turn them into static play lists to sync with my iPhone.

Since I like to make my genius playlists 100 songs, instead of the default 25, iTunes keeps pulling music from the cloud to fill up the playlists. I DON'T want this! I delete the cloud items, but they keep coming back. iTunes is telling me it will need to download the cloud music if I want to create a regular playlist from the genius playlist.

I do not want cloud music on my PC. I don't listen to it, I don't need it. How do I stop iTunes (and iPhone) from pulling music out of the cloud?

I turned off Apple music on both, I set the phone to only show items on the phone, but this sucks SO MUCH!

 

[cjmnews]

Try this to see if it helps.

In iTunes, go to your music section so that you see songs.
Click View -> Only Offline Music

Then see if the cloud tracks appear in the Genius Playlists. I doubt they will

 

[chippe01]

Thank you. I will try that. I didn't know that existed in iTunes.

 

[chippe01]

Unfortunately, this was already checked off in iTunes, and it still happens. I'm at my wit's end.

 

[cjmnews]

Maybe it is time to abandon Genius playlists.

Make Smart Playlists or Standard Playlists that you control.
If using smart playlists you can exclude cloud based music using the rule Location is on this computer

 

[chippe01]

I don't want to abandon genius playlists, and smart playlists have their own problems.

 

[cjmnews]

Then make a filtering smart playlist for your Genius list.

1. Make your Genius List
2. Make new Smart Playlist with rules:
- Playlist is Genius List
- Location is on this computer
- Match ALL rules

Then use the Smart Playlist that has the same content as the Genius list less the iCloud tracks.
It will be less than 100 tracks, but it is using Genius.