Add Music to Your Android Device

Since the introduction of the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system on Android phones, the method for transferring music from your computer to your phone has changed. Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to get your music to your phone. At the end, there are instructions for Mac users, and for users of older Android operating systems. Finally, there is a guide on how to get your music stored on the cloud, so it can be accessed anywhere you have a network connection.

Steps

Transfer Using MTP Sync in Windows

  1. Download the latest version of Windows Media Player. MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) is a Windows service that requires the use of Windows Media Player, a media program that comes built-in to every copy of Windows. Windows Media Player must be upgraded to at least Version 10, and you must be running Windows XP SP 2 or newer (Vista, 7, or 8).
  2. Set up your library. Open Windows Media Player. Click the arrow under “Library” and then select “Add to Library…” from the drop down menu. Select “My personal folders” to have Windows Media Player automatically search the most likely places for your music to be stored.
    • If you want to tell it exactly where to search, click “Advanced Options >>” and manually select your music folders.
    • Windows Media Player will build a library of your music.
  3. Connect your Android phone to a PC with a USB cable. Windows will automatically begin installing device drivers so that you can access your phone’s files through Windows. This process may take several minutes.
  4. Once your phone is detected in Windows Media Player, you will be given an option to name the phone. This name will be displayed in Windows Media Player whenever the phone is connected.
    • You are given the option to sync automatically or not. If you select automatic, Windows Media Player will transfer any music to your phone that is not already onto your phone.
    • After the initial setup, your phone will sync automatically every time you connect it. Songs that have been added to your computer since your last sync will be transferred over, and anything added to your phone that is not on your computer will be transferred back.
  5. Customize your sync. To change what is synced, or to change your automatic sync preferences, right-click on your device in the left frame and click “Set Up Sync…” This will open the “Device Setup” window. When “Sync this device automatically” is checked, you can specify which playlists you would like to automatically sync.
    • By default, every playlist on your computer is selected, including the “All Music” playlist.

Transfer Using MTP and Windows Explorer

  1. Ensure that your Windows Media Player is up to date. Even though you’re not syncing with this method, you still need Windows Media Player to be able to process MTP in order for your phone to connect.
  2. Connect your Android phone to the computer with a USB cable. Windows will automatically recognize it as an MTP device. If an Autoplay window comes up, select “Open device to view files using Windows Explorer.” The icon will look like a folder.
    • Your screen cannot be locked during this connection process. If it is locked, nothing will show up when you open your phone. Simply unlock the screen to continue.
    • If an Autoplay window did not appear, open your Computer by clicking the Start button and then selecting “Computer” or “My Computer”. A window showing your connected devices will appear. Double-click on your phone in the list to open it up.
    • Right-click on your phone and select “Properties” to see how much free space it has. This will impact how much music you can copy.
  3. Browse to your Music folder. Windows will open your phone in the browser, showing you all of its folders. Sort them alphabetically and open the folder labeled “Music”. This is where you will copy your music to.
    • Be careful when moving files while in your phone’s storage. Many of the folders you see contain critical information to keep your phone working.
  4. Open another Windows Explorer window and navigate to your music collection. The most common place to find your music on your computer is in the Music folder found in either the Documents or Username folder.
  5. Select the music you want to move over to your phone. Right-click on the selected music and click “Properties”. Make note of the size for the music you are copying over. If you try to copy too much, Windows will copy over everything it can until it reaches the limit. Click and drag the music over to the Music folder on your phone.
    • Hold down the Ctrl button while dragging your music to make sure you copy it and not move it.
    • You can copy over folders as well as individual songs.

Transfer Music to Android 4.0+ for Mac

  1. Install Android File Transfer. Download it from Android.com. This program will install the MTP protocol on your Mac, which allows the transfer of files.
  2. Connect your phone to your Mac using a USB cable.
  3. Open Android File Transfer. After running the first time, it will start automatically every time you connect your phone to your Mac. The amount of free space on your phone is shown at the bottom of the window.
  4. Browse the Android folders. Music should be copied over to the Music folder on your phone. Copy files simply by dragging them from their original folder to the Music folder on the phone.
    • You can copy files as big as up to 4GB, as long as your phone has the space.
    • You can disconnect the phone at any time. If there is a copy in progress, it will be canceled.
    • Android File Transfer is not limited to music. Any file type can be transferred to and from the phone.

Transfer Music to Older Versions of Android

  1. Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable. Your computer will attempt to install drivers for your phone automatically.
  2. Open your notification bar. Swipe down the top bar on your phone. If your phone is properly connected, a notification will appear that says “USB Connected”. Tap the notification.
  3. Tap “Turn on USB Storage”. A window will pop up asking for confirmation. This will turn allow your computer to access the phone’s storage.
  4. Open your phone’s storage. Access it by opening either Computer or My Computer. There you will see a list of your devices. Double-click on your phone. Find the Music folder once you open the phone. This is where you will copy your music. Click and drag your music to copy it onto your phone.

Add Music Through Google Play

  1. Install the Google Music app on your phone. Sign in using your Google account. This app will let you listen to any music you purchase through the Google Play Store and any music that you add to your library with the Music Manager program on PC.
  2. Download the Music Manager program. Start by signing up for a Play account through Google. If you already have a Google account, it uses the same account. Install and run the Music Manager program.
    • The manager will ask for locations of your music. If you have iTunes music that you would like to add to your Android phone, select the first option when prompted. If you keep your music in other folders, navigate to them when the program asks.
    • The music manager will begin uploading your songs to your Google account. You are allowed to upload 20,000 songs for free. Once they are uploaded, you can use the Google Music app on your phone to listen to them, or play them through the browser using the Music Manager program on your computer.
    • You can set music to be available for offline listening by selecting the option through the Google Music app, or by downloading your music again through the Music Manager program on your computer.

Tips

  • Use FolderSync. There is a free version in the App Store. Configure it to sync your PC music folder with your phone's storage card. Set up a music player and point it to the phone's storage card. Done.
  • Use Method 2 to transfer any type of file, such as documents and archives. Simply create a storage folder on your phone and copy the files according to the steps.
  • You can transfer pictures and videos using the above methods as well.

Related Articles

  • Transfer Music from a PC to an Android
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