Add Music to an iPod

You just got a new iPod and you want to start listening right away. After all, an iPod without music doesn't do you much good. Adding your music library only takes a few minutes, and there are several ways you can do it. Learn how to sync music using iTunes, how to manually manage your iPod's music, how to let iTunes pick the music it adds, and how to use a different program entirely.

Steps

Syncing Music

  1. Download iTunes if necessary. It is free and you can obtain it from the Apple website. Some iPods even come with installation CDs, which is useful if you have a slow internet connection. If you have an older computer, make sure it meets the requirements.
    • If you have never used iTunes before, you may want to read this manual on how to use iTunes.
  2. Add music to your iTunes library. You can add music to your iTunes library by importing songs off a CD, purchasing music from the iTunes music store, or by adding songs already on your computer.
  3. Connect your iPod to your computer. Use the USB cable that came with your iPod. iTunes should recognize it immediately and it will appear in the Devices section of iTunes.
    • If the iPod has not been plugged into a computer before, follow the instructions for naming your iPod and changing the initial settings.
    • If iTunes does not recognize your iPod, you may need to restore it.
  4. Select your iPod from the Devices menu. If you can't see the sidebar, click View → Show Sidebar.
  5. Click the Music tab. Check the box next to "Sync Music".
  6. Select the music you want to add. You can sync your entire library (if your iPod is big enough), or you can add specific albums, artists, and playlists.
    • Your sync options may vary depending on your iPod model.
  7. Monitor your available space. As you add items to your sync list, you will see the bar at the bottom of the screen fill up. This will let you know how much free space you have remaining on the iPod.
  8. Click . to start syncing your selected music. The amount of time this will take depends on how much music you are transferring. You can check the progress in the iTunes display at the top of the window.
    • Syncing will remove the music that is currently on your iPod if it is not part of the selection.
  9. Eject your iPod. Once the sync is complete, select your iPod in the Devices menu. Click the Eject button that appears next to the device name. Once the iPod has successfully ejected, you can disconnect it from the computer.[1]

Adding Songs Manually

  1. Connect your iPod to your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if it does not open automatically.
  3. Add music to your iTunes library. You can import songs off a CD, purchase music from the iTunes music store, or add songs already on your computer.
  4. Select your iPod from the Devices menu. This is located in the sidebar, or at the top of the iTunes window. If you can't see the sidebar, click View → Show Sidebar.
  5. Click the Summary tab. This tab usually opens buy default when you select the iPod.
  6. Scroll to the bottom and check "Manually manage music and videos".
  7. Click "Music" at the top of the sidebar to open your Music library.
  8. Click and drag music you want to add onto your iPod. You can select multiple items at once by dragging a selection box with the mouse or holding down the Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) key while clicking items.
  9. Wait while the music is transferred. The songs will be transferred as soon as you release them on the iPod icon in the Devices menu.
  10. Delete music from your iPod.
    • Expand your iPod in the Devices menu.
    • Select "Music" underneath your iPod.
    • Select the songs you want to remove.
    • Right-click and select "Delete", or press the Delete key.

Using Autofill

  1. Connect your iPod to your computer.
  2. Open iTunes if it does not open automatically.
  3. Add music to your iTunes library. You can import songs off a CD, purchase music from the iTunes music store, or add songs already on your computer.
  4. Select your iPod from the Devices menu. This is located in the sidebar, or at the top of the iTunes window. If you can't see the sidebar, click View → Show Sidebar.
  5. Click the Summary tab. This tab usually opens buy default when you select the iPod.
  6. Scroll to the bottom and check "Manually manage music and videos".
  7. Click the arrow next to your iPod in the sidebar to expand the iPod.
  8. Select the Music subsection. A list of all of the music on your iPod will appear.
  9. Use the "Autofill From" drop-down menu to select the source. You can select the library or playlist that you will be auto filling from.
  10. Click . to set your Autofill settings.
    • Check "Replace all items when auto filling" to remove any music already on your iPod during an Autofill.
    • Check "Choose items randomly" to have Autofill pick a random selection of songs.
    • Use the slider to set how much space you want Autofill to leave. If you set it to 0, Autofill will attempt to fill your entire iPod with music.
  11. Click . to start filling your iPod. You can monitor the progress in the iTunes display.
  12. Eject your iPod. When Autofill is complete, click on the Eject button that appears next to your iPod when you select it in the Devices section. Once the iPod has successfully ejected, you can disconnect it from the computer.

Using iFunBox

  1. Download iFunBox. There are a variety of programs that allow you to manage the music on your iPod besides iTunes. One of the most popular alternatives is iFunBox.
  2. Connect your iPod to your computer. Close iTunes if it opens.
  3. Open iFunBox.
  4. Select the "Quick Toolbox" tab.
  5. Drag music files into the window, or browse for music files on your computer.
  6. Disconnect your iPod.
  7. Open the Music app on your iPod. Your new songs should be there to play.


Tips

  • Set up the iPod on the computer you plan to use it on. An iPod set up with a Macintosh will need to have all the songs deleted in order to use it on a Windows operating system. This only needs to be done once if you switch computers, but just to make less hassle, try to use the iPod on only one computer.
  • There are often free songs on iTunes.

Warnings

  • Make sure you disconnect the iPod properly to avoid problems or loss of files on your iPod. Click the eject button next to the iPod icon in iTunes, or in the lower right-hand corner, then wait to unplug the iPod until the message on the screen says it’s safe. If you quit iTunes, drag the iPod icon on your desktop to the trash to eject (Mac) or, if applicable, right-click on the iPod icon on your desktop on a Windows PC.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1351
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