Sync an iPod

The Apple iPod, the world's classic portable media player, offers high-quality listening and viewing experiences on-the-go. Unfortunately, iTunes, the computer software required to put music and other media files on the iPod, can be tricky to use, especially for users who aren't computer-savvy. Luckily, with a few easy-to-follow instructions, it's not hard to navigate iTunes and sync your device for quick, easy file transfers.

Steps

Syncing for the First Time

  1. Connect your iPod to your computer. Every iPod should be packaged with a standard USB cable that allows it to interface with your computer. Connect your iPod to your computer via the USB cable by plugging the square end into a USB port on your computer and plugging the other end into the iPod itself while it is on. If you have iTunes installed already, it should open automatically. If this is the very first time using your iPod, iTunes may prompt you for basic setup information.
    • If you don't have iTunes yet, you'll need to download and install it before you can sync your iPod. Luckily, it's completely free and Install iTunes.
    • If you're using Windows, when you plug in the iPod, you may get a pop-up window asking which program to use to open the device. Since we'll be using iTunes, you can select this from the list or just close it and open iTunes manually.
  2. If necessary, import any files you want to add. To be able to put songs, videos, or other media files on your iPod, you'll need to import your media into iTunes first. You can do this for audio and video files by either dragging a file from where it's located on your computer into the iTunes window, or selecting File>Add File to Library..., then locating the file(s) you wish to import.
    • To be clear, it's also possible to add files to your iPod with other software, including Windows Media Player and Winamp. However, to use iTunes' syncing feature, the files you want to add need to be imported into your iTunes library.
  3. Open your iPod in iTunes. Select your iPod from the list of devices — depending on the version of iTunes you have, this will be either in the top corner of the screen or on the side, but it's always prominently featured. You should now see a screen showing your iPod's storage capacity and data settings.
  4. Click "Music" to access your music syncing options. Look for the "Music" tab at the top of the window. Click it to access your iPod's syncing options for music. By default, your iPod will sync with all of the music in your iTunes library — that is, when you sync, everything in your iTunes library will go to your iPod.
    • The "Sync only checked songs and videos" option is a nice feature if you want to sync only some of the files you have in iTunes to your iPod, rather than all of your files. For more information on this, see the section below.
  5. Click "Movies" to access your Video syncing options. Change the tab at the top of the windows to "Movies". Here, as with your music, you'll see that the default setting is for all of your videos to transfer to your iPod when you sync. Here, you can choose to sync only select movies and playlists if you wish. This is covered in more detail in the section below.
    • Note that you can also just turn off video syncing entirely by unchecking the "Sync movies" box. If you do this, your videos will stay in iTunes — none will transfer to your iPod.
  6. Repeat this process for Apps, Photos, and TV shows. If you'd like to add any of these other file types to your iPod, navigate to the appropriate menu with the tabs at the top of the window and follow the same basic steps as above. While the individual menus will vary slightly for each file type, the general idea is the same for each — you'll want to use the options on each page to decide whether or not to have the files sync automatically or not, then, if not, specify which files or playlists you want to have sync.
    • "Photos" is the exception here because it allows you to sync directly from a file on your computer, rather than through your iTunes library. To sync a photo collection with your iPod, make a folder on your computer with all of the photos you want to sync (you can also use the "Pictures" folder that is usually the default save location for image files). Click the "Sync photos from:" button on the "Photos" menu, then click on the drop down arrow and locate the folder containing the image files you wish to sync.
  7. Sync your iPod. Now you're ready to sync. Navigate back over to the "Summary" tab of your iPod in the iTunes window. Click the "Sync" button (usually at the bottom of the window next to the bar displaying how much of your iPod's storage is in use, but can vary based on the version of iTunes you have). Your iPod's screen should read "Sync in progress, do not disconnect." The exact message can differ depending on your iPod model but will always be similar.
    • Your iTunes window should also show you that it's syncing at the top part of the window where it usually displays what you're listening to.
    • For some versions of iTunes, the "Sync" button may instead be labeled "Apply" on the Music, Apps, Movies, etc. screens if you've changed your sync settings.[1]
  8. Wait for the sync to finish before disconnecting. When iTunes reads "iPod sync is complete, okay to disconnect" you can disconnect the iPod safely. Your iPod screen should change from displaying a "do not disconnect" warning to a battery icon, indicating that the iPod is charging and is no longer syncing.
    • To be clear, you don't have to disconnect your iPod immediately after syncing. You can also leave it in to charge or change your syncing preferences and sync again.

Syncing Select Files and Playlists

  1. Connect your iPod as normal. Rather than syncing your entire collection of Music, Apps, Movies, and so on, you may want to sync just part of this collection to your iPod. This may be for several reasons: For instance, if you have too many songs for your iPod to hold all at once, you'll be asked to either deal with iTunes syncing random songs from your list each time you sync or to pick which songs to include. To sync select files and playlists, begin as you normally would: by attaching your iPod to your computer with its USB cable.
    • In this section, we'll make a playlist that includes the songs we want to sync onto our iPod, then sync this playlist (and only this playlist) to our iPod.
  2. Create a new playlist. Launch iTunes, then open your music library. To make a playlist, click File>New>New Playlist from the toolbar at the top of the screen. Give your playlist whatever name you want when prompted — an easy-to-remember name like "iPod Sync" or something similar always works, but you can use whatever name you wish.
  3. Add songs to your playlist. Next, drag songs you wish to sync to your iPod into the new playlist you just created. To do this, navigate to your main music library and drag the files you wish into your new playlist. For some versions of iTunes, you may need to right click the file want, then select "Add to Playlist" from the menu and pick the playlist you just made from the second menu.
    • You can also select more than one file at a time by selecting a file, then shift clicking another file above or below it to select both files all the files in between. If you don't want to select all of the files in between, use a control (ctrl) click to select the ones you want.
  4. Set up your iPod to sync only from the playlists you want. Open your iPod and navigate to the "Music" tab. You should see several options: "Sync Music", "Entire music library", and "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres." Make sure "Sync Music" is checked, then check "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres." Now, find the playlist you made in the list below and check its box.
    • Make sure all of the other playlists in the list are left unchecked, unless, of course, you'd also like these playlists to sync.
  5. Sync. Navigate back to the "Summary" tab and click the "Sync" button (as noted above, depending on your version of iTunes, this button may instead read "Apply"). Your iPod should begin to sync as it normally would. When it's done, browse through your iPod's music library — it should only contain songs from the playlist you selected. If you'd like to add more music, add new songs to the playlist you've chosen to sync in iTunes, then sync again (or sync new playlists altogether).
    • In these instructions, we've synced a music playlist, but the same basic approach applies to playlists of movies and videos as well. To sync playlists of other types of media, make playlists including the files you want, open your iPod, and use the tabs at the top of the screen to navigate to your apps, movies, and so on. For each type of media, be sure to select "Add only selected playlists..." or the equivalent option.

Syncing Over Wi-Fi

  1. To set up Wi-Fi syncing, first connect with a USB cable. With iTunes version 10.5 and higher, it's possible to sync your device remotely with a Wi-Fi connection.[2] However, to be able to do this, you'll need to connect normally with a USB cable first. Do this as you normally would, then open iTunes to get started.
  2. Enable Wi-Fi syncing on the "Summary" menu. Open your iPod in iTunes, then, on the "Summary" page, scroll to the bottom and look for the option "Sync this iPod over Wi-Fi." Check the box next to this option. After you do this, click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the screen (next to the bar showing how much of your iPod's storage you're using) to make your change.
  3. Restart iTunes, your iPod, and your Wi-Fi router. Next, exit iTunes and reopen it. Then, turn off your iPod and turn it back on. Finally, power your wireless router (or your other Wi-Fi source) off for about 30 seconds and turn it back on. Changes to a device's Wi-Fi settings (including an iPod's) are notoriously tricky to get to take effect, especially while the devices remain on. In practical terms, resetting your devices gives them a chance to "react" to your new settings.
    • The actual explanation for resetting your router and iPod is a little more complicated, mainly because there are multiple reasons why Wi-Fi devices have a hard time registering new connections without resetting.[3]
  4. Connect the iPod to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. To connect your iPod to your Wi-Fi, open its "Settings" menu, then click the "Wi-Fi" option. Make sure your iPod's Wi-Fi is set to "On" at the top of the menu, then pick your network from the list of options. If necessary, enter your network's security key to gain wireless access. After you connect, test out your connection by trying to open Safari on your iPod and browse the internet.
    • If you're having problems connecting to your Wi-Fi, there can be a variety of reasons. For instance, devices like microwave ovens, cell phones, and satellite dishes for TV sets can interfere with the Wi-Fi ability of an iPod.[4] In this case, try turning off or removing any sources of interference, then moving your iPod very near to the router and trying again.
    • Connection problems can also be caused by your router's firewall. In this case, you may need to adjust your firewall settings to allow your iPod to connect. If you're using a Mac, you may want to consult Apple's official support resources for system-specific instructions for connecting your iPod to Wi-Fi.[5]
  5. Wait for your iPod to sync automatically. If you've enabled Wi-Fi syncing and your iPod is able to connect to your Wi-Fi network, your computer and iPod should soon recognize each other. Your iPod should begin syncing automatically, displaying its typical "Sync in progress" message as it does so. When it's done, your iPod should be updated with the files from your iTunes library that you've designated for syncing (see the sections above for information on choosing which items from your library you want to sync).
    • Note that if you move away from your Wi-Fi source while syncing is occurring, the process may not complete, potentially leaving you with a partly-synced iPod.

Tips

  • If you synced your iPod on somebody else's computer and want that music to remain on there, you will first have to back up the files or the sync will overwrite your data.
  • If you have data or music on the iPod from a previous sync make sure to back it up or else iTunes will overwrite it with a new sync.

Warnings

  • Caution: Only use iTunes to sync your iPod. Using other software will likely void your warranty and could possibly break your iPod.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1351
  2. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4062
  3. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5910788/why-do-i-have-to-keep-resetting-my-router-and-how-can-i-fix-it
  4. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1365
  5. ↑ http://support.apple.com/kb/PH1007
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