How to Sync Music to Your iPod

Last Updated: October 1, 2021

To erase all of the content off of your iPod and replace it with the content of a new iTunes account, you can configure your iPod to automatically sync new content. If you only want to sync specific content categories such as playlists to your iPod, you can easily configure manual setting for adding music to you iPod. Learn how to manage your iPod content three different ways by following the steps below.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Checking for Latest Versions

1
Make sure your computer has a USB 2.0 port and the latest version of iTunes. If you do not have the latest version of iTunes, download it by running a software update check on your computer and following the installation instructions.
- You can also download the latest version of iTunes by visiting the Apple website and clicking on the "Download Now" button under the "iTunes" tab.
2
Make sure your Mac is running on Mac OS X version 10.6 or later. If you have a PC, make sure you are running Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later.
- Learn how to update your Mac and update your PC before continuing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Connecting the iPod to Your Device

1
Open up iTunes on your computer. Do so before connecting your iPod in order to avoid recognition problems.
2
Plug the USB cable into a port that is built into the computer. Make sure that you are not accidentally using a USB port that is not part of the computer such as a keyboard USB port or an external USB hub.
- Be sure that no other USB devices are occupying any of the other ports.
3
Connect your iPod to the Dock Connector on the USB cable. Be sure you are using the Apple Dock Connector to USB port cable that came with your iPod.
- If your computer has USB ports on the front and back, connect to a port on the back of the computer.
- If iTunes does not recognize your iPod when you connect it, try closing and re-opening iTunes.
- If it still does not recognize your iPod, restart your computer entirely and start over.^{[1]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Syncing Your iPod Automatically (Fastest Option)

1
Select the appropriately named iPod. Depending on the version of iTunes you have, it will either appear in the "Devices" section on the left side of iTunes or in the upper right-hand corner of the iTunes window.
2
Check that you have enough free storage space on your iPod to sync your music library. Use the capacity bar at the bottom of the iPod management window to see if you have enough space.
3
Choose "Music" from the drop-down menu located under your iPod's name. This will open the music folder on your iPod.
4
Check the box that says "Sync Music." Underneath that box, there will be options for managing what you sync. To sync only music, check "Entire music library." To sync only select playlists, artists, etc., choose "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres." There is also a third option for syncing music videos.
5
Choose "Apply" for iTunes to automatically start the syncing process. Do not disconnect your iPod while the iPod is being synced. iTunes will alert you when the sync is complete.
6
Be aware that syncing your iPod erases all existing content. If you don't want to erase the content on your iPod and start over with a new sync, you can opt to manually manage music on your iPod.
- You can also sync only specific content automatically. Do do so, select a content tab such as "Video" and choose automatic syncing.
- If you choose to sync only certain content, you will have to set up manual syncing for the rest of your iTunes content.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Transferring Music to Your iPod Manually

1
Click on "Summary." Summary is located the furthest to the left between the LCD screen and the iPod management window.
2
Find the "Options" box near the bottom of the iPod management screen and check "Manually manage music and videos." This will prevent your iPod from automatically syncing to your iTunes library when you plug it in.
3
Click "Apply" to set manual syncing as your preference. You can now manually add and remove content from your iPod.
4
Choose "On this iPod" located on the far right of the same toolbar where you found "Summary."
5
Click "Add to," found in the upper right-hand corner. This will alert iTunes to create a pop-up sidebar if you begin to drag any content from your library to your iPod.
6
Browse your library for content you want to put on your iPod. As soon as you select and drag it slightly, a sidebar will appear on the right of the iTunes window. Drag the content to your iPod name. When it is highlighted blue and a small green plus sign appears, you can let go of the mouse or trackpad. You can also drag entire playlists onto your iPod.
7
To delete content, simply highlight and drag the content to the trash. You can also right-click and select "Delete" or "Remove from iPod."^{[2]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Syncing Your Music with Autofill

1
Set up manual content management using the steps above. Once you have manual management, you can set up autofill to quickly sync specific content areas when you plug your iPod in.
2
Click on your music library and look for the Autofill settings bar. It is located at the bottom of the main iTunes window.
3
To sync music, choose "Music" from the drop-down menu next to "Autofill" to sync your entire music library. You can also choose to sync a single playlist. Click on the "Autofill" button on the far right. iTunes will then automatically sync as much music as possible from the content selection you made to your iPod. If your iPod cannot hold all of the content you selected, iTunes will simply stop syncing when it is full.

Community Q&A

Question

Why can I not download new music even if I have room on my iPod?

Community Answer

Possibly a company default. May be best to call Apple and find out what's going on.
Question

I have a new iPod touch - how will I sync it?

Community Answer

Open iTunes. Click "Help". A tab will appear saying "Sync". Click and follow the instructions.
Question

I have an old laptop with a large number of playlists and a new laptop with the same music library, but very few playlists. If I sync my iPod with the new computer, will I lose all the playlists on my iPod?

Community Answer

To sync your iPod with a new computer, it will entirely erase the data on the iPod before syncing, so yes, you will lose the playlists.

Warnings

If you have pictures on your computer, and you tell you iPod to sync, all of the photos in your folder will end up on your iPod. (Which will take up a lot of space).

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Do not disconnect your iPod from your computer without ejecting it and waiting for the screen to return to normal.

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