There is nothing more frustrating than having a large number of great songs in your iTunes library and not having a clue how to transfer them to your iPod. iTunes can sometimes be a difficult program to use, especially when setting up the iPod sync process for the first time. If you're stuck and don't know how to continue, don't panic - this article shows you how to properly set up iTunes in a few simple steps. Read on to learn how to transfer the music in your iTunes library to your iPod using the program produced by Apple or by transferring the files directly to the device.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Transfer Music to iPod
Step 1. Connect iPod to computer and launch iTunes
ITunes must be started in order to transfer data from computer to iPod. If you haven't connected your Apple device to your computer yet, do so as soon as the iTunes window opens. In a few moments the program should automatically detect the Apple device and a button with a stylized iPod icon should appear in the upper right of the window. Click on the button in question.
Note that to connect an iPad, an iPod Shuffle and other Apple devices compatible with iTunes, the procedure to follow is the same, but the icon of the button they refer to will be different depending on the type of device
Step 2. Click on the "Music" tab on the screen that appeared
After clicking on the "iPod" button you will see a new screen appear containing various information about your iPod, including the name, amount of memory and other relevant data. In this case you will not need to read this information or understand its meaning; simply click on the "Music" tab displayed at the top of the window.
Step 3. Choose whether to sync the entire iTunes library related to music or to transfer only a few selected songs
To transfer your music to iPod, you have two options at your disposal: iTunes can automatically transfer the entire audio library to the device, or you can choose to manually select some songs which will then be copied to the device. If you need to transfer all the songs in the program library, select the button next to "All music library". If you want to transfer only a selection of songs, choose the option "Selected playlists, artists, albums and genres".
You now have the option to select other transfer options. For example, if you also want to include the videos of the songs in your iTunes library, select the "Include videos" check button
Step 4. If you have chosen to manually transfer music to iPod, choose the playlist or artist songs you want to sync
Use the menus displayed at the bottom of the iTunes window to manually choose which songs to sync with your device. Scroll through the menu items to be able to select the playlists, artists, music genres and albums to include in the transfer.
- For example, if you want to sync all the Ligabue songs in your iTunes library to your iPod, you will have to scroll through the artists menu until you find the name "Ligabue" and then select the check button you see next to it. If, on the other hand, you want to transfer only his latest album to the iPod, you will have to scroll through the list in the appropriate menu until you find the corresponding name, and then select the check button next to it.
- Don't worry if your selection includes the same song multiple times; iTunes will automatically transfer it only once.
Step 5. Click on the "Sync" button to transfer the data to the iPod
Regardless of whether you have chosen to manually or automatically sync songs, click the "Sync" button at the bottom right of the iTunes window to transfer all the songs you have chosen to the iPod. iTunes should immediately transfer the data to the device. You can monitor the progress of the procedure by observing the status bar that should appear at the top of the program window.
During data synchronization, do not disconnect the iPod from the computer. Doing so will abruptly abort and any songs that have not yet been transferred will not be playable on the iPod. Also, the iTunes program may crash or stop working properly
Step 6. Enjoy your music
Congratulations, you have successfully transferred all your favorite songs to iPod! To play them disconnect the iPod from the computer, put on the earphones of the device, select one of the songs in the "Music" library, located in the lower right part of the iPod main menu, and start playback.
Note that although this article explains how to transfer your music to iPod, the process for syncing other types of files is virtually identical. For example, if you need to transfer videos to iPod you will need to click on the "Movies" tab displayed at the top of the iTunes window (after clicking on the "iPod" button) and follow the same instructions you used for select your music and start the synchronization procedure
Step 7. To delete songs from iPod, uncheck the sync options you selected earlier
To have the music on your device deleted, connect it to your computer and open the sync screen as you normally would. If it is not already selected, click on the button next to "Selected playlists, artists, albums and genres". At this point, scroll through the list of menus relating to playlists, artists and genres in the library and deselect all the check buttons relating to the songs you want to delete from the iPod. When you have finished making your selection, click on the "Synchronize" button to apply the changes.
Part 2 of 2: Connect iPod to iTunes for the First Time
Step 1. Download and install iTunes
If you have not already done so, you will need to download the installation file and install the program on your computer. While it is possible to transfer your music to iPod without using iTunes, it is the most used tool by most users to do this. In addition, it is a free program, easy to download and install that offers a wide variety of very useful features, including the ability to access the store and automatically synchronize the iPod library with that of the computer.
To download the iTunes installation file, visit the website www.iTunes.com and click on the "Download" button displayed at the top right of the page. Provide your e-mail address and click the "Download" button to start the data transfer
Step 2. Connect the iPod to the computer
A white USB cable should also be included in the device package: the latter allows you to connect the iPod to the computer and transfer data between the two devices. Plug the smaller, thinner connector into the iPod's communication port (it should be located along the underside of the device), then plug the other end into a free USB port on your computer.
Note that non-standard iPod models (iPod shuffle for example) have connection cables with connectors other than those described. However, all versions of iPod connection cables have a connector that plugs into a USB port
Step 3. Wait for iTunes to detect the iPod
After successfully connecting the iPod to the computer, iTunes should start automatically. If not, start it manually. In a few moments, iTunes should detect the iPod connected to the computer. When this happens, you will see the Apple logo appear on the iPod screen. A progress bar may also appear at the top of the iTunes window to indicate that the program is automatically downloading and installing the data it needs to properly interface with the iPod. Wait for iTunes to complete the setup. This may take several minutes.
- If iTunes fails to detect iPod automatically, don't despair. It is well known that iTunes can have some difficulty recognizing new devices. Try disconnecting the iPod from the computer and reconnecting it, or restart the program or computer. If the problem persists, rely on the iTunes online support center.
- If the remaining battery charge on your iPod is very low, you may need to wait for it to recharge for a while before iTunes is able to detect the device.
Step 4. Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen
At the end of the setup process, iTunes should automatically display a welcome message. Click on the "Continue" button to continue. The "Sync with iTunes" screen should now appear. Click on the "Start" button displayed on the screen that appears: a screen will be presented with various options, including the following:
- The ability to update the iPod software to the latest version available. If your device's operating system is out of date, click the "Update" button to automatically download and install the latest software version available. In this way your iPod will be updated with all the new features introduced by Apple and with all the solutions to the security problems that have been encountered.
- The ability to create a full backup of the iPod. If this is your first time connecting your device to iTunes, you shouldn't have any data to back up as the iPod will only contain the operating system, but choose where to store the automatic information backup file (whether to save it to your computer or on iCloud) so you don't have to worry about manually backing up your data in the future.
Step 5. Click on the "Finish" button
To close the screen in question, simply click on the blue "Finish" button at the top right of the iTunes window. At the end of this step you will be automatically returned to the screen that was displayed before you connected the iPod to the computer.
You are now ready to transfer your music to iPod using iTunes
Advice
- You can use the iTunes Store to purchase new songs to upload to your iPod. To access the latter, use the button located in the upper right part of the program window.
- You can listen to a short preview of the songs before purchasing them permanently. To start playback, double-click on the name of the song you want to hear in the iTunes Store.
