This article shows you how to transfer music from a computer to an Android device (smartphone and tablet). You can do this by uploading your music directly to the Google Play Music site or by using a Windows or Mac computer to physically copy the files to your Android device.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Google Play Music
Step 1. Access the Google Play Music website via your computer
Launch the internet browser of your choice, then use it to access the website. This way, if you are already logged into your Google account, the main screen of Google Play Music will be displayed.
- If you are not logged into your Google account via your internet browser, press the button Log in located in the upper right corner of the page, then enter the associated email address and security password.
- If you have registered more than one Google account, click your profile icon in the upper right corner of the page and select the account you want to use now from the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 2. Press the ☰ button
It is located in the upper left of the page that appeared. This will bring up the main menu of the service.
Step 3. Choose the Upload Music option
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared. This will take you to the Google Play Music loading screen.
If you haven't set up Google Play Music yet, press the button Come on, enter your credit or debit card payment information and press the button Activate to be able to continue. You will not be charged any costs. This procedure is only used to verify in which area of the world you reside.
Step 4. Press the Select button from your computer
It is located at the bottom of the page. A File Explorer (on Windows systems) or Finder (on Mac) window will appear.
Step 5. Select the folder that contains your music
In this case you will need to click on the folder where all the songs you want to load are stored using the left sidebar of the dialog box. In order to access your song library, you may need to select several different folders in sequence.
Step 6. Choose the audio tracks to add to your Google Play Music library
Create a selection area by dragging the mouse pointer or holding down the Ctrl key (on Windows systems) or ⌘ Command (on Mac), while clicking on each individual song.
Step 7. Press the Open button when you are done making your selection
It is located at the bottom of the dialog box. This way all selected audio tracks will be uploaded to Google Play Music. After the data transfer is complete you will be able to listen to the songs through the service application.
Method 2 of 3: Transfer Music Files from a Windows Computer
Step 1. Connect the Android device to the computer
Use the USB cable that came with the device at the time of purchase. Plug one end into the communication port on your smartphone or tablet, then plug the other end into a free USB port on your computer.
If your Android device prompts you to select the type of connection to establish, choose the option Multimedia device (MTP).
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by selecting the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Choose the "File Explorer" option by clicking the icon
It is characterized by a folder and is located in the lower left part of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Navigate to the folder that contains the music you want to transfer to your Android device
To do this, use the tree menu located inside the left sidebar of the "File Explorer" window that appears. You may need to select several different folders in sequence in order to access your song library.
Step 5. Choose the audio tracks to transfer to the device
Create a selection area by dragging the mouse pointer or holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on each individual song.
Step 6. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window. This way you will have access to the options contained in the tab Home of the menu.
Step 7. Press the Copy to button
It is characterized by a folder-shaped icon, located within the "Organize" group of the ribbon; a small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 8. Choose the Select Path item
It is the last option in the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 9. Select the name of your Android device
Its folder should be inside the "Copy Items" pop-up window that appears. This will show the internal directory structure of the Android device.
In order to locate and select the icon that identifies your smartphone or tablet, you may need to scroll down the list
Step 10. Choose the "Music" folder
It is located within the file and directory structure stored on the device.
Step 11. Press the Copy button
It is located at the bottom of the "Copy Items" dialog box. This will start the data transfer procedure from the computer to the Android device.
The file copying process may take some time
Step 12. Safely remove the Android device from the computer
This step is necessary to be able to disconnect the device from the computer without the fear of corrupting the data it contains and should only be performed when the data transfer is complete.
Method 3 of 3: Transfer Music Files from a Mac
Step 1. Connect the Android device to the Mac
Use the USB cable that came with the device at the time of purchase. Plug one end into the communication port on your smartphone or tablet, then plug the other end into a free USB port on your computer.
- If your Mac doesn't have USB ports, you'll need to purchase a USB-C to USB-3.0 adapter;
- If your Android device prompts you to select the type of connection to establish, choose the option Multimedia device (MTP).
Step 2. Open a browser installed on the Mac
Since Android devices are not designed to automatically interface with a Mac, you need to download an official software that can remedy the problem.
Step 3. Go to the web page of the Android File Transfer program
Use this web address. You will be redirected directly to the download page.
Step 4. Press the Download now button
It is characterized by a green color and is placed in the center of the appeared page. This will start the download of the program installation file.
Depending on your browser configuration settings, you may need to first choose the folder in which to save the file or confirm that you want to download
Step 5. Install Android File Transfer
You simply have to select the installation file you just downloaded with a double click of the mouse, check the file using the "System Preferences" (MacOS Sierra and later versions) and finally drag the icon of the Android File Transfer program into the link to the "Applications" folder.
Step 6. Open a Finder window
It features a stylized blue human face and is placed directly on the Dock.
Step 7. Navigate to the folder that contains the music you want to transfer to your Android device
Use the tree menu located inside the left sidebar of the Finder window that appears. In order to access your collection of songs, you may need to select several different folders in sequence.
Step 8. Choose the audio tracks to transfer to the device
Create a selection area by dragging the mouse pointer or holding down the ⌘ Command key while clicking each individual file to include in the selection.
Step 9. Access the Edit menu
It is located in the upper left of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 10. Choose the Copy option
It is located at the top of the menu Edit. This way all the files you choose will be copied to a temporary memory area.
Step 11. Launch the Android File Transfer program
After a few moments, the file and folder structure inside the Android device should appear. One of the directories shown should be named "Music".
Step 12. Double click on the "Music" directory
It should be located in the middle of the Android File Transfer window.
Step 13. Enter the Edit menu again on your Mac, then choose the option Paste elements.
The latter is located at the top of the menu Edit. This will start the data transfer procedure from the computer to the Android device. Once the data transfer is complete, you can disconnect your device from your Mac and use it to listen to your music wherever you go.
