Do you want to upload videos to your iPod? You can do this if you have an iPod Touch or Classic, an iPod (5th generation) or an iPod Nano (3rd generation onwards). Here's how to do it.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Purchase from iTunes
Step 1. Visit the iTunes Store
Any video you purchase from the iTunes Store will be visible on your iPod.
Step 2. Download and pay for the video
Step 3. Connect iPod to iTunes
Step 4. Select the video for iPod
Step 5. Sync your iPod
Method 2 of 4: Converting Files for iTunes
Step 1. Get to know the formats
The iPod can only display *.m4v, *.mp4 and *.mov files. The video should be a file of the latter type. If it doesn't have this extension, you need to convert it. If not, just open it in iTunes and sync it to your iPod.
Step 2. Convert with Apple software
If you are using a Mac, you can use QuickTime Pro to convert the file to an iPod compatible format.
- Download and install QuickTime Player Pro 7.0.3
- Select or import video files.
- Select File -> Export
- From the Export drop-down list, choose Movie for iPod.
- A new file will be created on the desktop. Import this file into iTunes and sync your iPod.
Step 3. Download the third party software
Online there are several third-party applications available for download that allow you to convert video files to *.mov.
- For Windows, Videora, PQDVD, 3GP Convert, Leawo Free iPod Converter, Any Video Converter (which is the title of the software!) And Handbrake are popular choices.
- For Macintosh, use Handbrake or VideoMonkey.
- If you are having trouble understanding the process, type "[software] help forum" into an online search, with the name of the application you downloaded instead of [software].
Method 3 of 4: Import Formatted Videos Properly
Step 1. Open iTunes
Step 2. Select Movies
Step 3. Select File -> Import
The video is imported into iTunes.
Step 4. Select the movie with one click
Step 5. Select Advanced -> Convert Selection for iPod
Step 6. You can also right click on the movie file icon and select this option
Step 7. Select the “new” file created for synchronization
Step 8. Sync your iPod with iTunes
Method 4 of 4: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Find out if your file is multiplexer
If your videos go to iPod, but they don't have any sound, it means the sound is muxed or in an incompatible format. Such files contain interposed audio and video tracks, which are mixed instead of being stored as separate tracks. Here's how to figure it out.
- Open the original movie file in QuickTime Player.
- From the Window menu, choose Show Movie Info.
- Click on the More Info triangle in the Video Info window (if it is closed).
- Note the entry next to "Format".
- If the format is "MPEG1 Muxed" or "MPEG2 Muxed", the audio portion of your video file is incompatible with iPod and iTunes applications and any other QuickTime-based software. There is no other way than to use a third party application to convert the file in its entirety.
Advice
- Don't know the genealogy of your iPod? Read it here.
- If the video is muxed, it will lose sound if you convert it with iTunes. Make sure you use a third party application for this and save a backup copy of the video first.
- Always use the latest possible version of the software, especially for QuickTime.
- Get an application from the App Store that downloads movies for free. Then, when you are satisfied, connect the iPod with the iTunes and transfer the movie to your computer. Save it to iTunes and sync!
Warnings
- If iTunes produces an error message when converting the video to iPod format, it means that the correct format was not used for importing into iTunes.
- CSS is a DVD anti-piracy scheme that uses encryption to protect the contents of the disc. In some countries, such as the United States, taking a video from your DVDs could be a violation of the US Criminal Code (Chapter 17, Section 1201).
- Always use the latest possible version of the software, especially for QuickTime.
