Mp3 player allows you to enjoy music anywhere. No matter you're using an iPod, Coby, Sandisk, or any other music player, transferring music from your computer is easy. Some music players come with built-in software, while others rely on programs built into the computer. While iPods can only be used with iTunes, other music players can usually be used freely without much restriction.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using iTunes with an iPod or Other Device
Step 1. Install iTunes. iTunes is installed as a default program on Mac computers. Windows users can visit https://www.apple.com/itunes/download to download and install this program.
- Download the installer for this program by clicking "Download Now". Once the program has been downloaded, run the installer and follow the instructions provided.
- If you can't download iTunes while using Internet Explorer, you may need to set the filter level in the pop-up blocker. Open "Internet Options" in Internet Explorer, then click "Privacy". Select "Settings" under Pop-up Blocker and set the filter level to "Medium".
Step 2. Put music into iTunes Library
When you first run it, iTunes will scan your computer for music files and add them to your Library. If you add more music after that or your files aren't in your Library, you can do two ways to add music:
- Drag the folder into iTunes. If you're using a Mac, open Finder and click Music, then drag and drop the desired folders into your iTunes library. If you're running Windows, open File Explorer by pressing Win+E, locate the folder you used to store music in, then drag and drop the folder into the iTunes Library.
- Another method (works for both operating systems) is to open the File menu and click " Add to library ". Select the folder you want to add and click "Ok".
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If you're using Windows and don't know where to save your music files, open Windows Search by pressing Win+F. tik
*.mp3
(or
.flac
,
.ogg
,
.mp4
- , etc.) in the search box, then press Enter. When you have found the file, right-click one of the former and click "Properties". The location where the file is saved will be displayed in full next to Location.
Step 3. Connect the Mp3 player to the computer
Use the USB cable that came with your device to connect your device to your computer. If this is the first time this is done, the computer will start installing the driver automatically.
Step 4. Look for the Mp3 player in iTunes
If the Mp3 player you are using is compatible with iTunes, it will automatically appear in iTunes. If there is a problem, check if you are using the latest version of iTunes or not.
- iTunes 10 and earlier: Your device will appear on the left of the screen under the "Devices" menu. The device may appear in the form of the Mp3 player manufacturer (e.g. “Sony Mp3”) or your name (e.g. “Buddy's iPod”).
- iTunes 11: An icon will appear near the iTunes Store link in the upper-right corner of iTunes. It's a small icon shaped like an Mp3 player with the name of your audio player next to it.
- iTunes 12: Click the Mp3 player icon in the upper-left corner of iTunes.
Step 5. Drag and drop the files in the Library to the Mp3 player
You can click and drag individual songs to the device, or move multiple files at once.
- If you can't drag music files to your Mp3 player, double-click the device, then select " Summary " from the sidebar on the left. When a menu appears, scroll down to Options and check the box that says "Manually manage music and videos".
- If you're still having problems, try disconnecting the Mp3 player from your computer and then reconnecting it. If this still doesn't work, try restarting iTunes.
Step 6. Eject your Mp3 player
Select the device in iTunes, then press Cmd+E (for Mac users), or Ctrl+E (for Windows users). Next, unplug the device from the computer.
Step 7. Wait while the Mp3 player scans for new files
This will be done automatically after you disconnect it from the computer. If the file doesn't appear in the Music menu, restart the device to run the scan.
Method 2 of 3: Using Windows Media Player on Windows 7, 8.1, or Vista
Step 1. Launch Windows Media Player
This method doesn't work on iPods, but it does work on almost any other Mp3 player. Click Start, then type Media in the search box. Click Windows Media Player that appears in the search results to open it.
Step 2. Add music to Media Player Library
If you've never used Media Player, you'll need to add music files to the library in this media player.
- Click “Organize” → “Manage Libraries”. Next, select “Music”.
- In the Music Libraries Locations dialog, select the folder used to store the music, then add the folder to the Media Player by clicking "Include Folder".
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If you don't know where to save your music files, open Windows Search by pressing Win+F to search for them on your computer. tik
*.mp3
- in the search box, then press Enter. When you have found the file, right-click one of the former and click "Properties". The location where the file is saved will be displayed in full next to Location.
Step 3. Connect the Mp3 player to the computer
Use the USB cable that came with your device to connect it to your computer. If this is the first time this is done, the computer will install the driver automatically. If your Mp3 player came with a CD or instructions for installing a driver, follow the instructions provided by the device manufacturer.
Step 4. Determine the method for synchronization
If it's the first time you connect your Mp3 player with Windows Media Player open, your device will be synced using the method that works best with that device.
- The Automatic Sync option will be selected automatically when the storage capacity of your Mp3 player is more than 4GB and all files in the library can fit on that device. Keep in mind that if you keep Automatic Sync selected, the device will automatically sync with the Windows Media Player library every time you connect it to your computer.
- The Manual Sync option will be selected if the storage capacity in your Mp3 player is less than 4GB and not all music files can fit in the media player.
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Some of the steps you can take to switch from Automatic to Manual Sync (or vice versa) are:
- Click the "Switch to Library" button in the upper right corner of Media Player. Click the Sync tab, then click " Sync Options " (the button with a check mark).
- Click the "Set up Sync" button, then look for the Device Setup area. Uncheck " Sync this device automatically " if you prefer to sync manually, or check if you want the process to run automatically.
Step 5. Start adding music to the Mp3 player by clicking "Sync"
Your device will appear at the top of this tab, which will usually be labeled "My Media Device". Click and drag the desired music file to the Mp3 player.
If you prefer to sync files automatically, you don't need to do this step because the files are already synced
Step 6. Disconnect the Mp3 player safely after the files are copied
This can be done by clicking on the USB device in the system tray (which is in the lower right corner, near the clock) and selecting " Safely eject hardware ".
Step 7. Wait while the Mp3 player scans for new files
This will be done automatically after you disconnect it from the computer. Restart the device to run a scan if the file doesn't appear in the Music menu.
Method 3 of 3: Manually Moving Music in Windows
Step 1. Connect the Mp3 player to the computer
Use the USB cable that came with the device to connect it to the computer. If this is the first time this is done, the computer will install the driver automatically. If the device came with a CD or instructions for installing the driver, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your Mp3 player.
Step 2. Locate the folder containing the music files on your computer
Open File Explorer in any version of Windows by pressing Win+E and looking for the folder containing the music.
-
If you don't know where to save your music files, open Windows Search by pressing Win+F to search for them on your computer. tik
*.mp3
(or
.ogg
,
.flac
,
.mp4
- , etc.) in the search box, then press Enter. When you have found the file, right-click one of the former and click "Properties". The location where the file is saved will be displayed in full next to Location.
Step 3. Open another File Explorer window to view your Mp3 player
Press Win+E key, then open the Computer menu on the left of the screen. Double-click your Mp3 player, which will usually be labeled "Removable Disk" or "Mp3 Player".
Step 4. Look for the Music folder in the Mp3 player
Read the instructions that came with the device to find out the exact location to save the music files. Most Mp3 players store it in a folder labeled "Music". Once you find it, double-click the folder to open it.
Step 5. Drag the desired song to the Mp3 player
In the first File Explorer window (the window that opens the music folder on your computer), select the files you want to move. Most Mp3 players allow you to drag an entire folder (or multiple folders) onto the device. So, there's no need to panic if your files have been organized by artist. Highlight and drag the file to another File Explorer window (the window that opens the Music folder in the Mp3 player).
Step 6. Close the File Explorer window
Make sure the songs you want have finished copying before you close the window.
Step 7. Remove the Mp3 player safely
You can do this by clicking on the USB device in the system tray (in the lower right corner, near the clock) and selecting " Safely eject hardware ".
Step 8. Wait while the Mp3 player scans for new files
This will be done automatically after you disconnect it from the computer. Restart the device to run a scan if the file doesn't appear in the Music menu.
Tips
- Some Mp3 players come with a CD or download link to get a music manager program. For example, Sony's media players are equipped with the MediaGo program. You can still use one of the options described above to transfer music to your Mp3 player if you don't like the default program on your device.
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Some Mp3 players may only be used to play certain types of files. For example, some Mp3 players can only play files that have the extension
.mp3
while others can also be used to play files with the extension
.flac
or
.ogg
- .
- You can't move streaming music (such as music from YouTube or Pandora) to an Mp3 player. You can only move downloaded files to your computer.
- To save time copying songs to an Mp3 player, select multiple files at once by holding down the Ctrl (or (⌘ Cmd on Mac) key while clicking another file. Click anywhere in the highlighted area, then drag all the files together.
