Having music stored on your iPhone can really come in handy when you're stuck in a long line at the grocery store or stuck on a broken subway line. Syncing music from your iTunes library to your iPhone's music folder is quick and easy. Follow the steps below to learn how to sync your iPhone and start listening to your favorite songs anywhere.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Setting Up Your Electronic Device
Step 1. Make sure your computer has a USB 2.0 port and the latest version of iTunes
If you don't have the latest version of iTunes, download it by running a software check update on your computer and following the installation instructions.
You can also download the latest version of iTunes by visiting Apple's website and clicking the "Download Now" button under the "iTunes" tab
Step 2. Make sure you are running Mac OS X version 10.6 or later
If you're using a PC, make sure you're 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 of 4: Connecting Your iPhone
Step 1. Open iTunes on your computer
Do that before connecting your iPhone to avoid device recognition issues.
Step 2. Plug the USB cable into an existing port on the computer
Make sure that you are using a USB port that is not part of the computer such as a keyboard USB port or an external USB hub.
Make sure that no other USB device occupies any other port
Step 3. Connect your iPod to the Dock Connector on the USB cable
Make sure you use the Apple Dock Connector to USB port cable that came with your iPhone.
- If your computer has USB ports on the front and back, plug them into the ports on the back of the computer.
- If iTunes doesn't recognize your iPhone when you connect it, try closing and reopening iTunes.
- If your iPhone still can't be recognized, restart your computer and start over.
Method 3 of 4: Syncing Your Entire Music Library
Step 1. Select your iPhone
Depending on the version of iTunes you have, your iPod could be in the left-hand menu under "Devices" or in the upper-right corner of the iTunes window.
Step 2. Select the "Music" tab on the iPhone management screen
The "Music" tab is located to the left of the "Summary" tab.
- If you're running the latest version of iTunes 11, first visit the "Summary" page of your iPhone management screen and click the box that says "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" in the "Options" box.
- Note that syncing your entire music library will delete the content within the "Music" app on your iPhone and replace it with content from the iTunes library you synced.
Step 3. Look for the "Sync Music" box and click on it so that a blue checkmark appears
Again, this box is in the "Music" tab of your iPhone's management screen. Look at the options under the "Sync Music" box and select the function that suits you.
- To sync your entire music library, select "All songs and playlists."
- To sync individual playlists, select the "Selected playlists" option and select the playlists you want to sync.
Step 4. Click "Apply" under the sync options box in the lower right corner
iTunes will automatically sync your iPhone. From now on, whenever you connect your iPhone to your computer, iTunes will automatically sync all new music to your iPhone. If it doesn't do it automatically, head over to your iPhone's "Summary" page and click "Sync" in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Let the iPod finish syncing, then unplug your iPhone from the computer
Be sure to disconnect the iPhone in iTunes by clicking the eject arrow located to the right of the iPhone's name before removing the Dock Connector.
Method 4 of 4: Syncing Playlists
Step 1. Create a new playlist in iTunes
The advantage of using the playlist system is that you can manually manage the songs on your iPhone and monitor the storage capacity at the bottom of the screen so you don't exceed the maximum content capacity allowed on your iPhone. You can do this by selecting "New Playlist" under the File tab at the top of the screen or by clicking the plus sign in the lower-left corner of iTunes.
Step 2. Name the playlist something appropriate like "iPhone Music
It will remind you that this playlist is specifically for transferring music to your iPhone.
Step 3. Drag and drop music from your music library to your new playlist
You can always easily remove songs from a playlist without removing the song from your iTunes library.
Step 4. Select the "Music" tab on your iPhone management screen in iTunes
Make sure the "Sync Music" box is checked, then look at the options below.
If you're running the latest version of iTunes 11, first visit the "Summary" page of your iPhone's management screen and click the box that says "Manually manage music and videos" in the "Options" box
Step 5. Select the "Selected playlists" option located in the "Music" tab
Check the boxes of the playlists you want to sync.
Step 6. Click "Apply," which is located in the lower-left corner of the "Music" tab
Your iPhone will automatically start syncing.
Step 7. If it doesn't start syncing, return to the "Summary" tab of the iPhone management screen
Tap "Sync" in the lower left corner of the screen. Then your iPhone will update and the playlist will be transferred to your phone.
Step 8. Let your iPhone complete the sync completely before ejecting it from the computer
Tips
- If you want to add music to your iPhone manually, you can drag songs from your iTunes library onto your iPhone icon in the iTunes sidebar.
- If you want to use all the space on your iPhone and fill it with music, check the box next to "Automatically fill free space with songs" on the Music screen in iTunes.
