How to Manually Transfer Songs From a Computer to an iPod

by Mario Calhoun
Manually add music to your iPod from the iTunes program.

Manually add music to your iPod from the iTunes program.

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While automatic synchronization is the default setting for synchronizing your music to your iPod, you also have the option to turn off auto-sync and instead manually manage your content. This feature is useful if your iTunes library is larger than the space on your iPod's hard drive, and allows you to choose what content is added to your iPod. In the event you want to go back to automatic synchronization, your iPod's current content will be erased and replaced with the current information in your iTunes library.

Step 1

Open the iTunes program on your computer by opening the Applications folder in Finder on your Macintosh computer, and double-clicking the iTunes icon. For Windows PCs, click "Start" on the taskbar and click "Programs" and "iTunes."

Step 2

Plug the iPod USB cable into the dock connector of your iPod, which is located on the bottom of the device, and plug the other end of the cable into your computer's USB port.

Step 3

Click the "iPod" tab in the iTunes sidebar and select the "Summary" tab in the main window of iTunes.

Step 4

Select the box next to "Manually manage music and videos," which is located at the bottom of the iTunes summary section. Click the "Apply" button to save the changes and click the "Music" tab in the iTunes sidebar to access your music library.

Step 5

Click and hold down your mouse over the song you want to transfer, and drag and drop it to the "iPod tab in the iTunes sidebar. Hold down the "Shift" key while clicking songs to select multiple songs.

Step 6

Select the "Eject" icon next to the "iPod" tab in the iTunes sidebar once your songs have finished transferring, and remove the iPod cable from your computer's port.

References

About the Author

A Chicago-based writer, Mario Calhoun has been writing professionally since 2007, with work appearing in local publications such as "Mint Magazine" and "Echo Magazine," Columbia College Chicago's student magazine. Calhoun currently works at Murder Mystery Maniacs, an event planning company. Calhoun graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in magazine journalism.

Photo Credits

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