iTunes is Apple’s digital media player application, which is used for playing and organizing digital music, video, and podcasts. If you have purchased any music from the iTunes store, it automatically goes to your iTunes library. However, adding songs from other sources can be tricky, and many people struggle with it. Therefore, this blog post will cover different methods of adding songs to your iTunes library, along with some helpful tips and FAQs.
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The Challenge of Adding Songs to iTunes Library
Adding songs to your iTunes library is not as straightforward as it may seem. If you have songs on your computer, you may need to manually add them to iTunes. Moreover, if you download songs from different platforms, they may come in different file formats that might not be compatible with iTunes. Therefore, it becomes difficult to add these songs to your iTunes library.
However, don’t worry! This blog post will guide you on how to add songs to your iTunes library step-by-step using different methods.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before adding songs to your iTunes library, you need to prepare some things. Here are the following things:
- A computer with iTunes installed on it
- The music files you want to add to iTunes
- An internet connection, if you want to download songs from online platforms
- iTunes account, if you want to purchase music from the iTunes store
Method 1: Adding Songs to iTunes Manually
Adding music files to iTunes manually is one of the simplest methods. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Launch iTunes on your computer.
Step 2: Click on the File menu from the top-left corner.
Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select Add File to Library. If you have a folder containing multiple music files, you can select "Add Folder to Library."
Step 4: From the file browser, select the songs you want to add to iTunes and click on Open.
Step 5: After clicking on Open, iTunes will import the selected songs to your library.
Pros:
- Simple and easy method to add songs to iTunes library
- You can select and add multiple songs or whole folders together
Cons:
- This method is manual and time-consuming
- You have to repeat this process if you add new songs to your device
Method 2: Adding Songs to iTunes via Drag and Drop
Adding songs to your iTunes library with drag and drop is a much faster method than the previous one. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Launch iTunes on your computer.
Step 2: Locate the music files you want to add to iTunes and drag them to the iTunes window.
Step 3: Drop the files into the iTunes library.
Step 4: After dropping, your music files will be automatically imported to iTunes.
Pros:
- It’s faster than manually adding each song
- You can add multiple songs simultaneously
- You can also drag and drop a folder containing songs
Cons:
- You need to know where your music files are located
- You can’t preview the song’s information before importing
Method 3: Adding Songs to iTunes from External Drive
If you store your music on an external hard drive, you can still add them to your iTunes library. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Launch iTunes on your computer.
Step 2: Connect your external drive to your computer.
Step 3: From the iTunes menu, click on File and then select Add to Library.
Step 4: From the file browser, navigate to your external drive, and select the music files or folder you want to add to iTunes.
Step 5: After selecting the music, click on the Open button.
Step 6: iTunes will automatically import your selected music to your library.
Pros:
- You can easily add music from external drives to your iTunes library.
- You can add multiple songs or a complete folder at once
Cons:
- You need to connect your external drive to your computer
- You have to repeat this process every time you add new music to your external drive
Method 4: Adding Songs to iTunes from Online Music Providers
You can also easily purchase music from online music providers like Amazon, Google Play, or Spotify and add them to your iTunes library. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Purchase music from the music provider’s website.
Step 2: Once purchased, download the music file onto your computer.
Step 3: Launch iTunes on your computer.
Step 4: From the iTunes menu, click on File and select Add File to Library.
Step 5: Navigate to the downloaded music file location and select the music file.
Step 6: Click Open, and iTunes will automatically add the music to your library.
Pros:
- You can add any music file format to iTunes
Cons:
- You have to purchase the music first before adding it to your iTunes library
- You have to download the music file to your computer first
Why Can’t I Add Songs to iTunes Library?
There could be several reasons why you can’t add songs to your iTunes library:
1. Your music file is in an unsupported format: iTunes supports some specific audio formats. If your music file is in a different format, iTunes won’t be able to read it. Check your music file format, and if it is incompatible, you can use third-party software to convert it to the supported format.
2. Your iTunes library is full: If your iTunes library is running out of space, it cannot add new music files. Clear some unwanted files to free up space.
3. You are not authorized to play the song: If a music file has digital rights management (DRM), you can’t add it to iTunes. It’s better to purchase a non-DRM version of the song.
Additional Tips
1. Automatically Add Music to iTunes: You can set up iTunes to automatically add new music or music folders to your library. Go to the iTunes Preferences, click on Advanced, then select Automatically add to iTunes, and select a folder you want to keep music in.
2. Delete Duplicates: After adding songs to your iTunes library, check for duplicates and remove them. To do this, go to View -> Show Duplicate Items, select the item, and click on the Delete button.
3. Fix Song Metadata: iTunes automatically updates metadata, but sometimes it may not be updated or wrong. You can update it manually by right-clicking the song and selecting Get Info. Update the information, such as the song title or album name, and click on OK.
5 FAQs about Adding Songs to iTunes Library
Q1: How Do I Move My iTunes Library to a New Computer?
A: To move your iTunes library to a new computer, you need to copy your iTunes library to an external drive, then copy it to your new computer. To do this, go to iTunes preferences, select Advanced, and click on Consolidate Files. After that, move the entire iTunes folder from the old computer to a new computer using an external hard drive.
Q2: Can I Add Music to iTunes Without Syncing?
A: Yes, you can add music to iTunes without syncing your device. By simply manually adding the files or dragging and dropping the music files to the iTunes library.
Q3: How Can I Share My iTunes Library With Other Devices?
A: You can share your iTunes library with other devices on the same network using Home sharing. To turn on home sharing, go to iTunes preferences, select Sharing, and check the box that says Share my library on my local network.
Q4: How Do I Sync My iTunes Library to My iPhone?
A: Connect your iPhone to your computer, then open iTunes. Click on the device icon, go to the Music tab, and check the box next to the Sync Music option. Click on Apply to sync your iTunes library to your iPhone.
Q5: How Do I Play Songs in iTunes?
A: To play a song in iTunes, double-click the song you want to play. The song will start playing in the iTunes player.
In Conclusion
Adding songs to your iTunes library can be challenging, especially if they come in different formats or are located in different locations. However, with the methods mentioned above, you can quickly add any song or folder to your library with minimal effort. Follow these simple steps to add your favorite songs to your iTunes library and enjoy listening to them on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod.