3 Ways to Transfer Music from iPod to iTunes Library

Author: Allen Winner

Hi, there! I’m wondering if I can move all the audio files from my old iPod to my iTunes library. Your helpful suggestions will be highly appreciated, thanks!

Nowadays, very few people use iPod for listening to music, but they do have many precious collections saved in the old-school music player. Therefore, many users want to transfer music from iPod to iTunes and then sync the songs to their new iPhone, iPad or iPod touch again. As a matter of fact, the users have 3 simple ways to move the music files. The following post will show you how to do that.

Method 1. USB Port

iPod users will find that when they connect their iPod to computer, the computer will recognize their iPod but won’t display the music file in the window. Actually, the music files are just hidden by the computer, and the users only need simple steps to unveil the music files:

  1. Plug iPod into computer via USB cable, then the computer will show iPod in "Computer".
  2. Go to "Tools> Folder Options", and then choose "View" in the pop-up dialog.
  3. Check "Display hidden files and folders" in the drop-down menu.

Then you will find a folder called "iPod_Control". Open that folder and you will get the "Music" folder which includes all of your iPod music files. You are able to copy and paste the files from iPod to your computer, but you will find that the music files are saved in a random order. At this moment, you can launch iTunes, and go to "Add> Add Files to Library", and then add the music files into your iTunes library. iTunes will sort the music files by a certain order.

Method 2. Transfer Purchases

iTunes provides a "Transfer Purchases" for all iOS devices users to transfer the purchased items from their iPhone, iPad or iPod to iTunes library directly. The following tutorial will show you how to use this trick totransfer music from iPod to iTunes library:

  1. Start iTunes and go to "Edit> Preferences> Devices", and check "Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically".
  2. Plug iPod into computer via USB cable, and launch iTunes. iTunes will recognize your iPod and display the iPod icon at the upper right corner.
  3. Click "File> Devices> Transfer Purchases" at the upper left corner, and iTunes will transfer the purchased items from iPod to iTunes library.

Note that using this trick may lead to the loss of the non-purchased items during the sync.

Method 3. iPod Transfer Software

Leawo iTransfer is regarded as one of the best among all pieces of iPod transfer software. This software is used for transferring files among iOS devices, iTunes and computers without the sync of iTunes. The following guidance will show you how to transfer music from iPod to iTunes library. You are allowed to free download the software to have a try, but the trial version has limited transfer times.