How to Sync iPod, iPhone and iPad Music

by Helen Mongan-Rallis. Page last updated: January 29, 2011

Watch video demonstration of how to sync iPhone or iPod music. The following screen shot also shows key steps.

Step 1:

  1. Make sure that your iTunes preferences are set so that iTunes will connect to your iPhone, iPod and/or iPad:

    screen shot showing settings for iTunes preferences

  2. Connect your iPhone, iPod and/or iPad to your computer. This will then open iTunes and show your device listed in the left column of iTunes, under "Devices"
  3. Click on the name of your device (in the screen shot example below, mine is an iPhone)
  4. This will open your device settings. Click on the "Music" tab a the top of the iTunes window
  5. Click on the check box to "Sync music"
  6. Check your preferences -- if you want to sync your entire music library or just selected playlists. Also indicate if you want to sync music videos, voice memos and auto fill free space with songs
  7. If you chose to sync selected playlists, artists, albums and genres, then from the lists below, check off those that you want to sync
  8. Finally, click the "sync" button at the bottom right, and this will sync your music. Do not disconnect your iPhone/iPod/iPad until the message "iPhone (or iPad/iPod) sync is complete. OK to disconnect" appears.

screen shot showing how to sync ipod or iphone music