Intro – The Basics of iTunes and iPhones
The iTunes Music Store, launched by Apple in 2003, became the world’s most popular online music store and helped drive the adoption of digital music downloads. The iTunes Store allows users to browse, purchase, download, and play music and other media on desktop computers as well as iPhones, iPads and iPod devices (Source).
iPhones have been tightly integrated with iTunes since the first iPhone launched in 2007. When an iPhone is connected to a computer running iTunes, users can browse and purchase music, movies, apps and other content directly from the iTunes Store. Any media purchased from iTunes is downloaded directly to the iPhone or to the iTunes library on the computer (Source).
The iTunes Music Store offers a catalog of over 75 million songs that users can purchase as digital downloads. Songs purchased from the iTunes Store are downloaded and saved locally so they can be played anytime, even without an internet connection. This allows iPhone users to build extensive music libraries synced from iTunes that they can take anywhere.
iTunes Account and Library
To purchase and download songs from iTunes, you need an iTunes account. This account allows you to access the iTunes Store to browse and buy media. It also gives you access to an iTunes library, which keeps track of all the media you’ve purchased through your account (Such as songs, movies, apps, etc).
Your iTunes library contains information about your media purchases and downloads. It does not actually store the media files themselves. Instead, it stores information like the names of songs or albums you’ve purchased, your playlists, app data, and more. This library data helps organize and keep track of your media content (Branson, 2017).
When you download a song from iTunes on your iPhone, it is added to your iTunes library. This means it is now registered with your iTunes account, even though the actual song file is stored locally on your device. Your library helps sync this content across devices logged into the same iTunes account, like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer (Discussions.apple.com, 2012).
So in summary, your iTunes account gives you access to the iTunes Store to purchase content. Your iTunes library then keeps track of that purchased content and syncs information across your devices.
Downloading vs. Streaming
iTunes allows users to add music to their library either by downloading songs or by streaming them. Downloading songs saves a copy of the song file to your device storage so you can listen offline. Streaming on the other hand allows you to listen to songs on demand over the internet without taking up storage space.
When you download a song from iTunes, it saves an AAC audio file to your computer hard drive or phone storage. Downloads give you permanent access to that song file so you can play it anytime, even without an internet connection. However, downloads take up storage space on your device. The amount of space depends on factors like song length and audio quality.
Streaming songs through iTunes Match or Apple Music does not save song files locally. Instead, it plays the song on demand by pulling the audio data from Apple’s servers each time you listen. The advantage is you can access a huge music catalog without using up storage space. But streaming requires an internet connection and you lose access if you unsubscribe from the service.
Downloading is better if you want songs permanently saved for offline listening. Streaming makes sense if you want access to a huge catalog and don’t mind not owning the files. Both options have merits depending on listening needs and preferences.
According to one source, “iTunes streaming uses adaptive streaming that uses a higher bitrate with either quick transitions or small buffer sizes.” (https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=310492)
Where are Downloaded Songs Stored?
When you purchase and download songs from the iTunes Store directly onto your iPhone, they are stored locally in the Music app. The Music app has a section called “Downloaded Music” that contains all of the songs downloaded from iTunes that are stored directly on your device.
Downloaded songs are stored in the internal storage of your iPhone, in a folder called “Music.” This folder resides within the larger “iTunes” folder that contains all media synced from iTunes. However, Apple restricts access to this folder and does not allow you to directly access the files from your iPhone’s file browser.
You can access and play downloaded songs in the Music app by going to Library > Downloaded Music. This section contains all songs you have purchased and downloaded within the Music app itself. Streaming songs from Apple Music will not appear here.
Downloaded songs do not count against your iCloud storage limit, since they are stored directly on your device. However, they do take up storage space on your iPhone. You can manage your storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space your downloaded music library is using.
Accessing Downloaded Songs
When you download songs from iTunes to your iPhone, they are stored locally on the device and can be accessed through the Music app without an internet connection. To play downloaded songs on your iPhone:
1. Open the Music app.
2. Tap on the Library tab at the bottom.
3. Select Songs to view all your downloaded music. You can also filter by playlists, artists, albums etc.
4. Tap on a song to start playback. The small downward arrow next to the song name indicates it is a downloaded file rather than streamed song.
You can also download playlists for offline listening. Tap on a playlist, scroll to the bottom and select “Make Available Offline.” All songs will download to your device and be accessible without internet. Downloaded songs will have a small arrow icon next to their name.
If you cannot find your purchased iTunes songs, make sure iCloud Music Library is enabled in your settings. This will sync your iTunes purchases to your device. You may also need to download past purchases on your computer through the iTunes account menu.
Streaming Songs vs. Downloads
When it comes to accessing music from iTunes, you have two main options – streaming songs or downloading them. There are some key differences between these two methods:
Streaming songs allows you to listen to music from the iTunes library without taking up storage space on your device. Songs are played directly over the internet connection. This makes streaming more convenient if you want access to a huge music catalog without cluttering up your phone’s storage. However, streaming relies on having an internet connection. If you lose connectivity, you won’t be able to listen anymore. Streaming may also impact your data usage depending on your plan. Some find streaming quality isn’t as high as downloaded files.
Downloading purchases songs which are then stored locally on your device. This allows you to listen offline whenever you want, without needing an internet connection. Downloads offer higher quality audio files compared to streaming. The songs take up storage space on your phone, which could become an issue depending on how large your music library is. Downloading individual songs rather than full albums can mitigate this. Overall, downloading provides more ownership and reliability, while streaming offers convenience and extensive choice.
Some prefer streaming for its endless music access and not having to manage storage. Others choose to download their favorite songs or albums to own them and listen offline. Consider your listening habits, storage needs, and connectivity when deciding between streaming and downloads.
For more details on streaming vs. downloading, check out this discussion on Apple forums: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253579017
You can also read this Quora post comparing streaming and downloads: https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-streaming-music-and-downloading-music
Managing Storage Space
Downloaded songs from iTunes can take up a significant amount of storage space on your iPhone. Here are some tips for managing the storage space used by downloaded iTunes songs:
Check how much storage space is being used by music in the Settings app under General > iPhone Storage. This will show you a breakdown of how much space different categories like music are using.
Offload unused songs from your iPhone to free up space. You can do this by going to Settings > Music and turning on “Optimize Storage.” This will automatically remove downloaded songs you haven’t listened to in a while.
Delete full albums or individual songs you no longer want. Open the iTunes app, tap on Music, select the song or album, and tap the delete icon.
Use iTunes Match to store your music library in iCloud rather than downloaded onto your device. This will save local storage space while still allowing you to stream your full music collection on demand. Learn more at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204146
Consider upgrading to a model with more storage if you find you consistently need more space for music and other media.
Syncing Issues
Syncing your iPhone with iTunes can sometimes be problematic. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common syncing issues:
If your iPhone is not syncing properly with iTunes, first try updating to the latest version of iTunes on your computer (source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252338227). There may be bug fixes or improvements that resolve sync problems.
You can also try changing the USB cable you use to connect your iPhone to your computer. Some cables can become worn out over time and cause syncing problems (source: https://mobiletrans.wondershare.com/itunes/iphone-not-syncing-with-itunes.html). Switch to a brand new Lightning cable and see if that improves syncing.
If you continue having issues, open iTunes preferences and go to the Devices section. Try clicking “Reset Sync History” which will clear out any problematic sync data (source: https://www.ubackup.com/phone-backup/iphone-not-syncing-with-itunes.html). Then retry syncing your iPhone.
As a last resort, you can try signing out of iTunes and your Apple ID, then signing back in and syncing again. This essentially resets the authorization between your iPhone and iTunes library.
Alternatives to iTunes
While iTunes has traditionally been the default music player and library for Apple devices, several noteworthy alternatives exist for managing music on iPhones.
For Windows users seeking a replacement, MusicBee, WALTR, and iMazing offer strong iTunes alternatives with music management, syncing, and backup capabilities. MusicBee is an especially popular free option.
On Android, Google Play Music and Spotify provide streaming music access akin to iTunes. For local music libraries, many prefer simple programs like Windows Media Player or MusicBee.
For Mac users invested in the Apple ecosystem, iTunes alternatives are more limited. However, Swinsian and Songbird offer macOS options to play locally stored music with some added functionality.
The iTunes era is ending with each new iPhone operating system, as Apple shifts toward its Apple Music streaming service. But for managing a personal media library, independent programs like those mentioned can suit users seeking an iTunes alternative.
Summary
Here are the key points on where downloaded iTunes songs are stored on iPhones:
- Songs purchased and downloaded from the iTunes Store are stored locally on your iPhone, not streamed from the cloud.
- Downloaded songs are stored in the On My iPhone section of your iTunes library on the device.
- To access downloaded songs, go to the Music app on your iPhone – the songs will be available for offline listening.
- Songs are downloaded to the internal storage on your iPhone. Manage storage by deleting songs or using iTunes to sync only certain songs.
- Downloaded songs allow listening without an internet connection. Streamed songs require a continuous internet connection.
- To sync downloaded songs from iTunes on your computer to your iPhone, connect the devices with a cable or use wireless iTunes syncing.
In summary, songs purchased and downloaded from iTunes are stored locally on your iPhone for offline, on-the-go listening. Access them through the Music app on your device.