Transferring music from your computer to your iPhone can sometimes be frustrating when it doesn’t work as expected. There are a few common reasons why you may be having trouble getting music onto your iPhone.
Your iPhone isn’t syncing properly with iTunes
The most common reason for music transfer issues is that your iPhone isn’t syncing properly with iTunes. Here are some things to check:
- Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. Older versions can cause syncing problems.
- Check that you have the necessary USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer, and that it’s not damaged.
- Try connecting your iPhone to a different USB port on your computer.
- Force restart both your iPhone and computer then try syncing again.
- Disable syncing for any other devices connected to iTunes.
- Update to the latest iOS software version on your iPhone.
If you’ve verified these items and your iPhone still won’t sync properly in iTunes, you may need to restore your iPhone software. Back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes first, then follow these steps:
- Open iTunes and connect your iPhone.
- While holding the Home button, connect your iPhone to your computer. Keep holding the Home button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- In iTunes, click Restore. This will reinstall the latest iOS software.
- After the restore completes, set up your iPhone as new. You can then sync your music again.
You don’t have enough storage space on your iPhone
If your iPhone is low on storage space, it may refuse to sync large amounts of media like music. Here are some tips:
- Go to Settings > General > Storage on your iPhone to see how much space you have available.
- Delete unused apps, messages, photos, and videos to free up space.
- Transfer photos and videos to your computer to remove them from your iPhone storage.
- Stream music using Apple Music or Spotify instead of syncing songs to your device.
- Upgrade to a iPhone model with more storage capacity.
The music file format is incompatible
iTunes can only sync audio files that are in formats supported by iOS. If you’re trying to transfer music files that use an unsupported format, they will be skipped during syncing. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check the file format of the unsupported songs. Common iPhone-compatible formats include MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, and WAV.
- Try converting the files to a supported format using a program like FFmpeg or a free online audio converter.
- Re-download the files from their source in a compatible format.
The music files are protected by DRM
If your music files are restricted by Digital Rights Management (DRM) encryption, iTunes may block them from being synced. This commonly occurs with music purchased from stores other than iTunes.
- Review the source of the DRM music files. You may be able to re-download non-restricted versions.
- Try removing the DRM protection using specialized software tools, if permitted by your local laws.
- As a workaround, burn the songs to an audio CD then re-rip them to create unprotected files.
Your music files have incorrect metadata
iTunes relies on accurate metadata like song titles, artists, album names, and track numbers to organize your music library. If this data is missing or incorrect, it can interfere with syncing. Try the following:
- Open each music file’s properties to view its metadata. Make any corrections needed.
- Use programs like MusicBrainz Picard or mp3tag to scan your files and automatically fix metadata issues.
- Manually re-tag files by editing their ID3 tags in a program like Kid3 or Tag&Rename.
There are sync limits based on iTunes account type
The number of computers and devices you can sync with iTunes may be limited based on your iTunes account type. This is set when you first set up iTunes.
- If you chose a limited account, you can only sync with one computer. Choose an unlimited account instead.
- Make sure you’re syncing using the original authorized computer only.
- Deauthorize then reauthorize the computer to reset your sync limits.
iTunes Match is turned on
If you subscribe to iTunes Match, it can override your normal iTunes syncing and replace music on your devices. Check these points:
- Open your iTunes account settings on your computer and turn off iTunes Match.
- From your iPhone, go to Settings > Music and turn off iTunes Match.
- On your computer, create a playlist of the music you want to sync. Sync this playlist instead of your entire library.
Your USB cable connection is flakey
Sometimes the USB cable used to connect your iPhone to your computer can have a loose fit or damaged pins that interrupt the data transfer. Try these tips:
- Inspect your Lightning or 30-pin iPhone cable for damage.
- Clean the USB port to remove any dust or debris.
- Make sure the USB cable is securely plugged in at both ends.
- Try a different high quality syncing cable like one made by Apple.
Wi-Fi syncing is enabled but not working
As an alternative to using a USB cable, you can sync your iPhone over Wi-Fi. But this feature is disabled by default, and can sometimes have issues. Check these items:
- Open iTunes and enable Wi-Fi syncing under your device preferences.
- Make sure your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Restart your iPhone and router if you continue having wireless sync issues.
- Disable Wi-Fi syncing and return to using a USB cable instead.
Your music files are not being copied to your iTunes library
In order to sync music to your iPhone, the files first need to be imported into your iTunes library on your computer. If missing from your library, check these causes:
- Make sure you properly add new music to iTunes by dragging files in instead of only playing them from their folders.
- Check the folder where iTunes saves your music files. Moved files may have lost their iTunes library association.
- Review your iTunes preferences to ensure music is set to copy to your library when added.
- Consolidate your library to collect all music files into your iTunes folder.
The music sync is being interrupted
A disrupted data transfer during syncing can result in music not copying fully to the iPhone. Avoid interruptions using these tips:
- Sync with your iPhone connected directly to your computer, not through a USB hub.
- Pause or quit other programs using bandwidth like video streaming.
- Avoid using your iPhone during the sync process.
- Disable iTunes Match temporarily to ensure uninterrupted syncing.
There are issues with your iPhone profile or settings
Problems with your iPhone hardware, underlying software or sync settings can prevent proper music transfer:
- Check for iOS updates and install the latest version.
- Reset all device settings under iPhone Settings > General.
- Restore your iPhone software using Recovery mode then setup as new.
- Remove your iPhone under Devices in iTunes then re-add it.
Conclusion
When music won’t transfer to an iPhone, there are often straightforward fixes like re-syncing, freeing up storage, removing DRM, or using properly formatted files. Rule out software issues by updating iOS and iTunes, then make sure your iPhone appears under Devices. Beyond basic troubleshooting, seek help from an Apple Support advisor who can run diagnostics and suggest tailored solutions for getting your music successfully onto your iPhone.