How to Put Music on an iPod Touch

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 11, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to add music to your iPod Touch by downloading from the iTunes Store, transferring music from iTunes for desktop, or by downloading previously-purchased music.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using iTunes Store App

1
Open the iTunes Store app. It's a purple app with a white musical note inside a white circle.
- You must be connected to a Wi-Fi network when downloading music.
2
Find music. You can do this in a few ways:
- Tap Search. It's a magnifying glass icon in the lower-right part of the screen.
  - Do this if you're searching for a specific song, artist, or genre, then tap the "Search" field at the top of the screen. Type the title, artist, or keyword in the field, then tap the result you're looking for.
- Tap Music. It's a musical note icon in the lower-left corner of the screen.
  - Do this to browse through songs, albums, artists, ringtones, and genres on the iTunes Store.
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3
Tap the price. To download a song or album, tap the price next to the title.
4
Tap BUY SONG or BUY ALBUM. This button will appear in the same place as the price button. Tapping it confirms your purchase. The music you purchased will begin downloading to your iPod Touch.
- Look for purchased music in the Music app, under the Downloaded Music tab in the Library.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using iTunes for Desktop

1
Open iTunes on your computer. The icon looks like a multicolored musical note inside a white background with a multicolored ring around the outside.
- If iTunes prompts you to download the most recent version, do so.
2
Attach your iPod Touch to your computer. Using your iPod cable, plug the USB end into your computer and the other end into your iPod charging port.
- If your iTunes has auto-sync for music enabled, simply opening iTunes and plugging in your iPod will add any new music to your iPod Touch.
3
Click the media drop-down menu. It's in the upper-left corner of the screen next to the icon of your iPod.
4
Click Music. It's the first selection in the menu.
5
Click a "Library" option. In the "Library" section in the left pane of the iTunes window, there are several ways in which to view the music in your library:
- Recently Added
- Artists
- Albums
- Songs
- Genres
6
Drag music to your iPod. Click and drag a song or album from the library on the right side of the window to your iPod's icon in the left pane of the window, under the "Devices" section.
- A blue rectangle will surround your iPod's icon.
- You can select multiple items by clicking on them while holding down Ctrl (PC) or ⌘ Command (Mac).
7
Drop the music on your iPod. Do so by releasing the mouse or trackpad button, which will start the upload to your iPod.
8
Wait for your music to finish uploading. Once the process is done, you can disconnect your iPod Touch from the desktop.
- Look for music in your iPod's Music app, under the Downloaded Music tab in the Library.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Downloading Purchased Music With iTunes Store App

1
Open the iTunes Store app. It's a purple app with a white musical note inside a white circle.
- You must be connected to a Wi-Fi network when downloading music.
2
Tap More. It's an ellipsis icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.
3
Tap
Purchased.
4
Tap Music.
5
Tap Not on This iPod. It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
6
Tap an artist or title. Music is arranged alphabetically by artist.
7
Tap
. It appears to the right of the song or album you've purchased and want to download.
- The music will begin downloading to your iPod Touch.
- Look for music in the Music app, under the Downloaded Music tab in the Library.

Community Q&A

Question

If I don't have an Apple ID, can I still use Itunes?

Community Answer

You need an Apple ID to access iTunes and purchase music and movies. There are other music resources, such as Spotify and Pandora, which provide a wide selection of music as well.
Question

What do I do if my iPod won't connect with my computer?

Community Answer

Try to use another USB port and different USB cable. Restart your iPod and the computer.
Question

How do I download music to my iPod without buying from iTunes?

Community Answer

If you have a CD or music files on your computer, get the iTunes app on your computer and upload the music to your iTunes app. Then you can use a USB port and connect the iPod to your computer to transfer your music.