iPod owners who are accustomed to the usual song management with iTunes will need some getting used to for the iPhone. Instead of the usual drag and drop from library to iPod – things are a little different here. Hope Apple will eventually make music management a little more user friendly with future firmware updates.
Once the iPhone is connected, you’ll be prompted to activate your iPhone. To bypass AT&T activation process, use any of the methods available online. As for me, I used the One Click tool available here.
On the next screen, you will see 6 tabs displaying different items on your iPhone. Obviously, you will need to click on the Music tab for music management.
Now, here’s the part where Apple could improve on. Under Sync Music, you will be given a choice to either sync all songs and playlist or just selected playlists. If sync all songs is selected - you’ll have to wait for iTunes to reload every song into your iPhone again. If an album or song already exists, iTunes will not duplicate them but skip it – hence reducing syncing time. Syncing songs and photos will take a minute or two, relatively fast for a 8Gb model.
If you choose selected playlists instead. iTunes will just add songs in that playlist and not every song in your music library. Problem with this – your iPhone will display tons of playlists which I doubt fussy users like me would appreciate and every other songs previously copied will be erased. So, this basically means, even if you want to add in 1 song, you will have to let iTunes and iPhone play the syncing game over and over again. Sucks. I know.
One thing to note, if you sync your music on one PC and connect the same iPhone to another PC – iTunes will prompt a warning message saying all music currently in the iPhone will be erased if you choose to proceed. This is Apple’s rights management in action.
Overall, adding music to the iPhone is not complicated, but a firmware update to enable the beloved Drag and Drop will be much desired. That’s all we want, Apple. Really, that’s all we want.
Update:
Alpa – May 12, 2008 at 7:52pm
You don’t need to sync your iphone every time. On the info page, just click the option which says something like “I will manually manage my songs on this ipod/iphone” or similar. That way you can drag and drop from your computer to the iphone.
thank you, i thought i was being retarded for syncing them over and over again.
Jen, glad you found this article useful.
Do drop by again.
I have a iphone my uncle gave me and I restored it not knowing it would lock the phone then I would have to activate it, but how do I unlock the iphone? With out having to get an account with At&T? I only want to use it as a ipod. I am with Verizon anyway. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Jacob
That depends on whether you’re using a 2G or 3G iPhone. Also, the operating system you’re on. Mac or Windows. Visit this website, you’ll find ton loads of info on how you can unlock you iPhone:
http://www.iclarified.com/entries/index.php?caid=2&scid=11&orderby=views
i agree. i thought i had an extra setting on. is there any news on apple changing this since last post. this is extremly not welcome by ipod users, and wish it wss detailed or made known when the phone was released. someone had to have noticed it!
eddie
I feel you. I don’t understand why Apple choose a different approach in music management for the iPhone. Obviously, the early adopters of the iPhone are seasoned users of iPods – why the change? The latest firmware release 1.0.2 reported to be just bug fixes, but it is a 92.1MB download. Seems no change in this area. We can only hope.
when I plug in the my iphone, It doesn’t show up on itunes. I plug it into all of the usb outlets and other computers, and still it doesn’t show up.
Also, how would I add music to my iphone.
Stef
Is your iPhone activated with AT&T? Are you using the latest firmware which is 1.0.2?
Adding music to your iPhone is basically syncing your iTunes Music Library with your iPhone. To do that, have all the music you want to be added into your iPhone placed in iTunes’s music library. Connect your iPhone, launch iTunes. And follow the steps I’ve posted above.
If iPhone still doesn’t show up. Try uninstalling and re-installing the latest version of iTunes.
so basically, you have to leave everything on your hard drive that you want on your iPhone, or you can’t even add one track without fucking EVERYTHING up. That is so retarded, and SO VERY FUCKING APPLE. CLASSIC APPLE BULLSHIT. Fuck you Steve Hand-Jobs.
Dear annoyed as fuck
Actually, there is a way to fool iTunes in thinking that your songs are still in your Library. Drag your mp3s into your iTunes library. Once syncing is complete. Locate those files in your Hardrive, delete them. (Usually found in C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Music\iTunes)
So, what you’ll have in your iTunes Library are merely track names of the songs you’ve just deleted. Then, the next time you sync – iTunes will still keep those songs in your iPhone thinking that it actually still exists.
Try it.
i have an iphone that has been un blocked. and when i connect to my computer its asking me to update???? how do put on songs on my iphone without having to update it???
Can’t Believe how hard it is too add music !!! Just bought an Iphone (starting too think it was a mistake!!!) Got a sony erik (so easy!!) APPLE plz just make it simple!! and u’ll sell loads more !!
I agree. It is a horrible system. I just bought a 16GB iPHone today and am very dissapointed with the music managment features. Here is the link to leave feedback at apple.com: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Everyone should speak up about this.
does Itunes time out? cos it don’t put all my music on the phone!! This is mad ! techology is supposed to make things simple!!! (or is that me!!) :{
Carlos
Strange. If you follow the steps above, it should do it quite easily. I don’t believe iTunes will time out. Please ensure that you follow the most important step to select “Sync All Songs & Playlist” as shown in the last image above.
Thank you Thank you!
I thought I was the one who lost it!
Why did they do this??
Has anybody figured out how to do a search in the calendar???
As a long time Palm owner, I’m can’t believe I don’t have this option!
Am I missing something????????????????
Hello there BigMacky ,
One only question…I reinstaled windows on my PC…I got another itunes and connected my iPhone…now…iTunes it not letting me see what my iPhone allready contains…So…How would I be able to see all my songs,videos on i tunes before adding another song (and delete everything else)…I just can’t put another song without delleting everything else ?!
Thank you,you are the best !!!
…..ok i’m slow, cuz i still cannot load mnusic on my iphone.
I have a hacked one, and that window does not pop up….when i connect the phone to the comp, itunes do not even pick it up….. help!
If you have an iphone in europe, which is unlocked for your european simcard, do not update your iphone, it will block it, until you plug in an AT&T simcard. -
Did it once, its really fucked!
Just an warning
HOW TO DELETE SONGS or list from Iphone
riham
You gotta connect your iPhone to iTunes and edit your song list/library there. Once you are done, click on the sync button. Songs/list in your iPhone will be updated accordingly.
You don’t need to sync your iphone every time. On the info page, just click the option which says something like “I will manually manage my songs on this ipod/iphone” or similar. That way you can drag and drop from your computer to the iphone.
This is the correct answer. Thank you
Alpay
there is no “I will manually manage my songs on this ipod/iphone” on the iphone. I’m assuming you only have an iPod which made it so easy to manage your music. iPhone users do not have this capability which is why everyone is upset.
Hi bigmacky,
Same problem as Rossoblue, the music and videos already installed in my iphone 3G was from another pc. When I got home and connected it to my laptop w/ itune on it, it does not showed the exsisting music and videos in my iphone. How come is this happened and what will I do to make it showed up so that I can edit it or load/ add on it? Pls help….Thnks
amorsd
This is a copyright control issue with Apple. Your iPhone is only allowed to sync with 1 computer. So, when you say – upload songs and videos to your iTunes in the office and wish to do so with iTunes at home. NOPE. I believe iTunes will give u a prompt saying this iPhone is synced with another computer. If you wish to proceed, all songs, videos or photos will be erased. So long story short. One iPhone. One computer.
thanks for the reply bigmacky. ‘m enjoying reading your blog abt the iphone 3G and learned from it.
Another thing can you give me an easy step-by-step on how to upload movies on my iphone using my laptop? Do I need to compress the file to fit in? Thanks
amorsd
I already have a tutorial on how to transfer movies onto your iPhone. Please visit the link below. You will find step-by-step instructions and the free software required for it: Enjoy …
http://bigmacky.wordpress.com/iphone-tutorials/
ok so i keep trying to add music to my iphone the second time.. the first time it was easy after i registered and stuff now its becoming hard more of trouble! i hook my iphone to comp then it recognizes it i already have itunes opened. .. ive put the new downloads an ringtones on to my itunes library but then it says backing up iphone then never goes to my music.. ive clicked the music tab and u can check the all songs or the box by playlists. i clicked all songs an then sync at bottom and get nothing! pleeeeeease help asap this is ridiculous for a phone soooo expensive and compact!
Hi Just wanna know if all this is the same for ipod touch too ? cause i’m thinking of getting a ipod touch.If This goes the same for ipod touch,i think i’m gonna have a second thought of getting an ipod touch then..lol.By the way does this goes the same for photos and videos or just for musics only ?
Hey all Alpay was right the manually manage checkbox is on the summary page not the music page of the iphone in itunes
See this for more details, works fine on my 3g iphone I can drag and drop just like the old ipod
link for above
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1634469
Just buy the iPod Touch and the iPhone. So much easier!
can i use the songs on my iphone as ringtones? giv me simple response please. i dont speak geek. if i can, keep the explanation in words under 12 letters plz lol jk i hav a dictionary lol im kiddin just explain it in geek i hav a phd in electrical engineering
if you jailbreak your iphone, there’s an app called swaptunes that lets you sync with two different itunes. i use it for home and work!
Thank- you!! I just brought a iphone last night and was annoyed i was doing something wrong trying to add songs ipod style. Thanks for your help in fixing this!!!
i think i love you bigmacky. really. many thx.
Make sure you have Itunes installed on your computer and logged in to your Apple Store Account.
Plug in your Iphone with your data cable, this should start a sync, cancel it by clicking the “x” in Itunes where it says syncing blah-blah… Or by sliding the slider on your iphone.
You should be on the summary page, if not click the “summary” tab, now the last options on this screen need changed.
Unclick auto sync and sync only checked boxes…
Click the manually manage music and videos.
Now click the sideways triangle by your Iphone on the left of Itunes under your Devices. Now just find your movies and songs are stored and drag and drop them to the correct folder (Music, Movies, etc.)
That’s it! Click my name to convert any video to work on your Iphone or Ipod!
Thank you! This is the simplest explanation I’ve found. You made it smooth and easy like a Sunday morning.
Sara p
You’re welcome. Glad I could help.
hi…im not sure if this happens to anyone else but everytime i connect my iphone it says that itunes cannot read the contents of my iphone (for come frustrating reason) and it asks me to restore it. well ive restored it twice now and there is not difference. the firmware is up to date…hmm…annoying
Wow things like this are just fucking annoying. You don’t get this kind of shit with a zune. fuck apple this shit is ridiculous.
Hey good job. The link isn’t working, please post an updated version to skip the registration.
Just wanted to say how much I appreciated your blog. I have only had an iPhone since the end of April – as a seasoned iPod user – I thought I was seriously missing something. For the longest time I just didn’t add music to my phone because of it. I am glad I found this, it has been so helpful!
Kate
Glad I could help. Hope you will explore further by downloading Podcasts, applications, videos and more. Its such an amazing device.
Just want to thank you for this as well, sir, as this is my first iPhone and I literally felt like an idiot trying to figure out why I could not drag and drop my music onto my phone. This helped out tons!
Will add your blog to my feed and continue reading. Thanks!
I’m sorry if you’ve already addressed this, but I haven’t been able to find a specific answer.
I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year and had been using the “automatically sync music”, checking off the lists I wanted under the “Music” tab, because my iMac music library is much larger than my iPhone can hold.
On iTunes, under Devices, my iPhone shows up; and if I click on the right-facing triangle it turns to face downwards and what I suppose to be media files on my iPhone are displayed.
My question is: are the playlists (the icon of a page with upper-right corner folded and the little quarternote) all *subsets* of the Music folder? ie. If a song is listed under Music, and also under On-The-GO-Playlist 1, is OTGP-1 a subset of Music, or are the songs duplicate?
Thanks.
Anny
If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking if songs listed under your iPhone subsets Music, On-The-Go-Playlist 1, On-The-Go-Playlist 2 and etc will be duplicated. The answer is No. It’s mirrored (virtual) but in actual, iTunes will not load the same song twice no matter how many times it appears under your iPhone’s subsets.
My laptop hard drive died and I lost all my music and phones on the laptop. I have all the contents synced in my iphone before so I think that’s a backup.
After changing the HD and re-install windows and itune, when I connect the iphone to sync, it warns me to erase all the contents on my phone. Obviously the itune library on my laptop is empty. I tried to check the “Manually manage music and videos” and click “Apply”, itune still wants to erase all my stuff:
“The iphone is synced with another itunes library. Do you want to erase this iphone and sync with this itune library?”
There is only one option to “Erase and Sync”. I could’t switch to manual mode!!! How can I recover/copy out the contents on my iphone then?? Thanks.