The iOS users often face challenges when trying to move their favorite tunes to their mobile phones. While the most used method involves iTunes, many have reported issues with it. When it doesn't work, it can disappoint those who rely on it. A user on Reddit reports, "While iPhone shows in iTunes, there are no options for transferring music…"

This comprehensive solution guide will provide the most effective methods for the “iTunes music won’t transfer to iPhone” problem. It will provide all possible solutions to ensure you can enjoy your favorite playlists.

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Part 1. Potential Reasons Behind Why iTunes Music Won't Transfer to iPhone

When encountering issues with moving your tracks, it’s essential to understand the causes behind the failure. The potential reasons behind the problem can range from improper settings to storage issues. Mentioned below are several factors behind the “iTunes won’t copy music to iPhone” dilemma:

  1. Outdated Software: Running old versions of iTunes or iOS can lead to compatibility issues. Always ensure that both of the factors involved are up to date to facilitate smooth transfers.
  2. Improper Sync Settings: Music may not transfer as expected if your iTunes data syncing configurations are incorrect. Double-check your settings to ensure the correct music tracks are synced.
  3. USB Connection Issues: A faulty or loose cable can interrupt the transfer process. Ensure your cable is in good condition and properly connected to your phone and computer.
  4. iCloud Music Library Issue: Enabling this feature on your iOS device may interfere with its ability to get tracks. Sometimes, the library settings can cause confusion, preventing songs from being added.
  5. Device Storage Limitations: Your mobile may not be able to accommodate additional music files. Therefore, review your storage space and remove files you no longer need.

Part 2. 7 Tips to Fix iTunes Music won't Transfer to iPhone

Once you've identified the potential reasons, the next step is to implement effective solutions. Many handy ways are available for you to try to fix the issue of "iTunes music won't transfer to iPhone.” Given below are 7 practical tips to help you resolve the problem and ensure secure music migration:

Fix 1. Check the Available Space

As lack of space is a primary cause of this error, you should take a look at your mobile phone storage. To ensure a successful transfer, you’ll need to verify that there’s enough room for the songs you’re trying to add. You will need to make space in the phone if you wish to complete the transfer. These are the steps you need to check the available space on your iPhone:

Instructions. Access the “General” tab of your iOS device Settings to tap the “iPhone Storage” option. The next screen will display a breakdown of how your device’s storage is being used. Here, locate unnecessary apps and employ “Offload App ” or “Delete App” to remove them to make room.

offload or delete unnecessary apps

Fix 2. Make Sure “Music is Checked” in iTunes

Sometimes, you won’t be able to move tracks to your phone simply because the correct settings are not enabled. One crucial setting is ensuring that the “Music” option is checked in iTunes for syncing. There won’t be any music transfer to your device if this option isn’t selected. After ensuring you have songs in your library, follow these steps to fix this issue:

Step 1. Once you have your phone attached to the computer with iTunes launched, click the Device icon. This will take you to your phone “Summary” page where you need to access the “Music” tab.

access summary page itunes app

Step 2. Within this tab, ensure that the box next to “Sync Music” is checked before clicking “Apply.” Finally, hit “Apply” and wait for the syncing to end before checking if tracks are transferred.

click apply button in music tab

Fix 3. Check for iTunes Updates

As your phone’s iOS firmware continues to upgrade itself, you also need to use the latest iTunes version. Keeping it up to date is essential for ensuring smooth music transfers and avoiding compatibility issues. An outdated version can cause glitches or prevent music from syncing properly. Utilize these steps to successfully learn how to import music from iTunes to iPhone by updating it:

Instructions. On your Windows computer, launch Microsoft Store and click the “Library” option from the bottom left corner. Here, you can check available updates for iTunes under “Updates & Downloads.” You can utilize “Update” to start upgrading procedure if one is available.

find updates from microsoft library

Fix 4. Check Whether Songs are in iTunes Library or Not

Before troubleshooting any further, confirm that the tracks you want to move are actually present in your iTunes library. Sometimes, songs might not sync because they were not properly added to the library. Ensuring that the tracks are available and correctly organized in your library is a crucial step. You can employ the following guide to ensure the targeted tunes are present in the library:

Instructions. After ensuring that iTunes is launched and has detected your connected iOS device, access the “Library” tab. Here, check for the specific songs you want to move to your mobile. You can use “Add File to Library” via the “File” menu to add tracks if they are missing.

press add file to library

Fix 5. Check the USB or Wi-Fi connection

For the song transfer to take place, your device needs to be properly recognized and stay connected. A faulty connection between your phone and computer can be a significant reason for this issue. iTunes lets you sync your iOS device via cable or Wi-Fi to share data. Thus, ensuring that your connection is stable and functional is crucial in fixing this problem.

When using a cable, make sure your USB cable is in good condition. Moreover, try different ports and update the required Apple drivers to their latest versions. For Wi-Fi syncing, ensure that the "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi" box is checked in the "Options" section of "Summary."

Fix 6. Turn Off iCloud Music Library on the iPhone

While the service is great for syncing your chosen tracks across devices, it can become a hurdle. It can sometimes interfere when moving music from iTunes, preventing direct transfers. Turning it off temporarily can resolve this conflict and enable effortless music syncing. These are the instructions for learning how to download all music to iPhone by turning off this feature:

Instructions. From the Settings app of your iPhone, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and choose the "Apps" settings. Here, you have to access the "Music" settings from the "M" section and turn off the "Sync Library" feature to turn off the iCloud music library.

access the music settings

Fix 7. Transfer Music from iTunes Backup to iPhone

Another reliable solution is to move tracks directly if the previous methods haven’t resolved the issue. As long as you have targeted songs in the iTunes backup, you can safely transfer them to your mobile. Since doing this manually can be complicated, you can employ MobileTrans by Wondershare as the solution. The following instructions are needed to migrate songs from iTunes backup to an iOS device:

Step 1. To commence the operation, launch Wondershare MobileTrans and have the iDevice linked to the computer. Now, move to the “Backup & Restore” tab to click the “iTunes Restore” option to proceed.

locate itunes restore in mobiletrans

Step 2. On the subsequent screen, choose the desired backup and tap "View" to see its contents. Next, choose "iPhone Data" to proceed and select "Music" before transferring it via the "Start” button.

choose music and press start

Part 3. How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone without iTunes

There are other dedicated software available that can help you safely move your favorite songs to your phone. While iTunes is the native option, tools like Wondershare MobileTrans are highly recommended due to their efficiency and comprehensive nature. It provides a hassle-free method to learn how to transfer music from a computer to an iPhone without iTunes.

A powerful tool designed by Wondershare, it allows users to transfer various types of data between devices. Its Phone Transfer feature stands out as an ideal solution for transferring music directly from your computer to your smartphone. This software makes the process fast and convenient, ensuring that all your files are transferred without data loss.

Key Features

  • Effortlessly move apps between devices without losing data or settings.
  • Transfer playlists between different music streaming platforms with just a few clicks.
  • Safely back up and restore app data, preserving important files and configurations.
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Easy Guide on How to Move Songs from Computer to iDevice without iTunes

You are to follow the instructions given below in a step-by-step order to complete the music transfer to iPhone without iTunes successfully:

Step 1. Navigate to Import to Phone and Access Music

By using a reliable or Apple-certified USB cable, link your iOS device to the computer and launch Wondershare MobileTrans. Once launched, navigate to the "Phone Transfer" tab to choose the "Import to Phone" option. Now, wait for your phone data to be initialized and move to the "Music" tab once it does.

navigate to import to phone

Step 2. Choose Targeted Music via Add File

Here, click the "Import" button and choose either the "Add File" or "Add Folder" option to locate and add tracks. Following this, wait for the data import procedure to complete while ensuring your iPhone isn't disturbed. Once the process is complete, you can detach the phone and listen to newly transferred songs.

add to file

Conclusion

In summary, experiencing the “iTunes music won’t transfer to iPhone" problem is troublesome, to say the least. However, several effective solutions can help resolve this issue with quite ease. These fixes provide a way out, from checking available storage to turning off iCloud Music Library.

A dedicated tool like Wondershare MobileTrans is an excellent option if these methods do not yield results. This advanced software simplifies transferring music from your computer to your phone. Its robust features allow for effortless transfers, ensuring your music is always at your fingertips.

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Axel Nash
Axel Nash Nov 08, 24
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