iTunes includes several options to automatically or manually syncing music to your iPod, iPod classic, iPod nano, or iPod mini. If you are using and iPod shuffle, click here to learn how to sync music to it.

Syncing music and podcasts automatically

1. Connect your iPod to your computer and open iTunes.
2. Select your iPod in the DEVICES section of the iTunes Source list.

   

3. In the main iTunes browser window, select the Music tab.
4. Select the checkbox labeled "Sync music".

   

5. You have the option to sync all songs and playlists or selected playlists. Your iPod will need to have enough free space to sync the content that you have selected from your library. Tip: You can use the capacity bar at the bottom of the iPod settings window to determine how much free space is available. The size of a playlist can be determined by selecting it and looking at the bottom of the iTunes window.

   

6. Podcasts can also be automatically synced to iPod. Select the Podcasts tab and choose to sync all podcasts or selected ones. You can also determine which episodes are synced based on if they are recent, new, or unplayed.

   

7. Click Apply and iTunes will begin syncing the audio content you've selected to your iPod. The iTunes LCD will display the sync progress and notify you when the iPod sync is complete.

   

   

8. To disconnect your iPod, select it in the Source list and click the eject icon.

Syncing music manually

If your prefer not to automatically sync music content to your iPod, you can setup manual syncing.

1. Connect your iPod to your computer and open iTunes.
2. Select your iPod in the DEVICES section of the iTunes Source list.

   

3. In the main iTunes browser window, select the Summary tab.
4. Select the "Manually manage music and videos" option. This will deselect the automatic sync settings for the Music, Movies, and TV Shows tabs. Automatic syncing for Podcasts, Photos, Contacts, and Games can be individually disabled by selecting each of those tabs. Note: When manually managing iPod, disk use is enabled and iPod must always be manually ejected in iTunes before disconnecting.

   

5. Click Apply.
6. To manually add music, audiobooks, movies or TV shows to your iPod, choose one of these categories under LIBRARY in the Source list
7. Select and drag items you want (to choose multiple items, Command-click items on a Mac or Control-click items in Windows), then drag them onto your iPod icon in the Source list.
8. To add a playlist, select it in the Source list and drag it onto your iPod in the same ways as a song.

   

9. When you are ready to disconnect your iPod, select it in the Source list and click the eject icon.