Complete Guide to Using iTunes and the iTunes Store GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple
The Complete Guide to Using iTunes and the iTunes Store
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 4, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section iTunes Basics AACs MP3s and CDs Playlists Sharing and iTunes Genius Back Up and Transfer iTunes Use With iPod, iPad, and iPhone App Store iCloud Apple Music and iTunes Match iTunes and Other Digital Music Stores iTunes for Parents Miscellaneous Issues Troubleshooting and Help Frequently Asked Questions ITunes is a complex and powerful media tool, which means there's a lot to know about it. Learn the ins and outs of using iTunes and the iTunes Store here. The information in this article applies specifically to iTunes 12, which was released in late 2014, although many of the features exist in similar form in earlier versions of iTunes. iTunes Basics
These are the essentials you need for a complete foundation of iTunes features and functions. Whether you use a Mac or Windows PC, you need to know how to install iTunes, create an account and Apple ID, authorize computers, learn what files iTunes can use, and understand the importance of deauthorizing a computer. Install iTunes on Mac Install iTunes on Windows Creating an iTunes Account Authorizing Computers How to Deauthorize iTunes on old or dead computers/devices Using iTunes Gift Cards File Compatibility guide AACs MP3s and CDs
Besides working with your iPod or iPhone, iTunes offers a powerful way to manage your music library. Learn how to add songs to your library from CDs, how to burn your own CDs, and other hot issues in digital music. You'll also discover the difference between AAC and MP3 music files. How to Copy CDs to iPod and iTunes Burning CDs using iTunes Adding Folders of Music to iTunes Changing iTunes CD Import Settings How do I Convert iTunes to MP3? AAC vs. MP3, A sound-quality test AAC vs. MP3: Which to choose for Ripping CDs How to Categorize and Edit Song Information Playlists Sharing and iTunes Genius
Part of the fun of iTunes is creating playlists, sharing music with friends and family, and discovering new music with iTunes Genius. You may be unaware that your family can share music between members, for example, or that iTunes can offer suggestions of music you may like based on your tastes. You can even have iTunes build playlists for you automatically. Creating iTunes Playlists Creating Smart Playlists in iTunes Using Up Next in iTunes Always Skip or Remove Songs when shuffling in iTunes How many times can I Burn iTunes Playlists? How and why to Rate Songs in iTunes Is shuffle mode in iTunes Truly Random? How to use iTunes Home Sharing How to set Up iTunes Genius Creating Playlists with iTunes Genius Using iTunes Genius to Discover New Music How to Turn Off iTunes Genius and its sidebar How to turn on iTunes Library Sharing Using Sound Check with iTunes Backing Up and Transferring iTunes
Transferring an iTunes library to a new computer or restoring a library from a backup after a crash can be complicated. When iPods and iPhones are involved, it's worse. Do you need special software for this? Can you give away your music on an iPod? These articles sort out some of the confusion for you and help you figure out what to do. How do I transfer my iTunes music to a New Computer? How to back up iTunes to an External HD How to Restore iTunes from backup on an external hard drive How to Merge iTunes Library from many PCs to one Top programs to Transfer iPod to computer Recover iTunes after a hard drive crash using iPhone Can I Give Away an iPod and let the recipient have the music? Using iTunes With iPod iPad and iPhone
The basics of using iTunes to manage an iPod, iPhone, or iPad get you listening to your music on these devices. but advanced features and tricks can make life easier and more fun. How to Sync iPhone and iTunes How to Back up an iPad Managing Multiple Devices on one computer App Store
As anyone with an iOS device knows, the App Store is the thing that makes the platform truly versatile and exciting. While app reviews are one part of using the App Store, there's more to it than that. Learn the basics of installing apps, the costs of downloading apps, and whether you can use those apps across multiple devices — or do you have to buy the app for each device. Apple removed apps from iTunes with the 12.7 version. These articles about the App Store apply to pre-12.7 iTunes. Getting and Installing Programs from the iPhone App Store How to Sync Apps to the iPod touch How to Remove iPhone Apps Can I Get iPhone Apps Without iTunes? Do I have to Buy an iPhone App for each compatible device? Can iPhone Apps Be Synced to Multiple iPhones and iPod touches? Can I Redownload Apps purchased from the App Store? iCloud Apple Music and iTunes Match
ITunes has become more integrated with the internet, making it much more powerful and intelligent. Three of the major features that enabled this are iCloud, Apple Music, and iTunes Match. Learn all about these features and how to use them. iCloud Frequently Asked Questions Do you need Apple Music if you have iTunes Match? What is iTunes Match? How to Sign up for Apple Music How to Set Up and Use iTunes Match Enabling Automatic Downloads for iCloud on iOS and iTunes Free music sources for iTunes iTunes Store and Other Digital Music Stores
While iTunes may be the first name that springs to mind when you think about buying music downloads, it's far from the only online music store that works with the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Streaming music services like Spotify and Pandora offer different ways to access and discover new music. And iTunes Radio is another option for enjoying music. Top iPod-friendly Music Download Services Best free iPhone Music Apps Using iTunes Radio in iTunes Buying Songs from the iTunes Store How can I Get Free Music for iTunes? iTunes for Parents
There are few gadgets as popular with today's pre-teens, teens, and young adults as the iPhone. Some parents may have concerns about what their kids can access with these devices, but there are tools that can help you manage what they have access to. How to set up an iPhone or iPod touch for Kids Using iTunes Parental Controls How to set up an iTunes Store Allowance Tips to avoid iPod and iPhone related Hearing Loss Miscellaneous iTunes Issues
What does it mean to jailbreak your iPhone, and will that affect iTunes? What can you do about duplicate songs in iTunes? Can you change the album art for music? Here are topics that don't fit the categories above, but offer useful information to round out your knowledge of iTunes. All about iPhone Jailbreaks Can you use iTunes with other MP3 Players? Can I Create an iTunes Account with a gift card? Adding album and CD Cover Art to iTunes How to Download 1080p HD Movies from iTunes Deleting iTunes Duplicates How to use iTunes on an External Hard Drive iTunes Troubleshooting and Help
Because iTunes is such a complex and powerful program, there's a lot to understand about what can go wrong and how. Finding how to fix a problem you have can sometimes be a challenge. If a song you purchased didn't download, that can be frustrating. This section helps you find solutions. Fixing the iTunes Exclamation Point Why is there a delay in iTunes store Billing? Can I Redownload an iTunes store purchase? When I Import a CD to iTunes, the songs have no names. Why? Paid for iTunes store item, but Download Never Happened Getting iTunes support for purchases by Reporting a Problem Tips on Recovering iTunes after a hard drive crash or theft FAQ How do you update iTunes? On a Windows PC, you can set iTunes to update automatically: select Edit > Preferences > Advanced and make sure Check for new software updates automatically is selected. To manually check for iTunes updates on a Windows PC, go to Help > Check for Updates. If you're on a Mac, manually check for updates by opening the App Store and selecting Updates > Install. Where are iTunes backups stored? If you're on Windows PC, go to the Search bar and enter %appdata%. Open the folder, then select Apple > MobileSync > Backup. If you're on a Mac, you can find your iTunes backups by selecting the magnifier icon in the menu bar and pasting in this line: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. What is iTunes U? iTunes U was an app that allowed teachers to create and share educational courses with students. They could use it to make lectures, assignments, books, quizzes, and syllabuses and share them with millions of people worldwide for free. After years of stagnation, Apple decided to discontinue the app at the end of 2021. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Copy a Music CD to iTunes How to Buy Music on Android Without Google Play How to Transfer Music from Computer to iPhone Do You Have to Use ITunes With an IPhone or IPod? How to Burn Music to CDs in iTunes Syncing Part of Your iTunes Library Can You Install iTunes on a Mac? How to Use Sound Check on iPhone and Other Apple Devices The Evolution of iTunes, from 1.0 to Today Everything You Need to Know About Apple Music How to Copy Music From Your iPod to a Mac How to Install iTunes on Windows How to Hide iTunes and App Store Purchases in Family Sharing How to Use Apple Music on iPhone and iPad How to Deauthorize iTunes on Old or Dead Computers Sync Music to Your iPod Using iTunes Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies