How can I transfer iPod and iPhone music and playlists to iTunes or Mac Music library?

Last Updated :  |  Wide Angle Software

Summary

If you have created a playlist on your iPod and wish to copy it to your iTunes library or Music app on macOS, you may be a bit surprised that iTunes does not provide a simple way of importing playlists and music from your device to your library.

Our TouchCopy software can help you with this, by copying your music and playlists in a couple of mouse clicks.

To copy music and playlists from your iPod, iPhone or iPad to iTunes, follow these instructions...

1. Download and install TouchCopy on your PC or Mac.
2. Run TouchCopy and connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod.
3. Click the "Music" section.
4. Select the songs and playlists you wish to copy. You can select multiple tracks and playlists by shift-clicking them in TouchCopy.
5. Click Copy to iTunes (or "Copy to Music" on Catalina and higher) in TouchCopy.
6. TouchCopy will then start populating your music library on your computer with music from your device.

Copy music from iPod/iPhone/iPad to iTunes

TouchCopy enables you to transfer all your songs and playlists to iTunes with ease. To transfer songs from your iPod or iOS device into iTunes click on the Music tab in TouchCopy and then click on the "Copy to iTunes" button. As iTunes was replaced by the Music app in macOS Catalina and newer, you can use TouchCopy to copy your music and playlists to the Music app!

You can select individual songs or groups of songs you wish to copy by Shift-Clicking tracks in TouchCopy. Alternatively, TouchCopy can compare your device and iTunes content, so you can quickly populate your library with missing songs from your device.

How to Transfer Playlists to iTunes

To copy your iPhone and iPod playlists into iTunes, select the Playlists you wish to copy from the source list in TouchCopy. You can select multiple playlists by CTRL-Clicking (or CMD-Clicking on Mac) items in this list. Once you have selected your Playlists - click the "Copy to iTunes" button in TouchCopy.

What about smart playlists? Find out how TouchCopy can copy Smart and Genious playlists from device to computer.

When transferring a playlist into iTunes, the songs are transferred and a new playlist of the same name is created. Note that if a track is already in your iTunes main Library, TouchCopy will not create a duplicate of that track in iTunes, it will just add the track to the Playlist.

How to Transfer Playlists to your Computer

TouchCopy also enables you to transfer music and playlists directly to your hard drive by clicking on the Copy button in TouchCopy. You can then import your music into iTunes by selecting the File tab and then Add folder to library in iTunes.

If you copy your playlists to your hard drive, TouchCopy will produce an XML file named after the Playlist you are copying. This XML file contains information about the tracks and track order of the Playlist. The XML file can be used to import the playlist into iTunes. To import the playlist into iTunes, in iTunes, select 'File -> Library->Import Playlist...'. Select the XML file saved by TouchCopy with the same name as the playlist you require and click 'Open'.

Please see our User Guide and YouTube video here for further information on how to transfer songs and playlists to iTunes.