4 Quick Ways to Import Music to iPhone from Computer without iTunes

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Learn how to add songs to an iPhone from a computer or streaming app
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This wikiHow guide teaches you a few simple ways to sync audio files from your computer to an iPhone without using iTunes.

Easily Add Music to Your iPhone without iTunes

  • To add music to your iPhone from a computer, use Finder on your Mac, a cloud service like Dropbox, YouTube Music, or Spotify Premium.
  • If you use Spotify Premium, you can sync music files to Spotify and listen to them on your iPhone.
  • You can also download music for offline listening with Spotify Premium and YouTube Premium.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Finder on a Mac

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  1. It's the two-toned face icon on the Dock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen. [1] Now that iTunes no longer come with macOS, you can use Finder to transfer music files to your iPhone.
  2. Once your iPhone is detected, you'll see its name in the left panel of Finder under "Locations."
    • If prompted to do so, tap Trust to allow your iPhone to access data on your Mac.
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  3. Information about your iPhone will appear in the main (right) panel.
  4. It's near the top of the window.
  5. It's in the main panel.
  6. To sync all of the music on your Mac to your iPhone, select Entire music library . If you'd prefer to choose specific music, select Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists . Both options appear next to "Sync" in the main panel.
    • If you chose to sync certain content, check the boxes next to everything you'd like to sync in the bottom part of the main panel.
    • If you'd like to sync video as well, check the box next to "Include videos."
  7. It's at the bottom of the window. The selected music will now sync to your iPhone.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using YouTube Music

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  1. Sign in if prompted.
    • You can upload a limited amount of music for free, but paying for a subscription will allow you to upload and listen to more songs.
    • If you just want to download songs from YouTube Music's catalog and subscribe to YouTube Premium, skip to step 4 .
  2. This will open your file manager so you can choose a song to upload.
  3. Navigate to a song, then double-click it to upload it. Alternatively, click the song to select it, then click Open .
  4. If you don't already have the music app, get it for free from the App Store.
    • Sign into the same account that uploaded the music.
  5. It's at the bottom of your screen.
  6. This will let you see all the music you've uploaded to your account.
    • If you want to download music to your iPhone, either the music you've uploaded or music that's only available through YouTube Premium, tap the three dots next to a song or playlist and select Download .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using a Cloud Service

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  1. The specific service doesn't matter since all of them function the same. You can create an account for free and have the chance to upgrade how much space you have by paying. Some examples of cloud services are:
    • Dropbox - Sign up for an account at https://www.dropbox.com . You can add songs from your computer to Dropbox and play them using the Dropbox app on your iPhone. Basic (free) Dropbox accounts come with 2 GB of space, but you can upgrade to Dropbox Plus or Dropbox Family (2 TB), Dropbox Professional (3 TB), or Dropbox Business (5 TB) if you need more. [2]
    • Google Drive - Sign up for an account at https://www.drive.google.com . You can play music directly from the Google Drive app on your iPhone, or you can use any media player tools that link to your Drive to play your music. For example, download Cloudbeats to sign into your Google Drive account and listen to your music. [3]
    • OneDrive - Sign up for an account at https://www.onedrive.com .
  2. This will add a Google Drive/OneDrive/Dropbox folder to your menu bar (top-right corner on a Mac) or system tray (bottom-right corner on Windows). Anything you place in this folder will be uploaded to your cloud service account.

    Note: Installing the client is optional but does make things easier. If there's a reason you aren't able to install the client, go to their website and log in to your account to access the web interface.

  3. You can open the cloud services folder by clicking the icon in your System Tray or menu bar and then clicking the folder button. Dropbox and other cloud storage providers support music in .mp3, .aiff, .m4a, and .wav formats. [4]
    • If you're using the web version, click Upload," select Files (to select individual files) or Folder to select a folder.
      • To select multiple files at a time, hold down the Control key as you click each file name.
    • Uploading may take a while if you are adding a lot of music files, and the speed is dependent on your internet connection.
  4. Any of the apps are free and can be downloaded from the App Store. Once the app is installed, launch it and sign in using the same account you use on your computer.
  5. Google Drive/Dropbox/OneDrive will stream any of the songs you have stored on your account as long as you have a network connection. The songs will continue playing in the background even if you switch apps.
    • You can also use a cloud player app to listen to your Dropbox files. Some popular free options are CloudPlayer by DoubleTwist and Evermusic .
    • To make a song available for offline listening, tap the three dots next to it in Dropbox and select Make Available Offline .
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Spotify Premium

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  1. A premium Spotify membership will allow you to sync MP3, M4P/AAC (DRM-protected audio files purchased from iTunes/Apple Music), and MP4 files to your iPhone as long as Spotify is installed at both locations.
    • After signing up for Spotify Premium, you can install Spotify on your computer by downloading it from http://www.spotify.com/download . Once you've installed Spotify, log in using the account you use to access your Premium membership.
    • If you don't already have Spotify installed on your iPhone, download it from the App Store.
  2. To do this, tap your profile picture at the top of the center panel and select Settings .
  3. It's under the "Your Library" header in the main panel.
  4. To do this:
    • Click ADD A SOURCE under this header. [5]
    • Select the folder that contains your music files and click OK . Spotify will import the files in that folder.
    • To view your local files, click Your Library in the left panel, and then click the Local Files tile at the top. It may take several minutes for the files to import.
  5. The trick to getting your audio files onto your iPhone from your computer is to add them to a playlist and then mark that playlist as downloaded. To create the playlist:
    • Go to + > Create a new playlist in the left panel next to "Your Library." This creates and opens a new playlist with a generic name, like "My Playlist," followed by a number.
    • To change the name of the playlist, click it, enter a new name, and then click Save .
    • Open your local songs by clicking Your Library in the left panel and selecting Local Files .
    • Drag the songs you want on your iPhone to the new playlist.
  6. It's the green circle icon with three curved black lines inside. If you're not already signed in with your Premium account, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in now.

    Note: If your iPhone is not already connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer that's running Spotify, connect to that network now.

  7. Here's how:
    • Tap your profile icon in the top left corner and tap Settings and privacy .
    • Scroll down and tap Local files .
    • Tap the "Local Audio Files" switch to turn it on.
    • If you haven't used your iPhone to connect to another device before, follow the on-screen instructions to allow Spotify to find devices.
    • Tap the back button until you return to the Spotify home screen.
  8. It's at the bottom of Spotify.
  9. If you don't see it, tap Playlists at the top first.
    • Don't panic if it's empty—you still need to download the songs.
  10. It's at the top of the playlist below its name. This downloads the music from the playlist onto your iPhone.
    • It may take a while for the files to sync completely, especially if you have a lot of them. You'll see a green arrow next to each song that has been synced to your iPhone.
    • Apple Music also works similarly to Spotify Premium.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I transfer music files to my iPhone?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If you already have downloaded music, you should be able to use a flash drive with a lightning port to transfer them over.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 0
  • Question
    Can I transfer music to iPhone using a WiFi transfer?
    Community Answer
    Yes, use the VLC app. There is WiFi transfer option - easy to use, fast and free!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 47
  • Question
    Can I transfer music from my PlayStation 3 to my iPhone 5?
    Community Answer
    Try putting a USB into the PS3 and copying the files you want onto the USB. Insert it into your computer, plug your phone into the computer, and exchange any files you need.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/sync-music-to-your-device-mchlbf6a1fab/mac
      2. ↑ https://help.dropbox.com/accounts-billing/space-storage/can-i-buy-more-space
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/drive/thread/208648806/can-i-use-drive-store-mp3-s-and-then-access-them-from-a-separate-player-if-so-how?hl=en
      4. ↑ https://www.dropbox.com/help/228
      5. ↑ https://support.spotify.com/us/article/local-files/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Finder.
      2. Connect your iPhone.
      3. Click your iPhone.
      4. Click Music .
      5. Check "Sync Music onto your device."
      6. Choose music to sync.
      7. Click Apply or Sync .

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Jen Alan

        Jun 28, 2016

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