How to Put Music on an MP3 Player: Simple Steps

PDF download Download Article
The easiest and quickest ways to transfer music to your device
PDF download Download Article

MP3 players give you the ability to listen to music wherever and anywhere. Whether you have an iPod, SanDisk, Coby, or any other type of player, transferring music from your computer is a pretty straightforward process. Some players come with their own software, while others rely on programs that may already be on your computer. While the iPod, iPhone, and iPad only work with iTunes or macOS, other MP3 players are typically less restricting. Read on to learn more.


How to Download Music to an MP3 Player

Connect your MP3 player to the computer using a USB cable (it usually comes included with the purchase). Find the MP3 player’s drive on your computer and drag your new music onto the device. With macOS, you can sync music so it's always available even across devices; use Finder or iTunes to sync your music.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using Windows 10/11

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Find the folder on your computer that contains your music. Launch the File Explorer in any version of Windows by pressing ⊞ Win + E and navigate to the folder that contains your music. Note: These steps will not work for an iPod.
    • If you don't know where your music files are stored on your Windows computer, press ⊞ Win + F to open Windows Search. Type *.mp3 (or .ogg, .flac, .mp4, etc) in the search box and press ↵ Enter . When the files are returned, right-click on one and choose “Properties.” The full path to the file will appear next to Location. Music will most commonly be in your "Music" folder or "Downloads."
    • Shrink the window so you can open another one next to it.
    • If you're looking for music, check out this wikiHow article for tips on downloading free music.
  2. Using the USB cable that came with your device, plug your device into your computer. If it's your first time doing this, your computer should begin to install drivers automatically. If your MP3 player came with a CD or instructions on how to install drivers, follow the instructions specific to your player's manufacturer.
    • A new file manager window pops up that shows the file contents of your player. If not, you'll need to accept permissions to view the contents of the connected device first.
    • If the window doesn't open, you can find it by opening File Explorer and double-clicking the name of your MP3 player from the list on the left side of the window.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Find the Music folder on your MP3 player. Check the instructions that came with your device for the exact place to store your music files, but most players have a folder called “Music.” Once you've located the folder, open it by double-clicking.
  4. 4
    Select the music to download to the MP3 player. Press and hold the left mouse button as you drag it over the music you want to transfer.
    • Alternatively, press and hold Shift to select multiple items that are right next to each other.
    • Alternatively, you can press and hold Ctrl as you click to select multiple items, even if they aren't right next to each other.
  5. 5
    Drag your selected items to your MP3 player. Alternatively, right-click your selection and click Copy . Then right-click the blank space of your MP3 player and select Paste .
    • Watch as your music is downloaded to your MP3 player.
  6. 6
    Eject the drive. Once everything is done, click the USB icon in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and click Eject MP3 Player.
    • If you don't see the USB icon on your taskbar, click the carat icon (^) to see more icons.
    • Once you see the notification that it's safe to remove the hardware, disconnect your MP3 Player.
    • You've successfully downloaded music from your computer to your MP3 player!
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using macOS

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Connect the MP3 player to the computer. Using the USB cable that came with your device, plug your device into your computer. If it's your first time doing this, your computer should begin to install drivers automatically. If your MP3 player came with a CD or instructions on how to install drivers, follow the instructions specific to your player's manufacturer.
    • You can only use this method with macOS Catalina and newer. If you have an older version of macOS, you need to use iTunes .
    • If this is your first time connecting, you'll need to Trust the device so you can access it in Finder.
    • If you have a device that can transfer over Wi-Fi, like an iOS 5 or later iPhone, you first need to connect with a cable to enable "Show this device when on Wi-Fi". Once that's enabled and both Mac and iPhone or iPad are on the same Wi-Fi, you'll be able to connect without a cable and download music wirelessly. [1]
    • Once connected, open a Finder window.
  2. 2
    Select your MP3 player from Finder. It will be listed in the menu on the left under Locations .
  3. 3
    Select Music from the top. It's between General and Movies .
  4. 4
    Check a syncing or downloading option. If you want the music on your player to be the same as the music on your Mac, select "Sync music onto (Device Name)". If you want to select specific music, choose "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres."
    • If you opt to download only specific music, go through the list and check the music files you want to transfer to your player.
    • If you have a large music library on your Mac but your selections aren't maxing out the MP3 player's storage, you can click "Automatically fill free space with songs" to download extra music so your player is full of music.
  5. 5
    Click Apply . Doing so will download the selected music to your MP3 player.
    • Press the Eject icon in the Finder window to safely remove your player. [2]
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using iTunes

PDF download Download Article
  1. iTunes is built into older versions of macOS (pre-Catalina), but Windows users will need to download and install the software from apple.com/itunes/download .
    • Click “Download Now” to download the setup software. Once the software is downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  2. The first time you run iTunes, it will scan your computer for music and add it to the Library. If you've added more music since then or don't see your files in the Library, there are two other ways to do this:
    • Drag the folder into iTunes. If you're using a Mac, open Finder and click Music, then drag-and-drop the desired folders onto the iTunes library. Using Windows, press ⊞ Win + E to open the File Explorer, locate your music folder, and drag-and-drop it into the iTunes Library. [3]
    • The other way (on either operating system) is to open the File menu and click “Add to library.” Select the folder or folders you'd like to add and click “Ok.”
    • If you don't know where your music files are stored on your Windows computer, press ⊞ Win + F to open Windows Search. Type *.mp3 (or .ogg, .flac, .mp4, etc) in the search box and press ↵ Enter . When the files are returned, right-click on one and choose “Properties.” The full path to the file will appear next to Location.
  3. Using the USB cable that came with your device, plug your device into your computer. If it's your first time doing this, your computer should begin to install drivers automatically.
  4. As long as your MP3 player is compatible with iTunes, it will show up in the software automatically. If you run into any issues, make sure you're using the latest version of iTunes. [4]
    • iTunes 10 and below: Your device will appear on the left side of the screen under the “Devices” menu. It may show up as the manufacturer of your MP3 player (i.e., “Sony MP3”) or your name (“Maria's iPod”). [5]
    • iTunes 11: On the upper right corner of iTunes, an icon will appear near the iTunes Store link. It will have a small icon representing an MP3 player with the name of your player next to it.
    • iTunes 12: On the upper left corner of iTunes, click the MP3 player icon.
  5. You can click and drag songs to the device individually or several at a time.
    • If you can't drag music to your device, double-click on your device and select “Summary” from the left sidebar. In the menu that appears, scroll down to Options and check the box that says “Manually manage music and videos.”
    • If you're still running into trouble, try disconnecting and then reconnecting your MP3 player. If that doesn't help, try restarting iTunes.
  6. Select your device in iTunes and press ⌘ Cmd + E if you're on a Mac, Ctrl + E if you're using Windows. Unplug your player.
  7. This should happen automatically once you've disconnected it from the computer. If the files don't show up in your Music menu, restart the device to initiate the scan.
    8. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Windows Media Player

PDF download Download Article
  1. This will not work with an iPod, but it should for most other MP3 players. Click Start, and type the word Media into the search box. When Windows Media Player appears in the results, click it to open.
    • If you're on Windows 11, you should open Windows Media Player Legacy for these steps.
  2. If you don't already use Media Player, you'll need to add your music files to the library. [6]
    • Click “Organize, then “Manage Libraries.” Select “Music.”
    • In the Music Libraries Locations dialog, select the folder where your music is stored and click “Include Folder” to add it to Media Player.
    • If you don't know where your music is stored, you can search your computer by pressing ⊞ Win + F to open Windows Search. Type *.mp3 in the search box and press ↵ Enter . When the files are returned, right-click on one and choose “Properties.” The full path to the file will appear next to Location.
  3. Using the USB cable that came with your device, plug your device into your computer. If it's your first time doing this, your computer should begin to install drivers automatically. If your MP3 player came with a CD or instructions on how to install drivers, follow the instructions specific to your player's manufacturer.
  4. If this is your first time connecting your MP3 player with Windows Media Player open, it will sync your device based on the method it believes works best with your device.
    • Automatic Sync will be selected if your MP3 player has more than 4GB of storage and everything in your library can fit on the device. Note that if you stay with Automatic Sync, your device will be automatically synced with your Windows Media Player library every time you plug in your device.
    • Manual Sync will be selected if your player has less than 4GB of storage and not all of your music will fit.
    • To switch from Automatic Sync to Manual (or vice versa)
      • Click the “Switch to Library” button in the upper right corner of Media Player. Click the Sync tab, then the “Sync Options button” (the one with the checkmark).
      • Click “Set up Sync” and look for the Device Setup area. Remove the check next to “Sync this device automatically” if you prefer to sync manually, or add a check if you want the process to be automatic.
  5. Your MP3 player shows up at the top of this tab, likely called something like “My Media Device.” Select and drag the desired music files to your MP3 player.
    • If you choose to sync automatically, you don't have to complete this step—your files are already syncing.
  6. You can do this by clicking on your USB device in the system tray (the lower right-hand corner of your screen, near the clock) and selecting “Safely eject hardware.”
  7. This should happen automatically once you've disconnected it from the computer. If the files don't show up in your Music menu, restart the device to initiate the scan.
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Do you have to buy music on iTunes to download music to an MP3?
    Community Answer
    No. There are several different converters available online.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 48
  • Question
    How can I download music to an MP3 for free?
    Community Answer
    All of the programs in this article are free. If you want to know how to download music to your computer for free, you can find some advice for iTunes in How to Download Free Music to iTunes . Other programs may have similar but slightly different steps, however. You have to download music to your computer first, then from the computer to the MP3 player as this article describes.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 13 Helpful 37
  • Question
    Why is the volume so low after loading MP3/WMA files?
    Community Answer
    It's possible that the link you downloaded has altered audio. I would try to find a new link and download another version.
    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
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 14
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You can't move streaming music (such as music from Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube) to an MP3 player since " downloading them for offline listening " doesn't actually download the file to your device. Only files that you've specifically downloaded to your computer can be transferred to your player.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Different MP3 players allow different file types to be played. For example, some MP3 players will only let you play files that end in .mp3, while others also allow files that end in .ogg or .flac.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Some MP3 players come with a CD or download link for music management software. Sony players, for example, come with MediaGo. You may still be able to use any of the above options to transfer music to your device if you're not a fan of your MP3 player's software.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Using Bluetooth to connect your MP3 player is possible if it's a supported feature, but using it to transfer music is not a good idea since it will take a lot longer time-wise and increases the likelihood that items won't transfer correctly.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Download Music
      How To Download Music on Your Android Phone
      How to
      Download Songs, Albums, and Playlists from Spotify
      5 Ways to Get Free Music for an MP3 Player
      How to
      Download Free Music Online Legally: 9 Working Sites
      Soulseek Setup Guide: Opening Ports & Boosting Download Speed
      3 Easy Ways to Make an MP3 File Available for Download
      Download SoundCloud Songs for Free: 2 Ways
      How to
      Download Music Safely
      How to
      Save Music from Websites
      How to
      Get Music on the Kindle
      How to
      Rip Music from a CD to a Computer
      How to
      Add Free Music to iTunes (or Apple Music)
      How to
      Get Free Music Using Google
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-asia/guide/mac-help/mchlada1d602/10.15/mac/10.15
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-asia/guide/mac-help/mchlbf6a1fab/15.0/mac/15.0
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/kb/PH20507?locale=en_US
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204095
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203060
      6. ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-do-i-import-music-to-windows-media-player/c0c575ec-8ed0-4758-a15e-1ec363450c16

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open iTunes.
      2. Connect the MP3 player to the computer.
      3. Click the MP3 player in iTunes.
      4. Drag-and-drop files to the player.
      5. Eject the player.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 896,972 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Dec 28, 2017

        "Clear, clean and straightforward directions. I have Windows 10 on my desktop and am just a novice when it comes to ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement