I have two older iPods, each with different music libraries. Recently, I decided to streamline the music on both devices. I signed up for a free month of Apple Music because I thought I could download music to listen offline. However, I found out that it doesn't work with older iPods, according to customer service. They told me that music from Apple Music can only be downloaded to a computer, iPad, or Apple Watch. I work in a factory, so a computer or iPad won't help, and I really don't want to spend a ton on a watch. What options do I have to get music onto my old iPods?
4 Answers
I have Apple Music set up on my Mac without a sub, and I still sync my classic iPods using Finder. If you're on a PC, though, it gets tricky since the Apple Music app doesn’t sync like iTunes does. I’d stick with an older version of iTunes for now to get your music onto those iPods.
There's actually a lot of ways to get music on your iPods without relying solely on Apple. And just a heads up, the Apple Music app has mostly replaced iTunes, so you might find it easier to use that if you have a newer device in the future.
Unfortunately, Apple Music subscriptions can only let you download songs to a computer, and they don't sync with older iPods. If you want to combine songs from both iPods, keep in mind that an iPod can only sync with one iTunes library at a time. If you connect to a different library, the old songs will disappear. You might have to look into some third-party software to transfer music around!
Do you already have music on your iPods? Just to clarify, Apple Music and iTunes are indeed different services. Anything you legally purchased or ripped yourself should sync with your iPod, but songs from Apple Music will not work offline unless they're part of your purchased library. I'd recommend hitting up your local library to borrow CDs and rip them to your iTunes library!
That's good advice! Just be aware that Apple Music does not combine with previous libraries; you'll want to keep tracks sorted.
Yeah, I totally get needing something portable for work. Maybe consider an older iPod model that can still sync with iTunes if you can find one.