If you're an iTunes user, then you can restore important data, migrate libraries, upgrade iOS, and sync multiple computers. iTunes is integrated with the iTunes store where people download or purchase their favorite TV shows, and music.
Find here a few iTunes tips that cover upgrading Apple devices to their latest iOS, migrating your iTunes library from Windows PC to Mac, recovering deleted files and syncing iTunes with multiple computers and many more.
1. How to update iPod iOS using iTunes?
Since Apple frequently releases patches or software updates, your iPod needs to be regularly updated to use the best of its features and the most recent one is iOS 14. This version has some amazing tweaks and enhancements. Beware, once upgraded to iOS 14 you cannot roll back previous versions of iOS like 13, 12, or 11. Here’s how you can update your iPod to the latest version of iOS using iTunes on your computer.
Follow the steps below to update your iPod using iTunes:
Step 1: Connect your device to the system using a lighting cable
Step 2: In the iTunes application, select the Device button on the top left corner of the iTunes window.
Step 3: Click on the Summary option.
Step 4: Then, click on Check for Update.
Step 5: If the latest update is available, click on it to install.
Note: Click on the eject option to disconnect your device from the computer after updating iOS and avoid abruptly disconnecting at all costs.
2. Effortlessly migrate all your iTunes library from PC to Mac
iTunes library might be integral to you as it includes all your personal information like songs, contacts, messages, etc. Migrating iTunes libraries might be tricky but using iTunes you can migrate it in the easiest way without losing any information.
You can transfer your iTunes library from a Windows PC to a Mac or from a Mac to a Mac in just a few simple clicks. With the latest version of iTunes, it should be much easier.
Note: Before migrating the iTunes library using this iTunes guide, just ensure that the latest version of iTunes is installed on both PC and Mac.
Follow the steps mentioned below to migrate iTunes from PC to new Mac:
Step 1 : Click on File menu → Select library → Click on Organize library.
Step 2: Click on the check box Consolidate files and then click OK.
Note: With this option, you can move files that weren’t in the right folder.
Step 3: Depending on your Windows version, the folder will be located in the default locations.
- Windows 7: username\My Music\iTunes
- Windows Vista: username\Music\iTunes
- Windows XP: Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes
Step 4: Transfer the entire iTunes folder to the new Mac PC with the help of external storage devices like pen drives, Hard disks, SD cards, and so on.
Note: Copy your iTunes folder to your music folder which is inside the user folder on Mac.
Step 5: Once you have copied iTunes to your new Mac, you can go ahead and launch the app.
Since iTunes uses the same file format for both Windows and Mac versions, it can read all types of file formats and can play music, videos, podcasts, and so on.
Consider a situation where you have a large library and due to the storage limitation on the internal hard drive, you have saved it on an external drive from your computer. Well, you can still access the library the same way on your new computer by just tweaking some settings on the computer.
How to Access a large iTunes library on an external drive?
Note: Mac can read from and write to some Windows-formatted hard disks but that's not the case with NTFS disk. Additional software is used for the NTFS disk. Hence, it is recommended to use Mac-formatted hard drives(HS+).
Location of library
iTunes needs to know where the library exists. In order to do that follow the below steps
Step 1: Launch the iTunes app.
Step 2: Click on Edit → Preferences.
Step 3: Then click on the Advanced tab and browse and navigate the iTunes media folder present on the external storage device.
Step 4: Click on the OK button.
iTunes will now access your external storage device for its content and now you can play or browse your content on iTunes folder.
3. Recover deleted or lost files on iTunes:
iTunes provides a convenient data backup solution for all Apple users. It automatically backs up the data once the device is connected to the computer.
You also have an option to back-up data from iOS devices to iCloud and PC. By using iTunes, the backup data can be retrieved from iOS devices.
Note: It is recommended to back up your data on a periodic basis on iCloud or on the system so that you can retrieve it later. In case, if you have deleted iTunes backup file, then you can recover it using Remo Photo Recovery tool.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to restore data on iOS devices:
Step 1: Launch the iTunes application and connect the device.
Step 2: Click on the device button situated on the top-left corner.
Step 3: Select the destination from which the data has to be restored (“iCloud or This computer”).
Step 4: Then click on Restore Backup on the right-hand side.
Step 5: iOS device will show Restore in progress on its screen and the iTunes application will show the progress bar.
Step 6: Once the operation is completed your iOS device will restart and you can disconnect the device by safely ejecting it from the PC.
You can also use Remo Mac Data Recovery software which is a user-friendly tool to retrieve photos, videos, and other file formats from multiple devices such as external hard drives, SSD, USBs, etc. in just a few clicks. This tool is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
Note: You can check this article if you want to recover music from iTunes backup.
4. How to sync iTunes with multiple computers?
iTunes can’t really sync the same library between two different computers, the way it works with iPod, iPad and iPhones. But if you use the Home Sharing option provided in the iTunes, you will be able to sync all your computers and have your library on par.
Follow the below-mentioned steps to sync iTunes between two computers using the Home Sharing option:
Note: Ensure that both the systems are on the same network before following the steps.
Step 1: Download the iTunes application and install it on both systems.
Step 2: Launch the application
Step 3: Go to the first computer from which the files have to be synced. Click on the file menu and then select “devices” and then enable home sharing.
Step 4: In the Home Sharing dialog box, log in using your Apple id which you use to download or purchase media on the computer, and then click on the Home share option.
Step 5: Go to the second computer and then click on the "Authorize This Computer" option under the store menu to authorize your other computer. Enter the same Apple id as entered on the first system.
Step 6: Enable the home sharing option on PC by clicking on the Home Sharing option in the advanced menu.
Step 7: Click on the Home Share option on the left menu to see the content hosted on your first computer. Select the items to be transferred and then click on the “import” button which is situated at the bottom-right in the iTunes application.
Step 8: Contents will start importing. Henceforth, whatever you download on the first computer, you can import the same to the second computer by selecting files in Home Share and then clicking on the “Import” button.
5. How to verify failed purchases using iTunes?
Most of the time purchasing from the iTunes store is simple and worry-free but there are situations under which you might face issues with the iTunes store. One of the most common scenarios is failed purchases. During such time, use the following steps given below to verify this issue:
(i) Open iTunes and click on the Account Menu.
(ii) Click on View My Account and if you are asked to log into your Apple ID then log in and click View Account.
(iii) Now, all you have to do is scroll down to the Purchase History section and click on See All. Here you will be able to see when your most recent purchase was and what it was.
