How to transfer music from iPhone to Computer with iTunes.

How to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes?

Losing of iTunes music library for unknown reasons is not rare. You may, therefore, sometimes find iPhone users are making the query – how to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes.

No matter what causes the emptying of the iTunes library, you cannot redeem the lost songs unless you are blessed that lost songs are still on your iPhone. Now, how do you transfer music from iPhone to iTunes if the songs are still available on your device? In case of loss of music for any reason from your iTunes library, follow the procedures below for free music transfer from iPhone to iTunes.

Several software programs are in the market for carrying out such transfers. However, I would like to share here only two of them which allow free music transfer from iPhone to iTunes namely- “Appandora iPhone to iTunes Music Transfer” software and “iExplorer”. These are pretty easy-to-use programs for this kind of function.

Here are 2 easy methods to transfer music from the iPhone to iTunes using software programs.

Method 1. How to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes using “Appandora” app

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes by using the “Appandora iPhone to iTunes Music Transfer” app which is a free software.

Before you begin:
To ensure a smooth transfer process, always make sure you have the latest version of the software you’ll be using. Start by checking for updates or downloading the most recent version compatible with your computer. Once you’ve got the newest installation file, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Appandora iPhone to iTunes Music Transfer software and install it on your computer;

Step 2: Make sure the latest version of iTunes is installed on your PC (You don’t have to run iTunes when using the above free program)

Step 3: After the software is successfully installed connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable;

Step 4 Next launch the Appandora iPhone to iTunes Music Transfer software. The program will automatically detect your iPhone with all the contents on it;

Step 5: Click on the “Music” icon from the left panel of the Appandora interface;

Step 6: Select the music files that you wish to transfer from your iPhone to iTunes;

Step 7: Click on the “Export to” button at the bottom of the interface;

Step 8. Choose “Export to iTunes Library” from the dropdown menu;

Review and refine your selection

Before proceeding with the export, take a moment to review your selected music files. The interface will generally show you how many items you’ve selected and, if available, indicate which tracks are already in your iTunes library and which ones will be newly added. This is useful for avoiding duplicate transfers and ensuring you don’t miss any favorites.

If you change your mind and want to transfer all your music, you can usually switch your selection to the entire library at this stage. Some programs allow further refinement—such as filtering by artist, album, or playlist—so you can customize exactly what gets transferred to iTunes.

Once you’re satisfied with your choices, continue with the export.

Step 9: Appandora will now transfer the selected music files from your iPhone to iTunes;

Step 10: Once the transfer is complete, you will be able to find the music files in your iTunes library;

Customizing Export Options and Metadata

When transferring music from your iPhone to iTunes, you have the flexibility to fine-tune exactly what gets moved over. The export options allow you not just to pick individual songs, but also to decide whether to send your entire library or make specific selections. You’ll typically see a summary showing how many files you’ve chosen, which ones are already part of your music library on the computer, and what will actually be transferred this round.

Metadata Choices

What sets these tools apart is the ability to preserve extra details—metadata—that go beyond just the song files themselves. During the transfer, you can choose to include:

• Playlists: Move whole playlists along with your tracks (especially handy if you like your music organized).
• Star Ratings: Keep your carefully curated song ratings intact.
• Play Counts: Not just what you’ve loved, but how much you’ve loved it—the total listens for each song.
• Skip Counts: Carry over how many times you’ve skipped certain tracks.
• Last Played Date: Maintain the exact date and time you last played a track.

You can typically check or uncheck these options before starting the transfer, so only your preferred details are exported. This ensures your music library in iTunes reflects your listening habits as closely as possible.

Method 2. How to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes using ‘iExplorer’

It is not uncommon for every iPhone user that sooner or later some or all of his music gets jammed on his device and iTunes will not copy it from his device back to his computer. That is when iExplorer can help him easily transfer music from his iPhone to iTunes on his computer.

Here are the steps to follow for transferring music from iPhone to iTunes using iExplorer which is free software but with some limitations:

Step 1: Download iExplorer and install it on your computer. Though it is a free download, the free version has some limitations. Free music transfer from iPhone to iTunes can be done with this software for 10 tracks only;

Step 2: After successful installation connect your iPhone with its USB cable to your computer;

Step 3: Open iExplorer on your Mac or PC and click on the “Music” section in the left sidebar;

Step 4: Click “No” when prompted about iTunes sync services;

Step 5: You should see a list of all the songs and other media on your iPhone. Select the song or songs you want to transfer to iTunes;

Step 6: Next, Click the “Export” button in the top right corner of iExplorer;

Step 7: Choose “Export to iTunes” from the drop-down menu;

Step 8: iExplorer will then start transferring the selected song or songs to your iTunes library. Once the transfer is complete, you can find the songs in your iTunes library;

What to Do If Some Tracks Aren’t Transferable?

Sometimes, you might notice that not all tracks on your iPhone can be transferred. If certain songs appear greyed out or simply won’t export, don’t worry—this is a common issue, usually tied to how and where you got the music in the first place.

Here’s why it might happen and what you can do:

• Songs stored in iCloud but not downloaded: Tracks that haven’t been physically downloaded to your device (meaning, they’re just living in iCloud) can’t be transferred. To fix this, open the Music app on your iPhone, locate the song, and tap the download icon to save it directly to your device. After that, try the transfer process again.
• Apple Music tracks: If you notice songs with the Apple Music logo or songs that came from your Apple Music subscription, these are protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management). Unfortunately, such tracks can’t be exported to your computer since they’re encrypted and won’t play elsewhere. The same rule applies for most streaming services.
• Older iTunes purchases: If you bought music from the iTunes Store before 2009, some tracks might still be locked with DRM. For these, you can try to remove the protection by upgrading your tracks through iTunes Match (a paid Apple service), or, if that’s not an option, you might need to re-purchase or re-download these tracks directly from the iTunes Store where available.

By understanding why certain songs won’t budge, you can quickly decide if downloading, re-purchasing, or simply listening through streaming services is the right path for you.

Preserving Playlists and Metadata During Music Transfer

When transferring music from your iPhone to your iTunes library, you might be concerned about keeping more than just the songs themselves. Elements such as playlists, play counts, artwork, and ratings are often a big part of what makes your collection personal.

Several music transfer tools—including Appandora and iExplorer—offer features designed to help you maintain this information:

• Playlists: These programs can transfer your playlists, allowing you to keep your carefully curated collections intact.
• Play Counts, Ratings, and Artwork: Many transfer tools are built to carry over additional metadata, such as your play history, album art, and star ratings.
• Duplicate Detection: Some software includes smart features to help avoid importing the same track more than once, saving you time on cleanup.

By using such programs, you can move not only the music files but also the important details that make your library uniquely yours. This ensures a seamless transition from your iPhone to your computer without losing the personal touches you’ve added over time.

Granting or Restoring Permissions on macOS for Music Transfers

To transfer music between your iPhone and computer on macOS 10.14 or later, the system may require specific permissions before it allows changes to your music library. If you’re prompted for access (or previously denied it and need to restore permissions), follow these straightforward steps:

1. When attempting a music transfer, macOS may ask for your approval to let the software control the Music app (previously iTunes) and system events. You should approve these prompts to enable seamless transfers.
2. In the event that you’ve denied access before, the software will notify you. To restore permissions:

 >Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs).
>Select Privacy & Security from the sidebar.
>Find the Automation or Accessibility section.
>Locate the software you’re using and check the boxes for both Music and System Events to allow control.
>If adjustments are locked, click the lock icon and enter your macOS user password to make changes.

That’s all there is to it. With the correct permissions enabled, you can proceed with music transfers between your iPhone and computer without further interruptions.

What to Do If Some Tracks Aren’t Transferable

Sometimes, you might notice that not all tracks on your iPhone can be transferred. If certain songs appear greyed out or simply won’t export, don’t worry—this is a common issue, usually tied to how and where you got the music in the first place.

Here’s why it might happen and what you can do:

• Songs stored in iCloud but not downloaded: Tracks that haven’t been physically downloaded to your device (meaning, they’re just living in iCloud) can’t be transferred. To fix this, open the Music app on your iPhone, locate the song, and tap the download icon to save it directly to your device. After that, try the transfer process again.
  Apple Music tracks: If you notice songs with the Apple Music logo or songs that came from your Apple Music subscription, these are protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management). Unfortunately, such tracks can’t be exported to your computer since they’re encrypted and won’t play elsewhere. The same rule applies for most streaming services.
  Older iTunes purchases: If you bought music from the iTunes Store before 2009, some tracks might still be locked with DRM. For these, you can try to remove the protection by upgrading your tracks through iTunes Match (a paid Apple service), or, if that’s not an option, you might need to re-purchase or re-download these tracks directly from the iTunes Store where available.

By understanding why certain songs won’t budge, you can quickly decide if downloading, re-purchasing, or simply listening through streaming services is the right path for you.

How to transfer music from iPhone to Computer with iTunes 

As iTunes is a freely available tool, many users take its assistance to transfer music from iPhone to computer. Here I will show how to transfer music from iPhone to computer with iTunes.

Follow the steps below to transfer music from iPhone to Computer with iTunes.

1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes on your computer;

2. Connect your iPhone to your computer with the help of a USB cable;

3. In iTunes, click on the icon for your iPhone in the upper-left corner of the window;

4. Click on the “Music” tab in the middle of the window;

5. Make sure that the “Sync Music” option is checked, and then choose whether you want to sync all of your music or only selected playlists;

6. Click on the “Apply” button in the lower-right corner of the window to start syncing your music;

7. When the sync is finished, you will be able to find your music in the iTunes Library on your computer. You can now play it or add it to your own personal music library;

8. If you want to add your music to an existing playlist on your computer, simply drag and drop the songs from the iTunes Library into the playlist;

9. When you are finished, you can disconnect your iPhone from the computer;

Tips for Selecting and Exporting Your Music

• To copy a specific album or song: Use the Genre, Artist, or Album filters and the search bar in iTunes to narrow down your displayed tracks. Select the ones you wish to transfer to your computer.
• To copy a playlist: Select the playlist in the left sidebar, and then proceed with the sync process. There’s no need to manually select every song within the playlist.
• To copy your entire library: If you want to transfer everything, make sure no specific songs or playlists are selected—this tells iTunes to sync your whole collection.

💡 Note: When nothing is selected, iTunes treats your action as applying to all the tracks currently shown based on your filters. This makes it much easier to back up a complete playlist or album without extra steps. You’ll also get a chance to review your selections before confirming the sync.

• Quick Workflow: If you only have a few tracks to transfer, you can simply drag and drop them from your iTunes library directly to your desktop or a folder of your choice—no need for a full sync.

By using these selection tools and shortcuts, you can quickly and easily manage exactly which music gets transferred from your iPhone to your computer, whether it’s a whole library, a playlist, or just your favorite tracks.

Required Permissions on macOS for Transferring Music to the Music App

If you’re using macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or newer and want to transfer music to the Music app (previously iTunes), keep in mind that the system requires you to grant specific permissions the first time you use this function. macOS will prompt you to allow the application to control both the Music app and certain system features (“System Events”). This is a built-in security feature of macOS to ensure your files and privacy remain protected.

When prompted, you should:

• Approve access for the Music (or iTunes) app so the tool can add songs directly to your library.
• Approve access for System Events, which allows necessary background tasks.

Rest assured, these permissions are only needed to copy your tracks into your library—they’re not used for anything else. Once granted, you won’t need to approve them again unless you revoke them in your System Settings. If you ever deny these permissions by accident, just follow the onscreen instructions to go to your System Settings, unlock with your password, and enable access for both the Music app and System Events.

With permissions sorted, you can proceed to transfer your music seamlessly—no further pop-ups to hassle you.

You may also like to read: How to send Videos from iPhone to computer 

How to Avoid Importing Duplicate Tracks During Music Transfer

One common concern when transferring music from your iPhone to iTunes is the accidental creation of duplicate tracks in your library. Fortunately, most reliable transfer tools—including those mentioned above like Appandora and iExplorer—come with built-in features that help you sidestep this hassle.

• These tools can scan your existing iTunes library and compare track details such as name, artist, album, play count, and artwork before importing.
• If a song already exists in your iTunes library, the software will either skip transferring it or offer you the option to skip duplicates, ensuring your library stays clean and organized.

Some apps even retain valuable metadata like playlists, album art, and ratings, preserving your personal library’s structure while keeping things tidy. So, with just a few clicks, you can keep your music collection streamlined—no more sorting through the same song three times under three slightly different names!

Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained how to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes let me also address some of the questions often asked by iPhone users relating to music transfer from their devices:

Can I transfer music from iPhone to computer using a free App?

You can transfer music from iPhone to computer for free by using AirMore which is a free File Transfer app. Follow the steps below for transferring music from iPhone to computer using this app:

1. Make sure that both your iPhone and computer are on the same network;

2.  Download and launch the app on your phone;

3. Click the blue button on the lower part of the app and then click on ‘Radar’;

4. AirMore will then detect your device. Click on it to connect;

5. Once connected, go to the ‘Music’ tab and choose the music that you want to transfer;

6.  Click on ‘Export’ and the music files will be saved on your computer;

How to transfer music from iPhone to Mac for free?

Use the AirDrop service to share and receive photos, documents, and more with other Apple devices that are nearby. You can use the AirDrop on your iPhone to transfer music from your iPhone to your Mac. To do this follow the steps below:

Step 1: Make sure that the Mac you’re sending to is nearby and within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range;

Step 2: Turn on Airdrop on both iPhone and Mac;

Step 3: Open the Music app and select the songs that you want to Airdrop from iPhone to Mac;

Step 4: Tap the “Share” button and choose your Mac for sharing;

Step 5: Tap “Accept” on the window that pops up to start transferring selected songs from iPhone to Mac;

How to Identify Non-Transferable or DRM-Protected Songs in Your Library?

If you’re sorting through your music and wondering which tracks can actually be transferred, there are some telltale signs to watch for:

• Grayed-Out Titles: Songs that aren’t available for transfer often appear in gray or with a faded look in your music app or transfer software. This usually means the track either isn’t stored on your device (like cloud-only tracks) or is protected.
• Cloud or Download Icons: Tracks from iCloud Music Library that haven’t been downloaded to your device will display a small cloud icon next to them. To transfer these, you’ll need to download them first.
• Apple Music or DRM Badges: Songs added via Apple Music are usually protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). Look for an Apple logo or something similar by the track name—these files can’t be moved and typically won’t play once exported.
• Older iTunes Purchases: Tracks bought from iTunes before 2009 might still be DRM-protected. These can sometimes trigger a warning when you try to transfer them.

If you see any of these markers, chances are the track is non-transferable. Downloading your music to your device—or using the same streaming service across devices—can help maximize what you’re able to move or back up.

How to transfer music from iTunes to iPhone?

1. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable;

2. Click the device icon in the upper-left corner of the iTunes window;

3. From the list under Settings on the left side of the iTunes window, click Music. To turn ‘sync’ on for music, select the checkbox next to Sync;

4. Select the checkbox next to the music you want to sync;

5. Click the ‘Apply’ button in the lower-right corner of the window. If syncing doesn’t start automatically, click the Sync button;

How to transfer music from iPhone to iPhone?

There are several methods to transfer music from iPhone to iPhone. You can use the ‘Copy Trans‘ app which lets you copy music from iPhone to PC or transfer your iPhone music to iTunes directly in a few clicks. You have two options using this app when it comes to transferring songs from iPhone to iPhone.

1. Copy your songs and playlists from the source iPhone to the PC and after that move them to the target iPhone;
2. Import music from the source iPhone to iTunes first and then sync the iTunes library to the other iPhone;

How can I access logs or records of my previous music transfer operations?

If you ever need to review the details of your past music transfers, most transfer apps and software provide a way to access a log or record of your activity. Typically, you’ll find these logs inside the app’s main dashboard, often under a “History,” “Operations,” or “Activity” tab.

For example, many apps will keep a clear list of all completed transfers. You might see dates, times, and which files were moved—very handy if you want proof that your playlist made it across safely.

Even better, some tools let you export this log. The exported file is usually in a spreadsheet-friendly format (like CSV), so you can open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers for a closer look or to keep a backup record for your own peace of mind.

So, whether you’re double-checking your favorite tracks or just making sure everything went smoothly, you’ll always have access to the transfer history whenever you need it.

You can also like to read: How to backup iPhone to iCloud or a Computer in easy steps

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this post on how to transfer music from iPhone to iTunes with the help of software mentioned in the post, you have realized that syncing between devices is quite easy. With a few clicks, your music library can be updated on your iPhone.

However, I would like to mention one important point that if you want to transfer music from iPhone to computer using iTunes, you can transfer purchased music only downloaded from the iTunes store or Apple Music.

A quick heads up on music transfer limitations:

• Tracks that are part of your iCloud Music Library but haven’t been downloaded to your device cannot be copied—since they’re simply not stored locally. To export these, make sure to download them to your iPhone first, or access them directly via iCloud on your computer.
• Songs from Apple Music, even if downloaded, are always DRM-protected. This means they can’t be transferred to your computer, as they are encrypted and will not play once exported. Purchased tracks from the iTunes Store, on the other hand, are transferrable.

Being aware of these restrictions can save you time and frustration when moving your music collection.

If you find the solutions given here for free music transfer from iPhone to iTunes on your computer working well for you, please feel free to share it in the comment section below.