Automatically sync only certain playlists without losing music

Article

Automatically sync only certain playlists without losing music

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

Q: I normally let my iPod auto sync my entire music collection. However it also syncs all of my playlists too. However, I’d like to exclude certain playlists, whilst still having all my music onboard (with the autosync option). Can I do this?

- Anonymous

A: There’s officially not any way to do this, but with a little trickery, we can get iTunes to do what you want. iTunes’ default option for “Automatically update all songs and playlists” won’t work, since that, as you’ve discovered, synchronizes everything. Neither will “Automatically update selected playlists only,” because then you won’t have all of your music—only that which is contained in the selected playlists.

However, the latter of the two options has a loophole. If we can create one playlist that automatically and continuously contains everything in the library, and add it to our list of “selected playlists”, then we are free to deselect other playlists in iTunes’ iPod preferences without having to synchronize less than the entire library.

Add this single Smart Playlist to your iPod’s selection of playlists, and you’re free to deselect as many others as you’d like:

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy content from my iPod/iPhone onto my computer?

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Win)

Best Speakers?

Best Headphones?

Best Case?

Best In-Car Solution?

Best Battery Extender?

Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!

Ask iLounge Archives:

5-24-12: iTunes TV show size totals don’t match actual disk storage

5-23-12: Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries

5-22-12: Converting Purchased Videos to 1080p HD

5-21-12: Find My Friends always reports home location

5-18-12: Creating an iTunes Match library from an external hard drive

See the rest of the Archives...

« Playlists playing in reverse order on iPod

Cleaning up iTunes’ Source column »

Comments

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

New Deals

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

Article