Article
Syncing purchased tracks back to iTunes
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: My brother gave me his iPod as a gift. It has music on it purchased through his iTunes account. How do I synch it to iTunes while creating my own account (in order to purchase music) without losing the music already loaded onto the iPod?
- Harriet
A: If your brother purchased music from the iTunes Store and placed it on the iPod, you will not be able to use it at all unless he authorizes your computer for his iTunes Store account. He can do this by selecting Store, Authorize Computer from the iTunes menu on your computer and entering his iTunes Store user id and password. Note that each iTunes Store account can have up to five computers authorized for it, so he could easily authorize your computer while still being able to use his. Further, authorizing a computer for an iTunes Store account does not automatically allow you to purchase music from that account - you would still need to enter his password in order to make purchases.
Once your computer is authorized for his iTunes Store account, you can transfer back any content from your iPod that was purchased with that account simply by connecting the iPod and choosing File, Transfer Purchases from the iTunes menu. iTunes will search through the iPod for any purchased content that is authorized to be played by the current library and will copy that content back from the iPod to your computer.
If there is content on the iPod that was not purchased from the iTunes Store, you can recover this as well, although you’ll need to use a third-party tool, as iTunes only transfers back purchased items. See our iPod 201 article, Copying Content from your iPod to your Computer for more information on how to do this.
As an aside, if all of the purchased content on the iPod are “iTunes Plus” tracks, you can copy these off of the iPod by using a third-party tool described in the above tutorial and use them normally. “iTunes Plus” tracks are not copy-protected and can be played on any computer whether it’s authorized or not. However, you still gain the advantage of iTunes’ built-in “Transfer Purchases” feature if your computer is authorized for the account that was originally used to purchase these tracks.
|
The most asked question at iLounge.com:
|
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) |
|
|
|
|
|
Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!
Ask iLounge Archives:
1-24-14: Viewing only downloaded iTunes Match tracks
1-22-14: Splitting purchased content between two iPads
12-13-13: Non-Bluetooth Lightning dock speakers
12-11-13: Shared Apple ID and switching away from iPhone
12-6-13: Syncing multiple iCloud data with a family Mac
Related Stories
- Viewing only downloaded iTunes Match tracks
- Splitting purchased content between two iPads
- Non-Bluetooth Lightning dock speakers
- Shared Apple ID and switching away from iPhone
- Syncing multiple iCloud data with a family Mac
- iMessages come in from email address instead of phone number
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 News
- Apple appoints Beats Music chief to head up iTunes Radio
- Facebook promises monthly iOS app updates
- iLounge Game Spotlight: 80 Days
- Typo iPhone keyboard returns, updated, as Typo 2
- Apple posts official Beats welcome announcement
- Report: Vivendi SA sold its Beats stake for $404 million
- Apple content delivery network for faster downloads now live in US, Europe
- Apps of the Week: NPR One, Crazy Taxi: City Rush, Interactive Alphabet 4.0 + more
- Report: Apple TV relaunch not coming this year
- Report: Apple eliminating positions of some Beats employees
Recent Reviews
- Tylt Energi 2K Smart Travel Charger
- Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
- ClamCase ClamCase Pro for iPad Air
- Kenu Airframe+ Portable Car Mount
- Incipio offGRID Smart Bluetooth Low Energy-Enabled Portable 6000mAh Backup Battery
- Divoom Voombox Travel Rugged Portable Wireless Speaker
- Logitech protection+ for iPhone 5/5s and +trip
- Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless
- Incipio Steno Ultra-Thin Bluetooth Keyboard Folio for iPad Air
- OtterBox Resurgence Power Case for iPhone 5/5s
Recent Articles
- What’s New in iTunes 12
- iLounge Picks: Five Great Summer Party Speakers
- Editorial: Endings And Beginnings
- Live From CE Week 2014: Brand New iPad, iPhone + Mac Accessories!
- What’s New In iOS 8 For iPad, iPhone + iPod touch
- iLounge Multi-Editorial: WWDC 2014’s iOS 8, OS X Yosemite + More
- The Complete Guide to Apple TV Channels
- iHistory: From iPod + iTunes to iPhone, Apple TV + iPad, 2001 to 2010
- iHistory: From iPod + iTunes to iPhone, Apple TV + iPad: 2011 to Today
- Viewing only downloaded iTunes Match tracks
