The simplest way: use iCloud Music Library
If you have an Apple Music subscription or iTunes Match, turn on iCloud Music Library in the Music app on your iPhone, then sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your computer. Your iTunes library will sync automatically — songs you've added to iTunes on your Mac or PC will appear in the Music app on your phone within a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how many songs you have.
This method works whether the songs are ones you bought from iTunes, added from CDs, or downloaded from other sources. As long as they're in your iTunes library on your computer, iCloud Music Library will recognize them and make them available on your phone. You don't need to plug in a cable or manually transfer anything.
If you don't have an Apple Music subscription or iTunes Match, this option won't work — you'll need to use one of the methods below instead.
Key Takeaways
- iCloud Music Library is the fastest method if you have an Apple Music subscription or iTunes Match, and it syncs automatically without a cable.
- If you don't subscribe to either service, you can connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and sync music through iTunes or Finder.
- You can also drag and drop songs directly into the Music app on your iPhone if you're using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later.
- Songs purchased from the iTunes Store download directly to your iPhone if you're signed in with the same Apple ID you used to buy them.
Syncing with a cable using iTunes or Finder
Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC with a USB cable. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder and click your iPhone in the sidebar. On a Windows PC or older Mac, open iTunes instead. Click the Music tab, then check the box next to "Sync Music."
You can sync your entire iTunes library or choose specific playlists and artists. Once you've made your choices, click "Apply" or "Sync" at the bottom of the window. The transfer will begin — the time it takes depends on how many songs you're moving and how fast your USB connection is.
This method works on any iPhone and doesn't require a subscription. The songs stay on your phone even if you disconnect the cable, and they'll remain there until you manually remove them or sync again and deselect them.
Dragging songs directly into your iPhone (Mac only)
If you're using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you can drag songs from your iTunes library directly into your iPhone without using the sync settings. Connect your phone with a USB cable, open Finder, and click your iPhone in the sidebar. Then drag individual songs or playlists from the Music app into the Finder window showing your iPhone.
This method is useful if you want to add just a few songs without syncing your entire library. The songs will appear in the Music app on your iPhone within a few seconds.
Re-downloading songs you've already bought
If you bought songs from the iTunes Store on your computer, you can download them again on your iPhone without transferring them. Open the Music app, tap the search icon, find the song, and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow. The song will download to your phone and appear in your library.
This works only for songs you purchased from iTunes — not for songs you added from other sources or ripped from CDs. You need to be signed in with the same Apple ID you used to buy the songs originally.
What to do if your iPhone storage is full
If you're trying to sync a large library and your iPhone doesn't have enough storage space, iTunes or Finder will warn you before the sync starts. You have two options: sync only certain playlists instead of your entire library, or delete other files from your phone to make room.
If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can also download songs to your phone for offline listening without taking up permanent storage space — they'll be removed automatically if you need the space for other things. This is different from syncing, where the songs stay on your phone until you manually remove them.
Troubleshooting when songs don't appear
If you've synced music but don't see it in the Music app on your iPhone, first check that you're looking in the right place. Open the Music app and tap "Library" at the bottom, then make sure you're viewing the correct category — songs might be organized by artist, album, or playlist depending on your view settings.
If the songs still don't appear, try disconnecting your iPhone and reconnecting it, then syncing again. Make sure the songs are actually in your iTunes library on your computer — sometimes songs added from external sources don't import correctly. You can also check your iPhone's storage settings to see how much space music is taking up; if it shows zero, the sync didn't complete.
If you're using iCloud Music Library and songs aren't syncing, sign out of your Apple ID on your iPhone, wait a few minutes, then sign back in. This often forces the sync to refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sync music from multiple computers to the same iPhone?
No — iTunes will only sync with one computer at a time. If you try to sync with a different computer, iTunes will ask if you want to erase your iPhone and sync with the new computer instead. If you use iCloud Music Library, you can add music from multiple computers and it will all appear on your phone.
Do I need to keep my computer connected to use the synced music?
No. Once the music is synced to your iPhone, it stays there even after you disconnect the cable. You can use it offline without your computer nearby. If you delete the songs from your computer later, they'll remain on your iPhone unless you sync again and deselect them.
What happens to my synced music if I update my iPhone?
The music stays on your phone during a standard software update. If you restore your iPhone from scratch (erasing it completely), the synced music will be deleted, but you can sync it again afterward. Songs purchased from iTunes can be re-downloaded using your Apple ID.
Can I transfer music from my iPhone back to iTunes?
Not directly through iTunes or Finder. If you want to back up songs on your iPhone, you'll need a third-party app or tool. Songs purchased from iTunes can be re-downloaded to your computer using your Apple ID, but songs from other sources can't be transferred back through Apple's tools.