Congratulations on your new iPod nano! In a few minutes we'll have you uploading music to your iPod nano and ready to roll. More interested in playing videos, games or audiobooks? No worries. Once you're uploading music to your nano you'll know how to upload all the other goodies too.
1) Load the music files onto your computer
Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we've collected over the years, so let's start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer's hard disk so it'll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have "Copy files to iTunes music folder" selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC -- just having the CD in your computer's CD drive will be enough.
2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software
An "iPod manager" handles moving files to and from the iPod. For most of us, Apple's free iTunes software fills the bill. But, there are other choices if you decide you don't like iTunes. If you're new to iPods I suggest you start with iTunes.
By the way, using iTunes to manage iPod files does NOT keep you from buying music from other companies -- I buy music downloads from three different vendors but use iTunes to move them back and for from my iPod.
If you like to be able to find all your iPod music in one location on your computer, set up iTunes to copy all files into the library location. It's an easy configuration: choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." This is handy if you're going to pull music from CDs -- let iTunes manage copying the files off the CD for you.
Wherever you got your music from, once it's on your computer you can import it into iTunes. You have a couple options. One way is to select (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find the folder holding your music. Click "OK" and iTunes will now show the music in the Library music list. Another way is to use the Control & O keys. Navigate to the files' location and click on the files you want to add.
3) Connect up the iPod
You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You'll know the connection's successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.
Next you need to decide if you want to let iTunes handle synchronizing with your iPod or if you want to handle things manually. I like the "manually manage" approach -- it lets me decide which files to move to my nano. It also lets me synch up different computers to just one iPod.
4) Finally! Start uploading music to your nano
Are you going to let iTunes manage the uploads? If so, you're ready to start. Click your iPod's icon, select "Sync" in the lower right corner, and iTunes handles the rest.
Will you manage uploads manually? You'll need to do a quick, one-time setup. In iTunes, click the nano's icon and select "Manually manage music and videos" on the iTunes screen. Now you just select the music you want and drag it onto the iPod icon. Voila! The music uploads.
5) Be sure to eject your iPod
Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen. THEN disconnect from your computer.
6) Go find more music
If you've followed these steps you know how to upload music to your nano. Time to download more games, videos, books, and music for your nano. See my web site for suggestions of where to find great downloads for reasonable prices.
1) Load the music files onto your computer
Most of us start out with our iPods by loading up the CDs we've collected over the years, so let's start there. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer's hard disk so it'll be available to your iPod manager. Note: If you use iTunes and have "Copy files to iTunes music folder" selected, you can skip copying the files to the PC -- just having the CD in your computer's CD drive will be enough.
2) Bring the music files into your iPod manager software
An "iPod manager" handles moving files to and from the iPod. For most of us, Apple's free iTunes software fills the bill. But, there are other choices if you decide you don't like iTunes. If you're new to iPods I suggest you start with iTunes.
By the way, using iTunes to manage iPod files does NOT keep you from buying music from other companies -- I buy music downloads from three different vendors but use iTunes to move them back and for from my iPod.
If you like to be able to find all your iPod music in one location on your computer, set up iTunes to copy all files into the library location. It's an easy configuration: choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." This is handy if you're going to pull music from CDs -- let iTunes manage copying the files off the CD for you.
Wherever you got your music from, once it's on your computer you can import it into iTunes. You have a couple options. One way is to select (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find the folder holding your music. Click "OK" and iTunes will now show the music in the Library music list. Another way is to use the Control & O keys. Navigate to the files' location and click on the files you want to add.
3) Connect up the iPod
You probably already did this, but just in case: connect your iPod nano to your computer with the the USB cable that came with your nano. You'll know the connection's successful when the left-hand menu in iTunes shows your iPod.
Next you need to decide if you want to let iTunes handle synchronizing with your iPod or if you want to handle things manually. I like the "manually manage" approach -- it lets me decide which files to move to my nano. It also lets me synch up different computers to just one iPod.
4) Finally! Start uploading music to your nano
Are you going to let iTunes manage the uploads? If so, you're ready to start. Click your iPod's icon, select "Sync" in the lower right corner, and iTunes handles the rest.
Will you manage uploads manually? You'll need to do a quick, one-time setup. In iTunes, click the nano's icon and select "Manually manage music and videos" on the iTunes screen. Now you just select the music you want and drag it onto the iPod icon. Voila! The music uploads.
5) Be sure to eject your iPod
Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen. THEN disconnect from your computer.
6) Go find more music
If you've followed these steps you know how to upload music to your nano. Time to download more games, videos, books, and music for your nano. See my web site for suggestions of where to find great downloads for reasonable prices.
About the Author:
Lydia reviews where to go to get more downloads to play on your iPod nano on her all-nano website, Nanos Reviewed. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
