How to Back Up Files to an iPod

Although people generally use iPods to store music, you can also use it as a handy storage drives for data files. Using an iPod as storage is a convenient way to back up your valuable files and keep them safe. If you're like most and carry your iPod around with you, you'll never be far away from your stored files.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Connect the iPod to your computer the same way you do to transfer music files, and open iTunes. In the "Source" pane, select the iPod icon. Then, click the "Summary" tab.

2. Select the checkbox to either manually manage your songs and playlists or the checkbox to enable disk use in order to use the iPod as a drive for storage. If you don't want to update your iPod with your iTunes music library while you add files for storage, select the manual option. If you want to add your backup files and update your music, select "Enable disk use."

3. Find and open your iPod disk icon, which is either on the desktop or you can locate it through "My Computer." Drag all of the storage files to the iPod window in order to copy them onto your iPod.

4. Eject your iPod before you disconnect it from your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a shuffle, check the "Enable disk use" box in iTunes after you click the iPod shuffle icon, then slide the Storage Allocation selector to indicate how much space you want for music versus how much space you want for data files.