How to Put Music on an SD Card

There are two ways to move music onto an SD card.

While many MP3 players come with massive hard drives, some smaller MP3 players often come with flash-based hard drives that won't hold many songs. These players also typically come with SD card slots. If yours does, you may be wondering how you can put music on your SD card so that you'll have more songs on your MP3 player. There are two methods.

Instructions

Transfer Music to an SD Memory Card

1. Purchase an SD card that fits your MP3 player. Most MP3 players will tell you how large an SD card the player can handle. Make sure you purchase the correct size card as well, as some players require a microSD card while others are fine with the regular-sized SD card.

2. Determine whether your computer has a multicard reader slot. Most modern desktop computers and laptops have a slot either on the front of the computer or the side of the laptop where you can insert an SD card.

3. Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card reader slot. Wait a few seconds and then click on "My Computer." Double-click on the removable disk drive icon that has SD next to it (usually drive E, I or G). You may need to click on a few different letters to accurately identify your SD card.

4. Right click the letter of your SD drive and select "Format," then click "FAT32." Some SD cards are automatically formatted.

5. Open the folder containing your music and right-click on the songs you wish to copy, then select "Copy." Then go to the SD card's folder in the drive and select "Paste." Wait a few minutes and your music should copy from the computer to the card. Make sure the progress is complete before unplugging the card, as failure to do so can result in corrupt data.

6. If your computer lacks a dedicated SD slot, purchase an external USB multimedia card reader and plug it into your computer's USB port. Alternatively, it may be possible to simply put the card into the device you intend to use and then plug that device into the computer. Then follow Steps 3, 4 and 5.

Tips & Warnings

• Always buy the right SD memory card for your MP3 player/cell phone. Many people buy an 8GB card that will not correctly fit a phone or player that has a maximum support capability of 4GB, which can result in the player/phone not recognizing half the data on the card. This can be avoided by simply looking at your manual and seeing what the maximum supported card is.

• Don't unplug it before it's done. As mentioned before, unplugging anything that has files transferred to it (in this case, an SD card) before the transfer is complete will result in either corrupt data on the card or possibly a completely wrecked card. Always wait for the transfer to finish before you take the SD card out.

Resources

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