How to Sync Music From an iPod to Another Computer Without Deleting Songs

No software or special programs are necessary to sync music from an iPod to another computer.

While it is not one of the iPod's regular functions, you can use the iPod to sync music to another computer. Just be careful, because a wrong click can delete songs from the iPod. Syncing music from an iPod to another computer is an easy way to share music with friends or family members or to load songs onto a computer you just obtained. Doing so will enable you to perform normal functions with the songs, such as listening and making playlists.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• iPod
• USB cable

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button in the lower left corner of the computer screen.

2. Click "My Documents" or "My Music" or another spot on your computer that will be easy for you to find.

3. Click the "File" drop-down menu. Choose "New" and then "Folder." A new folder will be created that you can name whatever you like. Here is where you'll store the music from the iPod. You'll return to this later on.

4. Connect the iPod to the computer by using a USB cable. Upon connecting the iPod to your computer, you might get a message from the iTunes program that asks if you'd like to sync the contents of your iPod with iTunes. Click "No." Otherwise, the contents of your iPod will be matched to the contents of iTunes, which will most likely delete some or all of the songs off your iPod.

5. Click the "Start" button and then select "My Computer."

6. Double-click on the drive that belongs to your iPod, which will typically have your name followed by iPod (for example, "Bob's iPod").

7. Click the "Tools" drop-down menu and select "Folder Options," followed by the "View" tab. Click the circle right next to "Show hidden files and folders," followed by clicking "Apply" and then "OK." A folder will now be visible that is called "iPod_Control."

8. Double-click the "iPod_Control" folder, followed by double-clicking the "Music" folder that is inside the "iPod_Control" folder. Now you'll see several folders that have names such as "F00" and "F06." These folders hold all the music files from the iPod.

9. Click the "Edit" drop-down menu and pick "Select All." Click the "Edit" drop-down menu again and pick "Copy."

10. Open the folder that you made at the beginning of this process. Click the "Edit" drop-down menu and choose "Paste." The music from the iPod will now be pasted onto the computer. This may take several minutes. Wait until it's done.

11. Click the "File" drop-down menu and pick "Properties." Click on the "General" tab. Click the square box located beside "Hidden." The square box should now be blank. There should be no checkmark in the square box. Click "Apply," and go ahead and apply it to all the folders, as well as the subfolders. Click "OK." You have now synced up the music from your iPod onto another computer without deleting songs.

References

• YouTube: How to Transfer Music from iPod to Computer Free with iTunes

Resources

• Apple: iPod