How to Sync Files to an iPod

Use your iPod for more than just music.

Most people use their iPods to listen to hundreds--or thousands--of their favorite songs. Now, iPods can be used to store pictures, watch movies, play games or even "listen" to incoming text messages. Adding to the list of things your iPod can do, it can also sync your files from your computer directly onto your iPod. Using your iPod as an external hard drive means some of your most important files will always be with you.

Instructions

1. Turn on your iPod and plug it into your computer using a USB cord or your iPod connector. Click on "iTunes" from your desktop if it does not automatically open when your iPod is plugged into your computer.

2. Click on the iPod icon, located under "Devices," from the iTunes "Source" pane on the left-hand side of the screen. Click on the "Summary" tab from the top of the iTunes screen.

3. Check the box next to "Enable Disk Use" or "Manually Manage Music and Videos" under "Options" at the bottom of the iTunes screen. Both will allow you to use your iPod as a hard drive and sync files. Select "Enable Disk Use" if you prefer for iTunes to automatically update your iPod with your iTunes Library. If you prefer that your iPod is not automatically updated, select "Manually Manage Music and Videos."

4. Double click on the iPod disk icon on your computer's desktop--this will appear on your desktop (as well as in "My Computer") when you select "Manually Manage Music and Videos" or "Enable Disc Use."

5. Open the files you'd like to sync to your iPod from "My Computer," "My Documents" or "Pictures." For Word documents: open Word and select the document that you want to sync to your iPod. Click "File" > "Save As" > "Desktop."

6. Drag any files/folders from "My Computer," "My Documents" or "Pictures" into the iPod disk icon on the desktop. Drag any Word documents saved on your desktop to your iPod disk icon, as well. These files and folders will be synced to your iPod and saved, without being deleted from your computer.

7. Select the "Eject" button next to the iPod icon, located under "Devices," from the iTunes "Source" pane to safely disconnect your iPod.

References

• Apple: Using Your iPod as a Storage Drive