Can You Download iTunes Music to Your Computer?

By Sophie Southern

You can buy ringtones from Appleā€™s iTunes Store.
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iTunes is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, Windows and Mac computers. The software lets you organize and play the music on your computer, and it includes features such as sharing your music library with the people in your house over a network. iTunes also includes access to the iTunes Store, which offers music, movies, TV shows and apps for sale. You can purchase music from the iTunes Store and download directly to your computer.

iTunes Overview

Apple's iTunes is a music player and music store that allows you to organize your digital music files on your computer. iTunes features playlists, which you can create to group songs together. When you connect an Apple device, such as an iPod or iPhone, to your computer, iTunes automatically opens. The iTunes Store is available by clicking the "iTunes Store" link on the left menu bar in the iTunes application window. Music, music videos, movies, TV shows, podcasts and apps are available for purchase and free download from the iTunes Store.

Apple ID

To download music from the iTunes Store, you need to have an iTunes account, or Apple ID. To create a new account, click the "Sign In" button, which is located in the top left-hand corner of the iTunes home screen. When the dialog box appears, click "Create a new account." Agree to the terms and conditions by checking the box, then follow the steps to create a user name with your email address and set up your iTunes profile. Enter your credit card information; you must have a credit card on file to download music from the iTunes Store.

Using the iTunes Store

When you click the "iTunes Store" playlist, the iTunes Store home screen opens with the latest releases in music, movies and TV shows. Use the "Music" button, located on the top of the home screen, to find music by genre or enter a specific artist, album or song name into the search window at the top of the iTunes application window. Click the "Buy" button, which also lists the price, to purchase a song. A prompt box will open asking if you are sure you want to purchase; check the box, "Don't ask me this again" to prevent the box from appearing when making future purchases.

Purchased Music in iTunes

iTunes automatically places any music you buy in the "Purchased" playlist. If you delete the items in your "Purchased" playlist, they will still remain on your iTunes library. If you delete the purchased items in your iTunes library, they will be erased from your "Purchased" playlist. iTunes automatically checks for purchased music that you may not have downloaded yet each time you open the application.

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