How to Transfer Music from an Old iPod to a New Device

So, you’ve got an old iPod filled with all your favorite songs, and you don’t wanna lose them? Maybe it’s been sitting in a drawer for years, and now you’re ready to move that music to a new device. Good news – it’s totally possible! While Apple doesn’t make it super easy to transfer music from an old iPod to a new device, there are a few simple ways to do it.

This guide will walk you through different methods to get your music off that classic iPod and onto your new device—whether it’s a PC, Mac, iPhone, or an Android phone.

Understanding the Problem

Older iPods, especially the classic models, were designed to sync with iTunes on a single computer. Apple made it difficult to copy songs directly from the iPod back to a new device because of copyright concerns. But don’t worry, there are ways around it!

Method 1: Using iTunes (For Purchased Music Only)

If you bought your music from the iTunes Store, transferring is quite easy:

1. Connect your old iPod to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
3. Click on your iPod’s device icon in iTunes.
4. Select File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from [Your iPod Name].
5. iTunes will copy all purchased songs to your computer’s library.
6. Now, just sync your new device with iTunes, and you’re good to go!

🛑 Limitations: This only works for songs you purchased from iTunes. If you added music from CDs or other sources, you’ll need to use another method.

Method 2: Manually Copying Music from iPod (For All Music Files)

If you have non-iTunes music on your iPod, you’ll need to dig a little deeper. Here’s how:

For Windows Users

1. Connect your iPod to your computer with a USB cable.
2. Open File Explorer and go to This PC > Your iPod.
3. Click on View and enable Hidden Items.
4. Navigate to iPod_Control > Music – here, you’ll find all your songs in weirdly named folders (F00, F01, etc.).
5. Copy these folders to your computer.
6. Open iTunes or another music player, and add the copied music to your library.
7. Sync your new device with the newly added songs.

For Mac Users

1. Connect your iPod and open Finder.
2. Press Command + Shift + . (dot) to reveal hidden files.
3. Go to iPod_Control > Music and copy the folders to your Mac.
4. Add them to Apple Music or any music manager you prefer.
5. Sync with your new device.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Software (The Easiest Way)

If all this sounds too complicated, you can use software that makes the process way easier. Some great options include:

• iMazing
• CopyTrans (Windows)
• WALTR 2
• AnyTrans

How It Works:

1. Download and install the software of your choice.
2. Connect your old iPod.
3. The software will detect your music and let you transfer it to your computer or directly to another device.
4. Once the transfer is complete, sync the music to your new device.

✅ Pros: Super easy, works for all types of music, no need for hidden file tricks. ❌ Cons: Some of these programs cost money, but most offer free trials.

Method 4: Transfer Music Directly to an iPhone or Android

If you want to move songs straight to a new phone, follow these steps:

For iPhone Users (Using iTunes or Finder)

1. Transfer your iPod’s music to your computer using one of the methods above.
2. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) and sync your music library to your iPhone.
3. On your iPhone, open the Music app and enjoy!

For Android Users

1. Transfer music from your iPod to your computer.
2. Connect your Android phone to your computer via USB.
3. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Android File Transfer (Mac).
4. Copy your music files to the Music folder on your Android device.
5. Open a music app like YouTube Music or Poweramp, and play your songs!

Extra Tips & Troubleshooting

• Don’t Forget to Backup! Once you’ve transferred your music, consider saving a copy on an external hard drive or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
• What If iTunes Doesn’t Recognize My iPod? Try using a different USB cable, restarting your computer, or updating iTunes.
• Are the File Names Messed Up? When copying directly from iPod_Control, the song names might look strange. Add them to iTunes or another music manager to restore proper metadata.
• Can I Transfer Playlists? Yes! If you transfer through iTunes, your playlists should carry over. For manual transfers, you might need to recreate them.

Final Thoughts

Transferring music from an old iPod to a new device might take a little effort, but it’s definitely doable. If you’re just moving purchased songs, iTunes has you covered. For everything else, manual file copying or third-party tools will do the trick.

Now, go rescue those old songs and enjoy them on your new device!