"Got a new MacBook Pro with a Retina display and only has 256 GB of space. My iTunes library is close to 1TB. I have it on a hard drive, but it won't work as an external device when I try to set it up under Advanced Preferences. I also have a copy of my songs on an iPod. Can I back up my iPod to an external hard drive to use it as my iTunes library source? How do I do this?"
- Excerpted from Apple Support Communities
Large media files will consume considerable space on your iPhone/iPod and leave no space for new files. Thus, many people want to transfer music from iPhone/iPod to an external hard drive. Here, we provide two proven ways to move iPod songs to the hard drive. Just continue reading to learn more.
Way 1. How to Copy Music from iPod/iPhone to Hard Drive via iTunes
Way 2. How to Transfer Songs from iPod/iPhone to External Hard Drive Using Coolmuster iOS Assistant
iTunes allows you to transfer purchased songs from iPod/iPhone to an external hard drive, and it supports MP3, M4A, AIF, AAC, WAV, AIFF, M4R, and M44B formats. Below is what you can do with iTunes.
How to copy music from iPod to an external hard drive via iTunes?
1. Ensure that the latest version of iTunes is installed on your computer and run iTunes.
2. Connect your iPhone or iPod to the computer and tap Trust on your device if asked.
3. Tap Account > Authorization > Authorize This Computer. Later, click File in iTunes window > Devices > Transfer Purchases from Your iPhone > pick Recently Added to view your songs.
4. Pick any song you want to transfer and tap the Download button to save it to your computer. If you don't see the Download button, right-click the song > select the Show in Windows Explorer option to open the music location. You will need to save each music one by one.
5. Plug your external hard drive into your computer and copy & paste your songs to the external hard drive.
Learn more:
Fast Back Up iPhone Data to Google Drive [3 Ways]
Easily Import Music from iPod to a New Computer with 4 Methods
Do you wish to directly transfer multiple songs from your iPhone/iPod to an external hard drive? Coolmuster iOS Assistant is the best way to go. With this app, you can preview and transfer desired songs in batches. Besides, it enables you to copy the selected songs to your external hard drive directly without saving them onto the computer first.
The highlights of Coolmuster iOS Assistant:
How do I transfer music from my phone to an external hard drive?
Note: Please ensure that iTunes or Music can detect your iPhone/iPod successfully, or the program will fail to detect it.
1. Install and launch Coolmuster iOS Assistant on your computer.
2. Connect your iDevice to the computer via a USB cable and trust the computer on your iDevice when prompted. Then, plug your external hard drive into the computer. When the computer detects your devices, you will see the following interface.
3. Choose Music on the left panel, preview and check the songs you wish to copy, and hit the Export button on the top.
4. Choose the external hard drive as the storage location on the pop-up window, and follow the on-screen prompts to finish saving them onto the external hard drive.
Further reading:
How to Transfer Files between Android and Flash Drive via OTG?
How to Transfer Photos from Flash Drive/USB/Thumb Drive to iPhone?
We hope this tutorial will help you transfer music from your iPhone to an external hard drive handily. And you are free to choose the way you like. If Coolmuster iOS Assistant attracts your attention, install it and give it a try!
Related Articles:
Transfer Music from iPhone to Flash Drive (Flexible and Reliable Guide)
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to External Hard Drive in 5 Effective Ways?
How to Transfer Photos from Android Phone to External Hard Drive Directly?
How to Back Up an iPhone Directly to an External Hard Drive on Windows or Mac?
How to Transfer Photos from iPad to External Hard Drive with or without Computer?
3 Simple Ways to Back Up iPhone to Flash/USB/Thumb Drive (Reassuring Guide)
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