How to Sync Music from Windows to iPhone or iPad Using iTunes

Step-by-step guide to syncing your music library from a Windows PC to iPhone or iPad using iTunes for Windows.

On Windows, iTunes is still the most common way to get music onto an iPhone or iPad — particularly on Windows 10, or on Windows 11 if you haven’t switched to the newer Apple Music app. This guide covers the full workflow.

On Windows 11? You also have the option to use Apple’s newer Microsoft Store apps. See How to Sync Music from Windows 11 Using the Apple Music and Apple Devices Apps for that path.

What you’ll need

• A Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11)
• iTunes for Windows installed — download from apple.com/itunes or the Microsoft Store
• Your iPhone or iPad
• A Lightning or USB-C cable
• Music in your iTunes library on the PC

Step-by-step

1. Add your music to iTunes

Open iTunes. If your music is loose files on your PC (MP3, M4A, etc.):

• Drag the folder or individual files into the iTunes window, or
• Go to File → Add Folder to Library and point it at your music folder.

iTunes copies (or references, depending on your settings) the files into its library.

2. Connect your iPhone or iPad

Plug the device into the PC. If it’s the first time:

• On the device, tap Trust and enter your passcode.
• In iTunes, click Continue when prompted.

3. Open the device view

Once connected, a small device icon appears near the top-left of iTunes, just below the playback controls. Click it.

4. Open the Music section

In the sidebar on the left (under the device name), click Music.

5. Enable syncing

Check the box Sync Music.

Choose what to sync:

• Entire music library — everything in iTunes goes to the device.
• Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres — pick only what you want.

If you go with the second option, tick the items you want in the lists that appear.

Optional tickboxes:

• Include music videos — adds music videos if you have any.
• Include voice memos — syncs Voice Memos across.
• Automatically fill free space with songs — fills any leftover storage with random songs from your library.

6. Click Apply (or Sync)

At the bottom right, click Apply. If syncing doesn’t start automatically, click Sync.

The first sync can take a while for large libraries. Later syncs only copy changes.

Enable Wi-Fi sync

You can skip the cable after the first sync. In the device’s Summary tab in iTunes:

1. Scroll down to Options.
2. Tick Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi.
3. Click Apply.

The device will now appear in iTunes whenever it’s on the same Wi-Fi network as the PC and plugged into power.

Common issues

iTunes doesn’t see the device.

• Unlock the device and tap Trust if you haven’t.
• Try a different USB cable or port (a data cable, not a charge-only one).
• Make sure the Apple Mobile Device Support service is running (Windows Services).
• Reinstall iTunes as a last resort.

“Cannot sync music to your iPhone because you are not authorized…“ Go to Account → Authorizations → Authorize This Computer. Sign in with the Apple ID you used to buy the music.

Syncing wipes music I added from another computer. iTunes syncs to one library at a time by default. If you sync with a different PC or Mac, iTunes offers to erase and replace. To add music from multiple sources, use Manually manage music and videos in the device’s Summary tab.

Apple Music subscribers: use Sync Library, not iTunes sync. If you subscribe to Apple Music, your library already syncs through the cloud. See What is Apple Music, and does it work with Stezza?.

After syncing

Open Stezza on your iPhone or iPad. Your synced music appears automatically — Stezza reads from the device’s Music library.

If your library still looks empty, see My Music Library Looks Empty in Stezza.

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