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How to sync your iTunes music library on Android

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© Ben Miller / nextpit

Before smartphones were as capable as they are today, many of us listened to music on iPods, and built up sizable music collections in the process. We have outlined the best methods for switching to Android, including how to use the official Apple Music app to access your iTunes library.

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1. Transfer iTunes to Android using YouTube Music

YouTube Music provides cloud storage for up to 100.000 songs, similar to its predecessor Google Play Music, accessible from both your desktop and your phone. Best of all - it's compatible with iTunes. To sync the two systems, you'll need to download the YouTube Music app on your phone, but upload music files using the web browser.

To upload files, simply access music.youtube.com, login with your Google account and choose one of the options:

Option 1: Simply drag and drop your music files in the browser window. This option is especially easy to use on a PC.

  1. Option 2: Click on your profile picture.
  2. Select the Upload music option.
  3. In the file browser window, open the iTunes folder and choose the desired music files.
  4. Confirm the selection - clicking on Open in Windows, for example.
  5. If it is the first time you are uploading files to the service, you will be required to Accept the service's policy.

The web version will automatically sync with the YouTube Music app on your phone – open it, tap Library and you'll see your music starting to appear. Uploading large music collections can take a while, but as you don't have to physically connect your phone to your computer, you can go about your day while the browser window does its work.

YouTube Music Upload
You can also drag and drop music files in the browser window / © NextPit

According to the YouTube Music support pages, the upload feature is compatible with files in the following formats: FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, and WMA.

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2. iTunes and Android: Synchronize with doubleTwist

With the free Windows program and the Android app doubleTwist, you can easily synchronize your iTunes library with Android. First, download the program for your PC from the doubleTwist homepage and install it. Then grab your Android smartphone and download the doubleTwist app from the Google Play Store.

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The doubleTwist app for Android is available free of charge or as a pro version for around $8, depending on your region. The latter offers some special features that are not necessary for the synchronization between iTunes and Android.

Now launch doubleTwist on your computer. You have a choice on whether you want your Android smartphone to sync with iTunes via USB or AirSync. I recommend the USB method. This is not only included in the free version of doubleTwist, but it is also much faster than Wi-Fi.

double twist sync
doubleTwist: Synchronization via USB cable is recommended. / © NextPit

But before you can click on the big Sync Now button, you should first right-click on the doubleTwist icon in the Windows system tray and select Preferences -> Use iTunes library to let doubleTwist access your iTunes library. If you also have a device with a microSD slot, you should select the external memory card as the storage location in the settings. Depending on the card, you can get the entire music collection on your phone.

Now, when you click Sync Now, your entire iTunes music collection, including all playlists, will be copied to your Android smartphone. If your collection is larger than the memory of your smartphone, this is not necessarily the best solution. It makes more sense to create a playlist on iTunes called "Android", for example, which only contains the music you really want to copy. Once you have created the list, simply switch to the Music tab in doubleTwist and select your previously created "Android" playlist under Playlists.

Once the synchronization is complete, you can now play and access your iTunes music using doubleTwist Player for Android. However, it's also available in other music players if you don't like doubleTwist.

doubletwist app
Your iTunes music collection in the doubleTwist app on your Android smartphone. / © NextPit

3. Transfer iTunes to Android with iSyncr

There are various dedicated apps for transferring your iTunes music to your Android phone in the Play Store. We tested several and found that iSyncr was the simplest and most efficient. 

To start, download the iSyncr app from the Play Store to your phone (check below for the link), and the desktop app to your PC. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, then open the iSyncr desktop app.

It should automatically open a window asking which files you want to sync with your device. Tick the box next to iTunes and then click Synchronise. iSyncr will then transfer your iTunes files to your phone.

When the process is finished, click End. You'll then be able to play the files using your chosen music player, although the makers of iSyncr recommend their own Rocket Player app. It's also possible to transfer iTunes files over Wi-Fi with iSyncr, as long as your phone and computer are connected to the internet via the same network.

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iSyncr is the best app for transferring your iTunes music files to Android. / © NextPit
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4. Transfer iTunes to Android via USB

If you don't want to rely on a third-party app to use iTunes with your Android phone, then you can manually transfer the files to your device. This method is simple and efficient, but, as above, is limited by the available storage on your device or its microSD card. 

Connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable. Open Windows Explorer, and locate the iTunes folder on your computer. Drag and drop it into your device's music folder to copy the files onto your phone. The music will be visible in your chosen music player app once the transfer is complete.

androidpit usb smartphone pc 3
You can always use the tried-and-true method of USB transfer. / © NextPit

5. Use Apple Music for Android

Apple usually doesn't make apps for Android. But in an effort to keep iTunes customers who wisely made the switch to Android, Apple made the Apple Music for Android app. It has its flaws, but it's the official way to listen to your iTunes music on Android. 

Because it is an Apple service you will need an Apple ID to use it. You should already have one since you have iTunes music. Make sure you retrieve your account if you can't find the information and consider contacting customer support if you are still unable to access it.

The Apple Music app gives you the same features as iTunes, with recommendations for you from a 30 million song catalog. You can keep all of the playlists you made when you used iOS and transferring is fairly simple. It is a streaming service (like Spotify) that requires a subscription, but the first three months are free. Download it from the link below:

AndroidPIT Headphones Beats Solo 3 1886
The Apple Music for Android app makes listening to your music easy. / © NextPit

How to add music from your collection to the Android app:

Open iTunes on your computer, where you have presumably bought your music from iTunes or ripped old CDs. Sign into the iTunes Store with your Apple ID on your computer, and make sure you're signed in with the same ID on your Android app. On your computer, turn on iCloud Music Library and wait for it to update. Once that is done, all your music on iTunes will be available on your Android's Apple Music app.

What do you think is the best way to use iTunes with your Android phone? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Eric Ferrari-Herrmann

Eric Ferrari-Herrmann
Senior Editor

Eric has been with AndroidPIT since 2014. He’s writing articles and reviews for the German website. Topics are mostly privacy and new technology but there's also the occasional piece on environmental sustainability.

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43 comments
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  • 1
    Jesús García Sep 11, 2022 Link to comment

    After months using doubleTwist, I can say that this app is a fucking crap, that fails constantly. Is easer and quickly (and less frustrant) manage your music manually via USB.


  • Mark Harvey 1
    Mark Harvey Aug 24, 2022 Link to comment

    isnycr and Rocket Player now seem to be owned by somebody new. The app went from the best to the worst option available in the past few months. It's loaded with adware, and they will charge $29.99 per month to get rid of the ads. I was singing the praises of this app as a Beta tester over the past several years. I don't know what happened to the people who ran it originally, but it's horrible now. No longer a viable option. I pray that they fix it.


    • Mark Harvey 1
      Mark Harvey Aug 24, 2022 Link to comment

      By the way, I found that Samsung music picks up the playlists that isyncr transfers. So the problem is with Rocket Player, not with isyncr. You have to pay $3.99 to transfer unlimited songs...unless they've changed that, too. The free version allows 100 songs, which isn't very helpful. But it still works for me. Use isyncr, but not Rocket Player and it's pretty easy.


  • 1
    Aunt Beeje Jul 17, 2022 Link to comment

    Just tried method 3. When the transfer was 100% completed (PC to android tablet) got the message that "a maximum of 100 songs are allowed when using trial version." Waste of time.


  • Landmark Grp 2
    Landmark Grp Mar 13, 2022 Link to comment

    Helpful information, thanks for sharing. But if you need to transfer any playlist to anywhere, you can use "musconv"


  • 49
    storm Feb 9, 2022 Link to comment

    Why is any system an intermediary between you and your content? Actually owning your media is very freeing and simple.

    Zois Bekios Zannikos


  • 1
    Paul Yeaton Jan 31, 2021 Link to comment

    I can access my iTunes library from my iPhone 8, but not from my new iPhone 11... Apple is always trying to put its hand in my wallett


  • 7
    RowanRosh Dec 24, 2020 Link to comment

    Nice


  • 3
    Rose Brown Nov 24, 2020 Link to comment

    Except for your sharing, Tunelf Audio Converter is also a great tool for you to transfer music from iTunes to Android. It allows you to convert iTunes M4P music to MP3 then you can freely play them on your Android device.


  • ameliaj 4
    ameliaj Aug 27, 2020 Link to comment

    I am a cross-platform user also an Apple Music individual subscriber. But the individual plan doesn't allow me to stream music to more than one device at a time, which it's a bit inconvenient. Then I happened to find a software named TuneFab Apple Music Converter which is able to get rid of the Apple Music DRM and convert songs to multiple formats. I also find it useful in managing my music playlist. So now I am inclined to select songs from my library and then use this software to convert and save the DRM-free files to my Android device for playback. Besides, the converter can even remove DRM from audiobooks. It's a helpful tool for organizing audio content on the iTunes library. Worth a try.


  • 3
    SSSUUU Apr 13, 2020 Link to comment

    AudFree audio capture is good for you to sync your iTunes music library on Android. The converted music is of lossless quality. You can upload the songs to your Android devices and listen to them freely.


  • 1
    MateoMiller Dec 10, 2019 Link to comment

    I use "MusConv tool" to manage all my music playlists. It works with all the top streaming services and let you save/transfer/import/export your music in various formats among various platforms


  • 3
    amnazeb25 Nov 23, 2019 Link to comment

    Very useful article


  • Stephen Langele 2
    Stephen Langele Feb 13, 2019 Link to comment

    I have always had Android phones and a MacBook Pro and have tried for years to get all of my music from iTunes on my phone and it has never worked. I tried various methods , but they were always unsuccessful. I really had hope that DoubleTwist would do it, but in my opinion that was a total waste of money to spend on their app. I could never get the music to transfer- very little of it anyways and it was certainly not stored like it was in iTunes, something that is done very well actually. It would not work over Wi-Fi or via USB. Wi-fi would work, but it was so slow and eventually one of two things would happen, the app on my MBP would crash or it just slowed my MBP down so much that it was unusable. I have now finally found the Apple Music app for Android and currently am syncing my library to the iCloud and am keeping my fingers crossed that this might finally be the solution to getting all of my music onto my Android device.

    Andries Holtzhausen


    • Andries Holtzhausen 1
      Andries Holtzhausen Apr 24, 2019 Link to comment

      I also found doubleTwist to be a useless piece of rubbish.


    • Miles Gonzalez 2
      Miles Gonzalez May 7, 2019 Link to comment

      as I know , Apple music are combined with DRM. If you'd like to sync apple music to android, you have to get rid of drm protection. I just come across with this software: DRmare Apple Music Converter for Windows/Mac. You may take a look at it.


      • 1
        CarlVSam May 13, 2019 Link to comment

        Actually, music purchased from iTunes has been DRM-free since early 2009; the movies and TV shows, on the other hand, still have DRM.


    • 1
      Partofsydir Apr 5, 2020 Link to comment

      So what was the result.... give us an update? I would love to know because I am considering going from an iPhone to an Android.


  • Mee Leem 1
    Mee Leem Sep 26, 2018 Link to comment

    I know drmare drm audio converter, which is really a great app to convert any audio files to common audio formats.


  • 3
    Sophialing White Jun 13, 2018 Link to comment

    Thanks for your nice post. Before read your article, I usually need to use the tool, called DRmare DRM Audio Converter to help me transfer iTunes audios, like audiobooks and Apple Music to Android phone. Thanks a lot for this useful article.


  • Kacey Kowalik 2
    Kacey Kowalik Mar 18, 2018 Link to comment

    Article says "Select the location of the music you want to upload (in this case, iTunes)". I could find nothing in Play Music on a Chromebook for location or upload. Very poorly written.

    MrsPayneAndries Holtzhausen


  • Nicolas Caputo 1
    Nicolas Caputo Nov 26, 2017 Link to comment

    I am having a hard time converting from my iPhone to my Google Pixel 2XL. I have copied all my important data, photos, calendars contacts etc, but my music is driving me nuts. I have an extensive music library, 30+GB, and I am trying to transfer my playlists and music from iTunes to my android device. My google play library constantly messes up and stops syncing songs to my library, due to my large library. When i plug in my device using USB - USB-C programs such as iSyncr free and android file manager are not allowing me to drag and drop my music into my phones memory which is 128GB. Anyone have any solutions or programs I should be looking into?


  • Frank Nobody 1
    Frank Nobody Sep 10, 2017 Link to comment

    All of my ripped CDs are currently in iTunes, which I use on a Macbook Pro running Yosemite. I am transitioning off of all Apple platforms so I didn't want to add yet another app from Apple to anything, least of all my Android Google Pixel XL. I wanted a selection of my music transferred to the Pixel and finally made it work this way without physical USB connections and without paying Apple (I do not pay for iTunes or iCloud) or Google (I have 15GB free on Google Drive and don't want to pay for an upgrade to more storage):

    1. Installed Google Backup and Sync on my MBP.
    2. Create a single music transfer directory to be synced with Google Drive.
    3. Copy up to 15G at a time to the transfer directory and sync to Drive.
    4. Important: Exit Backup and Sync before I get tempted to clean up the transfer directory!
    5. Start the Google Drive app on Pixel.
    6. Downloading the tunes from Drive involves selecting all CD by CD, then also downloading CD by CD (painful). You can select all from the top level of Drive but then I don't see any Download option; that only works inside of flat directories.
    7. I had no luck with Google Play Music on the Pixel, but searches showed that there might be some DRM nonsense going on. I installed VLC Media Player instead.
    8. Start VLC, refresh (makes it look for all audio files on local storage) and the downloaded tunes appear. I have had no trouble playing any ripped CDs transferred this way, don't know about other content (e.g. iTunes purchases).

    Repeat by cleaning up Drive (need to clean up from main folder and Trash folder to reclaim all space) and transfer directory and then moving over another 15G. This probably isn't the most convenient method, but the price is right and it's sufficient for somebody who just wants a few 10Gs of songs on their Android phone.


  • Avarez Jerrold 4
    Avarez Jerrold Mar 17, 2017 Link to comment

    As iTunes has its own standard for music and it is totally different from Android, so it is difficult for people to transfer data from iTunes to Android in one click. Therefore, if you know some tips and tricks about how to transfer songs, videos, iTunes U, Podcasts, and more from iTunes to android, it will simplify your steps in some ways.

    Deactivated Account


  • Kevin Blanco 2
    Kevin Blanco Jan 17, 2017 Link to comment

    I'm surprised there wasn't an inclusion of third party music management programs similar to Itunes. I use MusicBee myself, which is very much like Itunes. It can be a bit advanced for folks, but once you get it set up and going if you leave well enough alone in the advance settings then it'll run trouble free. I sync it with my Android device and drag and drop songs between the two.

    Oluchukwu Okocha


    • Oluchukwu Okocha 1
      Oluchukwu Okocha Oct 6, 2017 Link to comment

      Thank you
      Thank you
      Thank you

      After days of searching, i came across this article, then your comment - and mehn, MusicBee did it for me - just what i wanted.

      Thanks for dropping your comment


  • 3
    Scott Shaheen Jan 11, 2017 Link to comment

    Still don't want ITunes on any of my stuff.


    • Brittany McGhee 21
      Brittany McGhee Jan 11, 2017 Link to comment

      What do you use for your music?


  • 2
    Gordon Bonenfant Dec 20, 2016 Link to comment

    The sole need I had for an android audio player was the ability to play a huge itunes collection. An audio video player called VLC was the perfect solution.

    I know, I'm a dinosaur who bought all my music. Converted most of it from CDs, and yeah, bought lots on iTunes. I ditched apple phones a few years ago. I play my collection mostly in my truck. My 4Runner accepts USB jump drives for audio, & so does my phone.

    I copy/pasted my itunes mefia folder from my pc to a 256GB USB jump drive. The USB drive attaches to my android phone through a short male micro usb to female usb cord. The detachable USB drive means I don't tie up internal phone storage or have excess battery drain.

    Google Play music refused to read the jump drive, and access from my android file folder wasn't much better... So I did some research, and the VLC audio/video app was the perfect solution. Clean, easy design. 😎🤘

    Vince Regan


  • Gillian G 1
    Gillian G Jan 29, 2016 Link to comment

    Hello, perhaps someone here can help me. I cannot seem to fix this issue! I have an Acer Laptop with Windows 10. I first tried to sync my Itunes library to DoubleTwist, which did not recognize my Itunes Library (It said it appeared I had less than 10 songs?) I did some research, and deleted any extra Itunes library XML file. No luck. I upgraded Itunes to the latest version, no luck. I downloaded Google Play Music and the Music Manager, and same thing! Actually, in Music Manager, the choice to select "Itunes library," is GREYED OUT?! What is going on? My Itunes library and all subfolders are in my Music Folder. I can open Itunes, and it works just fine. I cannot seem to find anything logical in settings.
    I've been Googling "Google Play Music doesn't recognize Itunes library," and so far the only comment threads I've come up with are on Mac forums.
    Help? Please?

    Cheers!


    • 1
      Teddy Ronan Jun 13, 2016 Link to comment

      You can just give up on Double Twist and try younity instead, its way easier to set up and doesn't take up any storage on your phone unless you download the songs (otherwise it just streams it from your home computer). The only bummer I found was that it doesn't shuffle ALL songs, but you can hack younity by creating a playlist in iTunes and then it'll sync that so you can shuffle all songs if you wanted.


  • 4
    Deactivated Account Jan 25, 2016 Link to comment

    Currently, if one is a paid subscriber of Apple Music, Apple has finally created the Apple Music app for Android. This is the absolute best dam app and most efficient one stop no fuss method of accessing Itunes on Android. Of course, granted if one has a paid Apple Music subscription. Just thought I'd mention it.


    • Kim Clayden 6
      Kim Clayden Jan 26, 2016 Link to comment

      Hello, and thank you for the comment. Yes, it appears you are quite right. Perhaps I can grab an Apple Music trial and include it in a future update to this article.

      Deactivated Account


      • 4
        Deactivated Account Jan 26, 2016 Link to comment

        Awesome! Great Kim! Glad I could be of service and contribute to the thread! I remember back when Apple Music first debuted back in June, they were offering a 3 month free trial (it was very competitive at that time running up against Spotify's 3 month trial for 99 cents). I had a 3 month trial from July to October. And after that, they of course autobill the card on file. At any rate, the awesome thing is, if you were to cancel, Apple maintains your library and all your downloaded music for up to 3 months after your cancellation date! (You might want to contact an Apple Music support and double check that. At least that's what I was told by an Apple Music support rep). I don't know what their current free trial is but it's always worth a go! And remember that the Apple Music for Android app is still in beta mode so there are little kinks here and there but overall much smoother since its debut back in November!

        Kim Clayden


  • Guy H Martin 3
    Guy H Martin Jan 25, 2016 Link to comment

    I enjoyed this article of Kim Claydon's transposing I pods music to be android fit. Kim laid out several methods that would work so now I need to to talk some people I know whom own an iPod and work out the best way to get some of their music onto my Galaxy S4 mini.
    A truly wonderful article Kim and more power to you.
    Yours truly;
    Regards,
    Guy H Martin.

    Kim Clayden


  • 1
    Don Brooks Jan 24, 2016 Link to comment

    I find Googleplay to be easiest way to transfer from iTunes


  • 49
    storm Jan 23, 2016 Link to comment

    These "managment" systems are more work than they save. And they tend to lock you into them meaning it's hard to untangle the mess they make of your files. Apple seems to intentionally twirl the spaghetti by using obtuse file names, a flattened file structure and more.

    Manual control of your music is just as easily drag and drop and frees you from OS and app dependency.

    Sure, apps have their place. Managing tags, album images and that sort of thing are far simpler with an app. But they don't make a hash of your library. Indeed, many of them will improve the organization and help you standardize the naming of your files. Just make sure you pick apps that really serve you rather than binding you to the app.


  • 1
    Grant Jan 23, 2016 Link to comment

    You could always download Apple music for Android as well. As a android user (nexus 6) and iPhone
    user (iPhone 6s) I can have access to all my music for the same price as google play music abut with access to a much larger library and my own personal library.


    • 4
      Deactivated Account Jan 25, 2016 Link to comment

      You're not mentioning the fact that one has to subscribe to the Apple Music service which is $9.99/mo individual or $14.99/mo family plan. That's crucial for people to understand. The app isn't standalone. It's just one platform along with the pc of playing music from Itunes. The most important part is that it's a paid unlimited music service comparable to Spotify or Pandora premium. One must shop and compare. Personally I am an Apple Music subscriber but Spotify might suit some needs better.


  • Parvind Chahal 21
    Parvind Chahal Jan 23, 2016 Link to comment

    android users hardly use google play music so why they need itunes.......android is open system everybody downloads music n enjoy in their music player......dont waste ur time in these shits


    • Paolo 17
      Paolo Jan 23, 2016 Link to comment

      For one, iTunes is STILL the de facto means to get stuff LEGALLY for many countries, the biggest collection and most convenient means (Say your country has a very strict regulation against piracy to which "Free music downloaders" blatantly break.) And there are not insignificant numbers of folks who either 1/ own an iDevice TOGETHER with a Droid, or 2/ are migrating to Android from an iPhone, so knowing how to make iTunes play ball with Android is IMPORTANT, so they won't have to pay twice for the same content.


  • 3
    DJ.Emily May 29, 2015 Link to comment

    Apple encodes music videos, movies and TV episodes in the iTunes Store using M4V files. In turn, the M4V files are usually protected by the FairPlay Digital Rights Management(DRM) copyright protection of Apple. Another reason is that iTunes MOV, M4V and M4A are not supported by your Android tablet or smartphone. So, watching iTunes movies on any a Android device has always been a problem.

    To play an iTunes M4V movie on a Android tablet or smartphone, the DRM protection has to be removed. In turn, recording a video from iTunes to formats compatible with Android is possible. Out of the four ways laid out below, you will definitely find the most reliable method of transferring iTunes videos protected by DRM into Android device playable format that works for you: hivimoore.com/2015/03/play-itunes-on-android

    David JohnsonGrimJimCrowleyWu Tracy


  • 1
    Jens Villadsen Aug 4, 2014 Link to comment

    You could also install https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dyndns.jkiddo.igms - it shares your Google Music into iTunes through wifi

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