How to Transfer Music and Videos from PC to iPhone Using iTunes

Transferring music and videos from a PC to an iPhone used to be a complicated process. Thankfully, Apple’s iTunes has simplified this task by providing a reliable bridge between your computer and iOS device. Whether you’re importing your favorite songs, movie collections, or personal video files, iTunes offers a smooth, organized, and secure way to sync your content.

iTunes is more than just a media player — it’s an all-in-one management platform that helps you organize your media library, sync data, and create backups of your iPhone. For users who prefer to keep their entertainment collections offline or curate personalized playlists, transferring through iTunes remains the best method.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of transfer music and videos from PC to iPhone using iTunes, along with pro tips to ensure a fast, error-free process.

Things You Need Before Transfer

Before you begin the transfer, make sure you have the following essentials ready:

  • Latest Version of iTunes – Download and install the latest iTunes version from Apple’s official website. Older versions may cause connection or compatibility issues.
  • Lightning Cable (USB or USB-C) – Use a high-quality cable to ensure a stable connection between your PC and iPhone.
  • Apple ID – Log in to your Apple ID on both your PC’s iTunes and your iPhone to enable secure syncing.
  • Enough Storage Space – Check your iPhone’s available space to ensure your media files fit comfortably.
  • Organized Media Files – Arrange your music and video folders properly on your PC for easy importing.

Once you have everything prepared, you’re ready to start the transfer process.

Step 1: Connect iPhone with PC

  1. Launch iTunes on your PC.
  2. Plug your iPhone into the computer using your Lightning cable.
  3. On your iPhone, tap “Trust This Computer” if prompted, and enter your passcode.
  4. Your device will appear in iTunes at the top left as a small iPhone icon.
  5. Click on the icon to open your iPhone’s summary page.

At this stage, iTunes establishes a secure connection between your PC and iPhone, allowing you to manage and sync files.

Step 2: Add Media to iTunes Library

To transfer your content, you first need to add your desired music and videos into the iTunes library.

For Music:

  1. In iTunes, go to the File menu.
  2. Click Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library.
  3. Browse and select the folder containing your MP3, WAV, or AAC files.
  4. The songs will now appear under the Music section in your iTunes Library.

For Videos:

  1. Navigate to Movies or TV Shows in iTunes.
  2. Click File > Add File to Library.
  3. Choose your video files (MP4, MOV, or M4V formats are preferred).
  4. They will now be visible under the Movies tab in iTunes.

Tip: Ensure that all files are playable in iTunes before syncing. Unsupported formats may require conversion.

Step 3: Select Content to Sync (Music & Videos)

Now that your library is ready, it’s time to choose what content you want to transfer.

Syncing Music:

  1. Click your device icon in iTunes.
  2. From the sidebar, select Music.
  3. Check the box that says Sync Music.
  4. Choose between:
    • Entire music library – transfers all songs.
    • Selected playlists, artists, albums, or genres – lets you customize your sync list.
  5. Confirm your choices.

Syncing Videos:

  1. Go back to your device menu and click Movies or TV Shows.
  2. Check Sync Movies or Sync TV Shows.
  3. Select the specific videos you want to transfer.

By choosing selective sync, you can save space and keep your iPhone clutter-free.

Step 4: Start Transfer and Wait for Completion

Once your selections are made:

  1. Click the Apply or Sync button at the bottom right of iTunes.
  2. iTunes will start transferring the selected music and videos.
  3. Wait until the progress bar completes — do not disconnect your iPhone during this step.

Transfer time depends on file size, USB speed, and PC performance. Typically, a few gigabytes of data transfer takes only a few minutes.

Once the sync is complete, iTunes will display “Sync is complete” or “OK” at the top.

Step 5: Check Transferred Files on iPhone

After syncing, safely disconnect your iPhone and confirm that your media files transferred successfully.

To Check Music:

  • Open the Music app.
  • Go to Library > Songs or Albums.
  • You should see all the tracks that were synced from iTunes.

To Check Videos:

  • Open the TV or Videos app (depending on your iOS version).
  • Browse under Library to find your synced movies or TV shows.

If you can play the content without Wi-Fi or mobile data, that means the files are now stored offline on your iPhone.

Pro Tips to Speed Up Transfer

Want to make your media transfer even faster and smoother? Follow these professional tips:

  1. Use Original Apple Cable: Non-certified cables may reduce transfer speed or cause disconnections.
  2. Close Background Apps: Shut down other programs running on your PC to free system resources.
  3. Disable iCloud Sync Temporarily: If iCloud Music Library is enabled, it might delay the local sync.
  4. Keep iTunes Updated: Each new version of iTunes improves performance and compatibility.
  5. Optimize File Formats: Convert large videos into iPhone-compatible MP4 (H.264 codec) before syncing.
  6. Use USB 3.0 Ports: Faster ports ensure high-speed transfer compared to older USB 2.0 ports.
  7. Avoid Large Batch Transfers: Syncing in smaller groups reduces potential errors and lag.

These optimizations ensure a seamless transfer experience without interruptions.

How to Avoid Duplicate or Missing Files

A common issue when syncing media via iTunes is duplicate or missing files. Here’s how to prevent and fix them:

1. Organize Your Library Before Syncing

Keep your PC folders tidy and remove duplicate files manually before adding them to iTunes.

2. Use the “Manually Manage Music and Videos” Option

You can enable manual management under your device’s summary tab. This lets you drag and drop specific songs or videos instead of syncing your entire library.

3. Turn Off Automatic Sync

If multiple computers are connected to your iPhone, automatic sync can overwrite data. Always use manual sync to stay in control.

4. Remove Old Sync Data

If your iPhone’s storage seems inconsistent, disconnect it, go to iTunes > Preferences > Devices, and delete old backups.

5. Check for Missing Files

Sometimes iTunes loses track of files if you’ve moved them on your PC. Right-click any missing item in iTunes and choose Locate File to fix broken links.

Following these steps keeps your library clean, consistent, and ready for future syncs.

FAQs

If your iPhone doesn’t appear in iTunes, check your USB cable and port, then unlock your phone and tap “Trust This Computer.” You can also reinstall iTunes or update the Apple Mobile Device drivers for a fresh connection.

Yes, you can. Simply enable the “Manually manage music and videos” option in iTunes before syncing. This allows you to add new files without erasing your current songs or playlists.

iTunes supports MP4, MOV, and M4V formats encoded with H.264. If your videos are in AVI, MKV, or WMV format, convert them first to ensure smooth playback on your iPhone.

This usually happens when files aren’t properly synced or stored in unsupported formats. Recheck your sync settings, ensure the music is added to your iTunes library, and sync again to refresh your iPhone’s library.

Yes, if you enable Wi-Fi sync in iTunes while your iPhone is connected once via cable. After setup, iTunes can automatically transfer media wirelessly whenever both devices are on the same network.

Conclusion

Transferring music and videos from a PC to an iPhone using iTunes is one of the most dependable and organized ways to enjoy your media anywhere. With just a few simple steps — connecting your iPhone, adding files to iTunes, selecting what to sync, and confirming the transfer — you can move gigabytes of music and movies without hassle.

Whether you’re preparing a workout playlist, storing offline movies for travel, or syncing high-quality videos for presentations, iTunes remains a powerful, free, and reliable tool for all types of users. By following the steps and tips above, you can ensure every transfer is smooth, duplicate-free, and lightning-fast.

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