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Six Quick Steps for Uploading Music to Your iPod Nano

by: LydiaVaughn
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If you've been trying to figure out how to upload music to your new iPod nano, don't worry. We'll have you playing great songs on your iPod nano in no time. Of course, you might not be so interested in music. But maybe you bought your nanos to play videos or games. Well, good news! Once you're uploading music to your nano you'll know how to upload all the other goodies too.

1) Load the music files onto your computer

Chances are you have some CDs sitting around your house that you'd like to add to your iPod. Copy the files from your CDs onto your computer's hard disk so it'll be available to your iPod manager.

2) Import the music into the iPod manager of your choice

An "iPod manager" handles moving files to and from the iPod. For most of us, Apple's free iTunes software fills the bill. But, there are other choices if you decide you don't like iTunes. If you're new to iPods I suggest you start with iTunes.

By the way, using iTunes to manage iPod files does NOT keep you from buying music from other companies -- I buy music downloads from three different vendors but use iTunes to move them back and for from my iPod.

Quick tip: If you want iTunes to put a copy of the file in the main iTunes library directory, choose Edit, Preferences, Advanced from the menu and click the "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library." I like to do this to make it easy to find my music files. I know that music files anywhere else on my hard drive aren't part of the iTunes library and can safely be deleted.

Okay, you're ready to import the music to iTunes. There's several ways to import, but the most common is to click (from the top menu) File, Add Folder to Library, and find and select the directory that contains your music. Click the "OK" button to add the music to the library's music list. You can also use the Control + O keys and select single files to add.

3) Connect your iPod nano

If your iPod isn't already connected, get your USB cable (came with your iPod) out and connect the computer and iPod. The left-hand menu should show your iPod when it's successfully connected.

How you upload the music depends on whether you're letting iTunes manage your iPod or have elected to "manually manage" your iPod. I prefer the "manually manage" approach because it lets me to pick and choose which files to move to my nano. It also allows me to pull files from multiple computers to the one iPod.

4) Now to upload music to that iPod nano

If you decided to let iTunes manage the uploads you're ready to start. Just click your iPod's icon and select "Sync" in the lower right corner. You're done! Play with that a few times. Try making playlists to group your music, go to iStore to download a couple free podcasts, and go enjoy!

If you decided to manage uploading manually you have a one-time setup to complete. Click your iPod's icon and select the "Manually manage music and videos" checkbox on the iTunes screen. Now, select the music you want and drag it onto the iPod icon.

5) Be sure to eject your iPod

Never disconnect your iPod nano without ejecting it first. Not taking that extra minute risks corrupting the files. Eject from iTunes by clicking the button at bottom right of the screen.

6) Go find more music

Now that you have the hang of it, it's time to go find more music, podcasts, games and videos for your iPod nano. I get my podcasts via iTunes, which has a terrific list. Music, games and videos, on the other hand, can be found in a lot of other stores for very reasonable prices. See my web site for suggestions.

About the Author

Wondering where to find top-notch music and game downloads? Head over to Lydia Vaughn's review of the best sites for downloads for your iPod nano at Nanos Reviewed.

Six Quick Steps for Uploading Music to Your iPod Nano

About the Author

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