What happens to the songs in my iTunes library when I move music from my iPod to the PC?

Scott December 2, 2010
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I am curious – if I complete step four in the MakeUseOf article How To: Move Music from iPod to PC in 5 Easy Steps How To: Move Music from iPod to PC in 5 Easy Steps How To: Move Music from iPod to PC in 5 Easy Steps Read More , will the songs I have in my iTunes library now be erased and replaced with the songs from my iPod or will the new ones just be added?

  1. Mike
    December 3, 2010 at 11:42 am

    From what I know Step 4 won't have any impact on your current iTunes Library.

    Changing the iTunes Music folder (or now "iTunes Media folder") will only effect subsequent additions.
    So all music, videos and apps already added to iTunes will remain in it's current location while all content you add afterwards will be in the new directory.

    If you want to add music from your iPod to iTunes I suggest to simply follow the Steps to #3 (where you have all music in a local temporary directory) enable "Keep iTunes Music Folder organised" and drag&drop those songs into iTunes.

    • Mike
      December 3, 2010 at 11:52 am

      I forgot to mention you should also enable "copy music to iTunes folder" (don't know the exact name). This way all those songs will end up in the current iTunes Music folder.

      You might want to look into one of the following links:
      Pod To PC http://www.macroplant.com/podtopc/
      CopyTrans http://www.copytrans.de/

      Sorry, don't know of any freeware tool for PC.

  2. Mark O'Neill
    December 3, 2010 at 10:34 am

    I'm sorry, I honestly don't know. I wrote that article years ago and I don't use an iPod anymore. So I couldn't give you a definitive answer. All I can suggest is that you backup your iTunes library to another location, then give it a go, and see what happens.