can't add songs to ipod nano

For some reason, I can no longer add songs from CD's to ipod nano. Should I do a full restore?

iPod Nano

Posted on Apr 4, 2019 1:20 PM

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5 replies

Apr 5, 2019 11:28 AM in response to Rodney Parker

I doubt if a Restore will sort out the issue because the underlying reason will still be present after a Restore. For example, there are several reasons why songs may not go onto your iPod:

  • no sync is taking place
  • songs don't play in your Library (because they are missing, but still listed) and therefore there is nothing to copy onto the iPod
  • you're syncing by Playlists (etc.) rather than the entire Library, but the songs are not included in any Playlist


I can probably think of a few more.


The first thing to establish is:

  1. Is it all songs or only some that won't go onto the iPod?
  2. Is a Sync taking place? Do you see any messages that suggest a Sync is taking place?
  3. Have you recently performed a Restore (using iTunes). Note that a Restore is very different to a Reset (on the iPod). I'm asking if you have recently carried out a Restore?
  4. Do the songs play in iTunes?


Answers to all four questions will be helpful.

Apr 6, 2019 2:48 AM in response to Rodney Parker

Okay, now that we know that the next things to find out are whether the songs are ticked in your Library and to check and see which Sync options you have set. This will help work out why the problem songs are missing from the iPod.


In your iTunes Library, look in the Songs view. On the left hand side, to the left of a song's title, you should see a tick box. Each song should have a tick in the box. Look specifically at some of the songs that are not getting onto your iPod. Are those songs ticked or not? We'll need this information in a while:



Question A: are all the problem songs in your Library ticked?


Next, to find out which Sync options are in use, connect your iPod to iTunes and click on the iPod icon when it appears at the top:


which will show you the Device/Settings/Summary pane:



  • Question B: Is the box named Manually Manage ticked?
  • Question C: Is the box named Sync only ticked songs and videos is ticked? (This is a separate question to question A)


Now tap on Device/Settings/Music (as shown below in 1.), to switch panes. You'll see this screen:



Using the screenshot above;

  • Question D: Is Sync Music (2.) ticked?
  • Question E: which option is selected in option 3., entire music library or selected playlists, artists, albums and genres?


What are the answers for questions A - E?

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can't add songs to ipod nano

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