transfer podcasts from Mac to iPhone?

Question

R_55a Author

Level 2

264 points

transfer podcasts from Mac to iPhone?

I cannot determine how to move some sound files from my Mac to an iPhone 5s.

The sound files are podcasts. They are saved in iTunes on the Mac.

The iTunes user guide says,

Connect your device to your computer.
In the iTunes app on your Mac, clerk the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
Click File Sharing.
In the list on the left, select the app on your device that you want to transfer a file to or from.

And this is as far as I get.

I click on the icon for the iPhone and then on File Sharing. The only application listed in the “File Sharing” column for the iPhone is Printer Pro. I do not believe that Printer Pro plays music.

I am guessing that the iOS Music application would be the application that would play a music file on the iPhone. But that application does not appear in the “File Sharing” column for the iPhone in iTunes on the Mac.

What am I missing?

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 2, 2019 6:07 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

sberman

Level 10

273,864 points

May 2, 2019 6:19 PM in response to R_55a

R_55a wrote:

The sound files are podcasts. They are saved in iTunes on the Mac.

iTunes syncs podcasts when you sync your iPhone. Instead of trying to explicitly move the podcasts, simply sync the iPhone.

Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using iTunes on your computer - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

R_55a Author

Level 2

264 points

May 25, 2019 12:31 PM in response to sberman

I will have to check out "Family Sharing." In the meantime I found a different resolution. In the Macintosh I moved the particular podcast folder out of my Library. I moved this folder to the "Shared" folder accessible to all users of this Macintosh. I then logged out of my Apple ID and logged into the Apple ID of the owner of the iPhone. In that person's iTunes I opened the desired podcast folder. iTunes opened each of the podcasts. I used iTunes to transfer the podcasts to the iPhone. After this transfer, I reversed my actions in the Macintosh. The podcast folder is now back in my Library. I presume that the podcast folder is no longer in the iTunes of the other user. And I have my podcasts in the iPhone.

Reply

Answer 3

R_55a Author

Level 2

264 points

May 2, 2019 7:05 PM in response to sberman

Next question. I see in iTunes that I have to select "podcasts" for the iPhone and then click the checkbox for "Sync Podcasts." When I click that checkbox, iTunes gives me a dialog box stating that proceeding further will remove all podcasts currently synchronized to any library other than that of the Mac that I am using now. I do not want to lose the podcasts presently on the iPhone; I just want to add some more. As to which library is currently synchronized, I can only guess that it was an earlier Mac that has since gone away.

How do I save the podcasts currently in the iPhone and add more?

Reply

Answer 4

R_55a Author

Level 2

264 points

May 3, 2019 9:46 PM in response to sberman

I have a complicating factor. The podcasts on the Mac are in my Apple ID. The iPhone is in someone else's Apple ID.

I have logged into the other person's Apple ID. I backed up and synchronized the iPhone to that Apple ID in the Mac.

Now I have backed up the iPhone both to my own account and to the other. I have, however, synchronized it with only the other account, because iTunes said that it would erase the content from the iPhone if I synchronized the iPhone with my account. I do not want to remove the other person's content from the iPhone. I only want to add mine.

Now I am back in my account on the Mac. I have the iPhone connected to the Mac by USB. I am still trying to import the podcasts from my iTunes account to the iPhone. Can it be done?

Reply

Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

273,864 points

May 4, 2019 12:10 AM in response to R_55a

It is a big mistake to attempt to mix Apple IDs.

An Apple ID belongs to exactly one person. An Apple ID owns whatever (s)he has purchased. Nobody else owns that material. It cannot be shared and must remain distinct.

If you wish to share material in an orderly manner, Apple provides the Family Sharing process to do that.

Family Sharing - Apple Support

Be certain you very carefully keep material belonging to a specific Apple ID separate and isolated from others, in iTunes, on iOS devices, and in iTunes backups.

Reply

Answer 6

sberman

Level 10

273,864 points

May 2, 2019 8:44 PM in response to R_55a

R_55a wrote:

As to which library is currently synchronized, I can only guess that it was an earlier Mac that has since gone away.

The big question is: Are those podcasts that existed on your earlier Mac also on your current Mac? In other words, does your current Mac possess each and every podcast you wish to save (as it should)? If so, you should have no issue refreshing your iPhone's podcast repertoire to the one currently on your Mac.

Reply

transfer podcasts from Mac to iPhone?

Similar questions