How to get Music onto a new Iphone 16 from Itunes or????

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Level 1

13 points

How to get Music onto a new Iphone 16 from Itunes or????

I recenctly upgraded from an Iphone 14 to a 16. I thought Icloud backed up music but I guess not since when I open my Music app on the 16 I have about 12 songs. All my playlists are still there but not the songs attached to the play list.

I have about 1000 songs that came from CD's I purchased over the decades. I do not subscribe to Apple Music since I already own what I want.

I've been reading that it seems you need to have an Apple Music Sub to save your music?

I use to get music to my phone by using I tunes where it is all saved. I tried to connect my Iphone 16 to myHP Windows 11 computer to Itunes and no luck. It won't see the Phone like it use to. Then I read you need to download the Apple Device Manager which I did but It will not recognise my phone either???

Can some of you explain how I can get my music on my phone? I do have it backed up on One Drive but Icloud has no Music Catagory.

Thanks for any help

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 10:14 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

KiltedTim

Level 10

232,496 points

Oct 28, 2025 11:36 AM in response to markmisky

Yes, I'm saying that if you have a data transfer cable you should be able to sync music to the phone from the music library on your computer.

There is no need to subscribe to Apple Music.

Ignore YouTube. Here is Apple's documentation on how to do it: Sync music between your Windows device and iPhone, iPad or iPod – Apple Support (UK)

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Answer 2

markmisky Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 29, 2025 12:01 PM in response to KiltedTim

I want to thank ALL of you for your replies. First issue was I needed a data cable. I must have 20 cables and found only 2 will recognise my Iphone on my HP Laptop.

The other confusing thing was I thought you sync your music to your phone using Apple Music. NOT. You have to download this Apple Device App for Windows. That is what does the sync to the phone. Apple Music is where you can sort and add music. Itunes use to do both.

Hopefully this helps someone else who was as confused as me. Its been 3 years since I got a new phone and thought it was all in Icloud.

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2025 12:22 PM in response to markmisky

markmisky wrote:

Could you explain why its incorrect?

The phrase "iCloud Music Library" is one that Apple uses with regards to

The iTunes Match subscription service
The "Sync Library" feature of the Apple Music subscription service

Your computer's iTunes or Music library - the one you synchronize against in the absence of a subscription – lives on your computer, not in iCloud. Even if you have a subscription and are using "iCloud Music Library", there will still be a local music library on your computer (albeit one that might contain DRMed "offline listening" subscription songs).

Also are you saying that if I have a data transfer cable I should be able to transfer my music with Itunes?

Yes, with iTunes or with whatever application (Apple Devices) Apple might have replaced it with on Windows. On the Mac side, iTunes is only for Macs running Mojave and earlier. Catalina split up Tunes, so there's a Music app where you import and organize music, but the actual synchronization is done using the Finder.

I am reading that it seems the only way to get music now is to subscribe to Apple Music? or some crazy work arounds I see on You tube taht don't work?

What you're reading is incorrect, and no "crazy workarounds" are needed. The "transfer with a cable" stuff has been around forever. iTunes Match and Apple Music subscriptions are things that came along later which Apple has layered on top of, or offered as alternatives to, that. But the option to transfer with a cable (as long as you're not talking about a Firewire cable!) is still there.

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

232,496 points

Oct 28, 2025 10:27 AM in response to markmisky

Are you using the cable that came with the phone, or a 3rd party cable?

Not all cables are created equal. Many are 'charge only' cables.

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Answer 5

markmisky Author

Level 1

13 points

Oct 28, 2025 11:25 AM in response to KiltedTim

Could you explain why its incorrect? Also are you saying that if I have a data transfer cable I should be able to transfer my music with Itunes?

I am reading that it seems the only way to get music now is to subscribe to Apple Music? or some crazy work arounds I see on You tube taht don't work?

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Answer 6

Oct 28, 2025 12:30 PM in response to markmisky

Your tag line says that you have an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

I believe that the cable that came with your phone supports charging and data – but may only support data transfer "at USB 2 rates." At least, that's the case if it is this one:

60W USB-C Charge Cable (1 m) - Apple

The USB-C ports on Pro and Pro Max phones support "USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)", so you might want to look for a third-party USB-C cable that is rated for that and would let you take advantage of it.

iPhone 16 Pro Max - Tech Specs - Apple Support

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