add songs without syncing to iTunes

JCC449

This helped me so much! Once I went to manual, iTunes finally stopped asking me to erase everything and sync. I was then able to autofill a playlist I had made. I had mp3 versions of a bunch of songs that I downloaded from a homemade cd. I also copied the files as aac files. I'm not sure which set of files made it over, nor do I care! I just wanted them!!! I was so psyched once I saw the autofill button appear! Thanks so much for sharing your thinking with us. Too bad it took me so long to look this up instead of trying to figure it out on my own!

Brad

this totally worked for me! thanks! it scared the living crap out of me but totally worked!

I know some people in the thread were trying to be helpful. But when I clicked manually manage music in iTunes and I got the warning that my music would be erased, and I clicked OK, well my music was erased.

So yes, I was able to add music from my second computer using autofill, but the other music on my iPhone was gone.

its complete ********. i simply want to add music to my device. it should not need so many steps to do so.

You can use iTools it's the best one in world and very easy one

This was a great solution which worked perfectly and I transferred a heap of MP3 files onto my iphone as a test.

I would now like to delete some of them but, unfortunately, I can't seem to do so.

Any ideas ?

This is brilliant stuff. I just followed your instructions and added new songs from a different iTunes library without losing old content. Thanks heaps.

Listen up everybody. I've read through the entire post and I can tell you that the ONLY solution that will work is Jake.fromstatefarm's solution at the bottom of page 2. Yes the "autofill from" solution works ONLY IF you have "Manually manage music and videos" enabled. However, this will NOT be the case for most people and ticking this box will erase all your prior music. I tried his somewhat dangerous solution and it does indeed work without any problems.

OK, enough suffering of reading all the comments of you guys. Read the below steps very carefully and think before you start screaming "it doesn't work", well guess what.. it does!

I have iTunes 11.1.3.8.

1. Open up iTunes and stay in the iTunes Library.

2. Select "Music" and go to the "Playlists" tab. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img28/6189/glfo.jpg)

3. In the bottom left corner there is a "+". Click on it and select "New Playlist". (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img202/5175/uoqw.jpg)

4. Name your playlist however you'd like and click "Done". (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img13/1294/1dm0.jpg)

5. Drag and drop the songs you want on your iPhone into this playlist. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img30/2729/thls.jpg)

6. Go to your iPhone, and select the tab "On This iPhone". You do not have to check "Manually manage music and videos" (see screenshot). However, I do have this checked on my main computer to which my iPhone is synced. (Screenshots: http://imageshack.com/a/img12/3931/f9ul.jpg, http://imageshack.com/a/img6/3020/ynvc.jpg)

7. On the bottom of the list you have "Autofill From: (dropdown)". Select the playlist where you added all the music you want to have on your iPhone. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img703/4499/7jzr.jpg)

8. Click on "Settings" and uncheck all the boxes (especially the top one!). Then click "OK".(Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img716/5706/s6tu.jpg).

9. Now click "Autofill" and iTunes should add the songs to your iPhone without deleting anything.

Once again, read carefully before you start asking questions!

I followed it to the letter (I think) but I'm stuck on 7... there is NO Autofill From: at the bottom left of my screen.. and I'm using iTunes 11.1.0.126...

I followed Jake.fromstatefarm's solution. IT WORKS....

and guess what? After I followed his solution, I can now see the AUTOFILL FROM: ....

It's easy.... (though dangerous). I clicked on Manually Manage, Agreed to erase all my music, and within 1 second, unplugged my phone from the cable... You do have to make sure it's not syncing via wifi, though... (LOL)

Wonderful! Thanks Jake!

While I have not read through all the comments I have found an answer. This works under iOS 7 on and iOS device and iTunes 11.1.3 on OSX.

Once the device is plugged in click on your device on the tab bar (i.e. Bob's iPad) and then the Summary tab. Scroll down until you see the Options section. Check the 'Manually manage music and videos' box and clickApply.

Now you can drag songs onto you device in the sidebar (in case it's hidden Option-Command-S).

I can confirm that it works.

In addition, switching to 'manually manage' does not try to erase the existing music if the 'sync' is UNchecked in the music tab.

Also for those people who cannot find the 'autofill' - you need to click the small black triangle next to the device (ipod iphone, whatever)in the left hand column. It turns downwards revealling the devices contents - do not get confused and look for it under the music tab in the itunes main window.

One other quick tip from the beginning when you are selecting the music to transfer - shift-click to highlight all the songs you want and 'make smart playlist from selection'. Saves lots of dragging and dropping

OK, enough suffering of reading all the comments of you guys. Read the below steps very carefully and think before you start screaming "it doesn't work", well guess what.. it does!

I have iTunes 11.1.3.8.

1. Open up iTunes and stay in the iTunes Library.

2. Select "Music" and go to the "Playlists" tab. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img28/6189/glfo.jpg)

3. In the bottom left corner there is a "+". Click on it and select "New Playlist". (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img202/5175/uoqw.jpg)

4. Name your playlist however you'd like and click "Done". (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img13/1294/1dm0.jpg)

5. Drag and drop the songs you want on your iPhone into this playlist. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img30/2729/thls.jpg)

6. Go to your iPhone, and select the tab "On This iPhone". You do not have to check "Manually manage music and videos" (see screenshot). However, I do have this checked on my main computer to which my iPhone is synced. (Screenshots: http://imageshack.com/a/img12/3931/f9ul.jpg, http://imageshack.com/a/img6/3020/ynvc.jpg)

7. On the bottom of the list you have "Autofill From: (dropdown)". Select the playlist where you added all the music you want to have on your iPhone. (Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img703/4499/7jzr.jpg)

8. Click on "Settings" and uncheck all the boxes (especially the top one!). Then click "OK".(Screenshot: http://imageshack.com/a/img716/5706/s6tu.jpg).

9. Now click "Autofill" and iTunes should add the songs to your iPhone without deleting anything.

Once again, read carefully before you start asking questions!

(thanks man u really help me a lot...now i can manage my songs w/out erasing all my songs... this is the best way! so read carefully)

Yeah none of these work anymore, I followed everything to the T and when it came down to it, I trusted the replys and no matter what I did it came down to "erase and sync". Ended up wiping all my songs. **** you apple and **** you Steve Jobs. I'm switching to android TODAY.