iTunes Can't Count - Discrepancy between iTunes and iPhone song counts

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Level 1

5 points

iTunes Can't Count - Discrepancy between iTunes and iPhone song counts

When I sync my iPhone, this is what I see. I only have 19 voice memos listed in the voice recorder app, so if that is included in the "song" count, that still leaves over 400 songs my phone thinks it has, but it doesn't. I'd really like that space back, so I can keep other things on my phone.

Any ideas? Thoughts? Is more info necessary?

iPhone 4S, iOS 8.1.3

iTunes 12.1.0.50

24" iMac OSX 10.9.5

iPhone 4S, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Mar 6, 2015 10:03 AM

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Answer 1

sberman

Level 10

263,625 points

Mar 6, 2015 10:35 AM in response to Annalea

You have assumed (almost certainly incorrectly) that the only songs on your iPhone are those you are syncing with iTunes. In fact, many songs are likely on your iPhone that are not synced with iTunes.

If you would like to have only those 469 songs on your iPhone, follow these steps:

Uncheck that "Sync Music" box shown in your screen shot.
There should be an "Apply" button in the lower right of the iTunes window. Click this to re-sync your iPhone without syncing any music.
The above step will delete all synced music from your iPhone, leaving only those extra unsynched songs. Review and delete those songs on your iPhone as you wish.
Recheck the "Sync Music" box in your screen shot and resent.

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Answer 2

Annalea Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 6, 2015 1:43 PM in response to sberman

I will occasionally buy music via the iTunes store, on my phone . . . but I seriously doubt I have over four hundred songs. And even if I did, they're added to my iTunes library, aren't they?

The only other source for songs, besides the iTunes store on my phone, is via iTunes on my computer.

So where would the other music have come from?

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

263,625 points

Mar 6, 2015 6:27 PM in response to Annalea

You'll find out where the other music came from if you choose to go through the procedure above.

Maybe movies. Maybe Starbuck's downloads done on your iPhone. You can find out if you wish.

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Answer 4

Annalea Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 7, 2015 3:04 PM in response to sberman

I'll probably go ahead and try what you suggested, if only to be able to come back and answer my own question, so others who have the same question can find the answer. Thanks.

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Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

263,625 points

Mar 7, 2015 3:07 PM in response to Annalea

Other folks' answer may well be different than yours (i.e., the exact source of the issue).

But the process to determine what is different will be identical to the one I specified above.

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Answer 6

turingtest2

Level 10

272,707 points

Mar 8, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Annalea

A possible cause of the discrepancy would be any audiobooks, ring tones, podcasts or iTunes U files. The device usage is broken down into audio & video files, but audio files may be synced from five different sources in the library, likewise for video files.

tt2.

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