Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

adding music folder to itunes

I have created a compilation folder of favourite Christmas songs on my pc, the problem I get is that when I try to drag the folder to my music folder in itunes so I can sync it to my Iphone 4 it copies all the individual tracks and not the actual folder. I have even tried adding folder via file drop down menu.

Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong? I am tired of having to delete the tracks every time I try to add the folder!!

iPhone 4, iOS 7.1.2

Posted on Dec 22, 2015 4:09 AM

Reply
3 replies
Sort By: 

Dec 23, 2015 12:45 PM in response to ukmexicano

Hello UKmexicano,


It sounds like you have a folder with music you want to add to your iTunes library to sync to your iPhone but the individual tracks rather than the folder with the tracks get added. That is expected behavior since the only folders in iTunes can contain playlists. You can however create a playlist on your iTunes library with the following article to which you can add the contents of your folder:


iTunes 12 for Windows: Create a playlist


When that is created, open the playlist in iTunes and drag the songs into it so they are all grouped together in a single playlist which you can then sync to your iPhone.


Keep this in mind though:

Windows: By default, adding items to your iTunes library places a pointer to each file in the iTunes folder; the original file remains in its current location. For information about copying files to the iTunes folder instead of creating pointers to them, see Change where your iTunes files are stored. If the file is an unprotected WMA file and you have Windows Media Player Series 9 or later installed, iTunes makes a copy of the file and adds it to your iTunes library. The original WMA file remains unchanged. You can’t add protected WMA files or protected WMV files to iTunes.

From: Import music and video from a computer into iTunes


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Reply

Dec 23, 2015 3:35 PM in response to sterling r

Hi sterling,


Thanks for your reply but I don't understand. I am trying to do the following:


Add items from your computer to your iTunes library

Do either of the following:

  • Drag a file or folder from the desktop to the iTunes window.
    If you add a folder, all the files it contains are added to your library.
  • In iTunes, choose File > Add to Library, locate a file or folder, and click Open.


I've done this before and added 15 folders of music to the itunes window by just dragging the folders, but now it won't work. All that happens is that when I drag the folder it says copy but it copies the music files inside the actual folder. There are 54 tracks in the folder and they get mixed up with the other 15 folders, so I have to delete them when they get copied individually!

I've tried both options but both do the same thing.

Reply

Dec 23, 2015 10:21 PM in response to ukmexicano

Dragging and dropping a folder to iTunes works as you describe - it'll add the media files inside the folder to your iTunes library. How iTunes then groups the media in its library depends on how the media files are tagged (e.g., if they all have the same Artist and Album value they'll be grouped into one album), or if a pre-defined playlist file (.m3u) exists in the folder than iTunes will create a playlist containing the songs referenced by this file. iTunes has no concept of "folder" in the sense that Windows uses it ... iTunes does have playlist folders, but these are containers within iTunes that are used to group playlists and other playlist folders. They are analogous to folders in Windows but have no connection to them - certainly dragging and dropping a Windows folder to iTunes does not (and never has) create a playlist folder in an iTunes library.


I suspect that what you've seen in the past is what happens when you add a folder containing media files and a .m3u playlist file.

Reply

adding music folder to itunes

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.