iTunes, once synonymous with the management of music, has evolved over the years into a multifaceted media management platform. While many are familiar with its core function—organizing music libraries, purchasing songs, and syncing devices.
There’s a wealth of lesser-known features and functionalities that make iTunes a powerful tool for entertainment, productivity, and even some advanced tech manipulation. Whether you’re a seasoned user or new to iTunes, here are 10 things you didn’t know you could do with the platform.
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do with iTunes
1. Create and Share Custom Playlists
One of iTunes’ most fundamental features is playlist creation. While most users are aware that they can create playlists for their own enjoyment, iTunes offers some advanced tools for customizing and sharing these collections.
Smart Playlists: These are dynamic playlists that automatically update based on criteria you set. For example, you can create a Smart Playlist that only includes songs from a particular genre, artist, or even songs played within a specific time frame. You can also apply filters, such as rating or play count.
Playlist Sharing: You can share your custom playlists with friends through iCloud or by exporting them. This makes it easy to share your favorite music collections, whether for a party, workout, or road trip.
2. Burn CDs or DVDs with Your Music
Though physical media has become less common in the digital age, iTunes still allows you to burn music onto CDs or DVDs. This feature can be helpful for those who want to create a personal music compilation for a gift, or for people who prefer the tactile feel of a CD.
You can drag and drop songs into the burn list, arrange them in the order you desire, and burn them at your preferred speed. The iTunes burning tool even supports burning audio CDs or MP3 CDs, depending on your preference.
3. Use iTunes as a Media Server
Did you know that you can use iTunes as a media server to stream your content across devices within your home? With the help of Home Sharing, you can access your music, movies, TV shows, and even books from any device connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Here’s how it works:
Set Up Home Sharing: Once you enable Home Sharing on your iTunes account, you can access your library on any other Apple device using the same Apple ID. Whether it’s your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or another computer running iTunes, the media is instantly available.
This feature is great for families or people who have multiple devices but want to share their purchased content without duplicating files across every device.
4. Convert and Export Music Files to Different Formats
iTunes allows you to convert music files to different formats, which can be helpful if you need specific file types for devices, editing, or sharing. For example, you can convert your high-quality tracks to lower bitrates for smaller file sizes or vice versa.
Convert MP3 to AAC: If you’re looking to store high-quality music but save space, you can easily convert your MP3 collection to the AAC format (the format used by iTunes and most modern Apple devices), which provides a better quality-to-size ratio.
To do this, select the songs in your library, choose “File” > “Convert,” and then pick the format you want.
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5. Sync Non-Music Content Like Photos and Videos
iTunes isn’t just for syncing music. It also acts as a hub for syncing other media such as photos, podcasts, movies, and TV shows to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
Syncing Photos: You can use iTunes to manage and sync your photos from your computer to your iOS devices. In iTunes, you can choose the albums or folders you want to sync and manage metadata.
Syncing Videos: Similarly, you can use iTunes to manage your video library, whether it’s movies, TV shows, or home videos. You can sync entire libraries or select specific items to transfer to your device.
6. Organize Your Library with Metadata and Album Artwork
Another less-known feature of iTunes is the ability to clean up and organize your music library using metadata and album artwork.
Edit Metadata: iTunes allows you to modify information like the song title, artist name, genre, year of release, and even track numbers. This can help if your music files aren’t properly tagged or if you want to standardize the information across your entire library.
Download Album Artwork: iTunes can automatically download album artwork for your tracks, filling in any missing artwork with high-quality images.
7. Back Up Your iPhone or iPad
iTunes isn’t just for media—it also functions as a powerful backup tool for your iPhone or iPad. By syncing your iOS device with iTunes, you can create a backup of your device’s data, which includes apps, contacts, messages, and settings.
Full Backup: A full iTunes backup ensures that, in case of device loss or failure, you can restore all your data exactly as it was. This feature is essential for anyone upgrading to a new device or switching devices.
Encrypted Backups: If you’re particularly concerned about privacy, iTunes allows you to create encrypted backups that store sensitive information like passwords and health data.
8. Set Up and Listen to Podcasts
While Apple Podcasts is the go-to app for podcast listening, iTunes still offers great podcast management features, allowing you to subscribe to, organize, and listen to podcasts.
Subscribe to Podcasts: You can browse, subscribe to, and download podcasts directly within iTunes. Once subscribed, new episodes will automatically download to your library as they are released.
Organize and Sync: iTunes allows you to organize your podcasts by genre and sync them to your iPhone or iPod. Whether you prefer to listen to news, comedy, or educational content, iTunes makes it easy to keep your library up to date.
9. Access Your Purchased Content Anytime
Another feature that’s easily overlooked is iTunes’ ability to let you access your purchased content, even if you no longer have the original file.
iCloud Music Library: If you’ve purchased songs or albums from the iTunes Store, you can always re-download them to any device linked to your Apple ID. The iCloud Music Library makes sure your purchased content is safe in the cloud and accessible across multiple devices.
Streaming Purchased Content: In addition to re-downloading, iTunes offers the option to stream your purchased music from the cloud, meaning you don’t have to download the file again to listen.
10. Manage Your Audiobooks and eBooks
Beyond music and movies, iTunes is a great tool for managing audiobooks and eBooks, making it easy to transfer content between your computer and devices.
Audiobooks: iTunes lets you store and manage your audiobooks. If you purchase audiobooks from the iTunes Store, they automatically appear in your library. You can sync them to your iPhone or iPad for on-the-go listening.
eBooks: If you use the iBooks app, iTunes can also be used to transfer eBooks between your computer and iPhone or iPad. You can organize and store your eBooks within the iTunes Library for easy access.
FAQs
How do I make my music more organized in iTunes?
You can organize your music in iTunes by editing song metadata (artist, album name, genre, etc.) and downloading album artwork. Smart Playlists are also a powerful tool for creating dynamic collections based on your music preferences.
Can I transfer files other than music with iTunes?
Yes, iTunes allows you to sync photos, videos, podcasts, and audiobooks between your computer and iOS devices. You can also back up your iPhone or iPad and sync non-media content like contacts and settings.
How do I backup my iPhone using iTunes?
To back up your iPhone using iTunes, connect your device to your computer, select your device in iTunes, and choose the “Back Up Now” option. You can choose to encrypt the backup for added security.
Can I share music with others via iTunes?
Yes, iTunes allows you to share playlists with others, either by exporting them or by using Home Sharing, which lets multiple devices in your home access your music library.
How do I convert my music files to a different format in iTunes?
You can convert music files by selecting the track(s) in your iTunes library, then choosing “File” > “Convert” and selecting the desired format, such as MP3 or AAC.
What is iTunes Home Sharing?
Home Sharing allows you to share your iTunes library with other devices in your home over Wi-Fi. As long as they’re using the same Apple ID, you can access your content (music, movies, etc.) on any compatible device, such as another computer, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
Is iTunes still relevant?
While the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music has changed the way many people consume media, iTunes is still a useful tool for organizing and managing personal media libraries. It also remains vital for device backups, file management, and syncing with Apple devices.