How to Transfer Music From iPhone to Mac [Top 5 Ways]
by Jenefey Aaron Updated on 2024-07-31 / Update for iOS File Transfer
"I've got a ton of music on my iPhone that I want to transfer to my new Mac. Some of these tracks aren't available on Apple Music anymore. How can I transfer music from iPhone to Mac without losing any songs? Is there a way to do this quickly and selectively?"
- from Apple Discussions
Transferring music from iPhone to Mac is a common need for many Apple users. Whether you want to back up your favorite tunes or free up space on your iPhone, knowing how to move your music library efficiently is essential. This guide will explore various methods to transfer music on iPhone to Mac, ensuring you can choose the best option for your needs.
- Part 1. How to Transfer Music From iPhone to Mac [Fast & Selective]
- Part 2. How to Move Music From iPhone to Mac Wirelessly
- Part 3. How to Sync Music From iPhone to Mac Free
- Part 4. Which Is the Best Way to Transfer Music From iPhone to Mac
Part 1. How to Transfer Music From iPhone to Mac [Fast & Selective]
One of the best tools to transfer music from iPhone to Mac quickly and selectively is Tenorshare iCareFone. This powerful, all-in-one iOS data management tool supports iOS 18 Beta, offers a range of features, and easily transfers your favorite music from your iPhone to your Mac with just a few clicks. The process is fast and allows you to selectively transfer only the songs you need.
Advantages of Tenorshare iCareFone
- Selective Transfer: Choose specific songs or entire playlists to transfer.
- High-Speed Transfer: Quickly move large music libraries.
- No Quality Loss: Maintains original audio quality during transfer.
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate, even for beginners.
- Supports Various File Types: Handles different audio formats.
How to Transfer Songs From iPhone to Mac
After downloading and installing Tenorshare iCareFone on your personal computer or Mac, you will need to connect your device to the software to transfer music without iTunes. When the device has been connected, go to the top menu and pick the "Manage" option to get started.
Next, choose the kind of data you want to manage. Every data type has its comprehensive guide on our website. In this scenario, you should go with the Music & Video Apps Library option.
Now choose the music that you need to export and click the export button above. Then you just need to wait for the export process to complete.
Part 2. How to Move Music From iPhone to Mac Wirelessly
Moving music from your iPhone to your Mac wirelessly can be a convenient option if you prefer not to use cables. Here are the two methods.
1. Via Apple Music
Using Apple Music is simple as it automatically syncs your music library across all Apple devices. However, this method is only applicable for people listening to music on Apple cloud and have not saved the files locally to their device. It also requires you to subscribe to Apple Music, which will cost you some amount.
- Ensure you have an active Apple Music subscription on your iPhone or Mac.
- Go to Settings on your iPhone, scroll down to Music, and enable Sync Library.
- Open the Apple Music app on your Mac, and your synced music library should be available.
2. Via AirDrop
AirDrop offers a wireless way to transfer music files directly from your iPhone to your Mac without needing a Wi-Fi connection. It's perfect for quick transfers of individual songs or small batches of music files that are downloaded to your device.
Let’s look at the steps to move Music files from iPhone to Mac using AirDrop.
- Open Finder on your Mac, select AirDrop from the sidebar, and set it to receive files from your iPhone.
- Go to Settings, then General, and toggle AirDrop to turn on AirDrop on Mac.
- Open the music app or file manager on your iPhone and select the music files you want to transfer.
- Choose your Mac from the AirDrop list, and the selected music files will be transferred wirelessly to your Mac.
Part 3. How to Sync Music From iPhone to Mac Free
If you're looking to sync music from your iPhone to your Mac without any cost, you have a couple of reliable methods. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
1. Via Finder
Using Finder on macOS Catalina and later lets you sync music between your iPhone and Mac with ease. It supports USB and Wi-Fi connections, allowing for flexible syncing of your entire music library or specific playlists, artists, albums, or genres. Here are the steps to use Finder for the transfer of music.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB or USB-C cable, or over Wi-Fi.
- On your Mac, open Finder and select your device from the sidebar. In the button bar, click on Music.
- Select "Entire music library" or "Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres" to specify which music to sync.
- Choose options like including videos, voice memos, or filling free space with songs.
- Click Apply to start the syncing process. Ensure you eject your device properly before disconnecting.
2. Via iTunes
iTunes, available on macOS Catalina and earlier, provides a straightforward method to transfer purchased music from your iPhone to your Mac. It organizes your music library, manages playlists, and backs up purchased music files. This is how you can transfer music from iPhone to Mac using iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to Mac using USB cable and launch iTunes on your Mac.
- Go to Account > Authorizations>Authorize This Computer and complete the authorization.
- Navigate to File" > Devices > "Transfer Purchases from [your device] to transfer your purchased music.
Part 4. Which Is the Best Way to Transfer Music From iPhone to Mac
To help you decide the best method to transfer music from your iPhone to Mac, here's a detailed comparison table:
| Method | Premise | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenorshare iCareFone | Use a versatile app to manage and transfer music. | Fast and selective transfers, lossless music conversion, free backup features, supports iOS 18 Beta. | Requires installation, some features may require a purchase. |
| Apple Music | Requires an Apple Music subscription for syncing. | Syncs automatically, easy to set up. | Requires subscription, only supports music files. |
| AirDrop | Share files wirelessly using AirDrop. | Wireless, convenient for quick transfers. | Slow for large files, requires devices to be nearby. |
| Finder | Sync music using Finder on macOS Catalina and later. | Direct syncing, supports USB/Wi-Fi, selective syncing. | Requires disabling Apple Music Sync Library, only for newer macOS. |
| iTunes | Transfer purchased music using iTunes on macOS Catalina and earlier. | Good for purchasing music, and organizing the library. | Only on older macOS, not for non-iTunes music, and slower for large libraries. |
After comparing these methods, Tenorshare iCareFone stands out as the best tool to transfer music from your iPhone to your Mac. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including fast and selective transfers, lossless music conversion, and compatibility with the latest iOS version.
Conclusion
Transferring music from your iPhone to Mac can seem daunting, but with the right tools and methods, it becomes a simple task. Whether you choose to use Apple Music, AirDrop, Finder, iTunes, or a specialized tool, each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
If you are looking for the most efficient and versatile solution, we highly recommend using Tenorshare iCareFone. This powerful tool not only makes the process of transferring music from your iPhone to your Mac fast and easy, but also offers additional features like selective transfers, lossless music conversion, and comprehensive iOS data management.
- Free backup everything you need on iPhone/iPad/iPod
- Transfer music, photos, videos, contacts, SMS without limitation
- Selectively restore files without erasing current data
- 1-Click to transfer photos from iPhone to PC/Mac
- Sopport the latest iOS 18 and iPhone 16