Top tips to transfer music from iPhone to Mac for free

There are few limitations if you want to transfer your music from iPhone to Mac. But sometimes you may not know the exact steps. Here's the step-by-step guide for you.

What to know

• If you've subscribed to Apple Music, you'll be able to enable Sync Library, which lets you sync songs between iPhone and Mac as long as you set up them with the same Apple ID.
• Turning on Sync Library through Apple Music lets you sync the music in Apple Music while iTunes lets you transfer the songs you bought in the iTunes Store from iPhone to Mac.
• For the tracks that are downloaded from other sources on your iPhone, you're able to use iPhone Data Transfer to transfer music from iPhone to Mac.

To keep a copy of the music on your iPhone, transferring music from iPhone to Mac can be a good option.

It is not hard to admit that music is the best form of relaxation. Listening to wonderful songs gives us a good mood and helps us get out of the tough things in life with a big smile. Thanks to the rapid development of iPhone, you can play and control music at any time.

Being a music lover, you probably have a large collection of music in your iPhone. However, sometimes you may want to keep copies of these songs on your Mac for backup, editing and sharing. To do that, transferring music from your iPhone to Mac can be your first choice.

Because iPhone and Mac are in the same ecosystem, syncing music from iPhone to Mac isn't as hard as you might think. Pick the most suitable method and jump:

How to transfer music from iPhone to Mac if you're a membership of Apple Music

In macOS Mojave and Earlier, consider using iTunes to transfer music from iPhone to Mac

iPhone Data Transfer (cross-platform, straightforward and flexibility)

How to sync music from iPhone to Mac automatically by Sync Library

You can actually transfer your music wirelessly from your iPhone to a Mac by using Sync Library if you've paid for the subscription of Apple Music. By setting up both your iPhone and Mac to sync with the same Apple ID and turning on the Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library) feature, your music will automatically transfer back and forth.

Follow these steps to transfer your music from your iPhone to your Mac using Sync Library:

Step 1: Subscribe to Apple Music

Subscribe to Apple Music in Apple Music:

Open the Music app on your iPhone, tap on Listen Now tab. Then tap on your profile picture in the upper right corner to view your subscription in your account page.

You can also subscribe to Apple Music in the Settings app:

Open Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down to find and Tap Music. Then tap Join Apple Music. On the pop-up window, choose a subscription plan and type in your Apple ID to confirm.

Step 2: Switch on Sync Library on iPhone

Navigate to Settings > Music on your iPhone, toggle on Sync Library. If you're using an older iPhone, highlight iCloud Music Library option instead.

Step 3: Enable Sync Library on your Mac

Once you've set up Sync Library on your iPhone, you'll need to turn on Sync Library on your Mac. Open Apple Music app. In the menu bar in the upper left corner of the screen, click Music > Preferences. In the window that appears, tick Sync Library to enable it under General tab.

Note:

• If you're using a Mac running macOS Mojave 10.14 and earlier, you may need to enable iCloud Music Library feature.

The process of uploading your music to the cloud and then to your Mac may take a few minutes. When the sync completes, you'll be able to find your songs in the Apple Music app on your Mac.

Transfer Purchases from iPhone with iTunes

As Apple's official media player, iTunes provides a convenient solution for users to transfer purchases from iPhone to Mac. In other words, you can use iTunes to transfer music that has already been purchased from iTunes Store.

iTunes allows you to transfer purchased music by connecting your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable. Once you've your device connected:

• Open iTunes on your Mac.
• Go to Help > Check to make sure iTunes on your Mac is up-to-date.
• Allow your Mac to access your iPhone through Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer > Authorize.
• To transfer your Music. Click File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from 'your iPhone' in the top-left of the iTunes window.

Keep in mind that iTunes has been retired in macOS Catalina, so consider using Sync Library feature in Apple Music to transfer purchased music.

Bonus: import music from iPhone to Mac using iPhone Data Transfer

If you also want to transfer the songs that are not downloaded from Apple Music and iTunes Store, you'll want to use a data transfer tool like iPhone Data Transfer.

iPhone Data Transfer is an all-in-one data management that makes transferring music from an iPhone to a Mac, iPhone to iPhone, or between iPhone and PC much easier than you think. This simple and easier transfer option offers more insight and control on your music library. You can move over all or select music files on iPhone to your Mac.

Click on the Green button above to download iPhone Data Transfer on your Mac.

When you have iPhone Data Transfer downloaded and installed on your Mac:

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a suitable USB cable. Tap on Trust and enter the lock screen passcode on your iPhone if it is your first time to connect your iPhone to the Mac.

Double-click on the icon to let iPhone Data Transfer run on your Mac. You should see your iPhone's information once the tool has detected your device.

Click Music in the sidebar on the left. iPhone Data Transfer will load your music library from your iPhone in the middle of the window.

To prepare for the transfer, tick the songs you want separately. After that, click on the Export icon at the top. Then choose Export to Mac button from the drop-down menu. This will instantly save your music onto the desktop.

Summary

The solutions listed above can help you achieve the feat of transferring music from iPhone to Mac. While Sync Library and iTunes can only transfer the music that has been purchased, iPhone Data Transfer provides a quicker way to get music, whether it's been purchased or not, from iPhone to Mac in just a few clicks. Besides that, iPhone Data Transfer would be an excellent iTunes alternative that you may like to consider first.