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These days, managing music – for example, transferring MP3 files to your iPhone – is done on a Mac via the Finder, whilst on Windows computers the new Apple Music app is used.
MP3s on the iPhone: via the Finder or the Apple Music app
Transferring MP3 files directly to an iPhone is part of everyday life for many users – whether for their own music projects, audiobooks or simply to listen to music offline. Whilst iTunes used to serve as the central hub, the way this is handled has since changed. On a Mac, the Finder now takes care of this task, whilst Windows users rely on the Apple Music app.
- The most direct way to transfer MP3 files to an iPhone is to connect the device to a computer via a USB cable. On a Mac, the Finder replaces the previous iTunes, whilst on Windows the Apple Music app handles this task.
- To transfer an MP3 file to a Mac, first connect your iPhone to the computer via a cable. Then open a new Finder window and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
- In the top tab, navigate to the ‘Music’ section. There, enable the ‘Sync Music to [Ihren iPhone-Namen]’ option and specify whether you want to transfer your entire library or just selected albums and playlists.
- The MP3 files you want must first be imported into the Mac’s music programme. Only then will they be available for synchronisation in Finder. Clicking ‘Apply’ starts the transfer process.
- On Windows, the transfer works in a similar way, but via the new Apple Music app. After downloading and launching the app, connect the iPhone to the PC. There, MP3 files can be imported via the ‘File’ > ‘Add to Library’ menu.
- Next, select your iPhone in the app, enable music synchronisation and specify which content is to be transferred. Click ‘Apply’ to start the transfer to the iPhone.
Alternative methods: Transferring music via the cloud or third-party apps
Not everyone wants to connect their iPhone to a computer the traditional way using a USB cable – and often, it isn’t even necessary. Thanks to modern cloud services and specialised music apps, there are now numerous ways to transfer MP3 files to your iPhone conveniently and flexibly – without any cables or synchronisation.
- As well as the traditional cable connection, there are now numerous alternatives for transferring MP3 files to your iPhone – without iTunes, Finder or the Apple Music app.
- One simple option is to use cloud services such as iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox. To do this, simply upload your MP3 files to your chosen cloud storage and then access them via the Files app on your iPhone.
- From there, you can play the songs directly or import them into apps such as VLC or Documents. This method is particularly convenient if you want to regularly transfer files between your devices.
- Music streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube Music also offer useful features. If you have an Apple Music subscription, you can upload MP3 files to your own library and make them automatically available on your iPhone via the iCloud Music Library – even when offline. However, this requires that the format is compatible and DRM-free, and that the files have been imported into the Apple Music app (Mac or Windows) beforehand.
- If you wish to avoid using Apple’s services entirely, you can also use third-party apps such as VLC. These allow you to transfer files via Wi-Fi, FTP or a web server, amongst other methods.
Formats, compatibility and smart features
Before transferring music files, it is worth checking the technical requirements. Not all formats are supported by the iPhone, and some files cannot be used due to copy protection.
- When transferring music files to the iPhone, it is important to ensure you use the correct file format. The iPhone supports, amongst others, MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Apple Lossless (ALAC) and, to a limited extent, FLAC (only via certain third-party apps).
- Files with DRM copy protection – such as older iTunes purchases – may no longer be transferable or playable. However, this restriction now affects only a small number of users, as most tracks are now offered DRM-free.
- Apple does not currently offer AI features for the direct transfer of music. However, streaming services such as Apple Music or Spotify use machine learning to analyse individual listening habits and automatically suggest suitable content or personalised playlists.
- Some third-party apps also utilise intelligent sorting functions, but automatic MP3 management using artificial intelligence is not yet standard.
