Many portable media or audio devices can store music. In this article, we will show you how to copy audio files from such a device to Windows Media Player.
Steps
Step 1. Find out what kind of mp3 player you have
Remember that these players are different from each other. Popular players are Apple's iPod and Microsoft's Zune; also good portable multimedia devices and players are made by Creative, RCA, Philips, Sony and iRiver.
We have listed these brands and mentioned that all players are different, because before choosing a method to rip music, you need to find out what kind of device you have and other information. For example, is the player equipped with a flash memory card or hard disk and whether the software is included with the player
Method 1 of 3: iPod
Step 1. Work with iTunes
If you have an iPod, you probably already have iTunes installed on your computer (you need it to work with files on your iPod). Unfortunately, iTunes limits the number of ways in which files can be downloaded to or copied from an iPod.
- In iTunes 7, back up your entire library and burn it to CD / DVD. Now copy the music from the CD / DVD to your computer hard drive and then import it into Windows Media Player.
- Connect your iPod to your computer and see if Windows Media Player recognizes your player. Please note that, in general, Apple and Microsoft devices are not compatible with each other (iPod is designed to work with iTunes, not Windows Media Player). Therefore, it is likely that Windows Media Player will not be able to recognize the iPod.
Method 2 of 3: Other devices
Step 1. Find out if your player has a flash memory card or hard drive (like an iPod)
Many mp3 players with a flash memory card look and function like USB sticks. You can connect such a player to the USB port of your computer, wait for Windows to recognize the device, and then open the audio files in the Windows Explorer window.
- Copy the music files and paste them into Windows Media Player. To copy files from your device to your computer, you need a micro, mini, or standard USB cable. It comes with the player or is sold at any electronics store.
- A hard disk MP3 player will need special drivers that need to be installed on the computer in order for the system to work with the device. Drivers are usually included with the player, for example, on a CD. If there are no drivers, download them from the player manufacturer's website.
- When you install the drivers, connect your mp3 player to your computer using the appropriate cable (we recommend using the cable that comes with the player or any other similar cable from a reputable manufacturer). Windows recognizes the player as a removable disk or portable media device. If, when you connect the player, a window opens with the options "Synchronize with Windows Media Player", "Take no action" and others, close it.
- If the mp3 player is recognized as a removable disk or portable audio player, open My Computer, right-click on the device icon and select Explore from the menu. If an "Open" option appears, click it. Now work with audio files as you would with files in any folder.
- Copy the desired audio files to your computer's hard drive (for example, to the My Music folder), and then launch Windows Media Player. This describes the steps for Windows Media Player 10 or 11; if you have an older version, update it for free to expand the player's functionality. In Windows Media Player, click Add to Library and then select individual files or an entire folder.
- Select the files / folder you want and Windows Media Player will import them into your library. If music is stored in the My Music folder, Windows Media Player will automatically import it when you start the program.
Method 3 of 3: PSP
Step 1. Follow the steps described above
If you have a Sony PSP, follow the instructions described in the previous section, with the only difference that after connecting the PSP to your computer (but before opening the device in Explorer), you need to switch to USB connection mode.
On the PSP, use the left arrow button to select Settings, use the up arrow button to select USB Connection, and then press the X button. The PSP is now in USB connect mode. Windows recognizes the device as a removable disk; you can now view the folders stored on the memory card
Advice
- Some mp3 player manufacturers, such as Apple, make portable media devices read-only. This can prevent file sharing to avoid "piracy". Therefore, in most computer media players, it is not possible to copy music from mp3 player to computer hard disk.
- iPod or iTunes can convert audio files downloaded to iPod to a format other than mp3. If you import these audio files into Windows Media Player, it may not have a codec to play the music correctly. In this case, download the appropriate codec from Microsoft or another manufacturer to play the imported music.
You can also copy music from your iPod, convert it to another format, and then import it into Windows Media Player
Warnings
- When you connect the player to your computer, Windows can recognize the device, but display a message that the device is not configured properly. In this case, reinstall the device drivers or update them. You can also update your motherboard or USB port drivers.
- Some media players, such as the Zune, build DRM protection (anti-unauthorized copy protection) into every audio file that is copied to them. Therefore, such audio files cannot be imported or played in Windows Media Player (since you do not have the appropriate licenses). Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer ways to solve this problem. The best option is to stock up on the necessary licenses before importing your music.