Introduction to Limited iTunes Sync
Whether it's because you have a huge music library or an iPhone or iPod with limited storage capacity, you may not want to add every song in your iTunes library to your device. While the default is to sync every song from iTunes, that may not always make sense for you--especially if you want to store and use many kinds of content besides music, such as apps, video, and eBooks.
There are two ways to only sync specific songs to your device: by unchecking songs or by creating playlists.
Read on to learn how to do each.
IMPORTANT: If you already limit or control the songs synced to your device using another method, this will replace that method and the songs on your device (meaning any unchecked songs, or songs not in your playlist, will be removed from your device). Only proceed with these techniques if you want to use them to manage all of your music going forward.
Syncing only checked songs in iTunes is as simple as changing a setting and checking some boxes. To do it, begin by syncing your iPhone or iPod to your computer. When the sync has completed, you should see the management screen in the main iTunes windows.
Check the "Sync only checked songs and videos" box
In the center of the management screen, you'll see a box that reads Sync only checked songs and videos.
Check this box to turn on the ability to only sync checked items. Once you've done that, be sure to click Apply at the bottom-right corner of iTunes to save the setting and re-sync your device.
Return to Your Music Library
Click Music in the drop-down menu in the top left of iTunes (in iTunes 11 or later) or in the column at the top left of iTunes (iTunes 10 and earlier). This brings you back to your library, where you can choose what songs you don't want to add to your iPhone or iPod.
Unchecking Songs
Next to each song in iTunes is a little checkbox. By default, all songs are checked and thus will be synced to your device. To choose what songs will be synced, you'll need to uncheck them. Go through your music library and uncheck each song you don't want to have synced to your iPhone or iPod.
If you have a large number of items you want to uncheck, there's a shortcut you should know. Begin by selecting all the songs you want to uncheck. If you want to select contiguous items, hold down Shift, click the item at the beginning of the group you want to uncheck, then click the item at the end.
All the items in between will be selected, too. To select non-contiguous items, hold down Command on a Mac or Control on a PC and click each item you want.
After you've selected the songs you want to uncheck, right click on them with your mouse (or, using your keyboard, use Control). In the drop-down menu that appears, select Uncheck Selection.
When you've completed unchecking all the songs you don't want, click Sync again. If any of the unchecked songs are already on your device, they'll be removed. You can always add them back by re-checking the box next to the song and syncing again.
Want another technique? Keep reading to learn how to use playlists to do the same thing.
The other way to make certain only the specific songs you want are synced to your device is to create a new playlist that contains all the music you want to sync.
When you've done this and are ready to sync the playlist, begin by syncing your iPhone or iPod to your computer. When the sync is complete, click the Music tab on the management screen in iTunes.
Specify Playlists to Sync
In that tab, choose the Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres button.
In the Playlists box below, choose the playlist or playlists you've just created and nothing else in any of the other boxes. This will ensure that only the new playlist you've created will be synced to your iPod or iPhone.
It's important to understand that if you only choose your new playlist(s), everything else will be removed from your iPod and just the contents of the playlist(s) will be synced. If you want to sync these playlist(s) in addition to other music, check items in the Artist, Genre, and Album boxes for the other items you want to sync.
When you've got everything set how you want it, click the Apply button at the bottom right and you'll be all set. Resync your iPod or iPhone and all the changes will take effect.
Maintaining the Playlist
After you do this, you must remember that only music added to your new playlist will be transferred to your iPod or iPhone; additions don't happen automatically anymore. This means that whenever you add a new CD to your library or buy from the iTunes Store, you have to manually add those songs to your new playlist (unless you use smart playlists).
Whether it's because you have a huge music library or an iPhone or iPod with limited storage capacity, you may not want to add every song in your iTunes library to your device. While the default is to sync every song from iTunes, that may not always make sense for you--especially if you want to store and use many kinds of content besides music, such as apps, video, and eBooks.
There are two ways to only sync specific songs to your device: by unchecking songs or by creating playlists.
Read on to learn how to do each.
IMPORTANT: If you already limit or control the songs synced to your device using another method, this will replace that method and the songs on your device (meaning any unchecked songs, or songs not in your playlist, will be removed from your device). Only proceed with these techniques if you want to use them to manage all of your music going forward.
Syncing only checked songs in iTunes is as simple as changing a setting and checking some boxes. To do it, begin by syncing your iPhone or iPod to your computer. When the sync has completed, you should see the management screen in the main iTunes windows.
Check the "Sync only checked songs and videos" box
In the center of the management screen, you'll see a box that reads Sync only checked songs and videos.
Check this box to turn on the ability to only sync checked items. Once you've done that, be sure to click Apply at the bottom-right corner of iTunes to save the setting and re-sync your device.
Return to Your Music Library
Click Music in the drop-down menu in the top left of iTunes (in iTunes 11 or later) or in the column at the top left of iTunes (iTunes 10 and earlier). This brings you back to your library, where you can choose what songs you don't want to add to your iPhone or iPod.
Unchecking Songs
Next to each song in iTunes is a little checkbox. By default, all songs are checked and thus will be synced to your device. To choose what songs will be synced, you'll need to uncheck them. Go through your music library and uncheck each song you don't want to have synced to your iPhone or iPod.
If you have a large number of items you want to uncheck, there's a shortcut you should know. Begin by selecting all the songs you want to uncheck. If you want to select contiguous items, hold down Shift, click the item at the beginning of the group you want to uncheck, then click the item at the end.
All the items in between will be selected, too. To select non-contiguous items, hold down Command on a Mac or Control on a PC and click each item you want.
After you've selected the songs you want to uncheck, right click on them with your mouse (or, using your keyboard, use Control). In the drop-down menu that appears, select Uncheck Selection.
When you've completed unchecking all the songs you don't want, click Sync again. If any of the unchecked songs are already on your device, they'll be removed. You can always add them back by re-checking the box next to the song and syncing again.
Want another technique? Keep reading to learn how to use playlists to do the same thing.
The other way to make certain only the specific songs you want are synced to your device is to create a new playlist that contains all the music you want to sync.
When you've done this and are ready to sync the playlist, begin by syncing your iPhone or iPod to your computer. When the sync is complete, click the Music tab on the management screen in iTunes.
Specify Playlists to Sync
In that tab, choose the Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres button.
In the Playlists box below, choose the playlist or playlists you've just created and nothing else in any of the other boxes. This will ensure that only the new playlist you've created will be synced to your iPod or iPhone.
It's important to understand that if you only choose your new playlist(s), everything else will be removed from your iPod and just the contents of the playlist(s) will be synced. If you want to sync these playlist(s) in addition to other music, check items in the Artist, Genre, and Album boxes for the other items you want to sync.
When you've got everything set how you want it, click the Apply button at the bottom right and you'll be all set. Resync your iPod or iPhone and all the changes will take effect.
Maintaining the Playlist
After you do this, you must remember that only music added to your new playlist will be transferred to your iPod or iPhone; additions don't happen automatically anymore. This means that whenever you add a new CD to your library or buy from the iTunes Store, you have to manually add those songs to your new playlist (unless you use smart playlists).