Moving music from your old iPod to a Windows 11 PC sounds pretty straightforward, but anyone who’s given it a crack knows it can be a bit of a rigmarole. Just when you think it’s all smooth sailing, Windows might throw up a “device not recognised” message, or the files are hiding somewhere you wouldn’t think to look. But with a few tricks, it’s all doable without pulling your hair out.
How to Transfer Music from Your Old iPod to a Windows 11 PC
This isn’t about syncing through iTunes or anything flashy — more like digging into the folders and copying your files manually. It’s a bit bumpy, but on some setups, plugging in the iPod and it showing up as a removable drive can be a bit hit and miss. Here’s what usually gets the job done.
Step 1: Plug in your iPod and see if it gets recognised
Use a reliable USB cable — ideally the one that came with your iPod. Plug it into a USB port on your PC and turn the iPod on. Keep an eye out for the Windows notification that says the device is connected. If nothing shows up or it’s listed as “Unknown device,” try a different port or cable. Sometimes, Windows just won’t recognise old hardware — classic, right?
On some setups, you’ll need to head into Settings > Devices and check if it appears under USB Devices. If not, Windows might be having trouble with drivers, so try updating them.
Step 2: Get Windows to show hidden files
Open File Explorer (click the folder icon on your taskbar). Then hit the View tab at the top and tick the box for Hidden Items. Because of course, iPods hide their files behind invisible folders. No wonder Windows makes it tricky, aye?
Heads up: On older iPods or with certain versions of Windows, hidden files might still be tricky to see. It helps to check in Device Manager — go to Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers, find your iPod, and see if there are driver issues. Right-click and choose Update Driver if needed.
Step 3: Find the music folder
Your iPod should now appear as a removable drive in File Explorer. Double-click on it, then go into iPod_Control. Inside that, look for the Music folder. That’s where all the magic happens, even if the files look like a mess of random characters or garbled names.
Tip: Sometimes, folder names are hidden or renamed, but the Music folder is usually there. If you don’t see it, double-check that hidden files are enabled as mentioned earlier.
Step 4: Copy your tunes
Select all the music files — they’ll likely have random names, no metadata, and look a bit odd. Right-click and pick Copy. Then paste them into a folder or music library on your PC. Drag and drop, or use Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V. Expect it to take a while if you’ve got a big playlist.
Note: The files probably won’t keep their artist, album, or track info unless you tidy it up later. Apps like MP3Tag are handy for that, but that’s another job altogether.
And yeah, some files might have junk names or just numbers, so get ready to do a bit of organising later. Also, if your iPod’s pretty ancient, some files might be dodgy or not copy at all for weird reasons.
Tips for Moving Music from Your Old iPod to Windows 11 the Easy Way
- Make sure your iPod is charged up — it’s no fun if it disconnects halfway through.
- Backups are always a good idea — old iPods can act up sometimes.
- Keep Windows and iTunes up to date, even if you’re not using iTunes to transfer — it helps with device recognition.
- If manual copying is giving you grief, consider third-party tools like iPod Music Transfer or other dedicated software. But honestly, sometimes going old-school works best.
- After the transfer, sort out your files — renaming and organising makes life easier later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer playlists from my iPod to my computer?
Not directly, unfortunately. The files are there, but playlists are stored separately, so you’ll have to recreate them on your PC after copying the music. Playlist files won’t come across automatically.
Do I need iTunes for this?
Not really. iTunes can help recognise your device and manage connections, but if you’re just copying files via Explorer, it’s not essential. For cleaner, more automated transfers, third-party tools can do the trick — though they might have their quirks.
What if Windows refuses to recognise my iPod?
Try a different USB port or cable first. You might also need to update your drivers — head to Device Manager, find the unrecognised device, right-click, and choose Update driver. Sometimes a restart of your PC and iPod does the trick. If all else fails, some older iPods just won’t show up on newer Windows versions — frustrating as all hell, but it happens.
Can I transfer purchased songs from iTunes?
Yes, as long as your iPod is authorised with your Apple ID and the tracks are downloaded or purchased. Don’t forget to authorise your PC in iTunes — go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer.
Will song info like artist and album stay intact?
Most likely not automatically. The files might appear with generic names or no metadata. You’ll need to tag them afterwards if you want your library to look tidy.
Quick Wrap
- Plug in your iPod and make sure it’s recognised.
- Enable hidden items in File Explorer.
- Head into iPod_Control > Music.
- Select and copy your tunes.
- Paste them into a folder on your PC and organise later.
Hope this helps save you a bit of time. Music has been a good friend for ages, and transferring it over doesn’t need to be a drama — just a little patience and a cuppa doesn’t go astray.