(34 votes, average: 4.09 out of 5)You can transfer music from iPhone to iPhone wirelessly or via a computer. There are many wireless options: Apple Music subscription, sharing music or set up a new iPhone and transfer all the data. However, if you need to copy over music that you once added to your iPhone/iPod via a PC (from a CD, a drive, downloaded from the Internet), you will have to use a third-party app. The most reliable tool is CopyTrans.
In this article, I will talk about each solution in particular. You can go directly to the option that interests you. If you are not sure about the solution you need to use, see the table below and click on the option that matches your situation.
TL;DR
If you are using Apple/ iTunes/ iCloud Music, simply connect your second device to the same Apple ID.
If you don’t, iTunes won’t let you transfer music from a device to a PC. CopyTrans specializes in handling this task:
- Keeps playlists, ratings, play counts where possible.
- Avoids wiping music during sync, unlike iTunes.
- Works with old iPods and mixed libraries (ripped CDs, downloads, old purchases).
How can I transfer my music library from one iPhone to another?
| Your situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| You use the same Apple Music account on both iPhones | Apple Music Sync on both iPhones |
| The iPhones are connected to different Apple Music accounts | Share the playlists separately |
| You have a new, non-initialized iPhone and you want to clone all your data from the old one | Quick Start |
| You have lots of non‑purchased MP3s, ripped CDs, or an old iPod |
CopyTrans for Windows |
Apps that let me transfer music from iPhone to iPhone without a computer
Apple Music Sync (if both iPhones use the same Apple ID)
It will work only if you have an Apple Music subscription. Songs transferred from the PC won’t be synced.
All you need to do to transfer music from one iPhone to another iPhone is to activate the Apple Music subscription on both iOS devices with the same Apple ID. The music will automatically appear on the new device.
But if it won’t appear, follow these steps:
- Open “Settings” on your iPhones.
- Touch your Apple ID profile on top.
- Find “iCloud”.
- Open the list of all the apps synced with iCloud.
- Find “Music” in the list and activate it.
- The music libraries on both iPhone will be merged. Don’t forget to enable Wi-Fi on both devices.
Share a playlist or songs (if iPhones use different Apple IDs)
It will work only if you and the recipient have an Apple Music subscription.
- Open a song or an entire playlist in Apple Music.
- Touch the three dots in the top-right corner, then touch the share icon.
- Share it via a messaging app, iMessage, or email. The recipient will get a link.
- Open the shared link to access the playlist or a song.
You can also share a playlist with a feature “Share Play“. You and your friend or a family member will listen to the same songs at the same time.
Quick Start (clone the old iPhone to the new one)
It will work only if the destination device is not yet initialized. You should literally set up a new iPhone. Otherwise, you’ll have to make a factory reset. All the data from your old iPhone will be copied over to the new one.
- Start your new iPhone. Start setting it up.
- Enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your old and your new iPhones.
- When you are asked to “Transfer your apps and data” to this new device, select “From another iPhone”.
- Select your old iPhone and wait until the full cloning is finished.
- Your new iPhone is already set-up, and you don’t want to reset it?
- You have old devices that don’t support Apple Music?
- You don’t want to have an Apple Music or any other subscription?
→ Transfer music from one Apple device to the other via a Windows PC. See the steps below.
How do I use a computer to transfer music from an old iPhone to a new one?
A backup and restore via iTunes won’t work because it does not include music. If all the music is already in iTunes or at least on a USB-drive, you can sync the music with the new iPhone. Follow the guide “How to sync iTunes to iPhone“. But if it’s not the case, the only option is to use a third-party app.
CopyTrans is designed around the two‑step flow: (1) back up full music library from the old device to PC, then (2) load that library to the new device with CopyTrans Manager. No iTunes, no syncing, no data loss.
In short – how to use CopyTrans to transfer music?
- Download CopyTrans apps via the button below.
- Connect your old iPod/iPhone to the PC → CopyTrans will show all the music and playlists.
- Copy your music to PC via CopyTrans (a license needed)
- Disconnect the old iPod/ iPhone and connect the new one.
- Use CopyTrans Manager (a free app) to drag and drop the music from the PC to the new device.
Download CopyTrans for Windows
Show detailed guide
How to Transfer Music Using CopyTrans – detailed guide
- Download CopyTrans via the button below. Install it on your Windows PC. You don’t have to install anything on your iPhone.
- Launch “CopyTrans” – an app with a blue icon.
You’ll need a license to copy more than 100 songs over. A full license costs 19.99 USD, and it’s a one-time payment. But I recommend to transfer 100 songs for free in the trial version to make sure it works as expected. - Click the “Folder” option on the main screen. The app sorts all the songs to folders according to the artists. If you need to modify transfer options, switch to the Classic Mode (see a separate guide).
- The music tracks are transferred to a folder on your PC that you selected. Your playlists are gathered in the .m3u8 file.
- Disconnect your device from the PC and close CopyTrans.
- Install and open another app from the list called CopyTrans Manager. It’s a free app.
- Connect your second device to the PC.
- Click the “Add” button on top of the screen or simply drag and drop the songs to the interface. Drag and drop the .m3u8 file as well if you want to restore the playlists. CopyTrans Manager won’t erase your existing songs.
- Click the “Update” button to apply the changes.
Download CopyTrans for Windows
Why Choose CopyTrans Over iTunes or iCloud?
Bypass “Sync and Erase” Restrictions:
Unlike iTunes, CopyTrans adds music safely without deleting existing data.
Total Library Freedom:
Transfer songs Apple doesn’t track, such as ripped CDs, home recordings, and MP3s from third-party sources.
Metadata Integrity:
Preserve your playlists, play counts, and star ratings.
100% Private:
No cloud subscriptions or data caps. Your music stays on your hardware.
Universal Compatibility:
From the original iPod Classic and Nano to the latest iPhone 17 and iOS 26.
“Having bought a new PC as my old one was not Windows 11 compatible, I somehow managed to lose nearly all my iTunes library. I had some on my iPhone, so I figured at least I could get them back. I searched around and found CopyTrans which allowed me to upload from my phone to iTunes. I then remembered an old iPod which had the vast majority of the missing items. Plugged it in and 30 minutes later all my music had been successfully uploaded. Perfect product for what I wanted to do and cheap at the price of £14.00 for the component I needed.”
Conclusion
If you are looking for an Apple-only solution to transfer music from one iPhone to another iPhone, you can sync your music via iCloud between two or more devices having the same Apple ID.
On Windows, CopyTrans offers a music‑focused workflow (old device → PC/iTunes → new device) that preserves playlists and metadata, costs less overtime, and is simpler than broad device‑manager suites such as iMazing or AnyTrans. The software is “clean” (no bundled malware) and specifically designed to handle legacy iPod hardware (Classic, Nano, Shuffle) which modern Apple software often neglects.
What’s the easiest app to move songs between iPhones?
| CopyTrans (download) |
Apple Music Sync (how to enable) |
Quick Start (how to use) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | On Windows | On iPhone | On iPhone |
| Transfer music to an activated iPhone/iPad/iPod | Yes | Yes | No |
| Transfer between iPhones with different Apple ID | Yes | No | No |
| Supports older iPhone and iPod models | Yes | No | No |
| Supports purchased music/subscriptions | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free | No | No | Yes |
FAQ
What’s the fastest method to copy music files from iPhone to iPhone?
You can’t simply transfer data via Bluetooth like on Android phones. If you have the same Apple ID on your iPhones, you are supposed to have identical music libraries on all of them. Otherwise, make sure the music app is synced via iCloud.
If you need to transfer non-purchased music between old iPods or iOS devices with different Apple IDs, the fastest will be to use third-party apps like CopyTrans for Windows.
Is it possible to move songs from an iPod-like device to a desktop app without erasing content?
Totally! But you will have to use paid third-party apps. A lightweight and easy one is CopyTrans. It won’t make changes to your current iPod music library – it will only transfer your music to a folder or a USB-drive.
Is there a way to transfer music to iPhone without iTunes?
Yes, there’s a free tool called CopyTrans Manager. You can use it to add songs and ringtones to your iPhone from a Windows computer.
Why didn’t my music library transfer to my new iPhone?
Neither iTunes nor iCloud backup include music. If you have a music subscription, connect your new iPhone to the same account. If your music was stored in iTunes, sync the device with iTunes to copy the music. If you have a folder with your music on your PC or an external drive, use CopyTrans Manager for Windows to add the songs.
Can I share my Apple Music with another iPhone?
If you use the same Apple ID on another iPhone, you can connect it to the Apple Music as well. You can also send a song or a playlist to another user with an Apple Music subscription. If you want to send several tracks, place them into one album, make it public and share it. To share a song or playlist, touch the three dots at the top and select “Share”.
