How to Fix iTunes Add to Device Not Working

iTunes is a good choice when it comes to syncing songs, playlists, videos, etc. to iPhone, iPad, or iPod. However, when you find that iTunes won’t let you add data to your device, which is quite annoying. Actually, it’s a common problem that many users have encountered. Here we collect some basic tips to help you fix this iTunes add to device not working issue. Let’s get it on.

How to Fix iTunes Add to Device Not Working

Tip 1. Restart your device and computer.

To fix this problem, sometimes you just need to reboot your iPhone or iTunes. As iTunes add to device not working might happen because of some tiny hardware issue. A simple restart would be helpful.

Tip 2. Update iTunes to the latest version.

The new version of iTunes may contain fixes for bugs causing iTunes device adding problems. The detailed steps of updating iTunes are as below:

On Mac: click iTunes from the menu bar > Check for Update.

On PC: click Help from the menu bar at the top of the iTunes window.

Tip 3. Check the location of the data you want to add.

The iTunes add to device not working may happen when iTunes could not locate the files. Double-check if the data like songs on your iTunes library have the same folder location as before.

Tip 4. Turn off iCloud Music Library.

When iCloud Music Library is on, it is for sure that you can’t add songs to device. Go to Settings on device > Music > Turn off iCloud Music Library.

Tip 5. Disable iTunes Match.

Just like when the iCloud music library is on, turning on the iTunes match will also prevent adding music manually to your iDevice. So you can turn off the iTunes Match to fix iTunes add to device not working problem. Go to Settings > Music > Turn off iTunes Match.

Tip 6. Check your device’s storage.

Make sure there is enough space on your device for syncing. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to have a check. To spare more free storage, you can refer to: How to Free Up Space on iPhone >

Tip 7. Fix iTunes issues with an iTunes repair tool

We’d like to recommend you a third-party program that specializes in fixing various iOS/iPadOS/tvOS/iTunes issues – AnyFix. It can repair more than 200 iTunes errors including failing to add data from iTunes to your device. What’s more, it’s easy to use, with just a few clicks to solve your problems with no data loss. Here are some steps to fix the issue that you can’t add data from iTunes to your device:

Step 1: Download and install the latest version of AnyFix. Connect your iPhone to the computer and then tap on iTunes Repair.

Step 2: Choose iTunes Sync/CDB Errors and tap on Fix Now.

Step 3: After completing the analyzing process, please tap on Fix Now. Then, tap on Yes to give AnyFix permission.

Step 4: After completing the repairing process, you can tap on Open iTunes to check if the problem is resolved. If not, you can choose Deep Repair mode to fix the issue. 

Bonus Tip: Transfer with iTunes Alternative – AnyTrans

If all the above methods cannot help you fix your iTunes, maybe you can try third-party software. Here we recommend AnyTrans, an all-in-one iOS device management tool. It supports users to freely transfer data from iTunes to iPhone/iPad/iPod. Here are the features of AnyTrans.

• Support to transfer content from iTunes to iPhone with no limit.
• No data loss or erasing during the transferring process.
•  Able to make an iTunes backup before transferring.
•  Works well for all iPhone models and computers.

Here are the steps to add music from iTunes to iPhone via AnyTrans:

Step 1. Download AnyTrans, install and open it > Plug in your iPhone > Choose iTunes Library > Select the songs you want to add to iPhone > Click To Device to start.

Step 2. When Transfer Completed, you can go to your iPhone to check the songs.

The Bottom Line

That’s all for how to fix iTunes add to device not working problem. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and we will reply to you soon. By the way, don’t forget to have a try on AnyTrans, it can help you transfer iOS data easier compared to iTunes.