Read this guide right now to grab several top iTunes alternatives at the market so far. Choosing the best one for yourself and making iPhone iPad iPod touch content management much easier.
Use QuickTime Player on the Mac QuickTime Player is one of the most versatile video and audio apps on the Mac, playing back a variety of file formats without needing to use iTunes. Let’s say you’ve shared a voice memo on your iPhone to your Mac using AirDrop. Here’s how you can listen to. May 11, 2020 We’ve tested different apps and music players you can use on Mac as an alternative to iTunes or to the new media apps that come with recent Apple devices. At a glance Best Overall: VOX MP3. Jun 07, 2019 Instead of having one app that handles all your music, movies, TV, and podcasts, Apple will split iTunes into three separate programs. After all, iTunes was initially a Mac-only app before. Oct 17, 2019 Third-party apps won’t be able to view these files properly due to the DRM used. Goodbye iTunes. The removal of iTunes is one of the most radical changes in macOS Catalina. Using dedicated apps for music, podcasts, and video makes sense. Removing iOS device management from iTunes is a move that Apple probably should have made years ago. Apr 15, 2020 So for better music managing experience, we recommend you two alternatives to iTunes to help you with it. They are AnyTrans for iOS and TunesGo. AnyTrans for iOS – Satisfy your all possible operations for music. AnyTrans for iOS can sync all songs on iDevice to iTunes, PC, and Mac, no matter its purchased, or downloaded form other source.
iTunes Tips & Issues
iTunes Basic Learning
iTunes Music Tips
iTunes Libary Tips
iTunes Connection Issues
Other iTunes Data Issues
Seeing a lot of dodgy threads about iTunes and SL not getting on well together. I use iTunes for ripping, burning and converting. Could anybody recommend something better?? (OSX) Thanks in advance.
Truly, iTunes brings lots of convenience to iOS users, for iOS data managing, migration, syncing, backing up, restoring, and more, but it becomes less and less popular, because of its many unfriendly design, feature, and functions.
- iTunes is time consuming, during syncing, backing up, and restoring.
- iTunes only supports iOS data transferring from iTunes (or PC/Mac) to iDevice, not including between iDevices, and from iDevice to computer.
- For iTunes music management, only purchased songs are allowed to sync to iTunes; iTunes songs syncing to iPhone iPad iPod touch would erase the existed one on iDevice.
- iTunes is with poor operability. Many users cannot operate it intuitively.
- Many iTunes errors occur during operation, such as can not synchronize, can not back up, iTunes error 14, iTunes Library.itl cannot be read, etc.
- And more…
So there is no surprise about people looking for another application to replace iTunes. However, there are lots of iTunes alternative applications out there. It is hard to choose the perfect one for every user. So to make it much less troublesome, our team have collected 5 top applications, which can totally replace iTunes, for you, base on common need for iTunes: Backing up, restoring, and music files managing. Keep reading and find the best one for yourself now.
Part 1. Best iTunes Alternatives for Backup
Backing up iPhone iPad iPod touch is an inevitable and must-do thing, in case of data disappearing unexpectedly. So in this part, we will list three best alternatives to iTunes you can choose, making iPhone iPad iPod touch backing up more quickly, and easily.
1. AnyTrans for iOS – Selectively and Wholly Backup
We know that iTunes backup usually is a long journey. Besides, iTunes backs up the whole device to computer, but mostly without media files, songs, videos, etc. and you cannot choose a certain data type. While, the biggest problem is under the backup files, you have no option to view them. But now, with AnyTrans for iOS, you will never suffer from such pains anymore.
- It jus takes a few minutes to back up your whole iPhone iPad iPod touch.
- Not just wholly backup, it also enables to choose the exact data types, like contacts, photos, messages, etc. to save them on computer (PC/Mac).
- Provides common formats for data outputting, like .csv and .vcf for contacts, html and pdf for messages, etc. So these backup files are readable and printable.
- Also supports couple easy ways of iOS data managing, transferring data from iDevice to computer, from computer to iDevice without data erasing, from Android to iDevice, and between iDevices, deleting, ringtone making, and more.
So why not download it now, and follow the steps below to back up your device wholly and selectively, right away?
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How to Backup iPhone iPad iPod touch Wholly with AnyTrans for iOS
Step 1. Run AnyTrans for iOS on your PC/Mac > Connect your iDevice to it > Choose Backup Manager tab > Click on “Please click here to backup your content” if you have no backup on computer; While if there is one, or more backups on computer already, it will show them all.
Step 2. After it finishes backing up, you can now open the backup file to view all titles in it.
How to Backup iPhone iPad iPod touch Selectively with AnyTrans for iOS
Step 1. Run AnyTrans for iOS on your PC/Mac > Connect your iDevice to it > Choose Content Manager > Scroll down to category page.
Step 2. Choose the data type you would like to backup to computer. Here we take Contacts as an example. So choose contacts > Select the ones you want to backup > Click on Send to PC (or Mac) button to start.
Step 3. Before you start backing up, you can set the output formats in settings.
2. TunesGo – Selectively and Wholly Backup
TunesGo is a simple iTunes alternative to manage files on your iPhone, iPod, and iPad. It allows you to add music, videos, apps, etc. from a PC to an iPhone without iTunes. Just like AnyTrans for iOS, TunesGo also provides with two backup methods: wholly and selectively. But at our test, it will occasionally be stuck on backing up, or much time consuming.
Pros:
- Two backing up methods – wholly and selectively.
- Easy to use.
Cons:
- Occasionally stuck on backing up process, and time consuming.
3. SynciOS Data Transfer – Selectively
SynciOS Data Transfer offers the common functions that users need to sync music, videos, photos, etc. from a PC to iPhone, iPod, and iPad. During the process of importing songs and videos to device, it will convert the incompatible files to iDevice friendly formats. It allows users to backup media files, like songs, photos, and videos from iPhone, iPad, and iPod to PC. But there is no one-button-backup feature. It will scan your whole device firstly, which costs some time at our test, and then you can choose the data types to backup.
Pros:
- Back up data option with selecting.
- Has syncing capability.
- Fast media transfer.
- Gives additional information on connected devices, thus warning you in case of any problems with the device.
Cons:
- No on-button operation for whole device backup.
- Need scanning device firstly. Time consuming.
- Has an issue with managing contacts.
Part 2. Best iTunes Alternative for Restoring
When iPhone iPad iPod touch lose some data accidentally, due to iOS upgrading, jailbreak, mistakenly deleting, etc., you can restore those data from iTunes backup normally.
However, iTunes restoring is a long long way. Besides, technically, the whole process is replacing the whole device with the backup, which means your existed data on iDevice will be erased. You have no way to choose just the lost data to recover.
But with some great iTunes alternatives, you will not be troubled by such problems any more. What tools deserve your trying? And here are PhoneRescue for iOS, Syncios Data Transfer, and MobileTrans.
1. PhoneRescue for iOS – Not Just iTunes Restoring
PhoneRescue for iOS is a powerful alternative to iTunes, which can hep you get rid of such annoying things. Here are its main features you may interested in:
- PhoneRescue for iOS enables you to choose the exact data type in iTunes backup to scan. And its Data Comparison feature will easily find the different data in backup from data on iDevice, which saves a lot of your time.
- After scanning, you have the option to choose the certain titles you would like to restore.
- The whole process will not erase any existed data on your iDevice.
- Also supports recovering from device directly, and from iCloud backup.
So go to download PhoneRescue for iOS now, and follow the steps below to get back your lost data from iTunes backup quickly.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
How to Restore iPhone iPad iPod touch from iTunes Backup with PhoneRescue for iOS
Step 1. Run PhoneRescue for iOS on your PC/Mac > Choose Recover from iTunes Backups > Click right arrow to continue.
Step 2. Choose the iTunes backup, which contains the lost data > Click right arrow > It will pop up a screen for Data Comparison option.
Step 3. Here we take Only Scan Backup option as an example. And then another page pops up for choosing what kind of exact data types you would like to scan. Taking Photos as an example > Click on OK button to continue.
If your iTunes backup is encrypted, please input your encryption password to allow PhoneRescue for iOS to scan your data. If you forgot it, you can make use of iPhone backup password recovery to get it back.
Step 4. It will start scanning all photos in iTunes backup. After finishing, select the photos you would like to recover > Click on To Device button to download them to your device directly, or To Computer button to save them to computer.
2. Syncios Data Transfer
Just like PhoneRescue for iOS, Syncios Data Transfer also enables you to restore data from both iTunes and iCloud backups. But there seems no directly recovering from the device. But with its iTunes restoring feature, you can transfer any data type you want to your iPhone X/8/7/6s/6.
Pro:
- Besides Restore from iTunes Backup, there is also Restore from iCloud.
Cons:
- No retrieving from iPhone iPad directly.
- No previewing for detailed items in iTunes Backups.
3. MobileTrans
MobileTrans is also a great helper for your iTunes backup restoring. But it seems like Syncios Data Transfer, there is no recovering from iDevice, even though you can get back data from several clouds, like iCloud, OneDrive, BlackBerry, and Kies. MobileTrans does not support iTunes backup files previewing, either.
Pro:
- Besides Restore from iTunes Backup, there is also restoring from clouds.
Cons:
- No retrieving from iPhone iPad directly.
- No previewing for detailed items in iTunes Backups.
Part 3. Best iTunes Alternative for Music Managing
Many users rely on iTunes, mainly for music files managing. However, only purchased songs on iPhone iPad iPod are allowed to sync to iTunes; While iTunes songs syncing to iPhone iPad iPod touch would erase the existed one on iDevice. And there is no function to transfer songs between iDevices.
So for better music managing experience, we recommend you two alternatives to iTunes to help you with it. They are AnyTrans for iOS and TunesGo.
1. AnyTrans for iOS – Satisfy your all possible operations for music
- AnyTrans for iOS can sync all songs on iDevice to iTunes, PC, and Mac, no matter its purchased, or downloaded form other source.
- When you sync songs from computer to iPhone iPad iPod touch, it will not erase any existed data on device.
- Besides, it also supports music transferring between iDevices, and songs deleting.
Give AnyTrans for iOS a trial now, and take the following steps to begin with your music managing.
How to Manage Music on iPhone iPad iPod touch with AnyTrans for iOS
Step 1. Run AnyTrans for iOS > Connect your iPhone iPad iPod to it > Scroll down to category page.
Step 2. Choose Music under Audio option.
Step 3. Now to add music from computer to iOS device, you can click button. And if you want to delete unwanted music, please click button. By clicking button, you can transfer music to iTunes. You click button to transfer songs to computer. You can also transfer music between iOS devices by clicking button.
For better management of your music, you can change the preview mode by clicking . If AnyTrans for iOS doesn’t load your music correctly, please click button to refresh it.
2. TunesGo
TunesGo provides you with various iOS data managements. Under Music tab, you can see Music, iTunes U, Podcasts, Ringtones, and Audibooks on your iPhone iPad iPod touch. But we found that TunesGo seems only find the songs stored on in Music app, not including those not in app but on iPhone storage.
The Bottom Line
That’s all for the introduction of iTunes alternatives for backing up, restoring, and music managing. So you can try them according to your demand, then choose a suitable software. Or if you’ve used other useful tools, welcome to share with us in comment below.
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Now there's an app for every media type
With macOS Catalina, your music, videos, podcasts, and audiobooks are organized in to their own dedicated apps — the Apple Music app, Apple TV app, Apple Podcasts app, and Apple Books app. You can also access your iTunes Store purchases in these apps.
If you have a PC, you can continue to use iTunes for Windows to manage your media library, make purchases, and manually sync and manage your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Use Finder to sync and manage your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
![Apps instead of itunes to use with mac laptop Apps instead of itunes to use with mac laptop](/uploads/1/2/6/8/126879723/138996105.jpg)
Finder is the new place to back up, update, or restore your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Just connect your device to your Mac and it appears in the Finder sidebar. And you can easily drag and drop files to your device.
Use Finder to manage your devices.
Upgrade your iTunes library
After you update to macOS Catalina, just open the Apple Music app or Apple TV app to use your iTunes library in the new apps. Have multiple iTunes libraries? Learn how to switch between them in macOS Catalina.
If you open the Apple Podcasts app or Apple Books app first, you won't see any of your media until you open the Apple Music app or Apple TV app.
Here are some things to know
- The Apple Music app and Apple TV app read the contents of your iTunes library — so don't delete your iTunes library.
- If you open the Apple Music app and don't see all of your album artwork, leave the Apple Music app open so your album artwork can finish downloading.
- If you previously used multiple iTunes libraries, your audiobooks are imported in to the Apple Books library and podcasts are imported in to the Apple Podcasts library on your computer.
Where's my media?
Here's where you can find your entire media collection, access your iTunes Store purchases, and synced libraries.
All of your music is now in the Apple Music app
The Apple Music app is where you can find all of your music, including music that you imported in to iTunes, purchased from the iTunes Store, and playlists and smart playlists that you created in iTunes. And if you subscribe to Apple Music, you can stream and download millions of songs, and access your entire music library across all of your devices.
Explore the Apple Music app.
Looking for the iTunes Store?
If you don't see the iTunes Store in the sidebar, here's how to find it:
- Open the Apple Music app.
- In the menu bar, choose Music > Preferences.
- Go to the General tab and select iTunes Store.
- Click OK.
Everything you watch is now in the Apple TV app
The Apple TV app is the new home for all of your movies, TV shows, and home videos — including your purchases from iTunes. Browse movies and TV shows that you can buy, rent movies, and subscribe to just the channels that you want to watch. And soon you can discover new favorites with Apple TV+.
Discover the Apple TV app.
Find podcasts in the Apple Podcasts app
Find all of the shows that you’ve subscribed to or added to iTunes in the Apple Podcasts app. Continue listening to your favorite podcast episodes. And discover new shows that you might like based on the ones that you’re already listening to.
Listen with the Apple Podcasts app.
Listen to audiobooks in the Apple Books app
Find your audiobooks, including the ones that you purchased from iTunes, in the Apple Books app. Discover new books to read in the Book Store. Or buy audiobooks from the new Audiobook Store so you can listen on the go.
Check out the Apple Books app.
Apps Instead Of Itunes To Use With Macbook Pro
The Apple Music app, Apple TV app, Apple Podcast app, and Apple Books app aren’t available in all countries and regions. Learn what’s available in your country or region.