Move Music from iPhone to HTC: Easy Guide

Moving your music library from an iPhone to an HTC phone can feel daunting because Apple uses its own file formats and sync methods. This guide walks you through the simplest ways to transfer your songs, whether you want to move everything at once or just a few playlists. By the end, you’ll have your music playing on your HTC without losing quality or metadata.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone with the music you want to transfer
Your HTC phone (any recent model running Android)
A USB cable for each phone (Lightning for iPhone, USB-C or Micro-USB for HTC)
A computer (Windows or Mac) with enough free storage to temporarily hold your music
iTunes (or Apple Music app) installed on the computer, if you bought music from iTunes
Optional: A cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive

Step-by-Step

Decide which songs to transfer. If you bought music from the iTunes Store, you can re-download it on your HTC via the Apple Music app (available on Android). If your music is ripped from CDs or imported from other sources, you’ll need to transfer the actual files.
Connect your iPhone to your computer. Use a Lightning cable. If prompted on the iPhone, tap “Trust This Computer” and enter your passcode.
Open iTunes (or the Apple Music app on Windows). On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder instead. Your iPhone should appear in the sidebar.
Enable file sharing (if needed). In iTunes, select your iPhone, then click “File Sharing” in the left sidebar. If you have music in apps like GarageBand or Voice Memos, you can save those files directly to your computer here. For standard music, proceed to the next step.
Copy music files from your iPhone to the computer. In iTunes/Finder, go to your iPhone’s “Music” tab. Check “Sync Music” and choose “Entire music library” or selected playlists. Click “Apply” or “Sync” to copy the music to your computer’s iTunes library. The files are now stored in your iTunes Media folder (usually Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music on Windows, or Music/Music/Media/Music on Mac).
Locate the actual music files. Go to that folder and you’ll see folders by artist and album. These are your music files (mostly .m4a or .mp3).
Connect your HTC to the computer. Use a USB cable. On your HTC, swipe down the notification bar and select “USB for file transfer” or “File Transfer” mode (may be labeled “MTP”).
Copy the music to your HTC. On the computer, open the HTC’s internal storage or SD card. Create a folder named “Music” if it doesn’t exist. Drag and drop the music files or folders from your computer into that Music folder.
Safely eject and disconnect. Right-click the HTC drive on your computer and choose “Eject”. Unplug the cable. On your HTC, open a music player app (like Play Music, or any pre-installed player) and your songs should appear.
Alternative: Use a cloud service. If you don’t want to use cables, upload your music files (from your computer’s iTunes folder) to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Then install the same app on your HTC and download the files to your phone’s Music folder.

Common Mistakes

Assuming iTunes Match or iCloud Music Library transfers everything. These services only sync to Apple devices; they don’t give you files you can copy to Android.
Dragging playlists instead of files. Playlists are just lists of references; you need the actual song files.
Not enabling “File Transfer” mode on HTC. If you just plug it in and it charges, the computer can’t see the phone’s storage. Always select the file transfer option.
Copying DRM-protected files. Songs purchased from iTunes before 2009 had DRM (Digital Rights Management) that prevented copying. If you have old purchases, you can re-download them without DRM from the iTunes Store (if still available).
Forgetting to check storage space. Your HTC may not have enough room for your entire library. Check available space first.

Tips

Use a USB 3.0 port for faster transfer speeds.
Keep your music organized by copying whole artist/album folders to maintain metadata.
Consider using a microSD card in your HTC for extra storage if it supports one.
If you have a lot of music, transfer in batches to avoid timeouts.
Use a tool like CopyTrans or iMazing (third-party) to transfer music directly from iPhone to PC without syncing, if you find iTunes too restrictive.
For future purchases, buy from platforms that offer DRM-free MP3s (like Amazon or Bandcamp) to avoid this hassle.

Troubleshooting

iPhone not showing in iTunes/Finder: Try a different cable or USB port. Restart both the computer and iPhone. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy, then reconnect and tap “Trust”.
HTC not recognized by computer: Make sure you’ve selected “File Transfer” mode on the phone. Try a different cable or port. Install the HTC USB drivers from the manufacturer’s website if needed.
Music files are not playing on HTC: Some formats like Apple Lossless (ALAC) may not be supported by all Android players. Convert them to MP3 or AAC using a free converter like Audacity or VLC Media Player.
Transfer stops halfway: This often happens with large files. Copy folders one at a time, or use a cloud service to avoid cable issues.
Can’t find the iTunes Media folder: In iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences > Advanced (Mac) to see the exact path. In Finder on Mac, hold Option and click “Music” in the sidebar to see the library folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move music from iPhone to HTC without a computer?

Yes, you can use a cloud service. Upload your music files to Google Drive or Dropbox from your iPhone (using the app), then download them on your HTC. However, if your music is in the Apple Music app and not downloaded as files, you can’t upload them directly—you’d need to first download them to your iPhone (if they are purchased) and then upload.

Does Apple Music work on HTC?

Yes, Apple Music is available on Android. You can sign in with your Apple ID and stream your library, but you can only download songs for offline listening within the app—they are not accessible as files to other apps.

What if my music has DRM?

Most music purchased from iTunes after 2009 is DRM-free. If you have older DRM-protected purchases, you can re-download them from the iTunes Store (if still available) in DRM-free format. Alternatively, you can burn them to a CD and re-rip them as MP3s, which removes DRM.

Will I lose song ratings or play counts?

Yes, those are stored in iTunes and don’t transfer to Android. The song files themselves (title, artist, album, cover art) will transfer, but playlists and ratings won’t. You can recreate playlists manually on your HTC.

Can I transfer music using Bluetooth?

Yes, but it’s slow and unreliable for large libraries. Pair the two phones via Bluetooth, then send files from iPhone to HTC (using the share sheet). This works for a few songs but is not practical for hundreds.

Is there a way to transfer music directly from iPhone to HTC wirelessly?

You can use apps like Send Anywhere or SHAREit that create a Wi-Fi hotspot between the phones. Install the app on both devices, select the music files on iPhone, and send them to HTC. This works well for moderate-sized libraries.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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