# How do I update my iPod without losing what's on it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755 "2008-11-28T02:47:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Incref](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@Incref](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incref)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/1 "2008-11-28T02:47:19Z")
I had an iPod synced with an old laptop. Old laptop died a horrible death in her motherboard. So I was using my work macbook to keep up to date with my favourite podcasts. I’d now like to update the old iPod (as I may be leaving my job) but I am worried about erasing everything on there. I’ve done a google search and a search here but all the advice I can find is about getting iPod library to computer not computer library on to iPod. I had a similar problem a couple of years back and just downloaded a programme off the net to go around iTunes altogether, but of course this time the computer in question being a mac, none of the programmes will work as they are all designed for Windows! :smack: Blah! I’ll appreciate any hints 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/2 "2008-11-28T03:37:50Z")
I’m not entirely sure what you mean. iTunes will transfer anything on your computer to your iPod (of course), and there are literally dozens of programs, some of them freeware, to put your iPod library onto your computer. Note that such a transfer is entirely legal, provided you own the music. There are a number of such programs at \. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/3 "2008-11-28T03:51:09Z")
I believe he’s worried that if he hooks up the old ipod to the new computer, it will auto-sync and overwrite all the old files and podcasts. I think the option to auto-sync is only available _after_ a device is connected to the computer, but I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/4 "2008-11-28T03:53:41Z")
The easiest thing might be to use the program you found to copy the songs off of your iPod onto your MacBook and then sync it all back. It really shouldn’t take too long. ---
**Author:** ![Incref](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@Incref](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incref)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/5 "2008-11-28T04:43:28Z")
Thanks guys, I thought I’d have take everything off the iPod and sync the whole library but I found something that puts the files directly on to the iPod. In case anyone else has the same problem it’s called Xilisoft iPod Rip, there’s a free version but you can only do 100 transfers each time. Still it’s better than the other method I think. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/6 "2008-11-28T23:50:51Z")
Just so you know, you can manually add files from iTunes too, using drag’n’drop – it doesn’t have to sinc. It’s pretty straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Hap\_Shaughnessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Hap\_Shaughnessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hap_Shaughnessy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/7 "2008-11-29T09:56:25Z")
An Ipod will (well, should) only auto-sync with a computer that has been told to auto-sync with _that_ Ipod… and as one is allowed to manage DRM files between one Ipod and five (I believe) computers, you should have no worries. Then again, sometimes stuff doesn’t work the way it is supposed to. So back up what you have, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-update-my-ipod-without-losing-whats-on-it/474755/8 "2008-11-29T12:05:15Z")
There’s a program called Senuti (spell it backwards) designed to help you. The freeware version lets you load a few songs at a time onto a different computer; the pay version ($18 last time I looked) will transfer your entire library.