Cannot manually manage music

I recently had to replace my hard drive, and I am just now trying to manage my iPhone music again through iTunes. At the moment, I cannot manage my music. When I go into the summary page and click "Manually manage music and videos," then Apply, I get the message "This iPhone is synced with another iTunes library. Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library?" The only choices which appear are Cancel or Erase and Sync. I don't want to erase my iPhone, but I do want to be able to manage my music...what do I have to do to be able to select the manually manage music option without erasing my iPhone?

Well, without a backup, you're gonna have to use third party software to first put your content into itunes BEFORE you sync. You can transfer purchased content, as I've said: File>Transfer Purchases. Music you ripped on your own will have to be transfered by third party software:
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/
Like I said, when you first sync or manually manage, all itunes content on your phone will be erased & replaced with the content from your "new" computer. There is no way to avoid this. Backing up is your only protection, as the iphone is NOT a backup device.

Similar Messages

Cannot manually manage music and videos without erasing and syncing first

I have an iPhone 3G bought new from the Apple store using 2.1. Using iTunes 8.0 and checking the "Manually manage music and video" checkbox, iTunes prompts me to "Erase and Sync", no other option is available to me. It was the same when using version 7.7 as well.
I'm not syncing to another computer, it's the same MacBook I've had for almost a year. How do I get the Library Persistent ID in iTunes to match the iPhone. I have the ID from the iTunes Music Library.xml file. I just need to know where the matching file for the iPhone is so I can make them match.
The ID doesn't match because I had to rebuild my drive a month ago and my question to Apple (actually Steve) is why can't I sync the other way from the phone to the computer.
Why does my library on the phone have to be wiped out. Who had the warped thought to come up with this genius idea.
Message was edited by: ep1curus

I cannot express how disappointing this was for me to find out.
I want my music to be mobile, I don't want to have to copy it to every computer I want to listen to it on. I want to listen to it from the device, and be able to buy a new album at work or at home. This is a major disappointment for me, as every other device I have owned including my iPod Touch had this capability. I could authorize 5 machines and manually sync, and the music on that device could be played and managed on those authorized machines. For example, my wife has her own music collection, and I have mine, but we have a media center connected to our flat-screen in the living room, that we use for playing music when we are entertaining guests, and with our old iPods and iPod Touch devices, we could unplug one of our devices and plug the other persons in and listen to music from both our libraries without copying the music to that computer, as long as we authorized that machine for the both of us. Now with our iPhones there is no way to keep our seperate librarys and be able to play music on multiple computers in our house and at work, which we have always been able to do until our iPhones. The whole point of the iPhone for me was to be able to combine two devices and now because of the lack of this feature I still have to keep all our iPods around too... Dumb. I almost took our phones back because of this, and if apple doesn't fix it, I probably won't buy another. They should have at least mentioned this little fact before selling the devices to us. I know it's a different device, but it's similar enough that you expect it to work the same as the iPod and iPod Touch. It's not like I am wanting to be able to copy music from the device to multiple machines, it's exactly the opposite... I just want to be able to copy music to the device and listen to it at home and at work... why all apples other devices do this, and the iPhone doesn't is completely perplexing to me, and a serious oversight on there part. This pill would not be so hard to swallow if I had been warned about this prior to dropping almost a grand for iPhones for myself and my wife, expecting what I saw as a more advanced device to work at least as good as the other similar devices I own did.

Cannot manually manage music and video AND sync book, etc.

Just reset an old iPad2 to give to my son. Reset the thing, then went to sync it to his MBA running Yosemite. When I check "manually manage music and video" in the summary pane of the iPad when it's connected to iTunes, it automatically deselects "sync books" and "sync tones". If I go to reselect those syncing options, it erases the music just put on the iPad2 AND it deselects the "manually manage music and video." What gives?

Yes, that's the down side of "manually manage music".
it's probably best to forget about "manually" managing music and just select the music that you want synced and use the "automatic" method.

Manually Manage Music Option get error The iPod cannot be updated error(-50

I am following the instructions on how to move music to a new computer. When I get to the step "Switch the iPod to manual update and enable disk use" and try to apply the 'Manually manage music' option, I get the following error: 'The iPod (my iPod) cannot be updated. An unknown error occurred (-50). I have tried moving my dock between the two USB ports on my Dell but nothing works..can someone help?

I tried some additional things and it seems to have fixed the problem.
First, I forced the iPod Service to close using the Windows task manager (control-alt-delete and then closing it). I then restored my iPod to its original factory settings using that option in iTunes.
I renamed the iPod and then set up what I wanted to sync with it. I have made a couple of changes and they have worked.

Cannot delete music from iPod nano (latest generation). Have already selected "Manually Manage music and videos" but delete is unavailable from right click or Edit.

I have done everything I've seen recommended for deleting music (jncluding "manually manage"). Thanks for the assistance!!!

Did you Apply the change after selecting (checking the box for) Manually manage music and videos?
With the latest iTunes, if the sidebar is hidden, from the menu bar, under View, select Show Sidebar.
In the sidebar, select the iPod under DEVICES. Click the toggle (to the left of iPod) to drop down the iPod's content list, indented under iPod. Click on Music there. Over to the right, the list of songs on the iPod is shown. You can select songs there, right click on them, and select Delete from the contextual menu. You can also select songs there, go up to the menu bar, and select Delete under Edit. You can also select songs there, and just press the Delete key on the keyboard.
If you want to use automatic syncing, which is far more convenient than the manual method, and easily manage content on the iPod (add and remove songs), please post back.

Cannot Select Both "Manually manage music" and "Sync ringtones" for iTunes

iTunes won't let me sync when both "manually manage music and videos" and "sync ringtones" is checked. If I choose "manage music and videos" first, add my music, then check "sync ringtones" all my music that I sync'd is deleted. The only way it worked for me was to sync the ringtones first without any music in the iPhone then checking "manually manage music and videos" afterwards but the problem is that once the "manual manage music and videos" is checked the "sync ringtones" isn't checked anymore so if I decide to add a ringtone later on I have to check "sync ringtone" causing my music to be deleted from the iPhone. This is a bad glitch Apple please fix it!

If you manually manage music, to get ringtones on your phone, you have to drag them to the "actual iphone icon" in the device pane window, on the left side in itunes.
FYI:
Since the iphone DOES NOT support disk mode(like some ipods), there is no advantage to manually managing music, IMO.

Cannot select "Manually manage music & videos" without erasing??

I seem to be having an issue with selecting "Manually manage music & videos" from iTunes 11. I have always used the same computer/iTunes to put music on my phone but ever since downloading iTunes 11, I can no longer do so. In the summary section for my phone I have tried to reselect that option and hitting apply but get a message
"This iPhone is synced with another iTunes library. Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library? An iPhone can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time. Erasing and syncing replaces the contents of this iPhone with the contents of this iTunes library."
Does anyone know if there is a way around this/why it thinks it is a different iTunes library? Please help!

I seem to be having an issue with selecting "Manually manage music & videos" from iTunes 11. I have always used the same computer/iTunes to put music on my phone but ever since downloading iTunes 11, I can no longer do so. In the summary section for my phone I have tried to reselect that option and hitting apply but get a message
"This iPhone is synced with another iTunes library. Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library? An iPhone can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time. Erasing and syncing replaces the contents of this iPhone with the contents of this iTunes library."
Does anyone know if there is a way around this/why it thinks it is a different iTunes library? Please help!

How do I do this to use OVerdrive media on deviceThe Apple device must be formatted for use with Microsoft Windows. The iTunes setting 'Manually manage music-' must be enabled for the device before you can complete the transfer.

I cannot make these directions work
I downloaded media on Overdrive MEdia on my PC
I have the overdrive media ap on my I pod touch 4g
this media is suppossed to be compatible w/I pd touch
Notes on Transferring OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks…
Most MP3 capable devices should play OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks.
If you intend to transfer OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks to an Apple® device, note the following…
iTunes® v9.0.2 (or newer) is required.
The Apple device must be formatted for use with Microsoft® Windows®.
The iTunes setting 'Manually manage music…' must be enabled for the device before you can complete the transfer. Adjust this setting in iTunes as follows…
Connect the iPod® to your computer.
If it does not launch automatically, open iTunes v9.0.2 (or newer).
In iTunes, locate the device in the left vertical navigation panel (under heading 'DEVICES'), and click the device.
The 'Summary' screen is displayed.
Place a checkmark next to 'Manually manage music…'.
Click the 'Apply' button.
The iTunes 'Summary' screen refreshes, and the changes are saved.
If desired, close iTunes.
Note that if an Apple device is connected to your computer, you can choose to simultaneously transfer a title to the iTunes Library and the Apple device. If you wish to only transfer a title to the iTunes Library, you must first disconnect the Apple device

Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device: Apple Support Communities
Also you said " I want to add them to my iCloud, and also back to my computer. " Note that unless subscribe to iTunes match, only iTunes purchases are stored in iCloud.
Also,
You can redownload most iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

I changed from manually manage music to create more space, and lost a LOT of my music from my current Itunes library. I HAVE to have that music back! How do I go about getting the missing/lost files back on my library and IPod?

I changed from manually managing music to create more space on my IPod and lost a lot of the my music since it synched with another library. ( I think off another long gone computer!) I HAVE to get this music back! There are songs I can no longer find! How do I get this "Cannot locate file for this song" music back on my ITunes library and IPod?
Thanks for any and all help!!

See this article for more help and information.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
B-rock

Enable disk use and Manually manage music and videos

When I go to Summary, Enable disk use is checked but dim, so I can't change it. Manually manage music and videos is checked and not dim. Is this enough to do so that I can manage the videos I have shot on my Nano from iTunes, or do I have to do it from iPhoto?

Hello JohnKerr48,
I can manage the videos I have shot on my Nano from iTunes, or do I have to do it from iPhoto?
You have to manage them via a Finder window, through iMovie, or iPhoto. They cannot be managed via iTunes unless you copy them from your Nano onto your Mac and then import them into your iTunes library. For more information, see this Apple support document.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3822
B-rock

HT1535 my iphone is set to "manually manage music and videos" and it still does not allow me to add music from my other computers.

I have followed the steps in order to manually manage the music on my 3GS iphone. (used the latest version of itunes and my iphone is up to date with iOS5) and it still is not allowing me to add music from another computer.
when i plug it into the second computer, it is asking me to click "manually manage music and videos" again. when i do that, it says it is going to sync with this new library and erase all music that is already there. i dont want this to happen! i only want to add a few select songs from each library. I have waaayy to much to add and erase every time.
both of the computers i am using are PCs and have my itunes id for homesharing... please help me!

Refer to this article
Using iPhone, iPad, or iPod with multiple computers
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1202
Notes:
iPod shuffle and iPhone are intended for use with a single computer. You cannot load music from multiple computers or iTunes libraries onto iPod shuffle and iPhone like you can with other devices.

Has there been a change to manually manage music and videos?

Does anyone know if there has been a change to iTunes with regard to how to manually manage media files?
I am almost positive that in order to manually manage music, books, videos, etc. you selected the Summary tab for your iDevice when you plugged it into iTunes and then you selected sync on the specific tabs for the media you wanted to have control over.
But recently when I did this for my iPhone 4S the check boxes for music, videos and books all became un-checked. So I would re-check music and have to reinstall all of my songs and playlists because this would cause iTunes to want to delete all the songs on my phone. I would then check the box on the books tab and go through the same process of reinstalling all my books. When I went back to the music tab the check box was unchecked again!
When I unchecked the check box on the summary tab to Manually Manage Music and Videos the tabs for music, videos, books, would all be grayed out and unusable.
I played with this for a number fo hours trying to figure out how to get this all to work the way it used to and discovered that by checking the box for Manage Music and Videos on the summary tab and leaving the other tabs un-checked I was able to manage my media files myself (Which was my goal to begin with).
Am I remembering this wrong? Or has the interface changed in iTunes for how to manually manage my media files?

No, iTunes has not changed the way it works.
Thom_D wrote:
When I unchecked the check box on the summary tab to Manually Manage Music and Videos the tabs for music, videos, books, would all be grayed out and unusable.
This is correct (and the way it has always worked).
Because you are not Manually managing the items on the iDevice, you cannot select them on the iDevice.
Check the box to manually manage then drag from iTunes to the device.
Or you can uncheck manually manage, create a few playlists (then simply add/delete from these playlists to change iDevice content) and still drag items to the device. They will show up under the respective tab under Manually added items.

ITunes automatically unchecked "Manually manage music and videos"

Hey all, hope everything is well.
I have a frustrating problem that I don't know how to fix on my own.
So last night when I plugged my iPhone in to put some songs on, everything worked normally. I was able to edit the info and all that jazz, but today when I plugged my iPhone in...I noticed that I cannot add/delete/edit any of my music. I went into the Summary tab and seen that the "Manually manage music and videos" box is unchecked?! When I check it and apply, it says my iPhone is synced with another computer and all my data will be erased. I have spent 2 days doing album art and editing every single track info and the reason why it p*sses me off is because all of the edited songs on my iPhone are not edited in my iTunes library, so...if I do erase and sync, I would have to do everything over again for approx. 780 songs.
I guess it`s kind of my bad that I didn`t do all the editing/album art in the library THEN put the songs on my phone.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone maybe knows why iTunes decided to uncheck "Manually manage music and videos" for me.
Thanks and take care!

You should be able to extract any media not in your library with the tips in this post from forum regular Zevoneer but I'm not sure what the implications are for your application settings.
If your IPhone has previously been managed from this library then application settings and data should be alright. If you transfer any missing purchases into the library with iTunes, recover any other media using third party tools and then backup the device you should be able to immediately restore the device from the backup to make sure that the device and library are properly paired.
tt2

ITunes Unchecks Manually Manage Music and Videos.

Everytime I connect my iPhone 4 to my computer and open up iTunes, the "manually manage music and videos" option becomes unchecked so that I cannot add or delete any music from my iPhone. When I check "manually manage music and videos" again, of course it wants to delete everything because it says I have my device synced to another library. I have never synced my iPhone or plugged my iPhone in any other computer before. I do not even use my iTunes library on my computer -- it is blank because I don't like iTunes and prefer to drag and drop files into my phone, which is what manually manage music and videos means, right?
It has become so annoying to have to delete all my files and reload them all again just to add one mp3 to the phone. Then when I reconnect, it doesn't allow me to manually manage again.
I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes numerous times and it has not fixed the problem. I have my iPhone set to not automatically open iTunes when it is connected to my computer. I also have it set to not sync anything. I am using Windows Vista. Does anyone know what could be wrong? Please help!

This post I found & pasted below seems to explain it best - this is only for Ipod (& Ipad?) the iPhone 4 will only let you add from 1 computer supposedly. Basically IF YOU CHECK THE MANUALLY MANAGE BOX YOU CAN NOT SYNC WITHOUT ERASING AND ADDING, BUT YOU CAN DRAG & DROP FILES TO THE DEVICE INSTEAD
What is the "Manually Manage Music and Vidios" option on itunes + ipod?
When I connect my ipod on my computer theres this ipod page + 1 of the options is "Manually Manage Music and Videos". What does that do if i select it? The reason I'm asking is that I don't want to mess up my ipod if I do select it. + later I can't change it back. THANKS!
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
It is the best and easiest way to use your ipod.
When you manually manage your music you choose what to add and delete from the ipod. You dont have to sync your ipod.
When it is on manual you can use your ipod on as many computers and itunes libraries as you want without losing any music off your ipod.
You just drag and drop the songs, videos and playlists you want from the itunes library to the ipods name.
Right click and delete what you dont want from the main playlists under the ipods name.
Nothing will ever be deleted or added until you direct it and you can safely use it on any computer.
If you click manually manage music nothing will change on your ipod as it is now until you physically add or delete things.
If you resync with an itunes library later, though, you have to be careful because anything not in that itunes library will be deleted off the ipod. I always keep my ipod manually managed because I use it on several diff computers.
or you just highlight the 20 songs together and drag them in one action
some people are so lazy, lol
Think if it this way
If it is manually managed and you go to your friends house you can use her itunes library which means basically getting music from any other itunes library you want. Not just your own.

Upgrade to iTunes 11 has disabled Manually Manage Music option

After upgrading to iTunes 11, it has now removed the option to 'Manually manage music' when I connect my iPhone (4S). Previously I manage all my playlists and keep them up-to-date, but found this morning I now cannot add anything to the phone,,,
Each time I tick the box and click apply, it warns me that it ERASE the entire iPhone - Not what I wanted to hear!
Is there any way to bring this back inline, it also warns me that the phone is synced to another iTunes library (techincally correct but this is the previous version that it recommended me to upgrade from... Are they serious!?)
PLEASE HELP!
I want to avoid resetting the phone and letting them win.... again! I can't put into words how frustrating this :-/
*I'm running Windows 7 64-bit with an iPhone 4S, and in the UK.
Many thanks...!
Chris

I have an iPhone 5, same happened to me. I need to erase and resync my phone, loosing all playlists and ratings in the process. Music that I wanted in my iTunes but not my iPhone will now also be re-added.
I'm really over having to spend hours reloading my phone and playlists how I like them everytime Apple decides to unleash a dud update. I've literally spent thousands of dollars for the convenience of keeping my music and phone life in one place over the years, but that conveneince is now outweighed by Apple's user unfriendly approach to their software updates.
My next update will be away from Apple.

Cannot manually manage music

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