Where did my playlists go iTunes 12

Question

I did  the restore to factory settings using all the steps to get my 5th generation iPod to work again. It is restored and fully charged. Now have loaded all my music back onto my iPod but all my playlists are missing. All I get is Genius, and On the Go. My iTunes is up to date with iTunes 12. This lists my different playlists on my computer. In iTunes, my iPod doesn't list any playlists.
I thought sync was to sync music to various playlists. Is this not so now?
Dbozzy

Answer 1

It depends on how our iPod was set up before you restored it.  If you were using the Manually manage music and videos setting, iTunes was not keeping your iPod's content "in sync" with your iTunes library.  In that case, you manually added playlists to the iPod and manually added songs to those playlists.  So, after doing a Restore (which erases the iPod), those playlists will not be there anymore.  You'll need to redo it manually.
If you used automatic syncing, that means all of the playlists that were on the iPod (before the Restore) are also in your iTunes library (on the computer).  Hopefully, this is your case, because you can easily add those playlists back onto your iPod by setting up automatic syncing again.  In iTunes 12, select your iPod from the device button.  In the iPod's sidebar, under Settings, select Music.  The screen to the right tells iTunes how to sync songs to the iPod.  Check the box for Sync Music (which enables automatic syncing).  NOTE:  If the iPod is currently using the manual setting, setting up automatic syncing will replace its current content.  Any songs on the iPod that are not in your computer's iTunes library will be lost.
If your entire iTunes music library fits on your iPod, you can use the option to sync Entire music library.  All songs and playlists in your iTunes library are synced to the iPod, when you click Apply.  Any changes to your iTunes music library get synced to the iPod going forward.
Otherwise, select the option to sync Selected playlists, artists, albums, and genres.  Below that, under Playlists, select (checkmark) the playlists you want on the iPod.  You can also select from the other lists, as desired.  When you click Apply, iTunes syncs your selection to the iPod.  Going forward, to add or remove songs from the iPod, just update those selected playlists in your iTunes library.  The iPod does not need to be connected.  The next time you connect the iPod (or click Sync if already connected), iTunes automatically syncs the same changes to the iPod.