Use iPod as an external hard drive

If you have space available on your iPod, you can store any kind of file (such as a text document or picture) on it. You can, for example, use your iPod to copy a file from one computer to another. You can also see the files stored on an iPod on your desktop.

This information doesn’t apply to iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad.

Store or view files

  1. Connect your iPod to your computer and select your device.

  2. Click Summary (or Settings), select “Enable disk use,” and click Apply.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • Copy files to the device: Drag the files to the device's icon on the desktop.

    • View files stored on the device: Double-click its icon on the desktop. You can't see music, video, or games synced to your device using iTunes.

    • Copy files from your iPod to your computer: Double-click the iPod icon on the desktop and drag files from the window that appears.

Manage space on your iPod shuffle

You can maximize the number of songs that fit on your iPod shuffle, and change the amount of space reserved for music and for data files.

  • Click Settings, and then do either or both of the following:

    • Maximize the number of songs that fit on the device: Select “Convert higher bit rate songs to 128 Kbps AAC.”

    • Control how much space is reserved for music:Drag the slider to the left or right. This won’t affect files already stored on the device.

To make more space available on the device, drag files from it to the Trash, and empty the Trash.

For more information about connecting, syncing, or managing files on your iPod, see the documentation that came with the device.