How do we get media onto the iPads now?

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Level 1

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How do we get media onto the iPads now?

I haven't had to manage my various iPads for a long time (couple of years maybe) but I remember there used to be a little iPhone or iPad icon in iTunes when connecting the device. I don't see anything in iTunes now when any of my devices (3 iPads, 2 iPhones) are connected. Is there a new way to do it now?

I get the USB connected *bee-boop* sound when I connect my devices, along with a little pop-up asking me what I want to happen by default when they are connected. I usually just ignore that pop-up until it fades away. I can see the device in Windows Explorer, and can open it to see a mind-boggling array of folders, unhelpfully identified with a serial number. Am I supposed to know which folder to drag and drop my music/videos into?

[edited to attach a screenshot of iTunes with iPad connected]

[Edited by Moderator]

iPad (10th generation)

Posted on Jun 9, 2025 03:02 AM

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Answer 1

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the fiend

Level 7

23,424 points

Jun 11, 2025 02:02 AM in response to augratin

augratin wrote:

I brought my iPad into work today and connected it to my work PC, which is the same type of PC (Microsoft Surface Pro) but it didn't have iTunes on it so I had to install it.

That is not a good idea. Apple's devices can only be synchronised with one iTunes Library at a time. This means that if you try to Sync with a different library, you will see a message telling you that if you do, all the media on the device will be deleted and replaced by whatever iss in the new Library.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

277,723 points

Jun 9, 2025 12:29 PM in response to augratin

Try iOS device not showing in iTunes for Windows - Apple Community.

tt2

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Answer 3

augratin Author

Level 1

77 points

Jun 9, 2025 05:58 PM in response to turingtest2

OK thanks for that. I brought my iPad into work today and connected it to my work PC, which is the same type of PC (Microsoft Surface Pro) but it didn't have iTunes on it so I had to install it. After going through all the same prompts as on my home PC ("do you want to trust this device?"), iTunes at work sees the iPad.

It may just be easier to uninstall & reinstall iTunes at home than go through all those steps.

Thanks again.

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Answer 4

augratin Author

Level 1

77 points

Jun 11, 2025 07:00 AM in response to the fiend

Thanks for that note of caution. I wasn't concerned about this and didn't even mention it because the whole reason I discovered this unable-to-sync-with-iTunes problem was that my iPad seems to have lost all its media content. So there was no content to get deleted.

How did that happen? Who knows. I'm a teacher and have lots of audio files on the iPad for playback in the classroom. I use it several times a week for this. One day I open it up to play some exercises in a class and... literally everything is gone. Shrug.

I've decided to bring my media library into the office and load them onto my work PC since I use it there exclusively, and that is the only iTunes installation that can see my iPad anyway.

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How do we get media onto the iPads now?

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