How to Add WMA Files to iTunes
Why add WMA files to iTunes?
One of the disadvantages of using a particular MP3 player can lie in what type of audio files it takes. Luckily, nowadays most MP3 players, including the iPod and Zune, can play any type of audio format. It may take some conversion, but it can be done. It is also easier to do now than it was in past years.
When it comes to Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, iTunes can now convert them for you as long as you are using version 4.5 or higher. Due to demand, iTunes incorporated a built-in conversion tool for users to import WMA files instead of going to elaborate means to turn those files into MP3 formats before playing them or importing them to their iPods.
What do you have to do?
Basically, all you have to do once you have your WMA files is add them to your iTunes library. iTunes will then convert them into a playable file. It takes a bit of time, but once it is finished, you will be able to drag and drop the file into your iPod like any other iTunes-compatible file. iTunes will go through each file that needs to be converted individually, and from there, it will become available for you to listen to or transfer via the program.
What programs can you use to convert WMA files?
There are programs out there as well to convert WMA files to ACC, M4A or MP3 format. Some are free, and some come at a cost. Users often choose to use a third party program when they find it takes iTunes too long to convert files. Sometimes it can be quicker to go this route than wait for Apple's software to do it themselves. It all depends on what you are looking for and how fast you want conversion to take place.
Do not let iTunes and its audio format dissuade you from giving an iPod a chance. iPods can house many different formats of music, and even if you have files other than WMA formats, you can find a converter out there to change it to a compatible format. It just takes a little time and effort to find what will work right for your music files.
Comments
Nice hub!
I just tried to import a Christmas CD that I've had on my Windows Media Player for awhile to my iTunes but to import protected material you must import it straight from the original CD. just for additional information.
Why when I converted my wma files using the tools in itunes to acc files did they double in size? For example I have a song in WMA that takes 3:00 minutes 3.3 MB and in itunes the same song 3:00 minutes 5.7 MB. Is there a setting I'm missing?
To answer Tom... The reason for using WMA in the first place was to get the same sound quality as MP3 into a smaller file size... therefor, when converting WMA to other sound files, they will be larger files. (though usually not quite as drastic as your example... maybe there are other issues going on in your situation.)
I also ran into a problem of my own. I tried using itunes to convert a WMA version of 30 seconds to mars song Attack using their internal converter. It totally changed the song! the intro sounded completely different, and I can't figure out why it did that? I'm going to try and use a third party free program to convert my WMA's and see if that works better. If not, I guess I won't be going out and buying the ipod touch after all.
I have a borrowed a bunch of original CD's from friends and family I would like to load into my computer. I want to be able to have the most flexibility because i have to then give the CD's back. So I want to be able to play them on my ipod or make CD disks to play in my car or home stereo. Should I keep two formats? WMA and the iTunes format? or MP3 and itunes? And if so, how do I not just convert the WMA's or MP3's into the itunes format, but create a copy?
the reason it sounds different is because you are recompressing an already compressed file.
WMA and MP3 are compression formats - they throw away a certain amount of the original sound file on the CD. WMA is more efficient so you can (as you have pointed out) get better quality for less disk space. However there is no way of recreating the original file from a compressed version, all iTunes can do is further compress the WMA file, and it will generally sound awful.
You're best bet is to re-rip the original CD.
It's probably worth bearing in mind that this only actually works with Windows computers... If you're using a Mac then iTunes just doesn't convert WMA's end of story, which is a pain in the ass for me as I just made the move from a PC to a Mac, and about 4000 of the 11,000 songs I have are WMA :/ wish I'd known before hand!
Hi, I appreciate this article. But I am trying to open a WMA file with iTunes 10 and it is NOT working. I have tried dragging and dropping, I've tried File>Add to Library, I've tried clicking the file>Open With. It is just not responding. Is there something I'm missing? I would love to listen to this file on my iPod!!!
I got iTunes to convert 1000 wma files. The converted files all have scratcy sonds at random. They are all usless 7 hours of conversion pointless. I highly recomend converting before adding to iTunes. There is no reason for iTunes not to play WMA it's just Apple trying to stop people using Microsoft stuff.
i have over 111Gb of music in Media Player and need to transfer and enable in iTunes. Started the conversion of 'Add Folder to Library' last night and it only got a fourth of the way through because I had to shut down to go to the office. Is there a way to resume the conversion without starting over? If the conversion process is uninteruptable it will need to run at least 2 continuous days! Please advise......
I Dont Get IT.. I Tried Addinq My iMesh Sonqs to iTunes. It Said That it Was Convertinq Them..Then, It Said, "Error, Cannont Convert Because Some Sonqs are *Protected*" ..Or Somethinq Like That. Help !
A trick is to use quicktime to convert into a film. Or use VLC to convert in to eg. mp3/mp4 (bit faster).
On a Mac convert the wma files with EasyWMA, takes seconds and you don't need to compress them to add them to iTunes, in fact, you can set it to add the files as it converts them.
Help! I have no clue how to get to WMA in the first place! How do I get to it?
Mac iTunes will not convert wma into iTunes. I have read, checked and double checked, and then tried again with Mac OS Lion and still nothing.
It doesn't work for all WMA songs
Any idea how you can transfer a 'protected' file - eg, music downloaded onto Windows Media Player which I want to get onto my ipod?
With so much competition out there a "reliable" home theater setup guide is mandatory. Especially if one is as non-techie as myself. I enjoy this site very much.
Just M 3 years ago
This page helped me out and saved my butt. I converted audio lectures from my class and now I have it with me and can listen to them wherever I am! Thanks for the advice!