How to Download MP3 Files to iPhone [7 Easy Ways]

Before we start: Quick question 

Have you ever tried to save MP3? Sometimes, it can be hard. But don’t be upset – here is the tip for you: Download WALTR PRO. Drag-n-drop any file into any destination tile. Then, WALTR PRO automatically detects the file, converts it into the proper format, and pushes it to your target destination.

An experienced Apple user knows that all Apple devices are interconnected. A single Apple ID connects all your Apple devices. However, with a connection like that, you still need to go the extra mile to play MP3 on your iPhone and other music files on your iPhone. 

This article provides an overview of all methods for downloading MP3s on an iPhone and playing MP3 files on an iPhone. So read on!

How to Put MP3 On an iPhone using WALTR PRO

WALTR PRO provides seamless data transfer from your PC to your iPhone directly via cable or wireless WiFi connection. This option is best if the music you want to transfer is already stored on your PC.

The app is a rare example of when less is more. Don't expect hundreds of settings, tabs, and buttons to transfer MP3 files to your iPhone – the tool is as simple as drag-and-drop. Yet it's light years ahead of all the solutions, maintaining great functionality. 

Here's the best six ways to transfer or download MP3 music to your iPhone without iTunes:

Step 1. Download the app

Once you choose and prepare music from the iTunes library or millions of songs available for purchase and download, get WALTR PRO.

The app is free to download and has a 24-hour trial period that you can request in-app via your email. WALTR PRO is perfectly compatible with Windows and Mac computers.

After you've installed it, you will see an onboarding video. It's going to explain to you how exactly the application works & give you a quick overview of its features. To get a trial key from Softorino, enter your email address.

Step 2. Start WALTR PRO. Plug-in your iPhone

When you start WALTR PRO for the first time, the app asks you to connect your device to your computer using a cable. But, in truth, it's all wireless. Moreover, you don't even need iTunes to play MP3 files on iPhone. 

Softorino has many apps that help you overcome file format issues, change the color of folders, download copyright-free images, and much more! Now, you can add all of them to one simple subscription – Universal License.

Step 3. Click on the settings wheel and ‘Enable WiFi Connectivity'

Done? If you disconnect your iPhone now, WALTR PRO will still see it thanks to a wireless connection. But remember that your iPhone and computer should be on the same WiFi network to listen to MP3 on your iPhone.

Step 4. Drag your MP3 files into the drop zone

Alternatively, you can click on ‘Select Files' and browse your computer to listen to MP3 on your iPhone. The rest is a matter of very straightforward import.

It will take less than one second to convert a single track to MP3. The speed is sweet, and so are the app's features. Whether you move any file into WALTR PRO or MP3, the speed stays the same. 

WALTR PRO provides the easiest file transfer to your iPhone without a USB cable and is simply one of the best solutions available for transferring the largest audio files, which are usually stored in Dropbox, cloud storage, or Spotify.

Step 5. Go to iPhone's Music app & play your music

After you play MP3 on your iPhone, it will land exactly in your Apple Music. If you transfer an ebook, it will end up in the iBooks app, and a video – in the TV app.

This solution is better than others because they require extra apps. All other solutions allow you to install an additional app on your Apple device. Keeping all your content in one place is also not the last thing. 

What else WALTR PRO is capable of?

If you are the ‘cherry-picking' type, WALTR PRO is the tool you'll most certainly end up with. And here are more features that you may like:

• Edit metadata & cover art: WALTR PRO provides the ability to edit cover art and metadata manually.
• Transfer virtually any file to iOS: Apart from the familiar file support in WALTR like music & videos, with PRO — you can now transfer content such as documents, pictures, comics, MS Word docs, and more.
• Siri on HomePod: WALTR PRO can safely convert your files into Apple Music (without losing quality) and stream FLAC from any device, including the new HomePod mini.
• Simplest converter ever: Drag & drop to convert media files locally & save them to your internal or external drive as readable formats that Apple “respects”.
• Add photos from the computer to the iPhone: Using the Alternative apps feature, drop them into the desired iOS file manager & share them with the native Photos app.
• Read on Kindle: Hold the ALT (⌥) key while dropping files & select ‘Kindle’ as the target app.

The application stands out among other converters/downloaders/uploaders. They are only temporary, here today but gone tomorrow.

How to Download MP3 to iPhone with SYC

Softorino YouTube Converter 2, or just SYC2, is the most reliable and safe option for downloading from YouTube in 2024. It's not limited to YouTube and allows you to download music from websites like SoundCloud, Vimeo, Facebook, Instagram, and more. There is also SYC PRO for Mac users.

Forget following a random, complicated manual; proceed with the simple steps below to download MP3s to your iPhone in a flash.

Step 1. Download the app

Visit the product page to download SYC2 for Windows or SYC PRO for Mac to your PC. Install the app and request a 24-hour trail code via email at app start-up. Forget the constant need to check the iCloud music library, Apple Music, or iTunes to manage your music.

Step 2. Start SYC2 and connect your device

On the start-up connect your device via cable. Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same WiFi network as your PC. It allows SYC2 to upload MP3s directly to the native Apple Music app.

Step 3. Copy the URL of the music you want to add

Search manually or copy the URL of the music from the video you want to download by right-clicking it in your browser address panel and then clicking "Copy." The app should catch it right away but if it's not, you may need to place it in the address icon in the SYC2 interface.

Step 4. Choose the file format (AAC or MP3) and location (PC or connected iOS device)

Hit the big orange button and that's it!

With SYC2 you can download MP3 music on your iPhone and play music inside the native app or later forward it inside the device to any app you want. By the way, convert YouTube to MP4 videos with SYC.

This app is clearly one of the best YouTube to AAC converters. Did you know that using SYC2, you can even load to Apple Music? You can also choose to download MP3 in the iPhone ringtone format (which is M4R) so you can pick it as your device ringtone in the settings.

SYC2 will automatically download the audio file at the highest available quality but be prepared that most YouTube content provides only 128 kbps audio tracks.

How to Put MP3 on iPhone using AirDrop

Another quick way is to AirDrop MP3 to iPhone. AirDrop is a very lucky name for the kind of service this one provides. It's super simple, call it magical. It's like instantly beaming a photo, song, movie, or ebook to other devices.

There are technical requirements for AirDrop MP3 to iPhone. You need an iPhone 5 (or later), iPad (4th generation or later), or iPod Touch (5th generation or later), and these devices must run at least iOS 7.

To airdrop between a Mac and an iPhone, your Mac must be made in 2012 or later and run OS X Yosemite or a newer version.

Once you check the requirements, meet a few limitations to consider before you play MP3 on iPhone:

1. You can put MP3 on iPhone, but you can't open the song inside your default Music app;
2. As we all expected, you can only airdrop file formats ‘officially accepted' by Apple.

7 steps to put MP3 on iPhone using AirDrop

Before we start, go to Finder on your Mac and check that AirDrop is enabled in the sidebar.

Step 1. Swipe upward from the bottom of the display on your iPhone & start the Control Center.

Step 2. Make sure that Bluetooth and WI-FI are turned on.

Step 3. Enable Airdrop by tapping on it. It turns white when it's on.

Step 4. Now check if you see your device in the AirDrop tab in Finder. Positive?

Step 5. Use the finder to find the MP3 you want to put on an iPhone.

Step 6. Drag it to the AirDrop in the sidebar and hover till you'll see an AirDrop window.

Step 7. Head to your iPhone and confirm the transfer.

Note: You need to have some third-party player to open audio files on iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple fans cannot play MP3 files on iPhone without side apps. However, they can transfer MP3 to iPhone using WALTR PRO.

While AirDrop is awesome for photos, contacts, and voice memos, it has its limits when it comes to music or videos. Apple is a system, and it has its own music store and streaming service. It's in business to make sure that you actually BUY music.

How to Transfer MP3 to iPhone Using Apple Music

Apple no longer supports iTunes for Mac. Also, Apple Music can be tough to navigate. Figuring out where and what button to click first can be challenging. To open audio files on iPhone, specifically MP3 to Apple Music, you have to follow a few steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB-C cable.
2. Go to Finder on your Mac and select your device from the sidebar.
3. Now select “Music” in the button bar.
4. Select the  “Sync music onto [Your name’s] iPhone” checkbox. You can sync a specific selection of music by checking a checkbox. The checkbox is labeled "Selected artists, albums, genres, and playlists". Then select all the items you want to sync.
5. Once done, click on “Apply”.

How to Transfer MP3 to iPhone using iTunes

iTunes has mixed reviews, loved by some and hated by others. It is still a popular music player. However, it has become complex and overwhelming for many users. But, playing MP3s on an iPhone is much simpler and less challenging.

To add MP3 to iPhone, specifically MP3 to Apple Music, you got to follow a few steps:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB

Step 2. Open iTunes. Select your device (it's on the top of the left sidebar)

Step 3. Click on Summary & scroll to the Options section

Step 4. Check the box ‘Manually manage music and videos' > ‘Apply'

Step 5. Choose ‘Music' in the left sidebar under the ‘On my device' menu

Step 6. Locate your desired MP3 on your computer

Step 7. Drag & drop the track into the iTunes window

Step 8. Go to the Music app on your iPhone & play your file

Basically, that's all it takes to put MP3 on an iPhone or iPod.

How to Add MP3 to iPhone using iCloud

iCloud has cool features, when you can:

• Open audio files on your iPhone;
• Open audio files on up to ten Apple devices;
• Download and listen to them, and the free 5GB storage is usually sufficient for most users. 

On your iPhone, go to Settings > iCloud, tap on iCloud Drive to switch it on. In the menu below, you can select what information you'd like to have synced to your iCloud.

1. Throw your MP3 into the iCloud Drive window on your Mac;
2. Go to your iPhone's iCloud app and check if it's there;
3. Download your MP3;
4. Play it.

How to Transfer Music to iPhone using VLC

VLC is a versatile media player that goes beyond playing MP3s on the iPhone. With hidden features like file sharing via WiFi, it's a Pandora's box of capabilities. To put MP3s on your iPhone with VLC, follow these steps: 

1. Install VLC on your computer and iPhone;
2. All transferred files will be stored in the VLC app.

Your device and computer should be on the same WiFI network, it won't work otherwise.

1. Launch VLC on your iPhone
2. Turn on ‘WiFI sharing' in the sidebar menu under ‘Network'
3. You will see a URL like HTTP:192.168.2.116
4. Type the link in the browser of your computer
5. You will see a URL like HTTP:192.168.2.116
6. Type the link in the browser of your computer
7. Drop your MP3 into the ‘Sharing via WiFI' window
8. Find & Play your MP3 inside the VLC player

Bottom Line

As kids, we recorded voice memos of our favorite songs to listen to on iPhones, ignoring the quality. Today, adding MP3 to iPhones is faster than ever without iTunes. Our team of software engineers explores various methods, debunking the myth that iTunes is the sole option, especially when it comes to file transfer between devices.

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