You can download YouTube songs to iTunes by first saving a YouTube video as an MP3 or M4A audio file with 4K YouTube to MP3. After that, add it to your iTunes/Music app library and sync it to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod for offline listening.
As of late 2025, around 11.1 million US adults still bought music on the iTunes Store each month. Even though Apple Music surpassed 95 million subscribers, iTunes users continue using only iTunes without any streaming subscription.Source: The Washington Post , 2025
How to Download YouTube Audio to iTunes
- Download and install 4K YouTube to MP3 on your Mac, Ubuntu or Windows device.
4K YouTube to MP3 is available for macOS (12 or newer), Windows 11, and Ubuntu (22.04 64-bit or newer (GNOME only).
- Open YouTube and copy the link to the song, playlist, or channel.
Copy the full URL from your browser’s address bar. Alternatively, you can open the in-app browser in 4K YouTube to MP3, click on the YouTube icon and find the content you want to save without leaving the app.
- Paste the link into 4K YouTube to MP3.
The 4K YouTube to MP3 app checks the link, reads the content type (single video, playlist, or channel), and prepares the audio to download.
- Select M4A or MP3 format, quality, and output folder.
M4A at this bitrate provides clear, consistent audio and meets iTunes standards perfectly. MP3 works too, but it doesn’t preserve the same efficiency with Apple’s ecosystem and may produce slightly larger files or minor quality differences on device-specific libraries. Note that 4K YouTube to MP3 can also download YouTube content as OGG files but this audio format isn’t supported by iTunes, so opt for M4A or MP3 instead.
- Click Download.
4K YouTube to MP3 begins extracting the audio and saving it to the folder you selected in the settings. Once done, the new audio file will be ready for you to open, move, or import.
- Open iTunes and choose File -> Add to Library.
This lets you browse your computer for audio files and add them directly to your Apple library, available for playback or syncing to your devices.
- Select the downloaded file. It appears in your iTunes library instantly.
Once added, the track shows up alongside your existing music, and from there it can sync to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, just like any other song in your collection.
Note: On macOS Catalina and later: Apple removed iTunes starting with macOS 10.15. Follow the same steps above, but use the Music app instead. Go to File -> Import, select your downloaded M4A or MP3 file, and it will appear in your Music library immediately.
How to Add Downloaded YouTube Songs to iPhone
Tip: If you use the same iCloud account on your Mac and iPhone while having the iCloud Music Library / Apple Music subscription active, the songs added to the music library will automatically appear on your iPhone’s Apple Music app. Songs added locally without a subscription don't sync automatically via iCloud.
- Open iTunes or Music app on your computer.
Your downloaded M4A or MP3 files should already appear in the library if you used File > Add to Library. You can check the library view to confirm they appear correctly.
- Connect your iPhone with a USB cable, or enable Wi‑Fi Sync.
Your computer needs a few moments to recognize your iPhone, so wait until the device appears in the left sidebar. Wi-Fi Sync must be set up once over USB before it works wirelessly. Both your iPhone and computer must be on the same Wi-Fi network throughout.
On Mac (macOS Catalina 10.15 and later — Finder):
- Connect your iPhone via USB and open a Finder window.
- Select your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
- Click the General tab at the top.
- Check "Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi", then click Apply.
- You can now disconnect the cable: your iPhone will appear in Finder wirelessly going forward (as long as it's on the same network and plugged into power).
On Windows (iTunes):
- Connect your iPhone via USB and open iTunes.
- Click the device icon near the top-left of the iTunes window.
- Click Summary in the left panel.
- Check "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi", then click Apply.
- You can now disconnect the cable: your iPhone will appear in iTunes wirelessly going forward.
Note: On Windows, use the iTunes installer from apple.com rather than Microsoft Store as it may have issues with Wi-Fi Sync.
- Select your iPhone and open the Music sync panel.
Choose Sync Music, then decide whether you want to transfer your full library or only certain playlists and folders you've organized.
- Click Apply or Sync to transfer the songs.
Wait until the process completes to avoid partial transfers. Once syncing finishes, open Apple Music on your device to access and play the newly added songs.
Note: macOS Catalina (10.15) and later: Apple removed device management from iTunes/Music in Catalina. Open Finder, select your iPhone in the sidebar, choose Music, enable ‘Sync music onto this iPhone’, and click ‘Apply’ to finish.
Which Audio Format Should You Choose for iTunes Playback?
| Format | iTunes Support | File Size | Audio Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | ✔ | Small | Good (lossy) | Universal compatibility, older iPods |
| M4A (AAC) | ✔ | Small | Better than MP3 at the same bitrate | iPhone, iPad, Apple Music library |
| WAV | ✔ | Large | Lossless (uncompressed) | Archiving, CD burning |
| AIFF | ✔ | Large | Lossless (uncompressed) | High-end audio, CD burning on Mac |
| FLAC | ✖ | Medium | Lossless | Not supported — convert to ALAC first |
| OGG | ✖ | Small | Good (lossy) | Not supported by iTunes |
Source: Apple Support , Apple Community discussions
FAQ
Can I download a YouTube playlist to iTunes at once?
You can transfer the entire playlist to iTunes on your device. 4K YouTube to MP3 downloads playlists and channels in bulk and lets you pick the format (MP3 or M4A) once for all tracks.
Why won't iTunes import my downloaded YouTube file?
If iTunes doesn't import your downloaded YouTube file, the format may be unsupported. iTunes natively supports MP3, AAC/M4A, AIFF, WAV, and Apple Lossless, not FLAC and OGG. Converting your file to MP3 or M4A using a free tool like HandBrake or VLC will resolve most import issues.
Is iTunes still available on Mac in 2026?
iTunes was replaced on macOS Catalina (2019) by three separate apps — Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts — and device management moved to Finder.
iTunes remains available on Windows and is listed on the Microsoft Store.
On newer Windows versions, Microsoft also offers separate standalone apps for Apple Music, Apple TV, and device management, mirroring the macOS split, so iTunes isn't the only option on Windows anymore either.
What’s the best audio quality setting for iTunes: MP3 or M4A?
Stick with M4A (AAC) at 256 kbps for the best balance of quality and compatibility in iTunes. Reserve WAV or AIFF for lossless archiving.
Can you download YouTube audio directly to iTunes?
Yes, but with a nuance. Use a dedicated downloader like 4K YouTube to MP3 to save the audio as M4A or MP3 first, and then import them into iTunes via File -> Add to Library.
Is it legal to download YouTube audio for personal use?
YouTube’s Terms of Service don’t allow downloading copyrighted material without permission. Only download songs or videos you own or that are licensed for offline access.
Summary
4K YouTube to MP3 converts YouTube videos into high‑quality audio, which you can then deliver right to your music library. A typical 4‑minute track is downloaded in under 30 seconds, and the app supports entire playlists and channels downloads for almost instant library building. It integrates well with iTunes and Apple Music on Windows and macOS, which helps you move tracks to your iPhone in just a few clicks. Download 4K YouTube to MP3 for free and start your collection today.