Guide
How to put music from YouTube on an MP3 player
Convert YouTube audio to MP3, name and tag the files, and copy them to a Sony Walkman, SanDisk, iPod, car USB stick or any MP3 player.
Why MP3 for an MP3 player
Dedicated music players, car stereos, kids' players and old phones don't all support the same formats, but nearly every one of them plays MP3. Newer formats like Opus can be more efficient, yet many players simply won't open them. If you're filling a device you don't plan to replace, MP3 is the safe choice.
Konvert encodes MP3 at a constant bitrate. That matters on older players, because some show the wrong track length or seek inaccurately with variable-bitrate files.
Step 1: Convert the videos
- Open the converter on a computer. A computer is easiest because that's where you'll plug in the player.
- Paste a YouTube link, choose MP3 and a bitrate (192 kbps is a good default), then select Convert.
- Select Download when it's done. Repeat for each song. Playlists aren't converted in one go, so paste each video's link separately.
Only convert music you have the right to keep, such as your own uploads, Creative Commons tracks that allow it, or recordings you have permission to use. See copyright basics for details.
Step 2: Name and tag the files
Each file is named after the video title, which can be long, like "Artist - Song (Official Video) [4K]". Most players display the tags inside the file instead of the name, and Konvert doesn't add tags or cover art. Without tags, songs often appear as Unknown Artist or Unknown Album.
Spend a minute fixing that before you copy anything:
- Rename the files. A pattern such as
Artist - Title.mp3keeps your folders tidy and helps players that show file names. - Add tags. Free tag editors include Mp3tag (Windows, with a Mac version) and MusicBrainz Picard (Windows, Mac and Linux). Fill in title, artist and album, and add cover art if you want it on screen. Picard can also look songs up and fill in tags for you.
- Using iTunes or the Music app? Import the files first, then select a song and choose Get Info to edit its details.
Step 3: Copy them to the player
Most players that aren't iPods work like a USB drive:
- Connect the player to your computer with its USB cable. Unlock or wake it if it asks.
- On Windows, open File Explorer and select the player under This PC. On a Mac, look in the Finder sidebar.
- Open its Music folder (sometimes
MUSIC) and drag your MP3 files or folders into it. - Eject the player before unplugging it, so no file is left half-written. Some players then spend a moment updating their library.
Walkman, SanDisk, iPod, car and more
| Device | How to add the MP3s |
|---|---|
| Sony Walkman | On Windows, drag files into the MUSIC folder in File Explorer, or use Sony's Music Center for PC. Some models need MTP software on a Mac. |
| SanDisk Clip and similar | Drag files into the Music folder. If the player doesn't appear, check its USB mode setting (MSC or MTP). |
| iPod and iPhone | Import the MP3s into the Music app (Mac) or iTunes (older Windows), or the Apple Music app on newer Windows, then sync using Finder or the Apple Devices app. Dragging files onto an iPod doesn't work. |
| Car stereo (USB) | Copy the MP3s to a USB stick formatted as FAT32 and plug it in. Keep folder names short, since some stereos limit how many folders or files they read. |
| Kids' and budget players | Usually plain drag and drop. Some only read files from the top folder or the Music folder. |
| Android phone as a player | Connect by USB, choose File transfer on the phone, and copy files into Music. Or download the MP3 straight on the phone. |
How many songs will fit?
MP3 size depends only on bitrate and length. Here's roughly how many four-minute songs fit, counting 1 GB as 1,000 MB:
| Player storage | At 128 kbps | At 192 kbps | At 320 kbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 GB | about 1,040 | about 690 | about 415 |
| 8 GB | about 2,080 | about 1,390 | about 830 |
| 16 GB | about 4,160 | about 2,780 | about 1,660 |
| 32 GB | about 8,330 | about 5,550 | about 3,330 |
Players reserve some space for their own software, so expect a little less in practice. To compare bitrates by ear before filling the player, try the blind test in the MP3 bitrate guide.
Questions about MP3 players
Why does my MP3 player show Unknown Artist?
Players sort music by the tags inside each file, not by its name. Konvert doesn't add artist, album or cover art tags, so add them with a free tag editor such as Mp3tag or MusicBrainz Picard before copying the files over.
Which MP3 bitrate is best for an MP3 player?
192 kbps suits most players and earphones and is about 1.44 MB per minute. Choose 128 kbps to fit more songs on a small player, or 320 kbps if you have plenty of space.
Why doesn't my MP3 player show up on my Mac?
Many players connect using MTP, which macOS Finder doesn't open on its own. Check whether the player has a USB mass storage mode, use the maker's transfer software, or copy the files from a Windows PC.
Can I put YouTube music on a USB stick for my car?
Yes. Convert to MP3, copy the files to a USB stick formatted as FAT32 and plug it into the car. MP3 is the format car stereos are most likely to support.