Save storage space when syncing on Windows

Connect your Apple device to your Windows device. (You may also need to tap Trust on your Apple device.)

You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or a Wi-Fi connection. See Sync content between your Windows device and iPhone, iPad or iPod touch over Wi-Fi.

Go to the Apple Devices app on your Windows device.

Select your Apple device in the sidebar.

If you connect your device to your Windows device using a USB or USB-C cable and don’t see the device in the sidebar, see If your iPhone, iPad or iPod doesn’t appear in the sidebar.

Select General in the sidebar.

In the Options section, select storage options:

• Prefer standard definition videos: Allows your Windows device to sync only smaller standard-definition videos. Larger high-definition videos take up more storage and your device may not be able to play them.

• Sync only selected [songs] or [videos]: Syncs only the songs or videos that you selected in the Music or TV Show options in the sidebar.

  If you select this option, you must also turn on settings in the Apple Music app or Apple TV app on your Windows device.

  • Apple Music: Go to the Apple Music app , select at the top of the sidebar, choose Settings, then select General in the main window. Select next to Show, then select “Song list tickboxes”.

  • Apple TV: Go to the Apple TV app , select at the top of the sidebar, choose Settings, then select General in the main window. Select next to Show, then select “Tickboxes in library”.

• Manually manage music, films and TV programmes: Turns off the automatic syncing of music, movies and TV shows. Doing this can help you save storage space on your device because you can choose which music, films and TV programmes are transferred.

• Convert higher bit rate songs to: Allow room for more songs on your device by having your Windows device convert songs at a high bit rate to a lower bit rate. Songs at a lower bit rate take up less storage space.

Select Apply.