Aug 12,2019 • Filed to: iTunes Music Transfer • Proven solutions
Did you know that you can use iTunes to purchase audiobooks for your iPhone/iPad? Of course, iTunes Audiobooks are a bit different from your average audiobook. However, that doesn’t change its usefulness and convenience. Want to learn how to convert and transfer iTunes audiobooks to your iOS device? Continue reading until the very end to learn everything that you need to know.
Transferring audiobooks is fairly straightforward but why would you need to convert an audiobook to use it for your iTunes? Well, as we had mentioned, iTunes audiobooks are a bit special. They come in a different format from what you’re probably used to. What does that mean? Well, we’ve listed out the most common questions about converting audiobooks in order to answer this question.
1. What is the iTunes Accepted Audiobook format?
The iTunes accepted audiobook format is called M4B. It’s not really something that you find anywhere else (just like with their other preferred audio/video formats.) iTunes does this so that it can automatically differentiate between songs, podcasts, and audiobooks.
2. What is the Standard Audiobook format?
For maximum ease of use, you might want to convert your iTunes audiobook to MP3. As it is the standard and is the most accepted audio format by audiobook media player programs.
3. M4B Compatible Devices
If you want to listen to your M4B audiobooks, then it would have to be only on iTunes — either on your iPad, iPhone, or any other iOS device. Androids are not naturally compatible with M4B files, and so if you ever decide to move or change brands, you’ll need to convert your M4Bs in order to be able to listen to them.
For this first part, we’re going to be teaching you how to convert iTunes audiobooks to the standard MP3 format. Again, this is helpful for those who want to be able to listen to their audiobooks either on other devices or platforms (aside from iTunes.) This method is going to be completely FREE, as we’re going to be using the built-in converter feature that iTunes offers for its MP3 files.
Steps to Convert iTunes Audiobooks to MP3 Format
Step 1 — Preferences
In order to be able to convert your audiobooks, you’ll need to change your iTunes’ preference settings. To do this on your Windows PC, select the Preferences… option under the Edit tab (as shown in the image below.)
Step 2 — Import Setting
Selecting the Preferences… should have automatically opened the following window (shown below.) The thing that needs to be changed is our iTunes’ Import Settings... So, select that in order to proceed.
Step 3 — MP3 Encoder
A third, smaller, window should appear on your screen called Import Settings. Here, you’ll need to change the “Import Using:” encoder. It’s under AAC (the default iTunes preferences format), but in order to be able to convert your files to MP3, you’ll need to switch it to the MP3 Encoder.
After switching AAC Encoder to MP3 Encoder, don’t forget to save your changed settings by clicking the OK button.
Step 4 — Select and Convert
Finally, all you need to do now is to go to your Audiobooks and select the one that you want to convert (or the ones that you want to convert.)
After selecting the file that you want to convert, go to File tab > Convert > Create MP3 Version. Doing that should automatically convert your selected iTunes audiobook to the more standard MP3 format.
Now, we’re going to be teaching you how you can transfer your iTunes audiobooks to your iPhone or iPad easily. For this tutorial, we’re going to be using the automatic sync feature offered by iMusic. Which will allow you to transfer your entire iTunes library (Music, Audiobooks, Podcasts, etc. included.) This is just one of iMusic’s features. There are actually a bunch of other things that you can do with just this program alone. Including the following:
iMusic - Transfer iTunes Audiobooks to iPhone/iPad/iPod/Android with Simple Clicks
- Move iTunes Audiobooks to Windows/Mac/iPhone xr/iPad/iPod/Android without data loss.
- Download Video and Audio from popular websites (over 3000+ different websites supported) to transfer to your iPhone and iPad.
- Manage iTunes library directly (add, remove, edit ID3 Tags, etc.)
- Transfer other types of media — not just iTunes Audiobooks but also music, videos from iTunes to iPad/iPhone.
- Burn media to CD, transfer to USB, Remove DRM, etc.
- Enjoy a premium beginner-friendly software .
- Record any music/audio with original qulity.
Guide to Transfer iTunes Audiobooks to iPhone/iPad by iMusic
Step 1 — DEVICE
In order to start, you’re going to have to connect your device to your PC and launch the iMusic software (you can download it from here.) Then, move to the DEVICE page on iMusic (shown below.)
Step 2 — Transfer iTunes Music to Device
The DEVICE has a management area at the top-right corner if you want to manage your device’s media library. However, the tools that we’re going to be using on this menu is right-up-front. In order to transfer iTunes Audiobook to your iPad, you need to click the Transfer iTunes Music to Device option.
Step 3 — Entire Library
Whatever the contents of your iTunes library are, it will show on the next window (shown below.) The easiest way to sync your iTunes library’s Audiobook to your phone is to select the Entire Library option [1.] Then, click Transfer [2] to begin the actual sync!
Tip: Certain Audiobooks get marked as “Podcasts” (it depends on what format your Import Settings are on iTunes.)
To finish things up, we’re going to do a final ‘explanation’ round for iTunes Audiobooks in general. We’ll also be talking about how you can download Audiobooks from iTunes using a Windows Computer. So, make sure to give it a scroll if you have any unanswered questions about iTunes Audiobooks in general.
iTunes Audiobook FAQs
1. How Many Formats iTunes Audiobook Supports?
Audiobooks come in a variety of different formats outside of iTunes. The most common of which include MP3 and WMA. iTunes’ preferred Audiobook format, as we discussed initially is M4B (which is AAC encoded.) However, you can import Audiobooks in different Audio file formats into iTunes (if that is what you want to do.) However, it will still be converted to an M4B file after if you have your import settings under AAC encoder.
2. How can I download audiobooks to a Windows computer?
Step 1 — Audiobooks
In order to download Audiobooks from iTunes’ Window version, you’ll need to go to the Store tab [1] then make sure that you are on the Audiobooks [2] section. Here, you’ll be able to browse all the available Audiobooks in the iTunes’ store.
Step 2 — Buy Audiobook
Once you’ve found a book that you’re interested in purchasing, select it and you should be transferred to a page where you can look over its details (as is shown in the sample below.) On this page, all you need to do is locate and select the Buy Audiobook option in order to complete your purchase.
3. How to Deal with iTunes Audiobooks Duplicates?
Recently people have been dealing with what looks like duplicated Audiobooks. This is not an issue caused by you specifically. In fact, it relates to our next subject. The reason that your iTunes Audiobooks become ‘duplicated’ is that it is not sorted properly (a bug that first occurred after an iTunes upgraded.) To fix it:
- Change the view order of your iTunes Audiobooks (Settings menu.)
- Go back to an older version of iTunes or Update to a newer version.
4. How to Deal with iTunes Audiobooks not Sorting Correctly
Just like we mentioned in the previous FAQ, there’s been an issue of iTunes Audiobooks not sorting correctly (and even becoming duplicated.) As for right now, iTunes Audiobooks are still being sorted as “Podcasts” for whatever reason, rather than actual Audiobooks. This is an iTunes software issue and something that can really only be fixed with an iTunes upgrade or playing around with your iTunes view options until it is fixed.
- If you cannot find your newly purchased Audiobook in your Audiobook library, then it is because it has been sorted incorrectly. Go to “Recently Added Items” and you should see it there!
- Now, if you want to re-sort this mis-labeled Audiobook, you can change its information by right-clicking on the file and changing its file identification as an Audiobook, rather than a Podcast.
Conclusion:If you want to be able to convert your iTunes Audiobooks and Transfer it to an iPhone or iPad, then we recommend trying out the iMusic software. It’s one of the easiest ways of managing your Audiobook library — without having to worry about sorting order or any strange duplications that appear to just take up a lot of space on your device.
Adam Cash
staff Editor
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