Luma Music from a Mac or PC to your iPhone
Getting started, updated
Your collection lives on your computer? From a Mac, the quickest way is Luma Transfer, straight into Luma. Every other way ends in the Files app, and from there you import the music into Luma.
Which way fits?
| Way | Good for | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Luma Transfer | From a Mac straight into Luma, even whole collections | Mac, same Wi-Fi or a USB cable |
| iCloud Drive | Convenient, no cable | Enough iCloud storage |
| Finder / Apple Devices | Large collections, fast over cable | Mac or Windows PC, USB cable |
| AirDrop | A few albums from a Mac | A Mac nearby |
| USB stick / SSD | No computer at the iPhone | A USB-C stick or an adapter |
From a Mac: Luma Transfer
The free Mac app Luma Transfer (already built into Luma for Mac) sends music over Wi-Fi or a USB cable straight to Luma on the iPhone. The import happens by itself, and songs that are already there are skipped. Step by step: Luma Transfer: Send music from your Mac to iPhone.
Way 1: iCloud Drive
- Upload the folderOn the Mac, drag your music folder into the “iCloud Drive” folder in the Finder. On Windows, use the “iCloud for Windows” app.
- Wait for the uploadFor large collections this can take a while. The files are available on the iPhone once the upload is done.
- Import into LumaOn the iPhone: Settings › Import Music › Choose Folder, then pick the folder in iCloud Drive. Luma downloads files that only live in the cloud automatically.
- Clean up if you likeLuma now has its own copy. If you don't need the folder in iCloud any more, delete it to free up iCloud storage.
Way 2: By cable with the Finder or Apple Devices app
Luma has its own folder that you can fill from your computer. Whatever arrives there, Luma imports by itself.
- Connect the iPhoneConnect it with a cable. On a Mac, open the Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar; on Windows, open the “Apple Devices” app (or iTunes).
- Go to “Files”All apps that accept files are listed there, including Luma.
- Drop the music onto LumaDrag your music folder onto the “Luma” entry. The transfer runs over the cable.
- Open LumaAs soon as Luma is in the foreground on the iPhone, it imports everything from the folder. If Luma is already open, it starts by itself once the files have finished copying.
After the import, Luma removes the delivered files from the folder so the music doesn't take up the space twice. Files Luma can't read end up in the “Not Imported” subfolder. More in The “Luma” folder.
The “Luma” folder is just the delivery, not your library and not a backup. Keep your originals on the computer.
Way 3: AirDrop
Select the songs or folders on the Mac and send them to the iPhone via AirDrop. Depending on the file type, the iPhone asks which app to open them with, or saves them to Files › Downloads. From there you import them as usual.
Way 4: USB stick or SSD
Copy the music onto a stick on your computer, connect it to the iPhone or iPad, and pick it in the Files app during the import. Luma copies everything into the library; afterwards you can unplug the stick.
It pays to tidy up first
- Check the tags: Luma sorts by the embedded info (title, artist, album, album artist). Clean tags give you a clean library. Where they're missing, Luma uses the file name.
- Embed artwork: artwork in the file's tags is picked up.
- Bring lyrics along:
.lrcfiles next to the songs are found during a folder import. - Purchased music: music from streaming services or with copy protection (DRM) can't be played. Purchases from Bandcamp, Qobuz or 7digital and your own CD rips work.
Still have a question or found a mistake? Email hello@suenavus.com.