PC to Sony PSP: How do I download music?

Dave, Help! How do I download music from my HP Windows computer to a Sony PSP computer? The system says it is downloaded but the PSP says that there are no tracks available?

Dave's Answer:

Hmmm... I'm trying to figure out whether researching this question would justify me buying a Sony PSP and claiming it as a tax deduction on next year's taxes (a curiously apropos question since today is April 15th, when we file income taxes here in the United States). :-)

More seriously, here are the steps you'll need to go through to get your music to download successful from your Windows PC to your new Sony PSP unit:

Connect the PSP to your PC with a USB cable. (about $10: buy a USB cable for your PSP)
Press the "home" button on the PSP (it's a tiny button to the lower left of the screen) then use the left-right directional buttons to find "Settings", then the up-down buttons to find "USB Connection" on the PSP.
Press the "X" button (you got it, the round button with the "X" on it) and your PSP should display "USB Connection".
In a moment or two your computer should tell you that a new USB device has been connected, then show you a new generic hard drive, usually E: or F:
Click on the drive letter that corresponds to the PSP unit.
Now create a new folder on that drive and name it "psp".
Within the new "psp" folder create another folder, and name it "music".
Copy your desired mp3 files into the new "music" folder.
When you're done copying your desired music tracks, press the "O" button on the PSP to get out of USB connect mode.

Now you're ready to go! Use the left-right arrows to move to the music area, then the up-down arrows to find "Memory Stick". Chose that folder by pressing the "X" button again, and you should be able to find all your favorite music!

Note that the PSP running older firmware (firmware is the "operating system" of the PSP) does not support any Windows Media formats i.e WMA & WMV, so any music you have in that format must be converted to MP3 before copying to your PSP. Fortunately, Sony's very own Image Converter 2.1 can convert all your music with a very simple GUi and will then also manage all the measuring and transfering for you too.

If Image Converter doesn't seem up to snuff, then there are various other solutions for converting audio files, including the free Windows application Switch, written up here: How to convert WMA audio files into MP3 audio files.

If you really want to play WMA format audio files, make sure you have the latest version of the firmware from Sony (see below for update instructions).

That should get you up and rockin' in no time!

Additional useful tutorials:

• How to format your PSP memory stick
• Update your PSP firmware via wifi network
• Update your PSP firmware without a wifi network
• How to get music to play on your PSP

Thanks to PSP owner Tommy Martin for his help

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Categorized: iPod, Sony PSP and MP3 Player Help (Article 3966, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: playstation portable, psp, sony psp
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Reader Comments To Date: 695

steph! said, on June 7, 2007 6:34 PM:

ahh! i just got a psp and my computer said the new hardware was installed and ready to use but when i got into my computer to open it, nothing happens. it tells me to please insert a disk into the drive. do i need a usb device for it to work right?

HELP MEE!

HemA said, on June 8, 2007 12:10 PM:

thank god for U DAVE i was totally lost u know gettin a new psp and stuff thankfully i went online n saw this site thank u dave~~

John said, on June 10, 2007 2:48 PM:

i just got this memory stick PRO duo with 4 GB memory and when i click on the file it says
psp(click it then)
savedata(click it)
then it has this from my game 845jkjhushjfg something like that and i made a music folder and put it in then when i looked no tracks on my game files i clicked and it had 12 boxes of corrupeted data WTF???

bowen said, on June 12, 2007 10:26 AM:

why does my my psps say theres not enough memeory if i just have like 5 songs in it??
it says i need a free disk space.. help help help!!

bowen said, on June 12, 2007 10:34 AM:

one more thing... i have a picture folder. i put the pictures in that folder. but it wont show up on my psp.. help!

tahni said, on July 1, 2007 8:57 PM:

hey dude um when i plug my psp into my windows me hp computer and go 2 my computer removable disk or drive e or f r not there so i went to find files or folders and searched removable disk but when i clicked on it it says "E:/REFERS TO A LOCATION THAT IS UNAVAILABLE. IT COULD BE ON A HARDDRIVE OF THIS COMPUTER, ON A NETWORK, OR ON A DIFFERENT COMPUTER ON YOUR HOME NETWORK. CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISK IS PROPERLY INSERTED,OR THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET OR HOME NETWORK, AND THEN TRY AGAIN. IF IT STILL CANNOT BE LOCATED, THE INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION."
THEN ANOTHER MESSAGE FOLLOWS SAYING "THE SHORTCUT 'REMOVABLE DISK(E).LNK' REFERS TO A LOCATION THAT IS UNAVAILABLE.

victor clotter said, on July 3, 2007 10:33 AM:

limewire keeps sayin im not connected to the network wat do i do

ryan said, on July 5, 2007 12:36 PM:

i did everything u said, but when i go to music, it still says there are no tracks but it took up a ton of space anyway. i had a GB free on my memory stick and it says there are only 50 KB left, which isnt good since i didnt get the music. however, when i go to my computer, f drive, psp folder, music folder, the tracks are all there

MATT said, on July 8, 2007 9:54 AM:

HOW DO I DOWNLOAD GAMES ON MY PSP FROM MY PC

Kev said, on July 10, 2007 5:14 PM:

Hi Dave
I have just recently purchased a psp from e-bay and it came with dvd's that have games and films loaded onto them... can you please advise me as to how to upload them onto my psp
Regards

nick said, on July 15, 2007 9:06 AM:

hey am trying to load music vedio on my psp but it says no vedio or it says data supported .. can u plz tel me hw to load music video or movies on my psp . thanx u

wahkeen said, on July 15, 2007 9:22 PM:

i need da step by step too put music on my psp

mike said, on July 16, 2007 1:07 PM:

i cant get step 4 to happen please help if you can

monia said, on July 16, 2007 1:44 PM:

I HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR STEPS THEY WERE GREAT BUT THE FILES DO NOT SEEM TO BE DOWNLOADED IN TO MY PSP.(i do have a memory card)

sam said, on July 21, 2007 2:31 PM:

When i plugged in the usb and it was connected to the psp my pc didn't show anything like what you said, it said a unknown device is found and then after that nothing?

alex said, on July 21, 2007 4:09 PM:

hi thankyou so much 4 putting this on the internet i found it so easy to use i really apreasheate it. do u no how to do films can you email me and let me no

thankyou again alex

Lyndsey said, on July 31, 2007 5:13 PM:

Hi.
I've had my PsP, since they came out.
I've looked everywere for the disc that came with it, but cannot find it.
My reason for posting this is, is there a way, you can send music and photo's without this disc?
I have the USB cable, but when I plug it in, it asks for a disc.
Any help will be much appriciated! (SP?)
x

Tony R said, on August 1, 2007 7:30 AM:

Hey Dave

I am now a hero in my sons eyes - he was pulling his hair out trying to convert his songs - I found your instructions and hey presto - all done - you beauty - my son is even saying - Dad - you are the man - how cool is that

Thanks heaps

dustin verdin said, on August 11, 2007 12:46 PM:

You an use limewire for music by downloading the song and dragging it to your psp music folder.I have 37 songs

Kris said, on August 12, 2007 6:23 PM:

Dave-

I am trying to download music from limewire on my computer to my psp i have no clue how to do it.

Chester said, on August 17, 2007 1:32 PM:

Hey there, I have a problem with my psp. I connected it to the pc but nothing happens. In my psp screen, it just says "please wait". I need your help. thank you.

dipa said, on August 23, 2007 10:55 AM:

hay what website do i have to go to download the music please email me.because i have a psp and i dont now how to download the music.so please email me back.

AMANDA said, on August 27, 2007 8:35 PM:

HEY WHEN I PLUG MY PSP INTO MY COMPUTER, I GO TO USB CONNECTION...... THEN THAT THING POPS UP IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER AND SAYS "NO NEW PICTURES OR VIDEOS WERE FOUND ON THIS DEVICE" WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT TO PUT SONGS ON THIS STUPID THING AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW!!! PLEASE HELP ME ARGGHHHH!!!!!

Melissa said, on August 29, 2007 3:59 PM:

Thank you so much. Your explainations were to the point and correct. Everything worked perfectly. IOY.

scotty tee said, on August 30, 2007 2:11 AM:

thnaks mate i needed help with that to and it worked perfect.

sarah said, on August 31, 2007 7:53 AM:

i have a usb connection.but i have no ideA how to transfer music from my pc. i use limewire.i followed the instructions to copy the music into the folder but it is not working.what should i do?

arty said, on September 13, 2007 4:50 PM:

I've already finish puting my music on the music file(psp folder).But how do I put it on my psp.The usb is already pluged in but the music doesnt want to go into my psp.

nick said, on September 14, 2007 2:39 PM:

dave
i have the usb cord and i have mp3 songs but then i try to drag them to the music stop 4 my psp it says cannot copy make sure u specfi the correct path and file name so idk im stumpt so plz plz help i really need help e-mail me at spyhunter245@yahoo.com

jubs said, on September 19, 2007 8:57 PM:

this is very usefull and all but i wish it was as easy with videos...is it? well a free way anyway because all i can find are programs that i have to pay for..please help

Karmy said, on September 20, 2007 10:04 PM:

SOmebody please help me! I have the PSP since it appeared into the shops...but...I dunno what my bro did ,I can't put music on my psp..and I mean, I'm connected, it shows me on the laptop that it's the psp conected, but when I try to put music on it, it shows me something about inserting a new disc (I've made that folder, music)...PS. I don't have any cd key..(if does exist)

Russell said, on September 21, 2007 8:07 PM:

i saw your thing on psp downloading but how do yoy get music on lime wire

ashley said, on September 25, 2007 11:01 PM:

Hey i have a questions?? I tryed to add songs to the new psp but i didnt use the converter softwear cause i was unaware and now i have a whole bunch of empty song folders on the psp and when i try to delete them it says that i can't delete them because there is stuff other than music files in there!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Benjamin Thao said, on September 27, 2007 4:08 PM:

I folowed your directions but for some reason it won't download onto my PSP.

richie said, on September 30, 2007 10:04 AM:

Dave i did what you said then when i went to music it said no tracks help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

morgan cotton said, on September 30, 2007 6:15 PM:

THANK YOU

Mikael said, on October 1, 2007 5:45 PM:

Im trying to click on the E: put nothing is happening. SO CAN YOU PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!

sfafasfsa said, on October 4, 2007 3:49 PM:

HOLY MACKINS WHEN I GO TO MUSIC SECTION DOESNT EVEN HAVE MY SONGS!!!!!!!!

Paul said, on October 5, 2007 1:54 PM:

Get music downloads for Psp here.
http://watch-dogreviews.com/pspdownloads.html

tony said, on October 5, 2007 9:22 PM:

hi how u get google or any other site in internet on psp.

kevin said, on October 8, 2007 8:24 PM:

i followed all the steps and copied the songs i wanted then i got out to listen to them and it said that i didnt have any tracks to play but my memory card space went down so wat do i do?

bob said, on October 9, 2007 6:28 AM:

hey dave i have a problem i accidently clicked take no acction on the removable disk f and then i clicked remember this selection.How do i get that removable disk box back on the screen. please help me dave i really need the help.

Cory said, on October 22, 2007 8:44 AM:

Dave thanks alot for the info. This rocks!

shirin said, on October 24, 2007 2:27 AM:

well i went according to your tips to download songs on my Psp but some songs didnt work - only songs that played in Winamp worked so how do i convert my files to adjust the compatibility???

joe said, on October 24, 2007 6:22 AM:

thank you so much i am able to put my favorite mp3 chunes in my psp now

avery mitchell said, on October 31, 2007 1:20 PM:

thnk you for helping me to download music to my psp
i was lost before i got your help

walt said, on November 2, 2007 5:09 PM:

wen i fires got on my pc and use my psp with it i exited out of the folder and now i cant find it pls help me i have ben trying to get music for a weak no if u can help plz email me or somthing plz plz plz plz plz list it as somthing like psp info!!!!!!!!! or somthing becuz i need to no what it is cuz i donr read mail that much ty if u help

jeff said, on November 4, 2007 4:31 PM:

i cant find my files on my computer and when i think did i turns out it is just the memory stick for my computer HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#1 GAME FREAK said, on November 7, 2007 7:44 PM:

THANK U 4 HELPING ME WITH DA PSPP DOWNLOADING MUSIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drew said, on November 8, 2007 2:56 PM:

yes dave....i put 4 songs on my psp and it said i ran out of space on my memorie card....i have a 32mb memorie card.....do the songs have to come from a ceartin type of downloader or somethin

ps. i use limewire for my music downloader

peter said, on November 9, 2007 9:10 PM:

wat do i do if i dont have a usb cable for the psp? how do i download music like that? i tried to download it that way but when i put the memory card in the psp and check the music, it only list the artist and there are no tracks in them... plus it takes up space in my memory card...

Adam said, on November 11, 2007 5:53 PM:

On my PSP i follow the instructions to download music and it still says I have no tracks. What am I doing wrong?

Dimitri said, on November 21, 2007 3:18 PM:

DAVE I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP! WHENEVER I SAVE A VIDEO FROM THE PSP'S WEB BROWSER, I GO BACK TO THE HOME PAGE OF THE PSP AND IT SHOWS THE VIDEO AS CORRUTED DATA. WHEN I TRY TO DOWNLOAD IT FROM MY COMPUTER TO THE PSP, IT COMES UP THE SAME WAY AS CORRUPTED DATA. PLEASE GIVE ME STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

James said, on November 25, 2007 8:57 AM:

When i try to download the music on to my psp it just says there are no tracks please help me!

Shelia said, on December 1, 2007 11:45 AM:

I formated my memory stick now how to put my music on th psp.

bartek said, on December 2, 2007 7:53 AM:

i really dont get this and it did not work on my psp but its kool that u tell us wat to do and we get music on psp

Shelia said, on December 3, 2007 6:08 PM:

I found out how to put music on my psp by accident, see what you do is' put your memory stick into your computer, and click on your windows media player and then at the top it will say sync. Click sync and refresh your device then it will say "drag items here" to create a list to "USB Ms Reader". When you have dragged all of your songs to your sync list, go to start sync at the bottom of the page. When all of your songs have finished sychronizing your muisc to the psp, take out the memory stick and put it back in the psp. Then plug your USB cable into your computer and go to USB connection, when you have went to that on psp it will say USB mode.On your computer, go to start and then click to computer. Then click on the file for Memory Stick (J:) and you will see the music you have put on your sync list. Click on you music an put in the file that says music and you should have music on your psp. I Hope this will help you guys.

CHRIS ASHTON WELCH said, on December 4, 2007 1:26 PM:

HI CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO DOWLOD MUSIC ON MY PSP PLZ TELL ME.

Shelia said, on December 7, 2007 3:09 PM:

It depends on what type of windows media player you have

Kevin said, on December 7, 2007 3:57 PM:

I move my songs into my music file and it says there is no room left but I only get about 5 songs and my memory stick says i have 2272 kb left. I have no idea what to do

angie said, on December 10, 2007 6:29 PM:

hi dave im trying to buy a laptop but i can't decide between dell pc or mac pc. which one whould u recommend.thnks angie

sarah said, on December 19, 2007 3:45 PM:

I need major help with this psp music download stuff. I seem to do everything right but then when i follow the last instruction. press O to get out. and i check the music slot, there is nothing there :( im about to give up, pls help

Kaykay said, on December 22, 2007 9:09 PM:

Dave, could i get music from my limewire library onto my psp? if yes how? and how do i get music on my itunes library onto my psp?

Amanda said, on December 23, 2007 10:01 AM:

I've done everything these directions are teeling me to do but when I click o to get out it still says there are no track available. Then my harddrive shows K not E or F

Tawa said, on December 25, 2007 4:55 PM:

I got the steps but thing is that when songs are on the psp and i try to play them it says there is no tracks

Tom said, on December 26, 2007 11:28 AM:

I have bought a psp and i dont know how to download music onto it i have put usb in and know what do i do?

Daniel Miller said, on December 26, 2007 7:03 PM:

that psp thing didnt work what so ever at step 4 it stop working

MARIE said, on December 27, 2007 4:41 PM:

THE INFORMATION WAS SO DIRECTLY GOOD THAT I WAS SO HAPPY TO GET THE MUSIC FINALLY DOWNLOADED TO THE PSP
THANKSSSSS SOOOOOOOOO MUCH

cockmaster said, on December 27, 2007 7:26 PM:

im doing all the steps but when u say the thing about E and f it doesnt show up on my laptop

amina saad said, on December 28, 2007 8:47 AM:

i dont know how to create a folder

Mickey said, on December 28, 2007 6:48 PM:

hey man your advice actually worked thanks alot bro!

leisa said, on December 29, 2007 3:46 PM:

I bought my son a psp he got music on it and pics but how does he get videos on it? is all the itunes $ just lost or can they be converted to psp some how? please help.

james said, on December 30, 2007 11:22 AM:

where do u buy a psp cable from and how do u
plug it into the system and load the internet
????????????????? please help me dave
thank you

PSP god said, on December 31, 2007 12:32 PM:

I used to be able to download from the sony site with the memory stick plugged into a usb port on the pc.
Now it is using some stoopid downloader and i need a usb cable.

Come on Sony

Christian Sandoval said, on December 31, 2007 5:44 PM:

I did all the steps but it doesnt work the music is on the file but not on my psp also I have a k drive

JERVAISia pugh said, on January 5, 2008 10:52 PM:

I NEE TO KNOW STEP BY STEP HOW TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC FROM INTERNET TO PSP

Cole said, on January 6, 2008 7:43 PM:

i need some help getting the WMA files from napster to my PSP, can u help? it says the download was complete but it doesnt show up on the PSP

tyler said, on January 7, 2008 10:50 AM:

ok i hooked u my "usb"cord and entered it into the computer.but it did not say anything

jeff said, on January 9, 2008 11:20 AM:

can i copy music from limewire to psp and if so how help please thanks

Jay said, on January 9, 2008 9:53 PM:

ok i tried to get music on my psp but it shows the artists and everything but it keeps saying i have tracks when i put plenty of music on it

michael said, on January 21, 2008 5:52 PM:

hi dave i am only 12 and i just got my psp for x mas. but the thing is i just cant get the music on it. i tried to follow your instructions but they just didnt work and now i am FRUSTERATED!!!! please help me

LUKE said, on January 24, 2008 2:38 AM:

OMG IM 13 I JUS GOT A PSP I WENT AN BOUGHT A 8 GB MEMORY STICK FOR PSP AND I PAID LIKE 200 I BOUGHT THAT JUS FOR THE MUSIC AND VIDS BUT IT WONT FU@#IN WORK EXCUSE MY FRENCH!! BECAUSE WEN I PUT IT ON THER IT SHOWS IT ON THE FOLDER BUT NOT ON THE PSP VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!!! SO MUCH MONEY WASTED

LUKE said, on January 24, 2008 2:53 AM:

AHH HI ITS ME AGAIN I HAD 8 GB NOW ITS NOW ITS 7. SUM FIN THAT MEENS THER NIS STUFF ON IT WTF WER IS IT AND I THINK MY FILE IS FILE (D:) HOW DO I CHANGE IT UN INSTALL IT? I DUNNO ALL I FUC@IN WANT IS MUSIC GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mariam said, on January 24, 2008 4:52 AM:

Hi dave .. !!

I've been trying to put images, vidoes and music into my PSP but it just wouldn't work please please please please please please please please

HELP ME .. !!!

Aisha said, on January 25, 2008 4:43 AM:

HELP ..!!

Iam despret & Confused I goin to travel soon and I think I'm gonna get bored on the way ..

I think I need to listen to music ..

Please help dave or anyone the sooner the better

And I forgot to mention that there is a file already named PSP ..

And I followed your steps and it just wuoldn't work .. !!!

Mariam said, on January 25, 2008 4:50 AM:

Hi dave it Me again I followed your steps and it really worked thanks ..

Justin said, on January 25, 2008 11:22 PM:

hey dave, i have a 2gb memory card with about 1.700 gb and on my computer it shows that the songs are in the file in mp3 format but when i go to my music and go down to memory stick it sais, there is no music!Plz dave,can you help me?!

Champaliah said, on February 1, 2008 12:51 PM:

hey thanks so much I've been trying forever to download songs turns out I forgot to plug in the USB
cord. Pretty funny

BOlony said, on February 4, 2008 7:46 PM:

Man some how i accidentally deleted a file in my psp and i dont know why the psp doesnt want to load music

Rana said, on February 6, 2008 4:40 PM:

Hey i have a serious question. I get to the one point and well it says USB Mode not USB Connection. what does that mean and what sould i do?

Rupy said, on February 8, 2008 11:29 AM:

hi your commets about the psp was really good and it really worked
thank you

Randy said, on February 9, 2008 10:45 PM:

my computer doesnt read the USB cable and nothing comes up. i dont know wat to do!?!?!? Plz plz help me.

kool aid said, on February 11, 2008 2:36 AM:

hey....you know how when you plug the usb with the psp on the other end in the computer?..and on the icon "my computer" its supposed to have a thing called removable diskdrive or disk or whatever?....yeah....well mine doesn't have that....so what am i supposed to do now??

tyler said, on February 11, 2008 7:05 PM:

how do u get on the internet from my psp it always says connection univalible

Tyler said, on February 11, 2008 7:16 PM:

what should you put 4 the internet connection

sweetn'sour said, on February 16, 2008 3:00 PM:

how do you put music if you don't have an mp3

Pspguy said, on February 16, 2008 8:31 PM:

how do you get itunes music on the psp

Lola said, on February 18, 2008 12:42 PM:

How do I convert a dvd or downloaded movie so its compatible with my psp?

josh said, on February 21, 2008 6:35 PM:

dave i need help i need to know how yo but mucic on my psp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! plz but step by step

Kashane said, on February 22, 2008 7:20 AM:

Yo Yo,

The hint is sick!
Thanks
Wangster

dragongnz said, on February 22, 2008 5:28 PM:

1st of all you can't connect to the internet with out a wireless access point.. in other words you need to have wireless internet connectivity. If you have wireless then you need to add your wep key to the psp or whatever security you have. Bootom line your psp has to talk to your WAP (Wireless Access Point)

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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PC to Sony PSP: How do I download music?

Reader Comments To Date: 695

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