Question:

How does iTunes categorize the storage space used by different types of media on an iPod?

I am curious about the logic behind the iTunes interface that shows the storage space allocation on an iPod. I noticed that when I select an artist from the music library, a green section appears on the bar that indicates the space occupied by apps. However, when I deselect the artist, the green section disappears. This is confusing to me, because I would expect the artist’s songs to be counted as audio files, not apps. Is there a reason why iTunes does this? How can I tell how much space is actually used by apps and how much by music?

Answer:

iTunes is a popular software that allows users to manage their music, movies, podcasts, and other media files on their computers and devices. One of the features of iTunes is that it shows the storage space allocation on an iPod, indicating how much space is used by different types of media, such as apps, music, photos, videos, and others. However, some users may notice that the storage space allocation changes when they select or deselect an artist from the music library. For example, when an artist is selected, a green section appears on the bar that represents the space occupied by apps. But when the artist is deselected, the green section disappears. This may seem confusing, as one would expect the artist’s songs to be counted as audio files, not apps. So, how does iTunes categorize the storage space used by different types of media on an iPod? And how can users tell how much space is actually used by apps and how much by music?

The answer to this question is not very straightforward, as iTunes uses a complex algorithm to calculate and display the storage space allocation on an iPod. According to Apple Support, the graph that shows the storage space allocation uses the Spotlight index to calculate the storage and the index is easily damaged. This means that the graph may not always reflect the actual storage space used by different types of media, and may show inaccurate or inconsistent results. For example, the graph may show a green section for apps when an artist is selected, because the Spotlight index may have mistakenly categorized some of the artist’s songs as apps. Or, the graph may show a smaller or larger space for music than it actually occupies, because the Spotlight index may have missed or duplicated some of the music files.

Therefore, the best way to tell how much space is actually used by apps and how much by music on an iPod is not to rely on the iTunes graph, but to use other methods. One method is to locate the iTunes folder on the computer and use the Get Info command to see how much space it occupies. The iTunes folder contains all the media files that are synced to the iPod, and it is usually located in the user folder in a subfolder: Music\iTunes\iTunes Media. By checking the size of the iTunes folder, users can get a rough estimate of how much space their media files use on their iPod. Another method is to use a third-party utility, such as TreeSize, that can scan the iPod and show the storage space used by different types of media in a more detailed and accurate way. TreeSize can also help users find and delete any duplicate or unwanted files that may be taking up unnecessary space on their iPod.

In conclusion, iTunes categorizes the storage space used by different types of media on an iPod using the Spotlight index, which may not always be reliable or consistent. Users who want to know how much space is actually used by apps and how much by music on their iPod should use other methods, such as checking the iTunes folder size or using a third-party utility, to get more accurate and reliable results. By doing so, users can better manage their media files and optimize their storage space on their iPod.

: [iTunes for Mac: View how much space your content uses](https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/view-how-much-space-your-content-uses-itns3003/mac) : [TreeSize Free – Quickly Scan Directory Sizes and Find Space Hogs](https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free)