Downloading music for your personal collection is easy to do. However, it is more than just finding a download link online and clicking on it. There are things that you have to consider before your click on any download links. Read this article to learn the best approach and what to watch out for.

A good tip to think about when you're looking to download music is to be completely sure that you're downloading the right version of whatever it is that you want. You might want something specific, perhaps the radio version of a song. It can be difficult to make sure you download exactly what you want.

Take care in choosing sites to download your music. Protect yourself by visiting only the most credible sites. Other sites leave you vulnerable to spyware, spam, and viruses. Always remember to protect your sensitive information when you are on a website you aren't sure about.

If you are looking for free, legal music downloads, consider using a free music archive. A couple popular ones are Free Music Archive and The Internet Archive. These are nonprofit sites that contain all kinds of free, legal music from many genres. These are great for securely and legally experiencing some new artists or getting some rare tracks from some of your favorites.

If you're downloading music from a little known source, make sure you have recently updated antivirus software running during the download. Anytime you aren't sure of where the file is coming from, it's a must to protect your computer. These files could be laced with malware and spyware. You'll need top antivirus protection to secure your computer.

Aside from the legalities of downloading free music, you also have something else to worry about when choosing free music files from different sites. Hackers often offer these files, so think twice before you join the bandwagon and download free music. It's much better to legally get your music by paying for it the right way.

If your taste in music changes a lot, consider using a site that allows you to stream music, rather than download it. Streaming allows you to listen to a large variety of songs, but the music never resides on your computer. This can save you money and space on your hard drive, so it is sometimes the better option.

If money is tight, you may want to buy a CD from Amazon.com instead of buying a digital track Dreamlife Beats for 99 cents. CDs these days, especially used ones on Amazon, are really cheap. You can buy many of your favorites for just a few dollars. Then when you get it, burn the songs from the CD to make them digital downloads. So for the price of 1 or 2 songs, you've just gotten 10 to 15 songs.

If you are having problems downloading with a peer to peer program, check your firewall. Unless you allow the program, you won't be able to do any uploading or downloading. Windows comes with a firewall built in, and this will have to be altered to allow for your program's actions.

If you plan on downloading music frequently, make sure you have a fast Internet connection. Slow connections like dial-up do not handle downloading music files well. It doesn't do any good to have access to tons of legal music downloads when it takes a long time just to download a few.

See if you can preview music before spending money on it. You need to be sure your music is of good quality before spending money. If the site is relatively unknown, this step is crucial. In addition, you will also be able to figure out if the song is actually something you want or not.

Make sure any sites you are downloading music from contain adware, virus and spyware protection. Any reputable site will offer all three. Remember that downloading things from the Internet can be dangerous, compromising your privacy and your expensive computer. To keep yourself safe, never download anything if these three things are not present.

Not all free music is illegal music. Major online retailers of mp3 files routinely put out free samplers for you to enjoy. Older music performed by many artists might fall into public domain. Some artists even release tracks for free sheerly for the promotional benefits they get out of it.

The Internet Archive isn't just about archiving websites. This will make downloading music easy for you. They've been working hard to archive the whole of the Internet. Benefit from that hard work and check them out.

Want access to thousands of songs without clogging up your hard drive? Invest in a subscription from a site like Spotify instead of purchases on iTunes or Amazon. This allows you unlimited streaming of songs from their massive catalog, plus it's totally legal. That said, you need an internet connection to listen, of course.

Stay away from any music downloads that require a peer to peer client, also known as p2p software. No matter how slickly designed such sites are, they are probably just an access point for music pirates and torrent users. Avoid these, as almost all torrent activity is a legal risk.

Never begin a music download without having complete anti-virus protection on your computer. It is way too easy to have a virus downloaded with your song. Your anti-virus program will scan the download for malware before it is saved onto your computer. Additionally, your anti-virus program will scan the download and remove renegade malware.

After you gain a great deal of solid advice, it is up to you to use it. With the tips you've read here, you also have to put the knowledge to use as you download songs. This will serve to provide you with the best possible experience.

If you enjoy music, you should learn how to build your music library by downloading songs. There are many ways to do it, and it takes a little bit of research to learn the best approach to music downloads. Read this article for more information on you can make the most out of downloading music.

Check reviews before downloading from a site you don't know. You must be sure the site is safe before you download information onto your computer or device. If you cannot find reviews, you are better off going to another music service to find your songs.

If you download music from lesser known sites, having antivirus software on your computer is essential. This software can protect you from hackers who want to access your personal information. Make sure it is running anytime you choose to download some tunes, and always make sure to keep it updated too.

You should always have an antivirus program if you download music on a regular basis. An antivirus program will scan a file before it is downloaded, letting you know whether the virus has a virus or not. If a virus somehow gets into your hard drive, then the antivirus program can neutralize and remove the virus.

If you want to avoid getting a virus when downloading music, make sure you download from a reputable site. There are many websites where you can download free music. These sites are usually less secure than the ones you pay for, increasing your chances of downloading a virus. If you want to avoid getting a virus, consider paying for music you download.

Always have an updated anti-virus program on any device that you download music on. There are many people who would love to have access to the files on your system. If you do not have a good anti-virus program on your device, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to hacking attempts and viruses.

Choose your P2P service wisely. This can be your key to getting the music you want. Read up on reviews and talk to people you know to find the best service to suit you. Look for testimonials by other users to make sure that you won't regret using any particular service.

When you are looking for websites for music downloads, be sure that you are downloading from a reputable distributor. There have been instances when users have downloaded malware along with the song tracks. This will not happen at established digital music distributors with a good reputation. Keep this mind before you click on the download button.

There are literally thousands of sites which host music files. Even though many of these website are safe, there are still a great number that contain some infected files. Downloading just one of these infected files could possibly destroy your computer, so it is wise to be cautious. Before downloading a file, always scan it first with your anti-virus program.

When you download a song online, check its size. If it is less than 2 megabytes, unless it is a very short song, it is likely to be a virus. Most viruses are just text and they don't take up much hard drive space, so be wary of small files.

Once in a while, even the big MP3 stores offer free songs, so keep tabs on what they're up to. You can sign up for email updates or their enewsletter to be updated when they put up such a promotion. In the end, free is free, so it's worth downloading!

Look for downloads that feature high quality files. Look at the rate at which the song is playing represented by kilobytes per second. The higher the number, the better it's going to sound on any device you're using.

Avoid the temptation of downloading popular music from new websites that promise you free music downloads. Due to copyright reasons, most legitimate music downloads are available only with a fee. Websites that advertise free downloads of the latest songs need to be scrutinized because there are often strings attached to their offer which makes the download much more complicated.

When you're picking out a site that allows you to get music, make sure you can preview the track first. You can then be sure you are satisfied with the music prior to the download. Smaller sites will not guarantee quality. You can avoid purchasing low quality music when you preview the track.

When choosing to purchase music downloads, always ensure that you video are purchasing from a high quality source. Some companies offer poor MP3s which can diminish your listening experience. Popular sources such as Amazon and Itunes usually have the best in terms of pricing and high quality downloads that can appease even the hardest of critics.

A music download is something most people need help with when they first start out. However, you should now have the knowledge it takes to work with this kind of a thing. Take your time and you shouldn't have problems because this is easy to work with when you're trained correctly.