Nintendo DSi Music Player: Not an iPod, But Here's How to Add Music

No, the Nintendo DSi does not have a built-in iPod or iTunes compatibility. It includes a basic Nintendo DSi Sound application for playing AAC (.m4a) files from an SD card.

How to Put Music on a DSi

1. Format SD Card: Use FAT32 (standard for cards ≤32GB). Insert into PC.
2. Convert Files: DSi Sound only plays AAC (.m4a) at specific bitrates (typically ≤128 kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo). MP3, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, WMA will not play. Use iTunes (File > Convert > Create AAC Version) or freeware like Freemake Audio Converter / XLD (Mac).
3. Folder Structure: Create folder /music/ on SD root. Place .m4a files inside. Subfolders work for albums.
4. Insert & Play: Put SD in DSi. Launch DSi Sound > "Play with Nintendo DSi" > "SD Card."

DSi Sound Features

• Playback speed/pitch adjustment (80%–150%)
• Voice recording (up to 10 sec, editable with effects)
• Visualizers (fireworks, bubbles, etc.)
• No playlists, shuffle, gapless playback, or ID3 tag browsing (files sorted by filename).

DSi Shop Music (Discontinued)

The DSi Shop (closed March 2017) sold a few Nintendo DSi Sound apps (e.g., Mario Paint Composer, Korg DS-10 synth), not commercial music tracks.

Verdict: The DSi is a poor music player by modern standards. Use a phone, dedicated DAP, or even a 2005 iPod Nano for a vastly better experience.