Move Itunes Music Library From One Mac To Another Rating: 7,9/10 7561 votes

Move your iTunes library to another computer. If you get a new computer, you can transfer your iTunes library by connecting computers or by using iPod or a portable drive. See the Apple Support article Back up and restore your iTunes library on your PC. Jan 23, 2014 Question: Q: Moved iTunes library, but iTunes can't find it I followed the online instructions and moved my iTunes library from one external hard drive to another. The music is all there on the new drive, but iTunes is looking in the wrong folder and the music doesn't show up in iTunes.

ITunes Music Transfer is your safest bet for keeping that perfect iTunes library content while you upgrade your iTunes or switch out computers. With this tool, you can say goodbye to losing the music and videos within your library when you switch from one computer to another. Move your iTunes library to another user and search the iTunes Store efficiently. To add music to my iTunes library without it being added to iTunes Match? Be able to easily copy files from. Apr 18, 2017 The app you install as normal, but you can move the library and everything attached to it from one drive to another if it is the correct layout, and into the correct layout if it isn't currently. See Make a split library portable. Option may also be called alt on a Mac keyboard. You use shift for the same function in Windows. Jan 04, 2020  How to Move Your iTunes Library. You can move your iTunes library to a different folder, computer, or drive. Here's how to do it, even in macOS Catalina, which ditches iTunes for the Music app.

After decades of digital music, it's not unlikely if you've amassed quite the collection of music on your computer's hard drive. If your iTunes library is taking up too much space, you can move it off of your local drive and onto an external hard drive without breaking your music collection.

You can also transfer your entire iTunes library from one computer to another if you are migrating to a new Mac.

Before you start: Back up your Mac

Before making major changes to your computer, it's always a good idea to back up your data: The best way to back up your Mac is with a Time Machine routine in place, but you can choose an alternate backup option that's right for you.

What you will need

You will, of course, need the computer your iTunes library is currently on. You will also need the following:

  • An external hard drive (and power source, if applicable)
  • A USB cable to connect the hard drive to your original Mac
  • A power source for your original Mac
  • If you're moving to a new computer, your new Mac (and its power cable)

Step 1: Consolidate your library

Over time, it's easy for your music, movies, apps, and other iTunes content to end up stored in various places throughout your computer's hard drive. To ensure that you copy everything from iTunes over to an external hard drive, you should first consolidate your library. Even if you think your library has all your information consolidated already, it can't hurt to do a manual check before moving any data.

  1. Launch iTunes on your Mac.

  2. Click File in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.

  3. Hover your cursor over Library in the dropdown menu.

  4. Select Organize Library from the secondary menu.

  5. Tick the box for Consolidate Files in the window that appears.

  6. Click OK.

This process makes a copy of all files in the iTunes media folder, and leaves the original files in their current location.

Step 2: Move your iTunes Library to an external hard drive

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Connect your external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable.
  3. Click on Finder to open a Finder window.

  4. Select your Mac's hard drive.

  5. Click on the Music folder.

  6. Select iTunes and drag it to the external hard drive.

  7. Click Authenticate when prompted to give permission to move the iTunes folder.
  8. Enter your administrator password.

  9. Click OK.

This process could take upwards of an hour or two, depending on how much data stored in your iTunes library.

Step 3: Redirect iTunes to the new location

Once you've transferred a copy of your iTunes library onto an external hard drive, you will need to set a new path for the iTunes app by redirecting it to search the external hard drive for content, rather than your local drive.

  1. Launch iTunes and hold down the Option Keyat the same time.

  2. Click on Choose Library when the window appears.

  3. Select your external hard drive under Devices in the Finder sidebar.
  4. Click on iTunes.

  5. Click Open.

Note: Until you delete the iTunes file on your local hard drive, you can switch which libraries iTunes uses by launching the app and holding down the Option key at the same time.

Step 4: Make sure it worked

If you performed the first three steps correctly, when you open iTunes, it should look the same as it did before. You can double-check to make sure the migration worked by checking the info of any content.

  1. Launch iTunes.

  2. Select a song, podcast, movie, app, or other content.

  3. Right-click or Control-click on the song.
  4. Select Get info from the drop down menu.

  5. Click on the File tab in the info window.

  6. Look under Location to ensure that the content is now being stored under /Volumes/external hard drive name/.. instead of Users/local hard drive name/..

Step 5: Delete the old iTunes library

Move Itunes Music Library From One Mac To Another Iphone

Once you have transferred a copy of your iTunes library onto an external hard drive and redirected iTunes to the new location, you can delete the iTunes folder on your local hard drive, freeing up space on your Mac.

Note: If you are making a copy to transfer to a new computer, you don't need to perform step 5 unless you want to remove your iTunes library from the old computer.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Click on Finder to open a Finder window.

  3. Select your Mac's hard drive.

  4. Click on the Music folder.

  5. Select iTunes and drag it to the trash.

Make sure your external hard drive is connected to your Mac when you launch iTunes from now on. Otherwise, iTunes won't be able to find the files. If that happens, quit iTunes, connect your external hard drive to your computer, and reopen iTunes.

Step 6 [optional]: Move your iTunes library to a new Mac

Once you have your iTunes library on an external hard drive, you can relocate it to a new Mac.

  1. Quit iTunes on your new Mac.
  2. Connect your external hard drive to your new Mac using a USB cable.
  3. Open the external hard drive once it appears on your new Mac's screen.
  4. Click on Finder on your new Mac to open a Finder window.

  5. Select your new Mac's hard drive.

  6. Click on the Music folder.

  7. Drag the iTunes folder from your external hard drive into the Music folder on your new Mac.

  8. Launch iTunes and hold down the Option Keyat the same time.
  9. Click on Choose Library when the window appears.

  10. Select your local hard drive under Devices in the Finder sidebar.

  11. Click on the Music folder.
  12. Click on iTunes.

  13. Click Open.

Move itunes music library from one mac to another mac

Any questions?

Move Itunes Music Library From One Mac To Another Drive

Do you have any questions or issues with moving your iTunes library onto an external hard drive or onto a new Mac? Let us know in the comments and we'll help you out.

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Transferring your iTunes library from one computer to another is not an easy task, it may even seem confusing at first, but it’s achievable with the right knowledge. So, if you want to play your media on and sync your iOS devices on your new computer, then the following 5 methods to get your old iTunes library on your new computer would be helpful.

Method 1: Using iMyFone TunesMate to Transfer iTunes Library from One Computer to Another

If you are migrating your media files to a new Mac or computer, you can use iMyFone TunesMate iPhone Transfer to transfer your entire iTunes library from one computer to another. TunesMate by definition is a simple iOS media transfer tool that is capable of transferring iTunes library from computer to iPhone, and vice versa.

With iMyFone TunesMate, your entire iTunes library can be moved to a new computer without any data loss nor the old computer’s iTunes library getting affected. You can join thousands of happy TunesMate users today, and start moving your precious files successfully.

Key Features:

Mac Download the Zip File. Make sure to select a released version of the library. Some library repositories are still in development, and may contain. Click the 'Releases' button on the Github repository page to find the released version of the library. Then download the zip file.

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Move Itunes Music Library From One Mac To Another
  • Freely 2-way transfer between iOS device and iTunes, or between iOS device and PC.
  • Preview and selectively sync media files between iTunes/PC and iDevice.
  • Enrich Music collection by transfer data from unlimited iDevices and unlimited iTunes libraries.
  • Both free and purchased music, movies, and photos are supported to be transferred.
  • Received lots of positive media reviews and is full compatible with iOS 11.

Steps to Transfer iTunes Library from One Computer to Another

Step 1: Install iMyFone TunesMate on your old computer. Connect your iPhone to your old PC/Mac, and launch TunesMate.
Step 2: Click on “Transfer iTunes Media to iDevice” from your Home interface.
Step 3: After which your entire iTunes library will be checked. Then, click on “Transfer” to continue.

Step 4: Once your iTunes library has been transferred to your iPhone, iPod or iPad, you can now install TunesMate on your new computer, plug in your iPhone, and launch the software.
Step 5: Click on “Transfer iDevice Media to iTunes” to sync the transferred iTunes library from iPhone to the iTunes on new PC.

Step 6: Hit “Start” to begin.

Now, you’ve successfully transferred iTunes library from one computer to another.

Method 2: Using External Hard Drive

Do you know that you can move your iTunes library to an external hard drive? An external hard drive, CD or DVD is a good and recommended to move iTunes library from one computer to another. Here is how it works on Mac and Windows PC:

Step 1: Locate iTunes Media folder on your old computer.
On Mac: Click on Finder > Home > Double click the Music folder.
On Windows: Click on User > Username > My Music > iTunes
Step 2: Drag the iTunes folder into your external hard drive, then connect the external hard drive to your new computer.
Step 3: Simply drag the iTunes folder to the music folder on your new computer.
Step 4: Launch iTunes on your new computer. You’ll be notified to select a library, click on “Choose Library” on the dialog box.
Step 5: Look for the library you just added and click on it.

Method 3: Using Home Sharing

Home Sharing is a good way to transfer iTunes library from one computer to another. You can use Home Sharing to import up to the maximum of five iTunes libraries on other computers on your home network. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Turn on Home Sharing by clicking on File > Home Sharing > Turn on Home Sharing. Type your Apple ID and Password, then click Turn on Home Sharing.
Step 2: From your new PC, choose a computer on your Home Sharing network where you want to import files from.
Step 3: Choose “items not in my library” from the iTunes windows.
Step 4: Select the items you would like to import and click “Import”.

Method 4: Using Migration Assistant (Mac Only)

Transfer your iTunes library from one computer to another using migration assistant. To Use migration Assistant on Mac computer, here is how it works:

Step 1: Connect both computers (old and new) to the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
Step 2: Open migration assistant from the utility folder of your macOS application folder.
Step 3: Click “continue” and select the option for transfer (Time Machine Backup, or Startup disk).
Step 4: Click on “Continue”.

Method 5: Using iTunes Match

iTunes Match focuses on backing up every iTunes music on iCloud for easy access and use from any location or iDevice. It allows you to backup all your iTunes library and even songs imported from other sources to iCloud at the subscription fee of $25 per year.

How to subscribe to iTunes Match

Step 1: Launch iTunes on your Mac or PC. Go to the menu bar and click Store.
Step 2: Click iTunes Match under Music Quick Link at the right side of the windows.
Step 3: Click “Subscribe” button, and sign in by entering your Apple ID and Password.
Step 4: If you don’t have your billing information on your iTunes, you’ll be asked to validate your billing information and payment method.
Step 5: Check the box to agree to Terms and Conditions. iTunes will start scanning your library for matches, this may take few minutes, but you can pause it to continue later. At the end, you’ll see a download icon next to the items that are available for download.

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