Is it possible to store all iTunes files on an external drive?

Is it possible to store all iTunes files on an external drive? I'd like to free up space on my Mac Book Air and iTunes is the largest space hog. What can I store on my 1TB external drive and delete from the laptop's hard drive?

Drag the iTunes library there, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and navigate to that instance of it.
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I store my itunes library on an external drive shared between 2 computers and itunes on computer A isn't seeing or showing the songs I added using itunes on computer B.

I store my itunes library on an external drive shared between 2 computers and itunes on computer A isn't seeing or showing the songs I added using itunes on computer B. How to fix this?

I don't know if this is me adding files to iTunes when the external wasn't connected
it is.
is it OK to just keep deleting that library on the Air?
i wouldn't - at least not until i
mount the external
point iTunes media folder location back to the external via preferences > advanced
consolidate my library via file > library > organize library
The ntfs hasn't seem to be causing any problems, but I've always wanted to know.
in order for your Mac to write to NTFS drives, it needs some help by installing e.g. the NTFS 3G driver. apparently that or something similar is installed on your Mac already. preferably, it would be formatted for Mac but then windows machines would need to have e.g. MacDrive installed to recognize the drive.

I have just installed Photoshop Elements for a MAC. MY photos were in iPhoto, I have 47,000 pictures and my drive on my Mac laptop is not large enough. I store my photos in iPhoto on an external drive. Can I store all my photos on an external drive when u

I have just installed Photoshop Elements for a MAC. MY photos were in iPhoto, I have 47,000 pictures and my drive on my Mac laptop is not large enough. I store my photos in iPhoto on an external drive. Can I store all my photos on an external drive when using Photoshop Elements? If so, in what format should they be stored in? I do I move them from iPhoto to the new storage location? How do I call them up in organizer? And how do I call them up to Edit? I do not want to store any pictures on my Apple Mac laptop. I want to store pictures on several external devices.

Yes you can store images on an external hard dive and have them referenced in Organizer. It’s best to export copies to separate folders/subfolders and that will ensure iPhoto does not get corrupted.
Alternatively you could continue to use iPhoto with the Elements Editor set up in the iPhoto prefs as your external editing app. Then there is no need to use Organizer and no need to duplicate your images.
You can then call up photos directly from iPhoto as normal with the additional option e.g.
Double-click on a thumbnail to edit in iPhoto editor.
Control (right) - click on a thumbnail to edit in the elements app.
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/photoshop-elements-iphoto-mac-os.html

How do you move all iTunes files to an External Harddisk?

I have been reading, and trying to understand, all post in this forum on how to move all space consuming iTunes files to an external Harddisk. And quite frankly, I am a bit confused. Well that and most posts are from 2008 and earlier.
Here is my task:
Currently I have my iTunes on my PC Labtop. All music files, movie files and everything i located on this labtop, and now i am running out of storage space!
I then proceeded to buy a WD External network 3TB harddisk on which I would like to move all my iTunes files. For one because i am running out of storage, but also to have it available to other PCs on my network.
I followed the instructions but it did not work. All my music dissapeared from iTunes. I moved, consolidated, redirected as per instructions in Apple document, but still?
I have latest version of iTunes and a very large amount of music and movies.
Can anyone give me an understandable, straight forward instruction and explanation on how to do this and make it work?
Please, and thanks.

Is your library working now? If not can you recall exactly what steps you have taken? You may need to unwind a few of them.
The easy way to move your library from its normal location of <User's Profile>\<User's Music>\iTunes is to simply copy the entire iTunes folder, and all its subfolders, to a new path, e.g. X:\iTunes, where X is the drive letter of the external drive. Having copied the data across you can then hold down the shift key as you click the icon to start iTunes and keep it held until you are asked to create or choose a library. Click choose and navigae to X:\iTunes, then open the file iTunes Library.itl inside it. Job done.
There is a minor "gotcha" if your library is based on the old pre-iTunes 9 layout that will break links to iPod Games/Mobile Applications but this can be avoided if you use the option File > Library > Organize Library... > Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media" before copying the library. Your library should also be consolidated before the move, that is all your media files should be inside the iTunes Media (or iTunes Music) folder which in turn should be inside iTunes.
tt2

Is it possible to run my iTunes solely from an external drive?

I'm a college student and don't have my own computer anymore, and I currently use campus computers and library computers (No admin priviledges).
I currently have all my previous iTunes music backed up on my external drive, and I have the iTunes package (The install package you download from Apple) also on there as well.
I'm basically wondering if I can install iTunes onto my external drive, open it from there, and also be able to access my music from there as well?
To give more clarification, I want to be able to go to a college or library computer (These computers are running on Windows XP or 7), be able to open iTunes from my external drive, and be able to manage and use my library from there.
With college and library computers, you don't have the admin rights to install iTunes. However, I do have friends that will let me use their computer to install iTunes onto my external drive (If that is possible). So not being able to install iTunes because of lack of admin priviledges is a barrier I can get through.
How ever I don't know if it's possible to run, and open iTunes from an external drive, and be able to open and use my iTunes library from there.
And help would be great.
Thanks in advance!

how would I go about putting my iTunes library on an external drive?
It depends on where your library is now and how it's organized. If you have all your content and library files in a single iTunes folder, drag the entire iTunes folder (the _entire_ folder, _not_ just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Shift key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location. Note that this procedure assumes that all of your tracks are contained in the iTunes Music folder. If they're scattered around your volumes, moving them becomes much more complex. Don't delete the tracks from the old location until you've confirmed that they're working correctly from the external drive
Also is it possible to get past administrator rights, to install iTunes and delete iTunes each time I use a computer that I don't have administrator rights to? That way I can still use iTunes.
No, it's not possible. As with most applications, you need administrator rights to install iTunes.
Regards.

Keeping itunes files on 2 external drives?

i keep my itunes files on an external hard drive right now, i just got a 500gb external drive to back up all my files. how can i keep my current drive as a primary drive for itunes to load up to and also have the files copied into the new drive as a backup all the time? i want all files current and if i change info on a song or album it will upgrade on both drives. how can i backup all my itunes files onto the new hard drive and still have it be recognized by itunes.

Here is what I do if it will assist you.
The iTunes folder is in the My Documents-Music folder.
I copied the whole iTunes folder to an external hard drive as a backup. When I download a new song, movie, upload a new movie from a DVD movie, etc. I copy this song, movie, etc. to the external hard drive and then copy the iTunes Music Database file and iTunes Music Library file over.
So, when I make a change I copy the file over and move the two; iTunes database and library file over.
It works. I have restored to 6 installs already and everything is there in place. I dont have to do anything.
(Oh, dont forget to deauthorize the computer when formatting the computer)
It looks like this is what you are doing.
I have 375GB of iTunes data and am converting all my 300 DVDs to MP4 and uploading into iTunes. Love watching movies on my iPhone. No one bothers me . You cant make DVDs with this much data so an external 500GB+ hard drive is needed. The first move is long, but moving additional files over is pretty quick.
Also as a 3rd backup my iTunes folder is also on my work computer. It takes longer to move changes over...Primary iTunes folder to external drive. Take external drive to work someday and move the files there. Done.
Message was edited by: Wizarc
Message was edited by: Wizarc

Is it possible to keep all iTunes media on an external hard drive and not on my Mac Book and have ITunes still function?

Let me begin by saying I'm new to the Mac world as well as to the realm of online forums so I apologize if this is a question that was already asked and/or if it is a very noobish question...
But anyway, I just recently got the new Macbook Pro 15" with RD and I am curious if I can keep all of my Itunes media on an external hard drive without keeping any of it on the Macbook itself and have Itunes still function (when the HD is connected of course). I am trying to keep the computer memory clutter free and not fill it up with music and stuff so I want to keep all of my media on a 1T Buffalo external hard drive so the computer stays like brand new for a long time..Right now I have about 5G worth of music on my hard drive and I thought it was only on the hard drive and I just recently found out that it is also within the music folder on the computer itself. Any thoughts? Sorry if it is an odd question, I can try to rephrase the question if need be. Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated, Thanks!

Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
If you put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)
Longer answers if for any reason you do not think all library files are inside your iTunes folder (changed preferences settings at some point):
iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168
2011 ilounge article: Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/ - An article with good background information (similar to the links above), particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick answer above. Unfortunately under the single term "transferring library" it describes two very different moves; relocating just your media (not really transferring your library and not recommended unless you really need this configuration), and relocating media+database (really your whole "library"). Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media.

How do I store my iTunes library on an external drive and can I still access it as I would if it was still all sitting on the mini mac?

The mini mac is full and I want to be able to use the 2 tb drive as storage and time machine. How do I get the content onto the external drive and access it it and hoe does new content get downloaded and stored to the drive not the mac? Also can I have 1 drive playing storeage and back up or do I need a second? Basic questions I suspect but not to me!

1. Drag the library to the external drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and point it there.
2. Get a second. Having the backups on the same drive as the original data won't help when that drive fails.
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How to transfer or reassociate iTunes files from one external drive to another without reimporting?

Hello,
Hope someone can tell me an easy way to do this.
I have a massive itunes library which is presently split between my macbook and my external Lacie. I would like to transfer the files from the Lacie to a new external drive without reimporting all the files into itunes. I essentially would like itunes to recognise the path of the new drive instead of the files on the Lacie.
Any ideas?

I moved some movies and some seldom listened music (coped the files) into a folder on the Lacie drive. Then I reimported them to the main itunes library while holding down "option". This created a link to those files to the external. the files show up in my itunes but cannot be played unless i have the Lacie connected to them.
See this link.
http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_split_your_itunes_library_across_multi ple_locations

I moved by iTunes files to an external drive because I was changing computers. I then moved the files to the new computer. My iPod is not linking with the files on the computer. What can I do?

I moved my iTunes files from my old computer to an external hard drive. I then moved those files to the new computer. My computer and iPad are not linking up (recognizing each other?). I installed the latest version of iTunes onto the new computer to see if that would help. It did not--I got the message that an iPad can only be linked up with one computer and the new download would not work with this iPod. So the iTunes' library and my iPod are not connecting, and I have no way of installing or removing new songs onto my iPad. What should I do to correct this?

Sorry, I had a typo. The last sentence should have read "iPod" (iPad): So the iTunes' library and my iPod are not connecting, and I have no way of installing or removing new songs onto my iPod. What should I do to correct this?

HT4103 have a problem with shared file does not exist? used sudo but "no file in directory". i think the problem is from when i tried to move itunes files to an external drive to save space on laptop, cant remember what i actually did!

followed support steps (sudo) to recover itunes sync authorization "permission error" but did not work

i tried both steps but did not help: "disk utility" first aid and iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization.

How do I move an iTunes library from one external drive to another?

I need to move my iTunes library from one external disk to another, because the original disk is about to fail. So, I went into iTunes Perferences --> Advanced, and set the library to a new, empty folder on the new drive.
Nothing changed. I expected all my music to vanish from iTunes, so that I would have to re-import it. However, all the music remained, still on the old disk. At this point, if I were to recreate the library on the new disk, I would have all of my music twice.
Is it possible to move an iTunes library from one external drive to another, or am I stuck with my original choice until I buy a new machine? If I can move it, can one of you clever folks explain how it could be done?

Paul Seymour1 wrote:
However, those are all dealing with old versions of iTunes that still contained the Advanced --> Consolidate Library command which is no longer part of the app. (I'm on iTunes 10.6.1.)
Consolidate is still part of iTunes.
It is in iTunes menu File > Library > Manage library > Consolidate.
The article you linked to is old and it is (and was) a hacky way of doing it.
Just copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to new location, hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) when launching iTunes.

Does importing files from an external drive copy them to my internal drive?

Hi,
I'm a PSE newbie and this is my first post here. I have a question about importing files. I store all my pictures on an external drive. Does importing the files copy them to the Adobe folder? If yes, can I now work on a picture even if the external drive is disconnected?
Will I get an email notification when someone answers my question?
Thanks.

Hello dj_paige,
Thanks for your reply. I did get an email notification.
I've discovered that the photo files are actually copied over to the Pictures folder. Why do I need to keep my external drive connected when working on a file then?

Is it possible to store all my itunes music in the cloud and retrieve as needed from my iphone

Bought my wife an 16G Iphone 5 for Christmas. She went to upgrade to 32G the day after Christmas and was told she'd have to pay a $35 restocking fee? She needs the extra storage for music thus my question: is it possible to store all my itunes music in the cloud and retrieve as needed?

Good morning K
A couple of things.
     1. Anything you buy from itunes can be stored on the icloud free. It doesn't count against storage.
     2. Music not from itunes can be stored in the cloud free up to the storage limit.
     3. If you use and pay for itunes match (25$ a year) it will match as much of your music against the Apple      library and then only store your non-matched music in the cloud. This is great for large libraries.
     4. When you request a song from the cloud it needs to be connected to the net to download it so you can play                    it. It then is stored on your iphone. You may eventually want to delete it from the iphone but it will                      be available in the icloud for future download.
                 Just don't agree to "delete from icloud also.
Cheers

HT204266 Cannot access itunes store from itunes - says to check internet connection. I have internet connection. I've unistalled ALL itunes files and associated files, and reinstalled?

Cannot access itunes store from itunes - says to check internet connection. I have internet connection. I've unistalled ALL itunes files and associated files, and reinstalled?

Try this:
1. Settings>General>Date & Time>Turn off set automatically
2. Set date one year ahead
3. Go back to iTunes and try again.
4. You will get the same error.
5. Go back to settings general date and time and turn back on 'set automatically'
Try connecting to iTune Store again.

Is it possible to store all iTunes files on an external drive?

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