Switching library from pc to mac

I just got a imac and want to switch my itunes library over to it from my old pc. How do I do it?

To make a seamless transition from Windows file paths to Mac files paths, you need to get all your content files in the default "iTunes Music" folder (C:Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music on xp; C:\Users\<username>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music on Vista) -- do this by opening iTunes Edit menu -> Preferences -> Advanced; click the "Reset" button for "iTunes Music folder location", then click the OK button to save prefs.
Now choose iTunes File menu -> Library -> Consolidate Library; this will copy all the content files that iTunes knows about into the default "iTunes Music" folder. When that's done, quit iTunes; then connect a FAT32-formatted external HD to the PC and make a copy of the "iTunes" folder (not just the "iTunes Music" folder! You want to get the entire "iTunes" folder).
On the Mac, install iTunes and let it run once, just to get set up; then quit iTunes. Connect the external drive to the Mac, and use the "iTunes" folder on the external to replace the "iTunes" folder on the Mac that iTunes just created; when the Mac asks about replacing existing files or folders, answer Yes To All. When copying is done, you're all set -- everything from the PC is now on the Mac: playlists, ratings, counts, dates added, downloaded art, etc.

Similar Messages

  • Itunes + Switching Library from PC to MAC

    I've been reading the FAQ's on iTunes, and I've notived it only has guides that shows how to transfer your music from PC to another PC or Mac to Another Mac.
    I'm buying a MacBook Pro this week, and I want to keep all my music, is this going to be possible? If so, can anyone point out a guide in which I can do this?
    Thanks,
    Alex

    Copied from http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=23676:
    "From the Finder:
    Help: Mac Help
    Select: New to Mac OSX?
    Select: For Windows Switchers
    Select: Transferring Files from Windows to Mac
    Select: More about transferring files from Windows to Mac
    Select: Transferring your Music from a Windows computer
    Do the stuff they say to do.
    If you have music from the iTMS on your PC be sure to deauthorize the PC (from within iTunes Windows) before you try to play that music on the new Mac. It will save you grief later.
    On Windows:
    Pathname:
    My Documents\My Music\iTunes
    Find the files:
    iTunes library.xml
    iTunes 4 music library.itl
    Be sure a copy of both is in your iTunes folder you transfer, or just copy them to the Mac if you've already copied the music over.
    On the Mac, go to:
    iTunes: File: Import
    ... and browse to the file you copied from Windows:
    iTunes Music Library.xml
    If the extension is different (ie .txt; sometimes it changes when transferring across platforms) just edit it to .xml before you try importing.
    The .xml file should import fine; it's the same format and is named exactly the same way on both platforms (don't ask me why I have two different names in my example above; I found conflicting information; but it doesn't really matter. Use whatever you find there as is). That's where you library data (playlists, ratings, etc) resides."
    Hope that helps.

  • How can i put my itunes library from an old mac g4 10.4.11 to an ipod2?

    How can i put my itunes library from an old mac g4 10.4.11 to an ipod2?

    Install iTunes 9.2.1 on your computer. If the device's requirements specify iTunes 10 or newer, you need to purchase Mac OS X 10.5 on DVD.
    (63879)

  • Can some please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates?  I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my Mac

    Can someone please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates?  I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my new Mac.  I ended up getting a bunch of duplicates. My old Mac has an older version of iPhoto while the new Mac has iPhoto '11.  Is that the cause of the problem?  Please advise.  Thanks.

    Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
    Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
    This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
    Regards
    TD

  • How do I transfer iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Air and retain the Albums?

    I just transferred my iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Air by dragging the entire Library from my Pictures folder onto an external HD and then dragging from there onto my new Air. Transfer effected fine and all images now appear in iPhoto on the new Air. One problem: the Albums that were present on the left hand toolbar in iPhoto on my old machine are no longer there, so I have 50,000 images with no organization. Events are still there organized by date so that is something, but the Albums are not there and that is what I primarily relied on. Help please??

    The left hand pane is the source pane. Were both Macs running the same version of iPHoto?
    Try rebuilding the library with the option to Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
    OT

  • HT1364 can you move an itunes library from pc to mac?

    Hi everyone,
    The days of my laptop are nearing the end and I'm strongly leaning towards purchasing a macbook. Can you transfer your media library from pc to mac?
    Can you export a copy your library onto an external drive as I don't know how much longer this laptop will last?
    Thanks for the help

    Sorry, I obviously wasn't clear. If you replicate the library from Computer 1 to Computer 2 by copying it, then all will be well. I routinely sync my iPhone and iPad both at home and at work using a single library that I migrate between the two locations via an external drive which is kept up do date using SyncToy.
    Backup the iPod touch on Computer 1.
    Copy the entire iTunes folder from Computer 1 to Computer 2, replacing any existing iTunes folder on Computer 2.
    Check that content is accessible in the migrated library. (Won't be a problem for a standard iTunes library where all the content is inside the iTunes Media folder which in turn is inside your iTunes folder).
    Connect iPod touch to Computer 2.
    Sync.
    In the unlikely event that something goes wrong (it won't) then you can connect the device back to Computer 1 to restore it.
    Note device backups are not stored within the iTunes library and stay on the machine on which they were created. It is theorectically possible to migrate them but there isn't really any point. Once you have synced the iPod with the copy of the library on Computer 2 then Computer 2 will make its own backup of the device.
    tt2

  • After getting a new dell laptop, I was able to easily move my itunes library from my old mac to my new laptop,however now when I try to sync my music to my iphone,my songs have an exclimation point next to it and cant sync most of my music. HELP!

    I recently was given a new dells windows 7 laptop. I then was able to successfully move my itunes library from my old mac to my new dell. Now I am trying to sync my whole library of music back onto my iphone 4, but when I try it says most of my music can not be located. I have exclimation points next to the majority of my music (I have 368 songs in my itunes acount). Please help me be able to sync my songs to my iphone. I am only able to sync about 31 of my songs.

    Copy them from your old computer, or your backuo copy of your old computer. to your new one.
    The music sync is one way - computer to ipod.  the exception is itunes purchases.

  • I have mac book air os x 10.8.2  i create a photo library on iPhoto and i moved it to my time capsule disk now i try to access  library from my wife mac book running on mac os x 10.5.8 i always receive library locked on locked disk

    i have mac book air os x 10.8.2  i create a photo library on iPhoto and i moved it to my time capsule disk now i try to access  library from my wife mac book running on mac os x 10.5.8 i always receive library locked on locked disk

    Unless you can set the Time Capsule's drive to have it's ownership ignored
    you won't be able to use the library on the same volume as the Time Machine backups. 
    OT

  • I purchased a new mac book pro,how can I transfer my music library from my old mac book pro?

    I purchased a new mac book pro, how do transfer my music library from my old mac book pro to the new one?

    Use the Migration Assistant app.

  • How to switch CC from Windows to Mac

    I have Creative Cloud on my Windows desktop and laptop. I am considering moving to a new Macbook Pro. How do I switch CC from Windows to Mac?
    Thanks,
    Mike

    I appreciate the advice, but I've discovered that my OS has to be updated first (was 10.6.8) and am in the process of upgrading to Yosemite. Then I will try to login to Creative Cloud on the Mac and from there navigate as you describe. I hope to report this worked!
    Mike

  • I am trying to transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac; however, all that transfers is the music I downloaded from itunes.  It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's.

    How do I transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac?  When I try all that transfers is what I downloaded from Itunes.  It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's/.

    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.
    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.
    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 
    Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381
    2011 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, particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick  solution above. Unfortunately it uses the single term "transferring library" for two very different moves; relocating just your media (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.
    If you put it 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.)

  • Switching library from mac to windows

    I was wondering if anybody knew how to correctly switch the library from mac to windows. my problem is i have been using the ipod on my wifes mac laptop, now i have a new pc with windows xp. when i plug in my ipod i see my songs but i cannot edit them or play them. any ideas,,thank you in advance and have a great day.

    i figured it out,,,i had the lock set on the ipod. typical male in me..

  • Transferring iTunes Library from PC to Mac (while keeping files on External Hard Drive)

    Hi,
    I've been using iTunes on my old PC (HP 2000 Notebook) and accessing all of my music from a 1 TB Toshiba external hard drive. I recently switched to a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to get my iTunes Library (145 GB worth of stuff) on to the Mac while 1) retaining my playlists, checked songs, etc. from the old computer and 2) without having to transfer the files from the external hard drive on to the Mac in order to save space.
    I've tried the Hold Options + clicking iTunes and choosing the folder (my iTunes media folder on the old computer is saved to I:\1 NTFS\Music), and when I choose that folder on the Mac, it instead brings up a really out-of-date iTunes library instead of my current one.
    Does anyone have a solution that might help me get my current library on to the Mac?
    Thanks in advance!
    Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5
    Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
    Capacity: 251 GB Flash Storage

    Hi,
    I've been using iTunes on my old PC (HP 2000 Notebook) and accessing all of my music from a 1 TB Toshiba external hard drive. I recently switched to a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to get my iTunes Library (145 GB worth of stuff) on to the Mac while 1) retaining my playlists, checked songs, etc. from the old computer and 2) without having to transfer the files from the external hard drive on to the Mac in order to save space.
    I've tried the Hold Options + clicking iTunes and choosing the folder (my iTunes media folder on the old computer is saved to I:\1 NTFS\Music), and when I choose that folder on the Mac, it instead brings up a really out-of-date iTunes library instead of my current one.
    Does anyone have a solution that might help me get my current library on to the Mac?
    Thanks in advance!
    Processor: 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5
    Memory: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
    Capacity: 251 GB Flash Storage

  • Best way to move/copy iTunes library from PC to Mac

    Hi,
    What's the best way to get my iTunes library from my PC to my new Mac?
    The two computers are both networked.
    Thanks.

    Greetings David:
    I have just completed this task... It took many attempts to get the two computers talking (windows xp pro, and new Imac g5). When I finally got them to talk to each other, the file transfer was brutallly slow. I used the ether-net cable to connect the two machines directly. The system was not very stable and crashed continuously. I would get one or two songs transferred and then the mac would lock up and require a restart (command option esc), via force quit of finder. Relaunch would not work, and I had to shut the machine off with the on off switch each time.
    Today I finally burned the tunes on 2 CDs and simply dumped them into the music file. The PC burns a full ( ~ 800 megs) in about 10 minutes. Mac can down load the CD in ~ 6 minutes. This adds up to less than 20 minutes. Using the direct connection (indicated 100 Mbts/sec on the PC) the process was pathetically slow (hours restarting and horsing around).
    One of my goals was to get the machines talking to each other, having accomplished this, it think it is not a worthwhile effort.
    Best of luck to you,
    Mike

  • How to move itunes library from PC to mac

    im getting a iMac intel core duo 17" very soon. I currently have my 1,750 song iTunes library on my PC. to move my library, should I connect the computers with a cable? then do the same thing as moving the library with an iPod? (except for the ipod part)
    thanks

    Hey all,
    I haven't been on this section of the apple site for a while. I sadly took a job at a school where they use pcs.
    Anyway I thought I could help.
    I've transfer full music folders from two computers many times but never a library from a pc to a mac. Let me explain the difference.
    The folder that holds all your music only holds your music. IE on mac (osx) its ~/Music/iTunes Library/Music
    and on a pc (windows 2000 and newer) its in
    /Documents and Settings/user name/My Music/iTunes/Music
    The "Library" is the thing that keeps tracksof your albums. I belive this file is in XML format and should work the same on both a pc and mac.
    Anyway, this is how you transfer the whole thing from one machien to the other over a network.
    It is best if you wire them together. Proccess goes much faster.
    On the mac we must first turn it into a server that the pc can talk to
    When you are logged in as an administrator on the mac go to the apple menu > system prefernces
    click on sharing
    enable windows sharing. You may also need to enable an account to connect with. I recomend that you enable the user who gets the music. ( i can clerify this if requested [email protected])
    Ok then on the PC
    go to the start menu > run
    type in your macs ip address or name
    it should look something like this \\192.168.1.2
    then clock ok, wait a bit and eventualy it will ask for a username and a password. Use them name and pass for the user you enabled in the sharing control panel step
    then you will see a window with your users folder in it.open it and navigate to the Music folder.
    I hope that you havent loaded anymsuic on that user gets trickeier if you did and you may not be able to keep your albums. I can expalin this too in greater detail later.
    So you have one window that shows the content of your mac and ist user.
    Now we need to go get the documents out of the pc.
    Open the "My Documenst" fodlder on the desktop and open my msuic. within it you will find an iTunes folder just like the one on the mac. replace the one on the windows machine with the one on the mac and let it copy. Dont let either machine sleep or you might have to do it again.
    Anyway. I hope this helps. I see they now have added browny points to peoples posts. And I was just happy helping people switch.
    Anyway now to find a solution to my problem cheers
    pax

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