Adding existing music library to iTunes from an external drive
Hello -
Just purchased my first Mac and have moved from a PC. I have about 200 Gigs of music saved on my external hard drive and would like to import my music library to itunes on my macbook pro without adding to the macbook internal memory. Can someone explain how I can do this? Thanks in advance.
go iTunes > preferences > advanced and check if there a tick in the box next to +copy files to ... when adding to library+.
if there is, connect the external to the Mac and, using the finder, drag the folder containing the music files into an open iTunes window *while pressing option on your keyboard*.
if you want to be able to play the content on the drive, be sure the drive is mounted on your desktop next time you launch iTunes !
JGG
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How to transfer music/video to itunes from an external drive?
How to transfer music/videos from an external device?
Drag the file to an open iTunes window. It will add the file to the playlist and put a copy on the drive designated in your preferenecs at the drive on which to store media.
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Want to run iTunes from an external drive, how?
I want to run iTunes from my external drive, I have already made back ups of my library and media files but I can't figure out how to save iTunes to the external drive? When you download itunes it just automatically downloads to the computer. Can you even do this? If not, how can I use the saved info on my external drive (library and media files) with my itunes on the computer. The problem we are trying to solve is a lack of space on our computer and we want to free as much space as possible. Thanks!
I want to run iTunes from my external drive, I have already made back ups of my library and media files but I can't figure out how to save iTunes to the external drive?
Drag the iTunes library to the external drive, launch iTunes with the Shift key held down, and point it there.
(56927) -
I'm trying to figure out how to access my music library from my external drive. I do not have a media library document and believe that I would have to create one based on the music that is on my external drive. Can someone help?
If you're running Windows 8.1, this seems to be a common theme, or some variation there of at least. Myself, I can't even back-up on my iPhone 4S which has iOS 7.1.2 and I'm running iTunes 11.3.0.54 and have resorted to purchased the iTunes Match service to ensure that music on my primary desktop PC (which is paired to my iPhone) will be available on both the iPhone and my Windows 8.1 laptop. Regarding backing up of the iPhone, I'm thinking about going to a third party solution until either Apple and/or Microsoft can figure out why Windows 8.1 is having so many problems with the current version of iTunes (as of this writing 11.3.0.54).
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Itunes won't allow me to add music to library. Itunes designated to external drive.
I have an external drive connected to my mac mini. My itunes library is designated to the external drive insted of my internal drive to save space. When I try to add music to my itunes library it gives me an error stating I do not have permission. How do I work around this?
How exactly did you designate?
When did this happen? From the minute you designated or some time afterward?
The correct answer lies in knowing details not yet provided. Until then:
Read the part about changing permissions on the iTunes folder in: https://discussions.apple.com/message/11583914
Permissions issue when using external drive - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3401007, especially https://discussions.apple.com/message/16675231 and deleting SC Info folder -
How do you play music in itunes from an external drive?
if the library and itunes folder are on the external drive, how do you play the songs from there through a laptop? I have gotten that dreaded "original file not found" message over and over again. Thanks.
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.
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MOVING iTUNES FROM OLD EXTERNAL DRIVE TO NEW EXTERNAL DRIVE
My iTunes folder is currently on an old exHD, and I want to move the folder to my new exHD. I tried "Consolidate," but it froze during the operation (twice). Then I dragged the folder to the new exHD and it copied it perfectly. But iTunes still reads from the old exHD. How do I get iTunes to read from the new drive so that I can trash the old folder on the old drive?
Firstly, are you sure that it's actually copied the file?
Right / Crtl click the song in itunes and select 'get info'
Select the summary tab, and under where, it should tell you the location. If it's not on your hard disk then delete itunes of the songs you imported and do the following:
select preferences (either under file, or tools, I can't remember on windows version of itunes)
Select advanced
Tick 'copy files to itunes music folder when copying'
Tick 'keep itunes folder organised'
This will ensure that your music is stored locally.
Now, drag your old itunes folder into itunes and it will copy them all. -
HT4527 Play Itunes from an external drive
I have a Mac Book air and have backed up my Itunes from my other computer on an external drive. I would like to play the drive from my Mac Book air. I cannot copy the Media files as that would not fit on all my space.
Launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and navigate to that instance of the library. If the external drive doesn't contain the iTunes database files, you'll either need to set iTunes not to copy the content to the iTunes Media folder when imported, or use another method, such as Safari, the QuickTime Player, or the Finder's Quick Look feature to play the content.
(83981) -
How can i use Itunes from an external drive
How can I install iTunes on to an external drive an use as my master librarian for music and movies, it must pretty simple, thanks guys!
Hi,
Read this http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Jim -
Launching itunes from my external drive
How can I place my itunes library on my external drive in order to free up space on my MacBook?
The simplest way to move your iTunes library is to move the entire iTunes folder to the new drive. Then hold down the Option key as you start iTunes and direct iTunes to the library in the new location.
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449 -
After recovery I am not able to load my existing music library into iTunes. I followed instructions given in iTunes. Any comments/suggestions?
Do you see the library and media files on your external drive?
If you recovered the iTunes folder from <User's Music> in the backup to your current <User's Music> folder then the library should all be there with no need to import anything.
Depending on how you backed up the data it is possible that the recovered files are missing the security permissions that iTunes needs to access them. See epair security permissions for iTunes for Windows for advice on how to check and reset if necessary.
tt2 -
I have a very large music library 500 GB on an external drive how do I get it on my brand new iMac intel
This article should help. You didn't mention what format the files are in and what format the external hard drive is, however this article povides the basics. You're probably most interested in the last section titled 'Adding content on your computer to iTunes'.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1473 -
Why can't I move my iTunes library and run iTunes from an external hard drive?
I've been having issues with space on my Macbook pro, so I wish to move my music in order to free up more space. I have been following the instructions on how to run iTunes from an external drive, but each time I attempt it only the 'Automatically Add to iTunes' folder copies to my drive - which has nothing in it.
What is going on?Which exact set of instructions? Just about all of them are wrong, even the ones that specifically say how to move your library.
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 -
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. -
I have an Ipod touch and recently added new music to my Itunes library. When I sync with the library, the new music does not show up on my ipod. The sync process seems to be working and there is still plenty of space on the Ipod for new music so I'm not sure what the problem is!
What happens when you try to sync?
Was the iPod previous synced to another iTunes library/computer?
Have you successfully synced from this iTunes library/computer before?
Do the songs play in iTunes?
Do you have the right boxes checked to sync?
iTunes: Syncing media content to iOS devices and iPod
Do you have any Restrictions (Settings>General>Restrictions) set that would prevent syncing those songs?
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