Backing up iTunes music

I have an external hard drive I'm using to backup my iTunes music. If, for some reason, my computer hard drive crashes and I lose all that music, can I transfer my music from the external hard drive to a new computer without problem? I don't know if there's usage rights or something. Thanks.

If you have any purchased songs and your computer crashes before you have a chance to deauthorise it, you'll need to reauthorise the new installation before the purchased tracks you transfer back can be played: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation
If you are ever planning to reinstall your operating system you should always remember to deauthorise the computer first. If your system crashes or you reinstall your operating system without deauthorising iTunes first, even a single computer can use up your limit of 5 authorisations and you only get the option once a ear to deauthorise them all.

Similar Messages

Can I get back to iTunes Music after failed external hard drive transfer?

I am in the middle of moving a bunch of files to an external hard drive. I followed instructions posted and mentioned on this forum to move iTunes Music; changed iTunes Music folder location to go to the EHD, then consolidated library there. I never deleted the iTunes Music folder that was in My Docs. I noticed a problem with the EHD file and had to delete the iTunes Music folder that I had just set up with a plan to just redo it. I did this thinking that once I reset iTunes to look for the Music folder back in My Docs I would be fine....but, iTunes can not find the original file for any songs. I can manually point iTunes to the song in My Docs, but there must be a better way. I have already changed the Music location in iTunes back to My Docs. Is there something I am missing?
Thanks
Dell Windows XP Pro

cgb33,
You can use the Add Folder to Library option as explained in this article in the Apple Knowledge Base.
Note that while this will add the songs themselves to iTunes, playlist and related information will not be included.

Backed up itunes music, library, now songs are missing??

Hey all,
I recently had to restore my laptop to factory specs, which meant I had to remove and re-install my itunes. I made sure before I restored it to back up all my itunes music folder and database/library files to an external hard drive. As I have over 11,000 songs in itunes (~60gb worth), this process took several hours, but I felt sure everything was backed up and I was good to go.
Wrong! When I re-installed itunes, it asked me to choose a library to use, and so I chose the location on my external hard drive, and all was fine until I unplugged it. Then it wouldn't locate any songs. So I re-imported all my songs and playlists over that were on my hard drive, but it's telling me that some songs can't be found. They should be in there but they're not. So I used a 3rd party software app to move the songs from my ipod to a folder on my computer, but they all have weird names (the way ipod organises the songs) and I don't know which song is which.
To make a long story short, after deleting and re-adding my itunes library, I now have 2-3 copies of each playlist (including the standard ones that automatically are in itunes), and 2 copies of several songs, one of which works and the other doesn't.
Since I still don't have several (possibly 100 or more) songs in my itunes that I do have on my ipod, should I just delete the whole itunes and start over?
All I really want is my itunes library back and the info like the original date added, last played, play count and ratings.
Oh, and I'm using itunes 7.5 b/c I tried 8 and didn't like it.
I really hope someone can help answer me b/c I've been unable to add any new songs to my ipod for 2 months now!

I have now resorted to uninstalling, redownloading, and reinstalling iTunes again.
That won't fix anything.
If you want everything to stay on the external...
Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
Select *Create library*.
Select a folder on the external.
iTunes will create a new iTunes folder.
Inside this folder will be a folder called "Automatically add to iTunes".
Drag all the music on the external to this folder.

How to back up iTunes music so it can be re-imported with Info intact?

After downlaoding latest i Tunes [how I hate to see that notification, "new version available"], lost a whole load of tracks and all Playlists. DOUBLE BAH!!
Took days to sort out problems with iTunes, but done now. [Not before I joined "iTunes *****" - does anybody who uses i Tunes not hate the awful software??]
However, this is not the first time apple software has lost tracks and data. ... [I know, everyone seems to have it happen!] so, ....
I back all my music up on seperate Hard Drive, but when i reimport, it has lost all track info, and, INFURIATINGLY, most tracks have a numeral before the name, which screws up the filing, as u get:
eg: 02 Beethoven, 02Bob Dylan, 03 Bach, 03 Adele... hope you get my drift!
Means I have to rename and re-enter Info for EACH individual bl**ding track.. aaaargh...!!
So is there any way one can back up I pod tunes files so they contain the necessary data to re-import cleanly, I wonder?
Be very keen to get feedback
best
13richjenn

You may get better response, if you post your iTunes issues in the iTunes community forum.

How to add my backed up iTunes Music library...

Hi, I had to restore my MacBook Pro to factory settings, and I moved my iTunes Music library to an external hard drive by copying the music folder (180 GB), and now I want to copy that folder again to iTunes, that has no info, its all clean.
Whats the best way to do it? I dont want to loose anything, and I want to do it as easy as I can, is there a way to add all my music to the new library folder in one step?
thanks.

THe same thing happened to me when My laptop crashed last semester. I had to replace the hard drive and a whole mess of stuff... anyway...
All you need to do is put the CD in and copy the music to the iTunes folder. It was that easy for me. If you have any trouble, call the manufacturer of the new computer (it probably has a warranty, and might have some tricky settings that could be putting a wrench in the works). Usually, they will help you get your new computer up and running, and know the ins and outs of transferring data from one system to another.

Question concerning backing up itunes' music's meta data...

That big ole xml file with your music's information contains an absolute reference to your music files. Now if i were to reinstall my OS and somewhere in this process the letter of the drive containing my music files changes, is itunes "smart enough to recognize that this is the same music that is now in another location (specified in itunes preferences)?
If not how then can i backup this information and re-import it so ALL song information is retained in the fresh install? Where my music is stored on a 2nd hard disk.
Is there any way to tell itunes to store the metadata, settings, etc. in another location so i don’t have to ever do all this again?

Hi, gbm2b.
Generally speaking, iTunes isn't smart enough to recognize a song file with a new path reference as being the same one as it was at an old reference.
Although it did get a bit smarter with iTunes 7 in dealing with changes to the reference under limited circumstances, that hasn't been very well documented and I wouldn't expect it to do so in the situation you're describing.
The best suggestion I can offer is to make sure, at least initially, that you replicate the path to the files on the current installation - default settings would be C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\My Music\iTunes - on the new installation. (User Name itself remaining the same.)
For some other ideas, have a look at Hudgie's User Tip which deals with transferring music from one computer to another. But that's more or less what you're doing, although to be specific you're transferring music from one computer - in the present - to the same computer - in the future.
Post back with any further questions.
EDIT:
And for iTunes, it's the .itl file that is more important than the .xml file. Make sure to take them both along for the ride.

How to reformat OSX while ensuring my data is backed up (iTunes, music, pictures, etc)

I have a Mid 2012 MBP running 10.8.5 and would like to reformat it. However, I would like to ensure that my iTunes library is backed up and remains in tact, as well as any other music, photos, etc...
Also, I use Serato for DJing purposes - i would like to ensure that the metadata inside that software (containing pre-defined cue points, samples, etc...) is also preserved and able to be ported back over post-reformat.
Can somebody help guide me in the direction that I'm looking to go?
Thank you
PS - I have a 500GB external drive that i can backup to

Well, I want to reformat my drive for a simple reason - I just want to start fresh. This was my first MBP (first major Apple device aside from iOS devices) and there was a bit of a learning curve. I'm traditionally a windows guy, and have been in IT for several years - and I've finally come around in the game of the two. However, reformatting and really reinstalling an Apple OS in its entirety is the next thing I'd like to get familiar with - especially to do it on my own to get familiar with it to help for work purposes.
My only concern is ensuring that my iTunes data can come back, and some certain metadata inside another application will be preserved.
I really just want to familiarize myself with the re-installation process (plus I like to perform regular housekeeping on my machines). It's been a little over a year and I'm sure I've got a bunch of junk laying around on this thing at this point - but like I said, this was my learning curve, and I'm ready to start fresh with this puppy.
So, any advice from this point on would be wonderful. Thanks!

What is the best way to continuosly back up itunes music?

I have an external hard drive and I copied my itunes folder onto it for an initial back up.
I'm continuously adding music and would like to know if there's an easy way to add just the new music I upload every week to the "itunes backup" folder on the external drive or is the only way to back up (to the external drive) all of the music that I'm continuously adding to copy the entire itunes folder to the external drive once in awhile (the initial back up took up most of the external drive space, so it wouldn't fit more than one copy of my itunes folder)?
I'm hoping there's an easy way to do this, as I'd prefer not to use discs.
toshiba Windows XP Pro

Use a backup program.

Backing up ITunes Music only not tv shows or videos

I want to back up just my purchased music and NOT the tv shows and videos I purchased. How do I do this?
HP Windows XP

Thanks Josef!
I followed your suggestion. there was no drop-down for aac protected audio file so I typed it in.
Nothing was is the new playlist when I hit OK.
It seems that the purchases I made from ITunes are not in aac format.
So I just created a new Music Purchases Playlist, and burned IT to a disc.
Thanks for helping me understand how to do this!
HP Windows XP

How do I back-up Itunes music onto an external drive?

I wanted to know how I can back up my Itunes onto an external drive. I tried to back up but it will take about 9 discs to burn it onto. Can;t I just drop and drag all the songs onto an external drive?

"Choose Consolidate Library from the Library section of the File menu in iTunes".
I started this process and a screen popped up advising me this was irreversible and was I sure I wanted to do it. I clicked no until I could get further advice. If I do this, what is the outcome/consequences and why would they warn me?

I'm in the process of switching computers. Is it necessary for me to back up my itunes music library somehow, or will my library come up when I install itunes on my new computer?

I'm in the process of switching computers. Is it necessary for me to back my itunes music, or will my library come up when I install itunes on my new computer?

Hello,
I would recommend taking a look at the article below for more information about migrating your iTunes library.
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364
-Griff W.

Is there any way to import from ipod back to itunes??

I have a problem... my hardrive over heated last week, and I lost EVERYTHING. I have to start completely over, and just redownloaded itunes to my fixed computer. luckily, I had a good amount of my music saved on my ipod. however, is there any way to import the other way around, and move music from my ipod back onto my computers and itunes??? i cant stand having an empty library!
-briana

Bit of a pain but possible:
1) My documents, tools, folder options, show hidden files
2) open itunes
3) edit, preferences
The most important bit coming up:
4) LEAVE PREFERENCES OPEN THROUGHOUT WHOLE PROCESS, OTHERWISE IPOD WILL BE WIPED.
5) plug in ipod
6) open my computer
7) ipod should be in devices with removable storage
8) into ipod
9) into ipod control
10) into music
11) select all
12) copy
13) into my documents
14) into my music
15) into itunes (folder)
16) into itunes music (folder)
17) paste
when the paste has finished:
18) use remove ipod icon on toolbar to get ipod disconnected safely
19) into itunes program
20) close preferences
21) file, add folder to library
22) find your way back to itunes music folder
and there it all is. Go back to hiding hidden folders in tools, folder options when done, or they can get in the way (or deleted by mistake!)
no idea how to do any of this on a mac, i'm a PC user!
take it easy,
bignumber5

Backed up iTunes on external drive and lost my playlists

Hey Everyone,
So here is my issue. I use my macbook for DJing purposes and decided to backup my iTunes library to an external hard drive incase of a crash so I dont loose my precious music. So I went into my preferences, Advanced, and changed the iTunes folder location to my external, and consolidated the library which backed up my files to the drive but did not delete them from the internal drive, However whenever I would click a song to play it said it could not find the file. So I went back into preferences and changed the folder location back to iTunes music but that still didnt work. To make a long story short, I ended up Re importing the playlist (From internal Drive) back into itunes which worked fine. Here is my main issue.... All of my playlist folders are there but they are all empty. I have about 100 of them and are very very organized. I am wondering since I backed up the library to the external drive, Are the playlist folders on my external hard drive and how can I retrieve them if they are? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in Advance!

decided to backup my iTunes library to an external hard drive incase of a crash so I dont loose my precious music. So I went into my preferences, Advanced, and changed the iTunes folder location to my external, and consolidated the library which backed up my files to the drive
This is not a backup. This copies everything in iTunes to the new location and iTunes will use that location from now on.
The music located in /Music/iTunesiTunes music/ folder is no longer needed or used by iTunes.
However whenever I would click a song to play it said it could not find the file
iTunes was looking for it on the external (which you probably unplugged/umnounted).
I am wondering since I backed up the library to the external drive
You did not back up the library to the external.
You consolidated everything in iTunes to the external and iTunes will use that.
As Jim noted, if you want to to backup, copy the entire iTunes folder.
Jim'
If you somehow lost it, look for it in the "Previous iTunes Libraries" folder in your music folder.
The itl file gets copied into the *Previous iTunes Libraries* folder only when you update iTunes.

Backing up iTunes to a mobile hard drive

I have been going around in circles trying to back up iTunes music to a mobile hard drive so that they can then be transferred to my new laptop. This seems my only option because the desktop on which I have my iTunes is pretty old, and also isn't able to burn to a CD or DVD. (It can only read them.)
What I seem to have transferred in the XML document is a playlist, and no music, and even that didn't show up in iTunes on my laptop. (The name of the playlist is there on the left with the default playlists, but the list is empty.)
Also, because the tunes I've bought have been loaded to my aged desktop, I can't get them from the Store. I've done the Authorise Computer thing, and read everything in iTunes help related to backup, export, import but they all seem to involve being able to write to a CD or DVD.
And trying to network the two pcs hasn't worked. The laptop can ping the router, but not the desktop. It's a long story, and I've given up on that.
When I try to copy the iTunes folder in My Music, it happens suspiciously quickly, so it's hardly surprising there's nothing in it to arrive at its new home. Any help as to how I can find the actual music on my desktop, copy it to the mobile drive, and then import into iTunes would be very much appreciated.
And thanks for reading this!
Dell Windows XP
Dell Windows XP

I've had success with copying files indivually to the flash drive from the My Music folder. As in, the individual artist files in the My Music folder, just drag and drop them to your flash drive. It would appear that the iTunes folder by itself only contains XML and not the actuall music file.
Once you connect your flash drive to your new computer, drag them right into your iTunes Music folder. You may need to use the iTunes Import function to get iTunes to see them. You can find this in the File Menu of the iTunes application. Just select Import and tell iTunes where you put the files when prompted.
I just did this as a test and it worked for me. Hope this helps!

Time Machine not backing up iTunes folder Proper

I was browsing TM latest backup of my system and noticed that there was one file of iTunes it wasn't backing up "iTunes Music Library.XML" file wasn't included in the backups, anyone know why?

I'm seeing .xml files in my TM backups, however for whatever reason it's not backing up the iTunes "iTunes Music Library.xml" the "iTunes Library.itl" is included in the backup, and all other files and folders under iTunes. I have send this into Apple via the OS X feedback, I see lots of tweaks to TM in the future, after Apple see all the issues people are having with it, as well as suggestion people have forwarded on via feedback.

Backing up iTunes music

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