How can I combine two iTunes media folders without losing media?

I have two media folders. One on an external drive that I used on an old PC before migrating to a new one, and my internal HDD on the new PC. My internal drive became nearly full so I had to start using my external drive and iTunes media folder again. So, right now iTunes looks to my internal drive for most of the media and my external drive for some of it. Now, I need to move all the media files back to the external drive and, hopefully, in one place. The primary challenge is that I don't know how to move the media files (and metadata) efficiently. I just don't know which folders have been affected and so a standard copy -> paste won't work because the PC will try to overwrite the folders and I have no idea which ones can be overwritten and which can't. Ugh...does this make sense? Thank you!!!

Hi there theskyisblue,
You can indeed switch between two different iTunes libraries, and this article outlines how:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
If iTunes is running, quit iTunes.
If you're using Windows, hold down the Shift key and from the Start menu, choose All Programs > iTunes > iTunes.
If you're using a Mac, open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option key.
You should see one of these screens:
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the best,
Sterling

Similar Messages

How can I combine two itunes accounts into one?

How can I combine two itunes accounts into one?

Items purchased from the iTunes Store are permanently associated with the account from which they were originally purchased. Apple provides no way to change this.
However, if you wish to put content from two accounts into a single iTunes library, you can easily do so. Use the command File > Add File (or Folder) to Library.

How can I combine two iTunes accounts?

I had an iTunes account at home then created another at work. How can I combine the two?
When I received an iPad2 at work, I was required to have/initiate an account during the setup process. I couldn't remember what email address my personal iTunes account was under, so I set up another and began using it to load required and desired apps on my iPad. Openning my windows laptop for the first time in months, I now see that my personal iTunes account was under a really old email address (which is why I couldn't recall it at work).
The (old) personal account has many podcasts and personal music, yet the new iPad account is linked to my work apps. Is it possible to merge the two?

Hi vwalker,
I have the same issue, but it seems that Apple will not let you merge itunes accounts. Refer to this FAQ, specifically the text below:
I have multiple Apple IDs. Is there a way for me to merge them into a single Apple ID?
Apple IDs cannot be merged. You should use your preferred Apple ID from now on, but you can still access your purchased items such as music, movies, or software using your other Apple IDs.
If you are wondering how using multiple Apple IDs relate to iCloud, see Apple IDs and iCloud.
This is the original website: http://support.apple.com/kb/he37
Now I have to add that this is rather disappointing as I have some purchases on my old itunes account which I would like to merge into my current iTunes account (which was created due to an oversight). The oversight was, I thought my original iTunes was converted to @me.com one when I signed up for the 90 day trial to use mobileme services.

How do I combine two iTunes accounts to one.?

How do I combine two iTunes accounts into one?

iTunes Account = Apple ID...
From Here http://support.apple.com/kb/HE37
I have multiple Apple IDs. Is there a way for me to merge them into a single Apple ID?
Apple IDs cannot be merged. You should use your preferred Apple ID from now on, but you can still access your purchased items such as music, movies, or software using your other Apple IDs.

How can I combine two databases, from two computers, to have one combined database of messages?

My old XP computer recently died and I had to build a new Windows 8.1 machine. While I was down I used a laptop as a temporary replacement. Now my new machine is running fine and receiving e-mail, but I now have two databases--one on the new machine and one on the laptop. Both are based on a recent backup, so they are lengthy--except that the new machine's database has a hole in it for the period I was on the laptop and the laptop's database also has gaps. How can I combine two databases into one that includes the messages from both machines?
Thanks in advance,
profsimonie

Thanks for your reply. My profile folder did not contain any MBOX files. I found them in another folder on another drive. The Import-Export tools simply transferred each folder to the current one as a sub-folder. Then I had to use ctrl-a to select everything in the folder and move them manually to the current folder (such as inbox). Then I could use the other utility you mentioned to remove the duplicates. This had to be done, one folder at a time, to combine each folder. It worked, but I had about thirty-five folders to deal with. The whole process took most of two days to complete. I wish there was a simple way to blend everything together in one action, but I could not find an add-on that would do this.
Frank Simonie

HT203167 How can I combine 2 Itunes accounts

How can I combine two i tunes accounts?

If you mean iTunes Store accounts, you can't.
If you mean iTunes libraries, import the content and playlists from one to the other.
(102899)

How can I have two itunes accounts on one computer?

How can I have two itunes accounts on one computer?

Not sure what you mean.
An account is a user name and password.
Sign into whichever account you want to use for purchasing.
Authorize the computer for both account to listen to the content.

How can i make an iTunes store acount without a credit card?

how can i make an iTunes store acount without a credit card?
im israeli and the israel store is only the app store.
i want to get stuff for free without a credit card.
help?!?

Just go get a prepaid Visa or something. Put a small amount of money on it and then use that to open an account. If that doesnt work just call them. Contacting Apple for Support and Service 1 800 275-2273

How can i delete the masters of iPhoto without losing my photos

Mac Book Pro (Mid 2012) 13 inches
256 Solid State Start up Insert in DVD Drive
1T Hard Drive in reg slot
16 GB Ram
Mavericks 10.9.4
iphoto 9.5.1
I am currently keeping my iPhoto library on my 256 SS Main Drive of my MacBook Pro.
How can I delete the masters of iPhoto without losing my photos in the main iPhoto display library and all their masters and edits.
I take loads of photos and import them and then will keep only 5% of the ones that I import. As a result I have a masters folder of over 50GB and actual photos that take up less that 5GD. Is it possible to delete the master folder without losing all the photos and without having to pain stakingly go through every folder and pick out from literally hundreds the ones that i kept and edited. How do I reduce the size of the masters just down to the ones that I have kept and not every single photo and video that I imported in the history of my iPhoto experience.
If I delete the master folder will all the photos and their edits be deleted.
If so, is there a way to just delete the masters that are no longer in the iPhoto library, while keeping the masters and edits of the ones that I clearly want to keep because they are the ones that I did keep.
Why do they keep the masters of photos that I clearly deleted and emptied the trash on.
I like to maximize space and this would help a lot to clear up for me. Thank you.

All the 5000 photos that reappeared after repair today were from my canada mega event, but for some reason it did not do it for all the other mega events. It is a start but not complete.
Try the rebuild to recover more lost photos.
If "rebuild" with iPhoto does not recover more lost photos, rebuild with iPhoto Library Manager as described by Old Toad in this thread, but rebuilding with iPhoto Library manager will not recover your projects like cards, bilks, slideshows.
Re: iPhoto glitch with retained masters https://discussions.apple.com/message/26354337#26354337
Mostly the way I organize all my photos is that I make a folder for each country I visit. i.e. New Zealand Folder, Canada Folder, India Folder; and at the same time, any photos that I import I delete directly from new imports and just keep the ones i want and then i go up to events and move the latest imported event into a mega event for that country and so they all get joined in a sense.
As a workaround, merge the events right after importing, before you start deleting photos. And empty the trash always before merging projects.
You might consider to use albums instead of events for your country lists. I simply use the events as basic containers. One event for each day of shooting photos. I found, that smart albums and searches are quicker in iPhoto and Aperture, if the events are smaller, also browsing is easier, if the events are not so large.
You can merge albums and remove photos from albums without the problems mentioned above.

HT4847 How can I change my iCloud email address without losing all my data and what not???? Please help...

How can I change my iCloud email address without losing all my data and what not???? Please help...

Welcome to the Apple Community.
You can't change it but you can create an alias to use.

Can I combine two iTunes user id's/accounts into one?

I have 2 different user id's/usernames (the log in credential used when signing into iTunes) and one of them is an email address that I no longer have.
How can I combine both accounts into the one that is still valid, or is this even possible?
If not then how would I delete the account that I no longer want to use, and how can I retain purchases made using the old account into the account that I'll continue to keep?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry about the redundant post. I see that this question has already been posted and answered.
Please disregard and forgive the offense.

How can I combine two queries ? QoQ does not work

I have one query where I just count the total qty coming in per month, something like:
<cfquery name="qryIn" datasource="dbname">
select count(orderNO) as totalIN,month
where status = "IN"
group by month
</cfquery>
I then have a second query to count the total qty going out per month
<cfquery name="qryOut" datasource="dbname">
select count(orderNO) as totalOut,month
where status = "OUT"
group by month
</cfquery>
I then use QoQ to combine both:
<cfquery="qryTotal" dbtype="query">
select
totalIN,
totalOUT
from qryIN,qryOUT
where qryIN.month = qryOUT.month
</cfquery>
The problem I am running into is that QoQ does not allow LEFT JOIN, so that if the month is in one query but not the other, it will not pick up that record. And that is throwing off my counts.
How can I combine both queries, and bypass QoQ to get a qty IN and qty Out value, per month ? and, for example, if qty in exists for one month and qty Out does not exists for that month, then qty Out will be zero for that month.
I need this data to plot a chart.
Thanks for any help provided.

Do it in a single query to your database. Here is part of it.
select month
, sum(case when when status = "IN" then 1 else 0 end) total_in

How can I combine two iPhoto albums?

How can I combine several IPhoto albums?

Select the photos in Album B and drag them onto Album A in the side pane that will put them in that album. Do the same for Album B, and C, etc.
OT

How to get ipod out of recovery mode without losing media.

i tryed to update my ipod on another computer and it put it in recovery mode.how do i get it out of recovery mode without losing media.

If this program does not work then you will have to restore.
RecBoot: Easy Way to Put iPhone into Recovery Mode

How can I combine two "My ITunes Folders"

I have been reading the discussion forums for weeks but have not found a solution to my problem and was hoping someone might be able to help. Here is my situation.
Background:
I have a large collection of CD’s that I wanted to import into itunes. Looking at the prospect of importing approx 4,000 cd’s I decided to “divide and conquer”. My wife took half and I took half and we each proceeded to import the cd’s onto our respective PC’s. Unfortunately when he “met in the middle” we didn’t realize it and we each proceeded to import cd’s that the other had already done (i.e. when comparing our music folders there are some duplicates).
Problem:
The real question I am trying to get answered is how I can combine the two separate itunes music folders into one. I would like to combine the two folders and then have one itunes music folder that I can import into itunes.
Any Suggestions? We used iTunes to organize the folders so they use the same “artist, album, song” hierarchy.

Try this -> syncOtunes

How can I combine two iTunes media folders without losing media?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for