How can I transfer my windows itunes library to external disc and then import to my Mac so that I can synch my ipad

What is the process for transferring my itunes library from my windows machine to my Mac via external drive so that I can start to synchronize my ipad without losing the existing music on it?

Assuming your media folder hasn't been split out to a new location you need to copy the entire iTunes folder from the <User's Music> folder on one machine into <User's Music> on the other. This might be easier to do over a network, although having a backup on a drive is a good move.
tt2

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Can I cut/paste my backups to an external hdd and then back to my mac?

Ok, here's my issue and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
I have an iPhone6 and my wife has one as well, and we both have iPads.
I have to backup all of these somewhere, and my current device is a Macbook Pro with 250gb SSD.
As you understand, backing up so many things in so little space it almost renders my Macbook useless.
I have read some advice about using sudo commands to make iTunes store the backups in an external hdd.
However, I am not an experienced mac user, and I do not trust myself doing something like that.
What came to my mind, and that's what I want your opinion upon, is the following.
Something that I used to do when I was using a windows pc to keep many different backups, rename them etc.
As far as I understand, when I plug in my iPhone to my Mac, iTunes recognize the device and the last backup of that device.
Then, by pressing "Backup to my pc etc" it only updates that backup and rewrites on it.
My questions:
I backup my iPhone then quit iTunes.
I remove (cut) the backup folder (the one with the huge weird name from the directory library/application support/mobile sync/backup/0604f04blabhblahblah) and paste it on an external hdd where I have tons of space.
When I want to backup my iPhone again, instead of creating a whole new backup that would take a lot of time, if I take the backup folder that I had stored to that external hdd and paste it back to its original place (the directory I mentioned above), will iTunes recognize it and update and rewrite on that backup?
And then again move it back and forth from my mac to my external hdd.
And something even more important.
In case something happens to my iPhone (it falls from the 10nth floor) and I buy a new one, will I be able to "restore from backup" using the same method I mentioned before? Will iTunes recognize the folder?
Sorry for the long text and any mistakes but english is not my mother tongue and I wanted to make sure I would be clear about my questions.
My current backups use more than half of my 250gb internal SSD and along with some apps and other stuff I cannot get rid off I am left with only 50gigs of space which is terrible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

edwardpeck wrote:
If I have iMatch can I move the music files to an external drive and then play the music off the cloud? This way freeing up space on my hard drive? If so how?
You can move the iTunes library to the external and use it there.
Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folde rto the external.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
iTunes will use the external for everything.You can delete /Music/iTunes/ folder.
FYI: The iTunes media folder is not the (entire) iTunes library.

How do I transfer my Windows iTunes library to my Apple Mac?

I've got my iTunes library on my Windows PC. I've now bought an Apple Mac and want to move it there. How do I do this?

Migrate Your iTunes Library from Windows to Mac (and keep your ratings, play counts and date added)
http://www.tunequest.org/migrating-your-itunes-library-from-windows-to-mac/20061 105/
A Guide to Switching iTunes from Mac to Windows (or Vice Versa)
http://ipod.about.com/b/2007/03/11/a-guide-to-switching-itunes-from-mac-to-windo ws-or-vice-versa.htm
Cheers,
Patrick

How can I transfer my whole iTunes library using home sharing? At the moment it is only sharing a few songs from each album.

How do I transfer my entire iTunes library from my old laptop to my new one? At the moment using Home Sharing only transfers a few songs from each album. Is there another way I can transfer from one laptop to another?

Hello DeanoH1975,
The following article provides several options available for transferring your library to a new computer, and details each process.
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Cheers,
Allen

How do I transfer/copy my itunes library from 1 external hard drive to another one?

How can i transfer/copy my itunes library from 1 external hard drive to another one?

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

How do i transfer my existing itunes library from my imac to my usb memory stick

how do i transfer my existing itunes library from my imac to my usb memory stick

assuming all your media files are in the default location, copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music or media folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music to the USB stick.

HT201269 I have my iTunes library on my Windows 7 machine on an external hard drive. I purchased a new Macbook and would like to point my new machine at my iTunes library without losing anything and then deactivate iTunes on the Windows machine, help ple

I have my iTunes library on my Windows 7 machine on an external hard drive. I purchased a new Macbook and would like to point my new machine at my iTunes library without losing anything and then deactivate iTunes on the Windows machine, help please

Sorry, but this does not seem to be an iPad question. I'd therefore suggest you ask in the iTunes for Mac forum.
Regards.

How do I move imovie 11 events to an external drive and then access through imovie?

How do I move imovie 11 events to an external drive and then access through imovie? When I copied to the external, it came through as clips and doesn't play using imovie...is there a way to do this? I have several imovie events and have no disk space left s trying to move them to free up space tp upload new photos and movies. Thanks.

joanne987 wrote:
So, then what do I do if I have files on the external and won't fit back onto my HD? How do I format it for imovie? any suggestions?
buy another HDD ... 500Gigs are ctually around 70-90€, saw yesterday a 1.5TB WD for 140€ ...
.... 9TB of harddrives in use here ... don't forget to have at last one backup/copy per drive

How can i transfer my current itunes library to my new 3GS?

Hey;
i would be grateful if anyone could help me transfer my current itunes library synced with my 1st gen Touch to my new (ordered) 16gb 3GS?
this probably seems like a stupid question but i am hardly an itunes expert!
thank-you...

If you don't switch your computer, just connect your phone and sync with itunes like you did with your old iphone. Your music, apps and other media content should be present in itunes.
If you bought some media using your phone, transfer your purchases before. Right click on your phone in the device list and choose transfer purchases.

How to Recover Playlists when Transferring iTunes Library from External Drive to New Computer

iTunes library copied to external drive and then loaded to new computer. All songs are there but all of the playlists that I had set up do not appear. I cannot figure out how to retrieve/recover them. The back-up was not done by me so I'm not sure of the steps that were followed. Is there something special that needs to be done when backing up to external drive in terms of saving playlists? Help!

Hello TNCGRCT,
It sounds like the library was successfully transferred to the new computer, but the songs were imported into a new iTunes library. If you still have access to the external drive, or better yet the previous computer, we will want to transfer the iTunesLibrary.itl file and open it with iTunes:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
More helpful information...
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Thanks,
Matt M.

I have my iTunes library on external drive and can access from any PC. However I cannot access from new MacBokk Air.

My iTunes library is on an external drive and been using it on two PCs with no problem.
Now that I got a new MacBook Air I want to access the same iTunes library from the external drive and keep all the library and media on that external drive.
When I try to change to another iTunes library by hitting "option" with iTunes and select the library on the external hard drive I get the following message:
"The iTunes library file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do noy have write permission for this file."
I have read many posts in which many suggest to go to the library or media file on the PC and right click to make sure the read only tab is not checked.
I uncheked the read only tab and gave full permission to all the iTunes files and folders.
The unusual part is that I can use this external drive on many PCs that I have tried with no problem at all.
I just select a different library, which is on my external hard drive and everything works, play lists and everything.
However, when I try it on a MAC i get the message stated above:
What can I do to be able to access my External iTunes library from new MacBook Air while keeping everything on the external drive like I can on PCs?
I am running latest version of iTunes and Mavericks.
Please advise.

Here are the official Apple Support instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
Ciao.

How can I transfer apps from iTunes library from one computer to another?

I have been unsuccessful in transferring my music over to my new MacBook from my PC Windows Vista. I even subscribed to MobileMe, but it wouldn't work! So, I have decided to take the time to copy all my music to CDs & do it that way, but how am I going to transfer my apps? If I sync my iPhone with my iTunes library on my MacBook once I have transferred the songs, won't the apps be erased on my phone? Is there a way using MobileMe I could do so? Please please please help.

Do you have access to an external hard drive that you were using for your computer's backup with your PC which has enough storage capacity for your entire iTunes library?
If so, using the external hard drive would be a good way to do this. You would transfer your iTunes named folder in your My Music folder on your PC followed by transferring the iTunes named folder from the external hard drive to the Music folder on your Mac - with iTunes quit when doing so. This will transfer all music, videos, 3rd party apps, playlists, etc. from your PC to your Mac.
If most of your iTunes library includes music purchased from the iTunes store, iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store from an iPod or iPhone, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased from the iTunes store only.
First you need to authorize your new MacBook with your iTunes account with iTunes if you haven't already done so.
With your iPhone connected to iTunes and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone.
If all 3rd party apps do not transfer from your iPhone to your iTunes library on your Mac, you can re-download purchased apps with iTunes on your MacBook and you won't be charged again as long as you use the same iTunes account that was used to purchase the 3rd party apps.

How can I transfer my whole iTunes library from a PC to another without losing any information?

Hi, I have a very large iTunes library which is the result of so many years of listening to music. Although my computer is pretty old and slow and I would like to buy me another one. However, I cannot risk losing all the playcounts, ratings and information that I've been adding through all these years and the "Home Sharing" feature doesn't keep it (more specifically, erases all the ratings and playcounts). So, I would appreciate any advice on how could you do it.
I've read that if you click on "Export library" and then modify it with a text editor changing the location of the main folders it would be a way, but as I said my computer is pretty old and ran out of memory a couple of years ago, and I have like thousands of songs that with this system I should change it manually one by one, and that would take me weeks to do it. There has to be an easier way!
Thank you in advance!

See this migrate iTunes library post.
tt2

HT201269 How can I transfer my old iTunes library to a new computer?

I just got a MacBook Pro and I'd like to be able to access the iTunes library from my old computer on it. I've tried Home Sharing but it doesn't allow me to transfer my old library to my new computer, it just allows me to listen to the songs from it. I'd like to be able to sync my iPhone with my current computer without the "Erase and Sync" message popping up. I've authorized my new computer to access my iPhone and I don't understand why I'm not allowed to transfer my old library to my new computer.

Have you tried the Migration Assistant that came with your new MBP?

How to transfer itunes library to external drive and keep playlists and ratings

I don't have much space on my laptop. I have attached an external drive. I want to access my Itunes library from
the external drive. All attempts to move the library now result in me losing my "playlists" and even more importantly
my ratings and genre information.
How can I move the library with all my associated data intact such as the playlists, ratings, genres?
I want this external drive to be the main location where I access my Itunes library.
Once that is done I will work on backing it up, as that will be the only place that the data exists.
Also, will my Apple TV be also be able to access my Itunes library with playlists. thus far I have not been able to do this.

Start by consolidating your library. When you consolidate, any songs in the iTunes Library that are not in the iTunes Music Folder are copied to the Music Folder and the Library is updated to point to those new files. Files already in the iTunes Music Folder have no changes made to them: Consolidating your library - Windows
Then copy the iTunes Folder to your external drive. Copying the whole folder brings with it the iTunes Music folder and also the iTunes Library (iTunes Library.itl in Windows) database file which holds all the information about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). You'll get more information including the Folder/File structure in this article: What are the iTunes library files?
Disconnect your external drive and connect it to your new computer, copy the iTunes folder to the new pc. When you copy the iTunes folder make sure you put it into the default location on the new computer. On a PC this is \Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\My Music\ (or C:\Username\Music\ in Vista). You should also use the same version of iTunes on both computers.
Once you have copied everything over hold down the Shift key in Windows when opening iTunes. In the resulting dialogue you will get the option to create a new library or navigate to an existing one. Navigate to where you placed the copy of the library file and open it up: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file
If you have any iTunes purchases in your library don't forget that you'll need to authorise your new computer to play them. Also if you are disposing of the old one remember to deauthorise it so you don't use up one of your allowances: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation

How can I transfer my windows itunes library to external disc and then import to my Mac so that I can synch my ipad

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