How do I backup my iTunes library to an external drive?

Hi there,
Is there any way of backing up my itunes library direct to a backup device such as an external hard drive or online back up software? The only option I can see is to back up to disc but that will take 50 discs!

*Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows Only)*
Grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.
tt2

Similar Messages

  • HT1373 How do I backup my itunes library to an external drive

    My iTunes library is unstable.  I have two questions:
    1) How do I backup my iTunes library to an external drive?
    2) Why am I constatntly prompted to add my computer to iCloud when I have done so multiple times?
    When opening iTunes, I receive he error message: "Please Sign In Again,  iTunes Match has encountered an error.  Please choose Sign Out and he Sign In from the iTunes Store menu and try again."
    I tried downloading and installing/repairing the latest iTunes.  That did not correct the problem.
    Also, I have sync'd to iCloud.  Every time I select iMatch from iTunes, I am prompted to Add This Computer to iCloud.  I have already done this multiple times.

    Hello cijackson,
    You posted your question in the iTunes for Mac Forum. You may get better results on the iTunes for Windows forum. Best of luck > https://discussions.apple.com/community/itunes/itunes_for_windows?view=overview

  • How do I move an iTunes library from one external drive to another?

    I need to move my iTunes library from one external disk to another, because the original disk is about to fail. So, I went into iTunes Perferences --> Advanced, and set the library to a new, empty folder on the new drive.
    Nothing changed. I expected all my music to vanish from iTunes, so that I would have to re-import it. However, all the music remained, still on the old disk. At this point, if I were to recreate the library on the new disk, I would have all of my music twice.
    Is it possible to move an iTunes library from one external drive to another, or am I stuck with my original choice until I buy a new machine? If I can move it, can one of you clever folks explain how it could be done?

    Paul Seymour1 wrote:
    However, those are all dealing with old versions of iTunes that still contained the Advanced --> Consolidate Library command which is no longer part of the app. (I'm on iTunes 10.6.1.)
    Consolidate is still part of iTunes.
    It is in iTunes menu File > Library > Manage library > Consolidate.
    The article you linked to is old and it is (and was) a hacky way of doing it.
    Just copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to new location, hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) when launching iTunes.

  • How do I backup the iTunes Library to an external hard drive?

    I have no space on my computer anymore for anything and I need to export and save all my music on an external hard drive (MYbook) is that possible??? Do I really need to just backup everything on OUTDATED CDs or what???!!! That just seems like an insane process and I know it's possible for MAC users...

    *Fast backup for iTunes library (Windows Only)*
    Grab SyncToy 2.1, a free tool from MS. This can be used to copy your entire iTunes library (& other important data folders) onto another hard drive or network share. You can then use SyncToy periodically to synchronise or echo your library to the backup. A preview will show which files need to be updated giving you a chance to spot unexpected changes and during the run only the new or updated files will be copied saving lots of time. And if your media is all organised below the main iTunes folder then you should also be able to open the backup library on any system running the same version of iTunes.
    tt2

  • How do I store my iTunes library on an external drive and can I still access it as I would if it was still all sitting on the mini mac?

    The mini mac is full and I want to be able to use the 2 tb drive as storage and time machine. How do I get the content onto the external drive and access it it and hoe does new content get downloaded and stored to the drive not the mac? Also can I have 1 drive playing storeage and back up or do I need a second? Basic questions I suspect but not to me!

    1. Drag the library to the external drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, click on Choose Library, and point it there.
    2. Get a second. Having the backups on the same drive as the original data won't help when that drive fails.
    (66929)

  • How do I move my iTunes Library to an external drive and retain everything?

    I'm sure this is a common [stupid] question, but I couldn't find a clear answer and I want to be sure I'm doing it correctly.
    To clarify; I want to move/relocate my iTunes Library folder to an external drive (FW800 two-disk RAID1) to free up my system drive and have a backup. Do I redirect iTunes to the new location and use File>Library>Consolidate Library, or, can I just move or copy the 'iTunes' folder to the external drive and then change the iTunes 'music folder location' to the new location? Will this now save all subsequent imported/purchased music, movies,,..etc to the external drive and retain all my library details?
    Message was edited by: Sakahara

    Hello, Welcome to Apple Discussions.
    Below you will find more information about your options of relocating iTunes Library and backing it up.
    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Music folder
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
    How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329
    Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
    How to back up your media in iTunes
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1382

  • How do I import an iTunes library from an external drive if that drive has been simply removed from a dead computer, without prior measures being taken to ensure it is possible to transfer the library over?

    Basically, my issue here is, I had a fully functioning iTunes on my previous Acer laptop which I used to store my music for my iPhone, I have over 2000 songs on this iTunes and as the laptop suddenly died due to motherboard failure, there was no way to follow out the instructions given by apple on how to properly transfer one iTunes library to another.
    The only source of music I have comes from source files on the HDD, which, stupidly I chose to organise myself.
    A large quantity of this music was deleted from the iTunes library but stayed on the HDD in the source folders (I do not know why)
    By simply dragging my music folder from my HDD to a new iTunes, all the files do go over, however many of them are duplicated (due to 320>120 bit rate MP3 creations) and a number of them are simply not wanted.
    Is there a way to transfer my old library straight into this new one? bearing in mind I have all the program files and everything that had iTunes running on my old computer stored onto this USB drive?
    Thank you!

    When I have done this, all I did was network the two machines and copy the contents of the iTunes folder to the other machine, and that's it.
    My understanding (which may not be 100% correct) is that the one file that is absolutely necessary is iTunes Library, and that the XML file is actually a copy auto-generated from the iTunes Library, appearing in a different format only for non-iTunes apps that take advantage of the iTunes Library data.
    As far as I know, if you simply have the Library (database) file and all your original music files, iTunes on that computer should operate as it did on your old computer. I believe that the Album Artwork, Genius Data, and XML files can be regenerated from the Library file. Not sure about the Extras file.

  • How do I move my itunes library to an external drive to free up space on a Macbook?

    Hi, I'd like to free up some room on my Macbook and was thinking of moving all my music library to an external drive. I hardly ever use my computer to play music, more I download an album and then sync it to my iphone to play from that. I use itunes and back up with time machine, but would like the music folder separate entirely, is this possible?
    Thanks in advance.

    Drag it from the Music item of the Finder's sidebar to an external drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and point it there.
    (59635)

  • How do I transfer my iTunes library from an external drive to my new macbook air?

    I have an 8 year old MacBook Pro that has a small hard drive.  So 8 years ago I put all my songs (35GB) on an external drive.  I just bought a MacBook Air that has 256 GB of space and would like to transfer all my songs, movies, etc. to it and stop using the old hard drive.  Can anyone help me with how to do this?  Thanks.

    Choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu, provide ~/Music/ as the folder's path, and drag the entire iTunes library, including the database files, to it.
    Alternatively, you can drag the entire library to any location on the internal drive, launch iTunes with the Option key held down, and choose it.
    If you only put the songs and not the database files on the external drive, drag it to the internal drive and from there to the library in the open iTunes application window.
    (114452)

  • How can I move entire ITunes library to an external drive

    How can I move the entire file to a new external drive & still add new downloads & use from the external G: drive?
    Or can't this be done - I have the 80G Ipod & the files take up so much space that I want to move it to the new G: drive.
    I thought I had it figured out but nothing would play from the G drive, so I had to restore everything back to the C: drive.
    Thanks for any advice

    This is actually the 5G iPod forum, not the iTunes folder.
    However, To move your iTunes music...
    1 Quit iTunes.
    2 Move the entire iTunes folder including music to the external drive.
    3 Restart iTunes holding the Shift key in Windows, Option key in Mac.
    4 iTunes will ask to Create new library or Choose existing library. Select Choose existing library and select the library in the folder you just moved.
    5 Move the old iTunes folder to the trash but do not empty it.
    6 Restart iTunes normally and verify the songs work. If they do, empty the trash.

  • How do I link my itunes library on an external drive to my new mac?

    I have an older Mini with about 600 gigs of losses files on an external drive. I have a new mini and I want to use the same drive. Can I somehow point the new mac to the same location?

    To Operate iTunes from the External Drive...
    Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the new location of the library.

  • How do I move my itunes library to an external drive?

    I moved my itunes media folder from laptop C:drive to external E:drive.  I redirected itunes to the new media folder in Preferences,but in the moving and deleting, messed up the placement of the itunes library folders.  Now itunes is empty (just like when you first install it).  If I "add folder to itunes", it rebuilds a media folder on the C: drive.
    Is there a way to move the whole itunes package to the E:drive, and just have it launch from/save to there?

    might this help: Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive ?

  • How do I backup my Itune Library and Playlists to my Backup drive?

    How do I backup my Itune Library and Playlists to my Backup drive?   Where are they stored on my computer?

    For iPhoto, see > iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location
    For iTunes, see > iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

  • How do I backup my Itune library in Version 11 ,

    How do I backup my Itune library in Version 11 ,
    The link under File/Devices/ Backup / Restore backup are greyed out!
    I want to buck up all of my music and misic videos TO DVD

    I presume your songs were on the computer before you updated to the recent version. If so see Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash or
    Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device. For backup advice see the user tip Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy.
    I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "print" your library, but I have a script called ExportCSV that can be used to export selected data which can then be read with a spreadsheet such as Excel.
    tt2

  • HT204088 How do I save my itunes library to an external flash drive?

    How do I save my itunes library to an external flash drive?

    Backup iTunes to an External Drive
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751

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