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.
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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.
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How to Play iTunes from a external Hard Drive?

Is it possible to run iTunes from an external hard drive so that I dont use up the space on my labtop? For example, store all my music files on the External and run it through iTunes.

Assuming you use the iTunes default settings where iTunes copied added items to your iTunes folder and organizes your library (meaning - everything is all self contained in the iTunes folder), then all you have to do is drag & drop your iTunes folder (not just the iTunes Music folder you find inside the iTunes folder) to the external drive and copy the entire thing.
If you want to test that it worked or would like to actually start using it from that location instead, use these instructions when you start iTunes to point it to the new location...
How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304447
If you are just testing, then close iTunes after you verify it works, and restart iTunes again with the same instructions and point it back to your internal drive (original) location.
Back up your iTunes library by copying to an external hard drive
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307074
Patrick

My computer recently crashed. I had everything on an externa drive. I'm trying to reload my music into itunes from my external drive. I do not have an itunes library document for some reason. How do I get my library back onto itunes?

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Due to a broken laptop I've loaded my itunes from an external hard drive my itunes wont play unless i leave the the exteral hard drive connected. what is the problem?

My laptop working Vista H Premium broke, I now have laptop working Mindows 7 H Premium. I reloaded my itunes from an external hard drive but they wont play without the external hard drive left plugged in

The media is on the external drive. If you want to be able to play it with the extrenal drive disconnected, this will require moving or copying the media off the external drive to the computer's hard drive.
Importing the media via iTunes may automatically accomplish this, depending on the settings in iTunes.

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.

Is it possible to play music from my external hard drive on my ultrabook? I don't want to take up space in the internal drive.

I recently bought an ultrabook (windows) and transferred all of my music (from itunes) onto an external hard-drive. I don't want to transfer all the music onto my new laptop because that would take up too much space. So is it possible for me to add new music or log on to home share by using my external drive plugged into my new ultrabook? How do I play music through my computer using music held on the itunes in my external drive?
I've been trying to figure this out for a long time now.
thank you so much!

Hi there,
I would recommend taking a look at the article below.
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364
-Griff W.

HT4527 Play Itunes from an external drive

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