I am trying to migrate my whole iTunes experience (music files, number of plays, Genius, playlists) from a windows pc to an iMac.

I have copied everything from my external hard drive (which is where I told iTunes my library was) to my iMac. I am now viewing all my content BUT all the user experience is not there (playlists, number of plays, etc). Can you help? I also noticed that under my normal Windows Music folder (on my pc hard drive) there are some iTunes folders (see image below)
I followed the apple help to create my new location for iTunes but all the user experience is not visible. Futhermore, the content (music) was only visible after I added it to the library.
Thanks in advance to all that can help.
Joao

See Make a split library portable. Start by consolidating any media that might be stored on the C: drive into the media folder on the external.
tt2

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Migrate an iTunes library from one computer to another
These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entireiTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one, with ratings, play counts, playlists etc. preserved. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd normally recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library and unlike copying with Windows Explorer the process can be resumed if it is interrupted and it will continue to the next item if there are any read/access errors.
Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See Make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then seeRecover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

TS1389 I tried all these steps and iTunes still won't let me play songs I paid for... Every time I authorize, it repeats that it's already authorized, but won't play because it's not authorized ... Catch 22

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Delete and redownload them if doing so is free in your country.
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ITunes modifies music file info on its own.

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Message was edited by: Sethmon

I hate to disagree but it happens to me and Safari was NOT in use.
I am wondering if it has something to do with the GSM signal from the iPhone. I noticed I had the 3G off so I could hear the interference from the phone as it was happening and that seem to make iTunes go weird.
Does anyone else having this problem have an iPhone? I have the 3GS.

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I want to move the location of my iTunes library music files. At present they are all on my time machine . I want to move them all to my imac. Can I do that and keep all my playlists and play counts? Thanks in advance

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how can I move the songs so I can re-open iTunes and the playlists (with plays in the 100s) find the song in the new place?

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but then why does the FAQ state this:
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Does anyone know how to sync iTunes between 2 computers? I have 2 macs in my home (one with an external drive that holds all of my music). I can get both computers to see and operate from the music files in a single location but I can't seem to figure out how to have any changes to my library, playlists, etc. made on one computer to automatically show up on the other in iTunes. Does this have something to do with the iTunes library.itl file?
If so, do I have to copy the iTunes library.itl file from the computer on which I have made the most recent changes and then delete this file from the other computer and drop the recently modified iTunes library.itl file into the music folder on the unmodified computer? Will this effectively sync both libraries? If so, is there a program that will automatically schedule this procedure for me. I am in the process of sorting through 5000+ duplicates (fun, I know) and I don't want to do it twice.
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Thanks,
Chris

Hello Midori55,
Take a look at this article named iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one found http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589 to direct iTunes to open the library you copied over.
I would also change the location of the library in the iTunes preferences
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
Open iTunes.
From the iTunes menu, choose Preferences.
Click the Advanced button in the Preferences window.
Click the Change button in the iTunes Media folder location pane.
In the Change Media Folder Location window that appears, navigate to the location where you would like your new iTunes Media folder to be created.
Note: By default, your iTunes Media folder is a folder named "iTunes Media" in ~/Music/iTunes/ where the tilde "~" represents your home directory.
Cheers,
Sterling

For some reason, When I add my 'My Music' folder to Itunes on my new computer, as Itunes is adding music, It's creating hundreds of playlists from each of my artist/albums...I end up with a ton of playlists (200 gigs worth) How do i stop this?

Essentially, Itunes creates a playlist for each album in my 'my music' folder, resulting in thousands of playlists. Why is this happening all of the sudden? How do I stop this?
Thanks,
Brendan

hi Limnos,
I do not mean the entire ITunes folder but, rather, the contents of the ITunes folder prior to September 29th. (90% of the media is missing, along with all playlists) The media that remains says it was added on 9/29 although I know most of it was added many months or even years earlier. There are no playlists listed at all, before or after 9/29. (I know for certain that I added non-iTunes purchased songs on 10/6 although I had not created playlists for them)
I have my iTunes folder backed up on both an external drive as well as Time Machine.
I run iTunes off of an ITunes folder on my computer rather than from the external, if that's what you mean about how I have it set up.
Is it OK to drag the entire iTunes folder from the external drive onto my laptop's drive and see if that fixes it?
Thank you for your help!
Deb

How to restore iTunes after music files erased

So, I accidentally erased all my music files which were stored on an external hard drive. (Bone headed move, don't ask). Thankfully, all the files were backed up. I restored the external hard drive with all the music files but am not sure what the next move is. Couple of questions:
First, the iTunes application still has all my songs listed. Of course, when I click one, it says it cannot locate the file since, of course, the original file was accidentally deleted. If I simply re-import all the files from my backup harddrive will I have essentially duplicates of every song I have? That is to say 1 file that won't play and one file that will?
Second, should I erase the entire songlist from iTunes and then re-import?
Third, any other suggestions?
I backed everything up on TimeMachine.
Thanks,
John

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply.
Not sure how I would go about restoring the itl file.
The only files I lost were the actual music files. The hard drive with theiTunes application and other itunes files are fine and untouched but since the original files were deleted, iTunes can't locate them. (Unless I point it toward the restored drive one-by-one)
Does that make sense?
Thanks,
John

Turned off Genius, how do I restore Genius playlists from ipod to my iTunes

Hi,
I turned off Genius in iTunes by accident and my Genius playlists have been deleted. They are still on my iPod. I'd like to know if they will automatically sync back to iTunes when I connect my iPod or have I lost them for good?
Many thanks

Transfer iTunes purchases:
iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer
For other music you need a thrid-party program like one of those discussed here:
Copy music

Frustrated with iTunes Store music file quality.

Dear Apple iTunes Store supervisors,
Ive decided I will no longer buy music from itunes until you start to release music in a better quality, uncompressed, lossless-format and higher bitrate and sample depth. The list of albums i want to buy grows, and itunes store is not making my money because it fails to provide what this consumer, and many others wants. I know you can do better, so im holding out for it.
Please bring us uncompressed DVD quality (or better) sound files. Atleast an ALAC 24bit 48khz download option. We are paying you for the music.
Our computers support it. iTunes supports it. The outputs on our computers support up to 24/96000! Apple TV supports 48khz! Everything does (except some dated items like airport express)! So If almost all the hardware can do it, why cant we use the capabilities of our apple equipment with apple provided content? Give us 24bit/48khz or better files to buy!
Many agree. itunes store AAC's sound compromised compared to the music ive bought from B&W Society of Sound or HD tracks.
These distributors offer a qualty product and why shouldnt you too?? No professional would be satisfyed with the current download quality you sell. No discriminating consumer either. We're an educated country with standards and we have a larger market place than ever before. I know im not alone here... The public has clamoured for better sound quality for decades. But why does this always get compromised? Why sell unsatisfying music files that arent even to the standards of CD quality?
If readers want a demonstration of how sample rate effects sound, Play some music in iTunes, listen through the best system or headphones you have and go into your "Audio Midi Setup." Switch the output format to 8000hz .. notice how terrible the compressed sound is? Now, step by step increase the format to 16000, 32000, and up... you'll notice a point where the sound stops getting better to the ears. Thats where the limitations of either the file, or the hardware, or hearing are... but not the limitations of the hardware or its original recording! To fully display the depth and richness of the music, we need a file format that just exceeds our hearing like 24bit/48khz because anything less is HEARD as less.
Once we can identify that compressed absense of quality and have experienced what is possible, then why should we be satisfied with less?
Apple. Please improve the file quality availability by aquiring and providing higher quality music from your partnered record lables. Because we know they are recorded and mastered at MUCH higher quality, and when we buy the music thats what we want. That quality. You are capable of better, so please stop letting excuses get in the way. Make it happen. Market it as "Better than CD quality Download" and your sales will improve, wont they!
There's value to offering the option of a better file! Hard drives are affordable. Apple computers offer us tonnes of space.
I dont care if a cd is half a Gig, or a gig of data if it means Im getting the recording in its fullest quality.
Make it happen for us!! Its 2013.

I also wish iTunes would offer higher quality. However, I think the reason they don't is due to mobile devices and iCloud. In their attempt to give the majority average consumer the best user experience, they strip back features the minority prosumers would want. They developed a file type that sounds acceptable to most to maximize battery life, minimize hard drive space, and increase transfer speed on mobile devices. Apples goal is to give you portable music, and that is just what it is... Portable.
That said, I also do not buy from the iTunes Store either. As a music creator and DJ, I also buy higher quality files from other sources.

I am trying to migrate my whole iTunes experience (music files, number of plays, Genius, playlists) from a windows pc to an iMac.

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