ITunes Files/Folder Location

I moved my iTunes folder from external drive to iMac, changed locations in Preferences and library was moved successfully yet the files are still being read from external hard drive. Any help?

Thanks!
This helped as well:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449?viewlocale=en_US

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ITunes not storing files in iTunes media folder location

A number of years ago I wanted to move my itunes media files to an external drive. At the time an article was posted that explained how to do such that. Additionally the article explained how to put the media files in one folder on the external file server and all the itunes definition files in another folder on the same external file server. It worked perfectly! All seemed well. Of course since making this change there have been many many updates to iTunes and the OS.
Recently, I was scanning through the folders of the external file server and noticed some media files that appeared in the iTunes application listing were missing in the physical iTunes media folder (folder A). After a little searching I found the media files were in the iTunes definitions folder (folder B). Initially I thought somehow I had changed the folder location under the iTunes advanced tab. I checked it stilled pointed to the ORIGINAL folder A location. Yet iTunes had for a while as it turns out had created a whole new media folder tree and was adding the media files to that media tree (folder B). This is the folder the original only contained the iTunes definitions.
Thinking I had made a mistake somewhere sometime ago, I copied all the media files to the proper folder (folder A) and reset the iTunes Media folder location to point to folder A. All was fine.
Today I added some new media to the iTunes library and once again, iTunes created a new media folder tree in folder B were only the iTunes definitions are supposed to be stored. So once again I moved the media files to the proper folder.
There is no question THIS IS A SOFTWARE BUG. It does NOT matter what folder location is specified in the Preferences->Advanced->itunes media location is specified, iTunes will either CHANGE the folder location to wherever the definitions files are located or begin putting the media files where the definitions files are located even though the iTunes media location is setting to a different folder.
when this started I do not know. I have been using itunes for a number of years and once I had my external file server set up never had reason to check it.
One might ask why put the media files in one location and the definition files in another location. That is because there was a time when iTunes for some reason would think it definition files were corrupted and start to do nasty things to the media library. Once I lost a number of songs it is then when I found a note in this forum that suggested putting the definitions in one folder and the media in another folder. It was great idea. Is there a work around of a fix for this bug?

Some additional information.
When I click the apps tab in iTunes, some of the applications listed are actually songs (the songs are also shown in the music list and point to the proper location), when I click Get Info on some of the apps, it points to a song, and some apps that actually exist in the Mobile Apps folder are shown to located in a song folder. Bottom line the apps database is corrupted.
When I consolidated the music files I did not touch the mobile applications folder. As best I can tell all the movies and songs are fine (about 3000 items in total).
When I export the library it does not include the apps in the xml file. So deleting the iTunes DB and re-importing the .xml will not work.
To recap. All the songs and movies are in one folder (folder A). This is the folder listed in the Preferences->Advanced->Itunes media location. The apps folder is located in a different folder (folder B) where the iTunes definition files are located. How they got there I do not know.
How do I fix the apps tab and have the app icons (and physical applications) to point to the proper location? Also to remove the songs listed in the apps list without removing the song from the iTunes library.

I joined iTunes Match on my MBP and added our MBA to the same Match account. What should the iTunes Media Folder Location be for iTunes on the MBA?

The iTunes libraries on both machines appear to be in sync, though I don't know if Home Sharing or iTunes Match is to thank for the consistency. But the iTunes Media Folder locations are different on the MBP and MBA, and I don't know if they should point to the same storage location (it's been on a drive connected to our Airport for years). I also don't know what options for Copying Files and Keeping iTunes Organized should be on the MBA. I certainly don't want the media files duplicated yet the devices sharing a cloud version.
I hoped the MBA would act like an iOS device using iTunes Match in that music would stream unless downloaded. Then downloaded music would have to be managed (deleted from the MBA's iTunes) for space reasons at some regular intervals-- just like we now do on the iPhones and iPad. The library entry for the song would remain... just the locally stored file would be deleted and the iCloud download would change back to the download symbol.
But if a purchase is made from the iTunes store on the MBA, the file is stored on the local MBA machine as well as the external drive because the MBP receives the song via Home Sharing and downloads the file.

Each iTunes client will expect a discrete iTunes library location. The iTunes Match service will allow the libraries to be automatically synchronised along with any IOS devices that are also registered for iTunes Match.
Following making a secure backup for any given library it is possible, once Songs have been 'matched' or 'uploaded' to remove the local copies and play the Songs from the Cloud. The behaviour on IOS devices is different, they will download each Song as it is played.
Note: Apple is very clear that the responsibility for maintaining music files remains with the user - so it remains essential to ensure that you have your own Songs secure backed up prior to relying on the Cloud. Should there be an issue with the Cloud resulting in loss of Songs you will need your own secure backup.

I am trying to move my iphoto and itunes to an external hard drive to free up space on my macbook...i have followed the steps to the change itunes media folder location (chosen external hard drive) but my new folder is greyed out so cant continue ?help?

I need to free up space on my macbook pro as hard drive is full!! So with 20 000 photos/video clips and itunes I would like to move this to a external hard drive!
I have followed steps on apple support but when i get to the Change itunes media folder location and chosen external hard drive it will not let me access the new folder option ?? help?

errrrrrrm!
Yes external drive shows up in finder on desk top and can change to in the media folder location thing!
My external hard drive is a WD Elements. I have no idea about permissions to the external? Do i Have to format external hard drive to a mac?
I am trying to follow the steps on the apple support page to transfer files (consolidate library etc) just cant get further down steps as the new folder option is greyed out!
Thanks for you help

Itunes media folder location on Mac Mini server

if i want to move my itunes library on my MacBook Pro to my MacMini server, do i create a new folder called Itunes Media on the server or do i install itunes on the server (MacMini) and use the iTunes folder

FrustratedAJM3 wrote:
Setting up a new Mac. I already have my iTunes media from my previous Mac on an external drive. Went to Preferences and selected the external drive and iTunes Media folder and the files are not showing up in iTunes. Any ideas?
That simply tells iTunes where to put new files.
It does not add anything to iTunes.
You should keep the entire iTunes library (iTunes media and all library files) in one location.
Do this...
Connect external to old computer.
Copy /Music/iTunes/ folder from internal drive to external drive.
On the external, move the iTunes media folder into the iTunes folder you just copied to the external.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Everything should work fine.
Quit iTunes.
Connect drive to new computer.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Everything should work fine.
This is all you need to do.
This will bring all your playlists, ratings, comments, everything from old computer.
You do not need to change the iTunes media folder location in iTunes prefs..

Itunes Media Folder location on external hd but computer hd still losing space

Hi, im importing all my old CDs to my itunes, however as my computer's hard drive was getting too full, i've changed my itunes media folder location to an external hard drive. but now, even though the music is being saved to an external hard drive, im still losing space on my computer's hard drive. Why is this happening? and how do i prevent it? Thanks

By organizing it should both relocate all current media as well as start using the new location from that point on. You're mostly okay there. Where you are not okay is iTunes doesn't look at your files directly. It only really looks at one single file, the iTunes Library.itl file which tells it where everything is located. You need to get both copies of iTunes using the same complete library (media + library file). The way you do that is using the option start method. You should only need to do that once unless for some reason the library storage drive is disconnected when starting iTunes, in which case iTunes will use the default location and you will need to option start again.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847
By the way, both copies of iTunes will have to be the same version or the library will become unreadable to the older iTunes.
There are variants to the above but I am not going to type in all the possibilities unless you say something that tells me you need a different structure.

ITunes Media Folder Location on External Drive

Setting up a new Mac. I already have my iTunes media from my previous Mac on an external drive. Went to Preferences and selected the external drive and iTunes Media folder and the files are not showing up in iTunes. Any ideas?

FrustratedAJM3 wrote:
Setting up a new Mac. I already have my iTunes media from my previous Mac on an external drive. Went to Preferences and selected the external drive and iTunes Media folder and the files are not showing up in iTunes. Any ideas?
That simply tells iTunes where to put new files.
It does not add anything to iTunes.
You should keep the entire iTunes library (iTunes media and all library files) in one location.
Do this...
Connect external to old computer.
Copy /Music/iTunes/ folder from internal drive to external drive.
On the external, move the iTunes media folder into the iTunes folder you just copied to the external.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Everything should work fine.
Quit iTunes.
Connect drive to new computer.
Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Everything should work fine.
This is all you need to do.
This will bring all your playlists, ratings, comments, everything from old computer.
You do not need to change the iTunes media folder location in iTunes prefs..

ITunes Music Folder Location changed, but iTunes still uses old location

Okay - I'm getting a bit frustrated here. Because I had no room on c:, I moved all my iTunes preferences -- applications I downloaded for the iPod Touch, file settings, and all that stuff -- to my D:\ drive. Then I went to Preferences > Advanced and changed the iTunes Music Folder location to my D: drive.
Everything SEEMED to have looked good. Or so I hoped.
The 40+ applications I bought are no longer listed on the Applications purchased list. Further, all my files are STILL saving to the c: drive.
How do I FORCE iTunes to acknowledge that the D:\ drive is storing my iTunes preferences and files?!

OK, now I get what you're trying to do. I think!
I run my ITL file off my exHD, so all my Artwork & Applications are stored there. I think if you try running your ITL file from the D: drive it will do what you want.
Try this
1) close itunes & wait for the library ITL file to save ( I assume it's still on C: hence that's why artwork/apps are DLing there)
2) copy that ITL file over to the D: drive
3) press and hold the shift key while starting itunes and choose the ITL file on D:
Now all your future artwork/apps shoudl download to D:, try it by getting a free app.

ITunes music folder location

Hello everyone. I already posted this question one year ago, without to receive a satisfactory reply: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=899085 .
In my Music folder, near to the iTunes folder, I have other 25 folders, one for Artist.
I only add music importing from my original music discs, or buying in iTunes Store, and I only use iTunes to listen to music.
All this extra 25 folders are also in Music:iTunes:iTunes Music: where I have about 400 folders.
This is the path defined in my iTunes preferences as "iTunes Music folder location". Never changed.
So the questions: why does this folders also exists outside the iTunes Music folder location?
After doing the menu option "Advanced > Consolidate library", can I remove them safely?

It's hard to determine why the folders are there, without any of us having been the one sitting in front of your system and using it since the day before those folders appeared.
However, to determine if they can be safely deleted, this is what I would do:
Go into the iTunes application, and locate one of the files in the library that are contained within the folders you are looking to delete. Right-click on the file, and click Get Info. On the Summary tab, towards the bottom, you'll see "Where" followed by a filepath. If this filepath leads you to \My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Artist Name\ then yes, you can safely delete those folders. If the filepath leads you to the folder that you are seeking to delete, I wouldn't delete those folders (at least not yet) as it will cause iTunes to render the files unusable, saying that it can't find the original location.
CG

HT1386 Unable to transfer iTunes file/folder on my iPod (Classic) to my new computer.

I am trying to transfer my iTunes music to a new Windows computer from my iPod (Classic) but I am unable to see my iTunes file/folder on my iPod when connected to my new computer.

I managed to recover my music from my iPod Classic (formatted F00, F01, F02, etc......F49), but I am unable to get iTunes to recognize any of it. It keeps defaulting to a previous old iTunes library and trying to locate those songs.
How can I get it to recognizewhat I would like to be my new!!! iTunes library (off my iPod)?

ITunes file download location

How can I change my itunes's file download location?

iTunes preferences -> Advanced -> iTunes Music Folder location
Note that this will only change where future purchases and imports go. If you want to move your existing tracks as well, set the preference to the appropriate location and then use the Consolidate Library command under the Advanced menu.
Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit Preferences Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

Have you looked in the Music App on your iPhone? On the iPhone music is played by the Music App not iTunes.

Working with iTunes Music Folder locations on a network drive in Vista

I am having challenges assigning the "iTunes music folder location" to a network drive in Vista (using iTunes v.7.3). When I go to Edit/Preferences/Advanced/General, and choose change to assign the path, the Networks folder comes up, but does not display any network drives or expand out when I select it. Right clicking does let me explore the drives and see them so the ntwork is good. I did have the same problem in Windows XP, but since Windows XP created those automatic shortcuts to drives, I could assign them and that worked.
A quick solution is to map a network drive and then select that drive, but since my computer is a notebook and off my home LAN frequently, the mapped drive really slows the boot process.
Can't seem to find anything to change in the registry.
Has anyone else experienced this problem and is there anyone who can offer any suggestion to smooth this issue for me?
Thanks
Andre

Thanks for the feedback, but with the iPhone (I use the calendar feature a lot), synchronising just became a very common event, and perpetual re-connecting will drive me insane.
I guess I will just live with what we have until the folks at Apple figure it out;

HT201596 80 % of my itunes files are located on a 3tb external drives; the remainder on a 4TB drive. ALL my files are on the 4TB. How do i get iTunes just to use the files on the 4tb drive so I can use the 3tb for other purposes THX .

Hi, 80 % of my itunes files are located on a 3tb external drives; the remainder on a 4TB drive as I ran pout of space. ALL my files are on copied on to the 4TB drive . How do I get iTunes just to use the files on the 4tb drive so I can use the 3tb for other purposes THX .

Select the desired location in preferences, then consolidate the media files to it.
iTunes 12 for Mac: Change where your iTunes files are stored - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH19507 - Unfortunately this is misnamed. It should say "Change where your media files but not where your library files are stored" - more information at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/22026652#22026652 - and steps 5-8 in https://discussions.apple.com/message/24491967#24491967

ITunes Music Folder Location Default

So for a long time I have kept all my music on an external hard drive and iTunes and the library on my Macbook laptop. I have my "iTunes Music folder location" set as "200GBHD:Music:" and so when my firewire drive is plugged in iTunes would store all new music there, consolidate to there, etc, and when it was not hooked up then iTunes would default to the Macbook internal hard drive.
So in other words, it was smart and knew to use the internal drive when no external hard drive was attached and to use the external drive when it was attached. Great!
However, suddenly iTunes no longer does this. Every time I plug my firewire drive up it no longer defaults back to the external. Anyone know why or how to get it back to working like it did before?

(afaik) The path is only set back to internal default if itunes is launched without the mentioned ext drive connected

ITunes Files/Folder Location

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