ITunes Media Folder location can't be changed in Advanced Settings

I used to keep the iTunes Media Folder on an external hard drive. Now I copied the iTunes folder to the default location on my local hard drive. Once I changed the folder location in the Advanced Settings to the default settings everything worked fine for a week. Suddenly iTunes can no longer find the files unless I connect my old external hard drive. Reveal in Finder shows that iTunes is still looking at the old folder location despite the change to the local hard disk location in Advanced Settings. I tried changing the Advanced Settings folder locations back and forth but iTunes keeps pointing to the old external hard drive. Software Update is up to date. What can I do? Thanks.

I just looked at the "iTunes Music Library.xml" file with TextEdit. There are references to the external hard drive everywhere. It appears that the path to the iTunes Media folder just does not reflect the location selected in Advanced Settings.

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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

Hi.Have organized all my songs in itunes ,deleted unwanted songs and anupdated the album artwork but it has not changed them in my itunes media folder location in the C drive.How do i change this and back them up now i have everything the way i want it ?

Hi
-I have organized all my songs in iTunes ,deleted unwanted songs and updated the album artwork but it has not changed them in my iTunes media folder location in my C Drive.
How do I update it there so it is the same as my iTunes now so i can back it all up?
Thankyou.

I solved my problem. Here's how:
1. Right click iTunes and click properties from the "Windows 8 Desktop" (or if you want to call it the 7 desktop thats fine too)
2. Select the compatibility tab.
3. Set compatibility mode to Windows 7 and click apply.
4. Open iTunes, sign into iTunes store, Turn on iTunes Match, Add your computer.
5. Close Program
6. Restart Computer

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.

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.

My iTunes media folder location will not stay at my setting...

My iTunes media folder location is set to my iTunes media folder, which is stored on my external hard drive connected to my network via aiport extreme router. The problem is everytime I turn my mac off and back on my iTunes reverts the location back to my itunes media folder on my mac and I have to manually set it back to my itunes media folder on my external hard drive. Why does it keep changing?

@Daniel_ wrote:
I've done this twice (*delete the library and start over). I use a 2TB Time Capsule as my external hard drive. I can't figure it out. I would like to add an Apple TV to the mix but I'm scared that it will not find my library either. Apple needs to fix this.
You need to make sure the external is showing up on the desktop before launching iTunes.

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.

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..

If I uncheck both options listed under the 'iTunes Media folder location' will that allow me to point my library to external hard drives

I have a lot of music and movies. I have two 1TB drives. I want to move all movie media to one drive. Can I control the path to movies in itunes by unchecking both boxes that are listed under, "iTunes Media folder location"?

This forum is for questions from those managing sites on iTunes U, Apple's service for colleges and universities to post educational material in the iTunes Store. You'll be most likely to get help with this issue if you ask in the general iTunes for Mac forums.
Regards.

How do I change the iTunes media folder Location and save it?

I have a seagate drive where I store my music and have it shared as "M". Each time iTunes starts up, it defaults back to C:\...... and if there is a device connnected, it transfers the purchases from that device to this directory.
I need to manually go in and change the location each time iTunes starts. Is there a way to save this location as the default? I am on Version 10.
thanks in advance

If iTunes starts up and it can't get access to the location that you have declared as the media folder it will revert to the default subfolder of the library folder. Any downloads or rips will be put in that location until you correct the media folder location via Edit > Preferences > Advanced.
Either make absolutely certain the drive is active and available before starting iTunes or place the library folder on the other drive as well (see this post) so that iTunes either opens normally or warns that it cannot find the library. Note if this is a networked drive rather than locally connected USB/SATA there may be noticeable performance issues with the latter solution.
tt2

ITunes Music Folder Missing on external hard drive after changing iTunes Media Folder Location from MacBook Hard Drive. Not deleted...just missing?

I store my iTunes media folder on my external hard drive and can no longer find it there. It seemed to becomd lost after I re-designated the default iTunes media location. I had downloaded some things from iTunes without my external hard drive plugged in and when they downloaded they downloaded to the default location on my Macbook Pro. In recognizing that, I wanted to move those files from the hard drive on my MacBook Pro to the external hard drive. When I re-selected the location as the external hard drive a copy process began. I cancelled the copy process fearing the small number of files from my Macbook Pro would over-write all of the files on my external hard drive so I quit the copy process. Now I do not see my "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I fear that I have somehow lost the path but I believe the content is still on my external hard drive although I no longer see the "iTunes Music" folder on my external hard drive. I know I didn't delete it, but it isn't there. Is there a way to make it re-appear? I would really appreciate any guideance anyone has.
Thank you.
Best,
Matt

When you change the location in preferences it tells iTunes to start, from this point on, storing new media files in the new location. It then presents you with the option to move any old files in their current locations to the new location. It doesn't move the library files which are not media files. Read the links below to understand how iTunes works because you are the one with the computer in front of you and are in the better position to understand how it stands as regards to iTunes files.
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
Now, did you keep the whole library on the external drive, or did you keep just media? From your description of the situation it sounds as if you kept the whole library there and when the external was not attached it returned to default location on the internal drive. What you should have done then was plug in the external drive, hold down the option key, and guide iTunes to the library file on the external. At this stage you could have dealt with the mislocated new files on an individual basis.
I guess the key question is, did your trying to move the couple of new media files to the external drive overwrite the iTunes folder there, which because you then canceled may have also just resulted in it being deleted. I am not going to test the theory on my system.
How big was your library on the external? If it was 40GB do you now suddenly have 40 GB free?
Look for any iTunes folders on the external drive. In view options turn on "calculate all folders sizes" and see if there are any big ones.

I lost my itunes media folder how can I export the photos from my ipad to another location

I lost my itunes media folder and also my iPhoto files. I have the majority of the photos from iPhoto library on my iPad. How can I get them from my iPad to another location. Like exporting them to a folder on an external drive.Is this possible. I know I can move photos I've taken with the ipad to a new iphoto, but how can a get the old iphoto photos from my ipad to a new location? I'm basically starting over. Don't ask what happened. It was horrible.

An external drive? Not sure that there is any way of doing that. There are a number of WiFi transfer apps that should let you transfer the photos back to the Mac itself. Look at some of these.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wifi%20photo%20transfer%20from%20iPad%20to%20Mac
This application allows you to transfer all iPad content back to your computer.
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php

Can you "lock" iTunes Media Folder location?

One of the things I hate about iTunes is that I keep my music collection on an external hard drive with mirrored RAID array. Songs I buy are automatically transferred onto that drive. But sometimes, the hard drive will go offline, for whatever reason - a power issue, bumped by someone, whatever. When that does happen, iTunes doesn't give you a warning, it just defaults to the internal Music folders. Until you realize that the hard drive is offline, every CD you rip, every song you buy will go straight to the iTunes folder on the Mac. When you finally reconnect that hard drive, and redirect iTunes to the iTunes Media Folder on it, you're hopelessly lost, with your music collection distributed between the two drives.
First off, WHY can't iTunes notify you that it can't find the designated iTunes Media Folder? It'll notify you about just about every single other bloody thing that happens in the computer?
Second, is there a way to LOCK the iTunes Media Folder onto another drive, such that iTunes can't find the iTunes folder on the Mac HD?
Third, is there an easy way to scan the library on my Mac HD and on the external HD to find out which files are missing from the external HD and need to be manually added to the library?
ks in advance!
Than

Hi Jonathan, it annoyed the heck out of me too. Answers to your questions:
No idea, it’s probably trying to be “helpful”.
I don’t believe you can lock iTunes the way you want, but you CAN stop iTunes from running WITHOUT THE DRIVE YOU WANT I got sick of manually transferring songs when this happened to me too. In my case my library is on a network server (NAS). I wrote the following AppleScript to deal with the situation and it will work for any externally connected drive, network, USB, FireWire etc.
So to explain the script: I’m asking Terminal to list the directory contents of the iTunes Library folder on the external drive. If it can, it makes iTunes start. If it can’t (the “on error” bit), it beeps at you and displays a dialog box that tells you it cannot start. I then save the script as an App, and give it the same icon as iTunes has, but a different name (‘iTunes Custom Launcher” for example). Then I remove iTunes from the Dock and put my custom launcher in the Dock instead. Doing this means the only odd thing you will see is that when the launcher starts iTunes, there will seem to be two iTunes icons in the Dock, but only while iTunes is running.
— Start of script
tell application "Terminal"
          try
                    do shell script "ls \"/Volumes/Music/iTunes Library\""
                    tell application "iTunes" to activate
          on error
beep
                    display alert "iTunes will not start until the Network Music Library is available"
          end try
end tell
tell application "Terminal" to quit
quit
— End of script
In order to use the script, you will need to replace the folder location of the iTunes Library. If you’re not familiar with Terminal, see what Finder says the name of the Disk (or network share) is when it is connected. Assuming your iTunes Library is called “iTunes Library”, the format of the third line of the script is:
do shell script “ls \"/Volumes/<disk or share name>/<folder>/<sub-folder…>iTunes Library\"”
If, like me, your iTunes Library folder is at the root of the external drive, you only need to replace <disk or share name> with the drive name and forget about the <folder>/<sub-folder…> bit. If you’re not sure what to do to the script let me know and we can do more Q&A to see exactly what you need to make the script look like.
So, the main steps:
Open the AppleScript Editor and copy/paste the script into the blank window
Save the script as “iTunes Custom Launcher” and choose to save it as an Application.
Copy/Paste the app into your Applications folder using Finder
To give the new app the same icon as iTunes has (optional), in the Applications folder, select iTunes and copy it. Do a “Get Info" on your new app and select the little icon in the top-left of the info screen so it has a blue outline, then do command-V (paste).
Remove iTunes from the Dock and add your new app.
For your question 3, I would just go into the music folders of whoever logs on to your mac and manually move whatever folders for artists/albums/songs are there; it should be the last time
Let me know if you need more help
Message was edited by: SilverSkyRat

ITunes Media Folder location can't be changed in Advanced Settings

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