Move library from desktop to laptop
Trying to move iTunes library from desktop to new laptop so I can sync to my new ITouch
Probably the most straightforward way to get iTunes onto your second computer is to network it with the first one and copy your iTunes folder across. Start by consolidating your library. When you consolidate, any songs in the iTunes Library that are not in the iTunes Music Folder are copied to the Music Folder and the Library is updated to point to those new files. Files already in the iTunes Music Folder have no changes made to them: Copying all your iTunes files to one location - Windows
Copying the whole folder brings with it the iTunes Music folder and also the iTunes Library (iTunes Library.itl in Windows) database file which holds all the information about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). You'll get more information including the Folder/File structure in this article: What are the iTunes library files?
When you copy the iTunes folder make sure you put it into the same location on the new computer. This has to be the exact same place, on a PC this is \Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\My Music\. Everything has to be exactly the same on the new computer including the Windows user account name. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will be the same as on the original one Songs, Playlists, Play Counts, Ratings etc. You should also use the same version of iTunes on both computers.
You can also use this method with an external hard drive, you drag the folder from the first computer to the external drive and then from the drive to the second computer.
If you have any iTunes purchases in your library don't forget that you'll need to authorise your new computer to play them. Also if you are disposing of the old one remember to deauthorise it so you don't use up one of your allowances: About iTunes Music Store Authorisation and Deauthorisation
Similar Messages
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Moving library from desktop to laptop
I have i-Tunes 7 on both my desktop and laptop; but my main library is on my desktop. I want to be able to move my library from the desktop pc to the laptop, INCLUDING playlists etc. I don't mind replacing the laptop library with the desktop library, as I can then re-import the tunes that were on the laptop library into it. Can you tell me how best to do this? I have a Lacie external hard drive with which to carry out the move (no DVD burner).
Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173
iPod: Frequently Asked Questions
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60920
Patrick -
HT3819 How do I move library from PC to laptop?
I have authorized Home Sharing on my PC (where my entire library exists) and my laptop but I can only see my library on my Laptop when my PC is open to iTunes. How do I move my entire library to my laptop which is where I want everything as I am going to stop using my PC soon? Help!
If home sharing isn't working for you, there's a few other ways of doing the move.
The following document is worth checking through:
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer -
The whole story: I tried to transfer my iTunes library via Homeshare from my desktop to my laptop but not all of my library imported. Both computers are authorized and almost all of the 99GB of music was imported from my own cds. I couldn't tell what was missing and I figured a computer person would have an easy way to figure this out. In the meantime, I added about 20-25 more cds to the library on the laptop. I had a computer guy come out because I wanted to merge the two libraries so I can get rid of the desktop. He dragged and dropped several folders onto the external hard drive and then dragged and dropped those into my music folder on the laptop. Now I have a big mess! I have tons of duplicates, but the entire library didn't duplicate so I am still not sure if all of my music made it over. He wants to delete all of the duplicates but I explained that I don't want to break up albums and I had already gone through the process of finding "exact duplicates" and deleting those on the desktop before I started all of this. I talked to a Geek Squad guy at Best Buy who suggested I delete everthing from the laptop and start over. He wants me to open iTunes on my desktop and select all, then drag that to a new folder on the external hard drive. Then reinstall iTunes on the laptop and drag and drop that folder into it. I have no idea what to do at this point. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Please know that I am not very computer literate so please type slowly so that I will understand ;-) Thanks
Sidenote: I did sign up for IMatch and had Apple scan both libraries. Not all of my music showed up there either. I am missing entire albums, etc. and I have not reached the maximum limit, 25,0000 songs. Should I purchase TuneUp Media to fix any metadata once I get my complete library onto my laptop? I just want my entire library together, in one place so that I can move forward and back it up properly. Thanks for any help.Delete whatever was imported to the new computer via HomeSharing.
Stop using HomeSharing to move content.
Copy the ENTIRE iTunes folder from the old computer to the new computer.
Launch iTunes.
Everything in iTunes on the new computer will be exactly as it was on the old computer. -
Move itunes from desktop to laptop
I currently have itunes on my desktop (all music/media stored on external hard drive) but i just purchased a laptop and would like to itunes only on the laptop instead of the desktop. Do i need to move the itunes folder from my desktop or could i just download/install itunes from my laptop and then upload all media from my external to the laptop?
Thanks for your response. So on my desktop, I go to My Music, move the itunes folder (as is, with previous itunes libraries, etc) to my external and upload it to the laptop? "Do I still have to download itunes on my laptop? Please reply. Thanks
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Moving itunes library from desktop to laptop
ok so i know there are some topics on this already but none have helped me yet..i just bought a new laptop..i downloaded the latest version on itunes on it today..and i do not know how to get all my music from my library on my desktop onto my laptop..is there an easy way to do this? and when i plug in my ipod to my new laptop..it will not play any music because it is already "synced to another library" referring to how my ipod is already synced on my desktop.. how do i fix this? i would appreciate any help i can get..thanks!
Click here and follow the instructions.
(41804) -
How do I move PSE 9 from desktop to laptop after I install new PSE11?
Just received PSE 11, want it on my desktop and then move PSE 9 from desktop to laptop? It there a sequence that will prevent problems?
First make a full backup in PSE 9 using the organizer's backup command, then install PSE 9 on the laptop and restore the backup there. If all is well, you can then deactivate PSE 9 on the desktop if you don't want it there anymore (not required, unless you've already installed it on a third computer). When you install PSE 11 it should find and update your catalog on that for you.
If you don't use organizer, it doesn't really matter how you do it. -
I have consolidated files from my library from an old laptop onto an external. How do I move them from my external to my library on my new laptop?
Glad that helped. Yes, I agree it's not self-evident if you've never seen it before.
Enjoy your Apple gear! -
Transferring itunes from desktop yo laptop using usb stick?
I am currently trying to move my itunes music from desktop to laptop using usb stick, i can get the music onto the usb stick from my desktop then try to cut and paste it to itunes music folder but it dosent show up in itunes itself, what am i doing wrong?
Paste it into another location on the laptop, and then drag it from there into the open iTunes window. iTunes uses a database to determine what's in the library instead of looking at the content of the iTunes Music folder.
(36433) -
How do I get my itunes library from my old laptop to my new imac? My purchases are showing on the new imac but not my own music files.
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 new location of 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 -
I am attempting to transfer my library from one old laptop to a new one.
Hi there. I am attempting to transfer my library from one old laptop to a new one. I have followed the advice about exporting and importing the xml file but all the playlists are empty?
All my data is stored on an external hard drive which I had hoped would make the process easier. Just thought I wouldn't have to re-build all my playlists in the new library...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 entire iTunes 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. 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 recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library.
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 see Recover 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 -
Why can't I sync my iTunes Library from my second laptop to my iPod?
I just synced my iPod to my iTunes library on my OLD laptop and then used Home Sharing to import that content to my new laptop.
Then, I tried syncing my iTunes Library from my new laptop to my iPod and it said " This will delete all old music, videos & movies from your iPod and replace it with your iTunes Library" wich is exactly what I wanna do! So I clicked continue and it started syncing...
During the middle of the process a pop up appears and says " Your iTunes LIbrary cannot be synced to your iPod because there is not enough room on your iPod (additionaly 2.33GB required) "
But I thought it would erase my songs from my ipod ( approximately 2.40GBs) and replace it with the new ones from my library (2.33GB) ???? Why didn't it? What can I do to have my iTunes Library from my new laptop to my iPod Touch?
( I want my iPod to be able to sync anytime to my new computer because I'm getting rid of the old one.)
Please help, thanks.So I copied everything in the iTunes folder from my old computer
and sent it to an 8GB USB,
which I'll insert into my new computer and paste the files on to /Music/
Will that work? -
How do I move pse9 from my old laptop to a new one?
How do I move pse9 from my old laptop to a new one?
I have my original disk, but I believe I need to de-ctivate the existing copy before installing on the new computer.
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When using Migration Assistant to move files from old PC laptop to new MacBook Pro, that has Windows 8 installed containing Outlook, will emails, contacts and calendar entries be moved to Outlook on the new MacBook or into Mail, Contacts and Calendar?
I doubt they will. But then I'm not sure as I used a migration program once about 18 years ago and totally FUBARed the system I had at that time and I've never used one again.
For me the reason to have a new system is to start fresh. Installing only program that I now use and manually copying data over from the older system.
Not sure your older version of Outlook, and the outlook mail boxes, are compatible with Office/Outlook for Mac 2011.
A better place to ask this question would be on the MS Office for Mac forums.
Hope it all works out for you. -
I have just downloaded iPhoto from the app store. The photo library from my old laptop was backed up on an external hard drive and I retrieved the photos from there. Now when I open the photos on my new Mac Book Pro, they are small - am I missing something?
I am using 10.8.2 Mountain Lion btwI dragged the Photo library icon from the backup drive on to iPhoto on the laptop
That means you imported one Library to another.
Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
So the reason you're seeing small photos is because you're seeing the iPhoto thumbnails from the back up library.
So, what to do?
Do you still have the back up? If so, trash this bunged up library and restore from the back up again. HOw to restore will depend entirely on how you made the back up, but no version of restoring includes importing the library.
Regards
TD
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