Moved iTunes folder from C: to D: now it wont recognize my library

Can anyone help me fix what I've messed up?
I moved my itunes folder from my loaded C: drive to D: drive (i'm partitioned with C: and D:) with a simple "move" command. Then I tried to use the ipod and itunes as normal ....wrong...it tells me that my ipod is linked to a different library and my option is to sync and lose my music on the ipod or not sync.
Well when I open itunes none of my music shows up in the itunes library that comes up, no custom play lists etc...it's like it's back to default.
So I moved it back to C: thinking that there was something there that was keeping C: as "the working itune drive" and it's still telling me the same thing.
In my itunes folder I have sub-folders that show
(album artwork)
(ipod games)
(ipod games library.itl)
(itunes music) ...shows all of my music, but does not link with the library
(itunes library.itl)
(itunes music library.xml)
I had no problems until I moved the itunes folder over to D: inorder to open space on my C:
I'm a basic "search the web, word processing, load my songs on to my ipod" computer user I figured itunes on my computer was good anywhere...guess not.
Thanks for your help.

When you moved your iTunes folder to a new drive, you need to do a shift key start to tell iTunes to use the library in the new location.
If you don't it will create a blank library in the delfault loaction on the c: drive.
Hold down the shift key, start iTunes, keep holding down the shift key until you are prompted to choose a library. Navigate to you iTunes folder on the d: drive and choose iTunes Library.itl.
Did you do that?

Similar Messages

Moved itunes folder to external drive and now lost playlists

To free space on my hard drive, I moved the folder to my external drive. Now, I successfully can access my music library, but my playlists aren't listed and I can't figure out how to get them/point to them. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Compaq Windows XP

polydorus, you are my hero. I launched itunes with the shift key down and was able to select the library on the external drive. I would not have thought of that. Thanks so much.
shockme, I found changed the folder name under the advanced tab wasn't enough. I used File>Import and imported the music from the external drive no problem.
mlevin, I was really scared deleted the original file too. I checked several times that the exact number of bytes were moved in case I wanted to go back. Change the music location, do the import, fix the playlists and get all going and then I assume you can delete the contents in the music folder like I did. Then I did a defrag to clean things up. Good luck!
Compaq Windows XP

Moved iTunes folder to external hard drive, now what?

I spent a long time to download my CDs into my laptop's hardrive for use in iTunes.
Ran into trouble on laptop - To improve my old laptop's ability to function, I moved the entire iTunes folder to an external hardrive. I've changed the iTunes pathway to the new hardrive location, but iTunes is not reading the library.
What can I try?
I have checked blogs and haven't found a solution. Some recommend launching iTunes while holding down an Option key for the dialog box. I can't figure how to do that - maybe that's available key on an Apple laptop, but not on this ancient PC.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thanks

Hi andrewfromwaunakee,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. If you would like to create a new iTunes library and add the media into it, follow this article:
iTunes: How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
You might also try re-creating the library:
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
Cheers,
- Ari

HT1364 I recently got a new laptop but I can't retrieve my iTunes folder from my old pc, how do I get my library on my new laptop as I don't want to set up a new one.

I recently had to buy a new laptop as my pc no longer worked. I can't get my iTunes media folder off my old pc so how do I get my library onto my new laptop as I don't want to create a new library and erase everything off my iPhone.

There is no such thing as a "sub-account." Also, you probably mean iTunes library, when you say "account." Your "account" in iTunes is your Apple ID, which is what you use to sign in to the iTunes Store to make purchases. iPods are associated with an iTunes library, not with an Apple ID (iTunes Store account). You'll need to clarify...
So, this is what I think you are saying. You previously shared an iTunes library on a computer with your friend. Your old iPod was synced to that iTunes library.
You got an iPhone, and at that time, you set up your own iTunes library. Is that on a different computer? How does the iPhone affect your question about the iPod?
You got a new iPod. What is your "old iTunes"? Is that the iTunes library you shared with your friend?

ITunes folder will not delete. When I moved my iTunes folder from my old computer to new, I placed the iTunes folder temporarily in my Dropbox folder so I could cut and paste it into the new computer's music folder. Now I can't delete that folder.

iTunes will not update my podcasts. When I click refresh, I get the circling arrows but after an hour it hasn't updated the available podcasts on those I'm subscribed to. I don't know if this is related to the issue I'm having with iTunes store and Besecure, guessing it may be. All the workarounds I've seen on these communities for fixing the Bsecure and iTunes issue are far too complicated for me, a computer simpleton. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, provided all the media is inside the iTunes Media folder, which is in turn inside the main iTunes folder (which is the standard arrangement) you should be able to move the iTunes folder from <User's Music> to any other path and shift-start-Tunes (option-start-iTunes on a Mac) to reconnect to it.
If the media folder has split out to another drive in the past, or media is stored outside of the iTunes Media folder, then things get a bit more complicated. I can go into details should it be necessary.
tt2

TS1967 When trying to recover a lost iTunes library file, the programme moved all the normal contents of iTunes folder to the desktop. Now what must I do?

When trying to recover a lost iTunes library file, the programme moved all the normal contents of iTunes folder to the desktop. Now what must I do? There is no iTunes Library.itl file. On the desktop it is labelled iTunes Library.xml. Several others files have appeared there too including iTunes Music Library.xml
Before I can use the programme is it necessary to take another step?
Thanks for advice.

Don't worry. I'm all for caution. I guess I should have asked a little more about what steps you took while trying to recover your lost library?
The permissions thing may be a red herring, but if there is a problem with file access rights to the designated media folder iTunes has been known to place files on the desktop instead since it can access this location. The most common cause for such problems is working with a folder on an NTFS drive via a differnt account or on a different computer. In the normal course of events folders created inside user profiles have limited rights for other users.
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
Normally the iTunes folder will be created at <User's Music>\iTunes with the media folder inside it. The library files should all appear in the same place so your comment about there not being an iTunes Library.itl file is confusing. Is it just the case that the .itl extension is hidden? The two .xml files makes sense from the above and indicates that the active library is not in <User's Music>\iTunes, but you have a recovered file from when it was.
If, in fact, the situation is that your desktop is acting as the main iTunes folder, and contains the library file, Album Artwork, iTunes Media and (optionally) Previous iTunes Libraries folders, with all other content being inside the iTunes Media folder, then it should be relativly easy to rearrange your into the correct shape and move them to the correct location.
If things are more complex, with something other than a library folder containing a media folder, then reestablishing the normal order is more complicated. The iTunes consolidate function is used to bring copies of files stored outside of the media folder into the media folder. It may sometimes be needed as part of the process of tidying up, however it leaves behind originals. There are circumstances where there isn't room for two complete sets of the media files on the same drive which is why I suggested the script might be useful as it produces the same results for the library without leaving the originals for manual clear up.
I think before you do anything however, we should get a clearer picture of exactly what is where. Could you perhaps take a screenshot of the desktop and post it here? Take a look at this post on making a split library portable. The same techniques I outline there can be used to lick your library into shape, it is just a question of working out which to use in which order for the best effect.
tt2

I moved iTunes folder location, now all my personal song ratings and playlists are gone. How can I get them back? All the iTunes files are intact, just in a new location. Running iTunes 11.1.5.5

I moved iTunes folder location, now all my personal song ratings and playlists are gone. How can I get them back? All the iTunes files are intact, just in a new location. Running iTunes 11.1.5.5 on Windows 7

Put everything back the way it was.
Them move the folder correctly.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364

I have reorganised my music in the itunes folder in windows explorer. Now I can't sync all my music to a new iPad, or play the music from itunes (as it is looking in the old location). How do I repoint itunes to all my music?

I have reorganised my music in the itunes folder in windows explorer. Now I can't sync all my music to a new iPad, or play the music from itunes (as it is looking in the old location). How do I repoint itunes to all my music?

Have you read for possible solutions over in the "More Like This" thread over here?----------------------->
Check out the following KB Articles: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329 How to use your iPod to move your music to a new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer

Moved ITunes folder to external drive now can't get Ipod to sync

I have moved my ITunes folder from laptop to external drive. Had to move each album folder individually to ITunes and when I went to Sync my Ipod, says its in Restore mode and can't get out of it as it stays in Restore mode over and over and over.

As a best practice, you should move your content to an external drive and import references to into iTunes rather than moving the whole database and app files. In iTunes > Preferences > Advanced, uncheck "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library". This will keep all your music and movies on the external drive, but iTunes and all references to the content on your desktop.
I know that's not what you wanted to hear as a fix, but this is how I have my MacBook Air setup and it works fine with the iPad. My son tried to move the whole app and database to a hard drive and we had endless problems with it.

How to move ITunes folder from exterior hard drive to a new computer?

I moved my iTunes folder from my full C: drive, to my F: drive a while back. Somehow it reverted to my C drive again. After changing the path there on the Advanced tab, it would not hold that path. That is one question - how do you save this?
Then, I noticed none of my songs were in the library. So I used File/ "Add to Library" and it started populating my library - but on my C: drive! Even though I dumped my iTunes folder on C - it recreated it and populated the whole library there. Now I'm back where I was to begin with. With iTunes on a full drive where I can not add music.
Please tell me how to add to Library on myF: drive without it reverting to C: drive. OR, my F: drive is on an external hard drive. Does anyone know how to transfer the iTunes library from that to another computer (my laptop)? Maybe that would solve this finally.
Please help me - I've gone crazy with all this transferring that is not working.

I have noticed that if you start iTunes with the external disconnected, it will revert the library to the local location.
When you add songs to your library, and you don't want extra copies made, make sure the Preferences "Keep..." and "Copy..." are both turned off. Then the songs will stay where they are, i.e. the external in your case.

After hard drive transfer of itunes folder from old computer, music not showing in itunes on new mac

Hi,
I have just used the external drive method to transfer my itunes library from the old mac to my new macbook pro. I moved the whole itnues folder into the music folder, as directed, having removed the empty itunes folder than was there by default on the new macbook. But when I open itunes, none of the music appears, even though it is now in the right place. I am just offered the splach screen to 'scan for media', the same as when I opened iTunes when the computer first arrived. If I do that, I'm worried it's going to pick up everyting on the computer, and I only want my old itunes library to work!
As I understand it from the instructions here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
... (which I followed meticulously), all my music should now appear in iTunes. But it doesn't... any ideas?
Thanks!

Try copying the iTunes folder from your old computer again. Then, open iTunes holding the Option (Alt) key, so it will ask you for the library. Just go to the folder where the iTunes library is, and select it, so the songs should load correctly

HT1449 Moving Itunes folder to External database

So I followed the instructions on moving my itunes folder, word for word from this page: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449. However, itunes wouldn't open at the end. I moved back the itunes folders from trash and it still won't recognize the folder. Can anyone help? I can't get itunes to open at all now.
The error I'm getting is "The iTunes application could not be opened. An unknown error occurred (13014)." I've tried holding down the option button and redirecting itunes to either the original or the one on the external drive and its not fixing the problem.
Thanks.

Okay, so I tried something else and it has worked once but has to be repeated every time I open itunes...
When I moved the first set over, it didn't seem to move the library files over to the external drive... so I just moved those manually and then did the following following another piece of advice on this bulletin board.
Hold Option and restart iTunes.
Select *Choose library* them select the *iTunes Library.itl* file in the iTunes folder you moved.

Moved iTunes Folder isn't Located

Ok, so I needed to free-up some space on my main drive, so I copied the 20GB iTunes Music folder to my external drive, then used iTunes/Preferences/Advanced to set that as "iTunes Music Folder" location. Deleted the original folder from my main drive. Now iTunes can't locate the moved folder ?? And yes, the external drive is switched on and plugged in. Any suggestions?

macblueduck wrote:
Ok, so I needed to free-up some space on my main drive, so I copied the 20GB iTunes Music folder to my external drive, then used iTunes/Preferences/Advanced to set that as "iTunes Music Folder" location. Deleted the original folder from my main drive. Now iTunes can't locate the moved folder ?? And yes, the external drive is switched on and plugged in. Any suggestions?
When you change your iTunes/Preferences/Advanced to change thes "iTunes Music Folder" location, you are only telling iTunes where to put any FUTURE additions to your library. All current iTunes items are still accessed from their current locations. Since you deleted those files and iTunes is still looking in the old spot, it can not find them.
Try this. Copy the iTunes folder to the external drive. Now stick the iTunes Music folder you already copied over there back into the iTunes folder. Now open iTunes using these instructions...
How to open an alternate iTunes Library file or create a new one
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
and open an alternative library and point iTunes to the database file on the external drive in the newly moved iTunes folder. Hopefully that will fix everything.
Patrick

I have a new pc. If I copy the Itunes folder from my old pc onto my new one in the music folder will I be able to sync just as if it were the old one? This is from a Widows Vista machine to Windows 7.

If I copy the Itunes folder from my old pc onto my new one in the music folder will I be able to sync just as if it were the old one? This is from a Widows Vista machine to Windows 7.

I suspect design rather than a bug, it's too useful. The behaviour seems to have been consistent for quite a long time on both Windows and Mac machines...
Here are the typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
In the layout above right, with the media folder (everything in the red box) inside the library folder, the library will be portable. A portable library can be moved from one path to another, or even between Windows & Mac computers, without breaking the links between the library and the media, and being self-contained is much easier to backup (You do backup, don't you?). Anything that isn't stored inside the media folder must stay put or be restored to precisely the same path on a new machine or iTunes won't know where to find it. Within the media folder the relative paths from the library to the media remain unchanged and iTunes can cope even when the absolute paths are updated.
Should your library not be in the usual layout I've written some general posts on how to make a split library portable or I can give specific instructions on request.
tt2

Cannot copy iTunes folder from Windows to Mac because of Permission

I have my iTunes library on a windows machine, running windows 7. The library is organized inside the iTunes folder.
I am trying to put this same iTunes onto my new macbook pro. I tried copying the folder to an external HD and plugging that into my mac. When I tried to just copy the iTunes folder to the Mac HD I got:
I messed around with the permissions in Windows, but I couldn't get it to change. I tried everything I could find in the security tab for the disk and the permissions on the folder.
I decided to try and see if iTunes could just do it itself. So I replaced it itunes library (which was blank) on my Mac with that of my windows. I then opened a song, and followed the promt to locate it. iTunes found all my songs (on the external HD) just as you would expect. Now I tried to consolidate to get everything over to the mac. About halfway through i got this error:
So SOME of the songs and apps and books copied over but only about half and now it won't go any further. I went back to windows and tried to mess with the HD secruities again, but nothing worked.
One more note: when I open the HD on my mac it says "You have read access only" in the security tab. I know every other thread on this like suggests changing that but there is nowhere for me to do that.
Can anyone help me?

I then opened a song, and followed the promt to locate it. iTunes found all my songs (on the external HD) just as you would expect.
That's not what I would expect if you copied the entire /iTunes/ folder to the new computer.
Try this...
Open a Finder window.
Select Users/yourusernname.
Right click - get info.
Scroll to the bottom (Sharing & Permissions).
Make sure you can Read & Write.
Click the gear icon at bottom and select Apply to enclosed items.
Let it finish.
Delete the /Music/iTunes/ folder.
Then copy the entire /iTunes/ folder from the external to /Music/ on the internal.

Moved iTunes folder from C: to D: now it wont recognize my library

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for