Moving an entire iTunes Library

I am running iTunes 10 on a MacBook Pro with OS 10.6.8.
My wife has setup her playlists and songs in iTunes, but the songs for the library are located on an external drive due to the large size of the entire music library. She doesn't need ALL of those songs, just the artists/songs she has added to her playlists and iTunes Library in iTunes.
I've tried changing the location of the library via the Preferences pane in iTunes to be on the laptop instead of the external drive, and selected "Keep library organized", but the songs don't actually copy to the hard drive.
Is there a way we can reconfigure this to copy associated songs/artists back to the laptop hard drive so she doesn't have to plugin the external drive every time she wants to hear some music?... or do we have to just copy artists manually and reassociate everything?
Thanks for any help!
Shane

Kappy,
The external iTunes/ folder is about 75GB too large for the laptop hard drive... Much of the music on the external drive is NOT present in her laptop Music Library (she added only the music she wanted from the external, but specified the external disc as the library location).
Is there a way you can tell iTunes to move the music that HAS been added to her Playlists and Music Library over to the laptop drive from the external?
Otherwise, I fear it will be a matter of matching artist, by artist which folders need to be copied.
Thoughts?
Thanks for your input.

Similar Messages

Moving an entire iTunes library from PC to Mac

My Dell Inspiron is basically shot right now and I have to move my ENTIRE iTunes library (literally everything; music, music videos, podcasts, and apps for iOS devices) from it to my sister's MacBook Pro before the Dell is completely dead. My music is already on an external drive, but I think everything else (music videos, podcasts, and apps) is on the main hard drive, which I am planning to move to the external drive. I don't want to lose the data on my apps (such as game high scores and saved to-do lists). I don't want to have to restore and re-sync my iDevice as it takes a very long time. I also don't want to lose minor song information such as year, composer, genre, track number, and album artwork. Basically, I want my iTunes library on the MacBook Pro to be exactly like the one I had on the Dell.
How do I go about moving my entire iTunes library with everything intact as smoothly as possible with little or no problems from PC to Mac?

It's important that you copy the xml file inside the iTunes folder on Windows (Documents / Music) along with all your files. Then you have to transfer the iTunes folder into your Mac (usually is located inside the Music folder) and start iTunes. Inside iTunes pref make sure you select the right folder for your music. Another important thing is to have the same iTunes version on Windows and Mac when doing such operations. I hope that helps, bye

Moved my entire iTunes library to a new PC laptop from an old PC - iPod won't sync

I recieved a new Dell PC laptop for graduation and wanted to add my normal iTunes library from my old PC desktop. I moved my entire iTunes folder via a 16G flashdrive (in pieces, but accurately - the folder is 43G) to the laptop, and my up-to-date library was restored, play count and all. However, I decided to test out my iPod with the library, which should be the exact same library as before, by syncing a new song to the device. I plugged in my iPod to the computer, which iTunes recognized and acted as though it were syncing, but when I checked my iPod, the song did not show up on the device. It shows up in my iTunes library, but I can't figure out why iTunes won't sync with the device. I made sure that I moved EVERYTHING in the iTunes folder, so it should be recognizing the library as the same exact one as before. Help?!

You can only sync with one iTunes library. To change syncing libraries:
- Connect the iPod to your computer and make a backup by right clicking on the iPod under Devices in iTunes and select Back Up
- Restore the iPod from that backup.
Note that the backup that iTunes makes does not included synced media like apps and music.

I would like to move the Tv show folder to an external HD. Can I do this without moving the entire iTunes music folder?

I would like to move the TV Shows folder from my iMac's HD to an external HD to free up some space. Can I do this without moving the entire iTunes Library folder? If so, can my other devices like iPads and Apple TV find the moved TV shows folder?

All kinds of things are possible with iTunes, but few of them are easy. Yes, you can isolate TV shows on a different drive. The degree of complexity depends upon how much work and learning you are interested in doing. The easiest solution is to delete them all from iTunes but do not let iTunes delete the actual media files. Then go to the folder where TV shows are located and copy that folder to a different drive. Now hold down the option key and drag them back to iTunes so it adds them again. Using the option key means the file doesn't get copied to iTunes' main media folder. However, since these are being added as new files it means you risk losing some information entered about them such as personal ratings, date added, date last played, etc. There are ways of retaining this data but that's where you really have to learn how to do workarounds with iTunes.
I have never seen an AppleTV, nor used an iPhone but my understanding is these devices do not directly use the files, they do so through iTunes. As long as the entries can be found in iTunes then they should be accessible by other devices.

Sync issues after moving entire iTunes library to new iMac

I have a question regarding moving an itunes library to a new computer and what happens to the devices that were synced with it.
I moved a clients entire iTunes folder from the user-music folder on one iMac to another iMac, replacing it's itunes folder.
I then opened iTunes and it read the library just fine, all content intact.
The issue was with syncing the ipods that were originally connected to the previous computer.
I thought that I could just hook up their iPod to the new iMac, since it is essentially the same iTunes folder/content/data and all should continue syncing just fine. Nope.
The ipod (touch) would show 'syncing' yet no data would move between it and the new iMac.
Same thing with their Apple TV - it was originally being synced with the older iMac.
I had hoped, once moving the entire itunes folder to the new imac, that itunes would just go on talking with the Apple TV. Not the case.
So far, the only thing I can do is to do a 'restore' on the ipod touch, then treat it like a new ipod and sync it with the new computer.
I haven't dealt with the Apple TV issue yet - it would not be fun to erase the entire contents of the apple tv, then resync with the new imac. Lots of data to move around - but perhaps this is the only way?
Kind of a bummer. Is this correct?
It never gave me the 'this ipod is being synced with another computer/library' message either. It 'seemed' like it was going to work as I had hoped.
I looked all over the computer, preferences folders, etc. to see if I could find something that associated the ipod with a particular library. I did locate the ipod backups folder in the application support folder and moved it over to the new computer too.
I've always moved client's itunes library from their old computer to new computer without issues - I don't remember their being an issue with previously synced devices like iPods/iphones/Apple TV's.

You didn't mention whether or not you authorized the new computer in iTunes. If not, do that and then sync the iPod. The iPod will recognize that this is a new computer and will ask you if you want to proceed - in this case, you want to do exactly that.

Moving entire iTunes library from a windows machine to a mac

Hi I just bought a mac and I need a way to transfer my entire iTunes library to the mac. I have my mac and pc connected via FTP I was just.wondering if it is as easy as dragging the library folder to the iTunes folder on the mac.
Thank You

These pages may be of some interest/help:
How to move an iTunes library from a PC to Mac (and back)
How to move your iTunes library from Windows to Mac

I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found

I have a new hard drive as my old one crashed. Everything seemed to transfer fine except for my entire iTunes library. It shows all of my old songs, but when I click on one it states "the song could not be used as the original file could not be found.would you like to locate it".
Either how do I locate it, and I've tried every trick I know, or how do I restore all of my songs from one of two sources. I have my old hard drive backedup on an external drive which should have all of my songs, and I have most of my songs on my old iPhone 3S which I'm using as a backup iPod.

The "missing file" error happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, or the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place. In the case of a library moved from one system to another there are also potential permissions issues. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to Get Info, then click No when asked to try to locate the track. (Due to a bug in iTunes 12 you currently have to say No twice!) Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, a folder renamed, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions. If the difference between the two paths is an additional Music folder in one path then this is a layout issue. I can explain further if that is the case.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links.
If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.
See also Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

How do i email or upload my entire itunes library so i can put it on a diff

how do i email or upload my entire itunes library so i can put it on my laptop!
im getin ready 4 a party and realised i need music to be moved on2 my laptop!!
iv tries to email it but file attatching only allows one song a time and id b years doin dat!
any ideas! asap
thanx holly

Holly:
I'm assuming that you have your iTunes library on a desktop machine and want to move your songs to your laptop. You have a couple of choices. If your library is small, you can create a backup copy onto a Data CD then copy the CD's contents onto your laptop.
1) Go to Preferences, select the Burning tab, click on the Data CD option.
2) Create a new playlist and copy the contents of the library to this new playlist.
3) Right-click on the new playlist and select Burn Playlist to disc
4) Launch iTunes on your laptop
4) Once the CDs are burned on your desktop, take them over to the laptop and copy them into your iTunes Music folder on the laptop
5). Launch iTunes on your laptop and drag the tracks from the iTunes Music folder onto iTunes.
If your library is not so small (ie, it won't fit on just a couple of data CDs)
If your ipod is less than half full, you can use it to quickly transfer the songs:
On your desktop:
1) Launch iTunes and go to Edit ... Preferences. Leave the window open
2) Plug in your iPod to the desktop machine
3) Once its active on your desktop, open My Computer and you will see your iPod mounted as a "Removable Disk". Open this icon up and you will see several folders such as "Calendars", "Contacts", etc. Right-click within this window and select New ... folder to create a new folder on your iPod
4) Open that new folder up
5) Go to your iTunes Music folder and copy its contents into the new folder you created above.
6) Once completed, go to iTunes and cancel out of the Preferences window. Your iPod will update and then will dismount. (If you've changed your setting to keep the iPod mounted at all times, then you will need to right-click on your iPod entry to eject it.)
Go over to your laptop and do the following:
1) Launch iTunes and go to Edit ... Preferences. Leave the window open
2) Plug in your iPod to the laptop
3) Once its active on your desktop, open My Computer and you will see your iPod mounted as a "Removable Disk". Open this icon up and you will see the new folder you just created above
4) Open that new folder up and copy all your tracks to the iTunes Music folder on your laptop
5) Cancel out of the preferences window. Your iPod should unmount.
6) With iTunes open on your laptop, click on Library.
7) Go to the folder on your laptop that contains all your songs, select all your tracks and drag them into iTunes.

Is this legal? (Copying Entire iTunes Library)

Hi
I know how to do it, but want to know if this is legal. I'm going on a long haul flight next week and want to copy my entire itunes library to my Macbook Pro then delete all the music and just keep the TV Shows and Movies for watching on route, is this legal?
Thanks

Hello there,
So you are talking about just moving your library over to a new computer? If so, then yes, it is legal. Nothing wrong with that. People do it all the time.
As long as you aren't copying it to somebody else's computer for them to have or keep.
B-rock

HT4972 I am unsure of this update. Do you recommend putting my entire itunes library onto a separate hard drive while i do the latest update? I was told everything in my itunes library as well as my ipod touch would be lost if i do the latest update. Plea

Im unsure of this update. Do you recommend putting my entire itunes library on a separate hard drive while i do this update? I was told everthing in my itunes library as well as my ipod touch would be lost if i update it. Please help.

Who told you that?
I would stop listen to him if he is providing that kind of advice.
Allan

Somehow my entire itunes library got deleted ... I have the old ipod nano, which does not connect with iCloud so it has all been saved there, BUT .. I cannot load all my music that I put on and I no longer have the cd's PLEASE HELP!!!!

PLEASE HELP!!! Somehow my entire iTunes library got deleted, and I cannot sync all my music that I put on from cd's (which I no longer have). All the purchased music has been synced, but nothing else! All my other devices are synced with iCloud and lost the material as well ... I am so frustrated, because the nano has not been working properly, and I am afraid of losing it forever, and of course the cd's I backed everything with are MIA!!!! GRRR! Please HELP!!!
Thank you so much!

I can't tell from your post what you have and what you don't have. Are you saying the files are no longer on your computer, no longer on your iPod, or both?

How do I remove entire iTunes library that has duplicated itself in each individual playlist???

Hi,
Further to my previous posting yesterday I have somehow miraculously managed to find and restore my playlist folders (although some of my playlists that I created are missing tracks for some reason - any suggestions???).
However, as happy as I am, when I click on the folder heading for each playlist eg. ADELE it drops down the playlist I have for each albumie. 19, 21 but the folder itself shows my entire iTunes library. Bizarre! Any suggestion as to how I remove the library from each individual folder?
I have added a new folder and re-named > dragged playlists into it and then deleted the old one with the entire library in, but taking into account I have a huge iTunes library it will take me hours to do this for all of my folders.
Help much appreciated! ;-))

And do I take it that the actually playlist, e.g. THE E.N.D. only shows the tracks of that album? Anyway, something has gone horribly wrong.
The easiest way to resolve this might be to go back to an earlier build of your iTunes library and then bring it up to date with any recently added content, like this:
Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
When you get it all working make a backup!
I would add that you probably have too many playlists. The column browser provides a way to quickly locate, for example, all tracks by an artist, in a certain genre, or specific albums. Creating multiple playlist folders for artists, with playlists for their albums, is overkill. Playlists are best used to create lists or selections that can't be pulled out easily from the Column Browser.
tt2

I moved my entire iPhoto Library to an external hard drive, which seems to have worked. But now my Mac Pro shows a backup of the same size in the storage info and has not freed up any space. help!

I moved my entire Iphoto Library from my Macbook Pro to an external hard drive. (Prior to this, I also copied the entire library to a different ehd, plus I have 2 other ehdrives with backups). I was trying to get more space on my hd. It has a capacity of 500GB, but was down to 70GB usable, with about 300GB used up by photos. I moved the library by going to Finder, using Command+Drag+Drop onto the new Seagate ext hard drive icon. The move seems to have worked, as the library shows up on the ehd, plus will open from there. My problem is that now my Macbook Pro shows that I STILL have only 70GB available out of the 500, and that 300GB is used up by "Backups", which it did not indicate before.
I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
Thanks for any and all help!

I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
You are probably using Time Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, right? Then the additional 300 GB could be local Time Machine snapshots. Time Machine will write the hourly backups to the free space on your hard disk, if the backup drive is temporarily not connected. You do not see these local backups in the Finder, and MacOS will delete them, when you make a regular backup to Time Machine, or when you need the space for other data.
See Pondini's page for more explanation: What are Local Snapshots? http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
You have tested the library on the external drive, and so your photos are save there.
The local TimeMachine snapshot probably now contains a backup of the moved library. Try, if connecting your Time Machine drive will reduce the size of your local Time Machine snapshots.

New MacBook pro how do I add external hard drive which has my entire iTunes library on it. Do I just drag external drive icon into iTunes preference box that shows where new itunes library is now located ie. On the MacBook pro.

how do I add external hard drive which contains my entire iTunes library to new MacBook Pro. i want to keep iTunes library on external hard drive. But I want all my iTunes information: artist, songs, albums, playlists on my new MacBook Pro. I know about going to iTunes preferences- advanced-itunes media folder location. At this point I don't know what to do Do I drag external icon into iTunes media folder location box. I want to keep music files on external hard drive. I don't want to use macbook pro memory for my very large music files.

I will request that your query be relocated to the iPhoto forum where knowledgeable iPhoto users will be able to assist you.
Ciao.

HT1451 I moved my entire itunes file folder to a public folder by mistake and now I'm having trouble moving it back with all of my playlists in tact.

I tried to create a situation where my daughter and I could share our itunes libraries on the same computer. I was following all of the steps but inadvertently moved the entire itunes folder from to the public one instead of just moving the media. I tried to cancel the operation but it failed. Now I can't seem to move it back to it original place. All of my playlists are gone and everything is in iCloud. Is there a way to recover this? This is so frustrating. I have windows running vista. Please help!

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

Moving an entire iTunes Library

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for