Moving an iTunes library from one computer to another that isn't consolidated

My iTunes library is made up of music from a variety of sources. This is due to the files being stored on a server and organised in folders in a particular way already.
I want to transfer my iTunes library to a brand new computer, but am aware it may have trouble remembering where the files are if they aren't consolidated. Any clues as the best way to do this?
The files are all stored on the server, but as said previously in various folders so the new computer will have access to all of them.
I have the 'copy files to itunes media folder when adding to library' setting switched OFF.
Thanks to anyone who can help.

Actually I would rather use my iPod, because this shouldn't be that hard. We'll just say, I have everything on my iPod from my former itunes library on my other computer...but every time it tells me to drag out the itunes folder from this computer and put it on the desktop, it just goes right back into the My Music folder before I can put the itunes folder from my ipod into the music folder. And even when I do, it asks if i would like to merge the folders...so what does that entail if i do?
This is between my new computer with vista and my old computer which has xp...so yeah.

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I am in the process of trying to transfer my iTunes library from one computer to another. Some of the music/film info has been edited (by me) in my library (using get info). When put onto new computer the info has gone back to before i edited it.. Help!?

I am in the process of trying to transfer my iTunes library from one computer to another. Some of the music/film info has been edited (by me) in my library (using get info). When put onto new computer (following apple's instructions- using an external hard drive) the info has gone back to how it was before i edited it.. Help!?

Hello,
I would recommend taking a look at the article below for more information about migrating your iTunes library.
iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1364
-Griff W.

Transferring external iTune library from one computer to another

I am having great difficulty in changing my external iTunes library from my old MBP laptop to my new iMac 5k.
My entire iTunes library is stored on an external drive and can be accessed directly with my MBP. When I started up iTunes on my new iMac, it created a new empty library in the MUSIC folder. What I want to do is connect my new iMac to the external library directly. I can see it when I turn on HOME SHARING but only when iTunes is running on my MBP, which is useless since my MBP will now be seldom used. I have of course on the iMac, changed the library location in the advanced preferences to the external location, to no avail. I do not want to keep any media files on the iMac for capacity reasons.
To compound the problem, I cannot seem to sync my new iPhone 6+ to the original external library, only the new empty one!
Surely this ought to be a simple job, transferring an external iTunes library from one computer to another! Am I missing something obvious here?

Wow, what a quick response! Thanks, Limnos. I guess it was bleeding' obvious, and I should have thought of it before. Such a simple solution!
On a related matter, I also have just realised that the iTunes iOS backups are saved on the internal computer drive in a folder called MOBILESYNC rather than on an external drive, thus chewing up a lot of capacity on my SSD. Others reading this response may be interested to know that it is easy to have iTunes save the iOS backups to any external drive using a symbolic link in this directory. Go to
http://support.digidna.net/hc/en-us/articles/203504123-Storing-your-iPhone-Backu ps-on-an-Alternate-Location
for the details.
However, note that iBooks will NOT let you use this work-around, pathetic app that it is.

Question about moving all iTunes data from one computer to another.

I have a Windows XP. Now I have a windows 7. All of the songs from the XP are available on the new computer via a Z drive. But when I plug my iPod into the new computer it says that it is registered with a different library and asks me if I want to delete all the songs and apps and replace them from the ones on the new library. I don't want that to happen. And all of the apps on the old computer aren't available on the new one. How do I get the apps from one computer to another, and how do I sync my iPod on the new computer without erasing all high scores, app data, songs, and other information? And how do I get a song fro the new computer back to the old one?
Devin

This is the way I would normally recommend that you migrate your library from one computer to another.
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
If you have content on the new computer that you want to add to the library on the old one then copy that across via network/memory stick etc. before attempting to migrate the library again.
tt2

HT203167 Moved iTunes library from one computer to another using external hard drive. Cannot play many files. Says they are missing but locates them in an archive file but still won't play them. Are the files themselves part of the .itl files?

Moved iTunes library from old computer (PC Windows 7) to new (PC Window 8) using external hard drive. Library listing shows all music but can only play a fraction of it. On the ones it cannot play it asks to locate, then refers to an archived version (an .itl file), and still cannot play them. Do I just need to copy the archived .itl over, or is that not where the actual media are (do the actual media files even exist on the new computer?)? Any advice or information on this would be helpful.

*Also...is there any way I can filter out all the tracks with the ! so I can delete the unplaying copies as they're taking up room in my iTunes? I know how to find duplicates, but then I have to go and delete each one individually...*
*Thank you!*

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Can you transfer / copy itunes and all songs in library from one PC to another PC (only one IPOD in use

I am having problems trasferring my itunes library from my PC to my laptop. I transferred all the downloaded music, "MY MUSIC" from one computer to the other, and the laptop's itunes picked those songs up. When I connected my ipod to my lap top, when selecting "transfer purchased music", itunes only imports the music that I have purchased at the itunes store. ** What I can't get imported to my laptop are the 500 CDs (5000 songs) that I downloaded onto my PC's itunes.

Getting iTunes Library from one computer to another

I recently got s a new computer so my sister was given my old one. I'd like to know teh easiest way to transfer iTunes from one computer to another. I have to do this twice, once from my old to my new, and from her old to my old.
thanks for the help

WHat you need to do, so everything is easy, is first consolidate the library in iTunes. What this does is takes every song currently listed in iTunes and COPY"S it to the My Mucis/iTUnes/iTunes Music folder.
Once this is done you will copy the "iTUnes" folder to an external harddrive. this folder contains the important
"iTunes Library" file with the rating, playcount, playlist and the "iTunes Music" folder with your songs.
This is all covered at this link using an iPod to transfer (You can still use this artical for an external drive) http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173

Moving iTunes library from one computer to another

I am new to this list, but hope someone can help.
I had purchased quite a few songs from iTunes store and also had copied some from disks.
I saved my whole iTunes Music folder onto a portable hard drive.
I changed computers, so I deauthorized the 5 accounts I had and authorized just my one currently used computer. I thought I downloaded all the music from the portable HD to the library, but apparently not...
Now, each time I try to play something in my library, it tells me it cannot locate the file. If I browse to the connected portable HD, I can find it and play it, but it seems that nothing transferred when I thought I moved the music to my iTunes account. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Gremblay

Take a look on this article: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive
My guess is that you just moved your iTunes folder to your new computer, and didn't consolidate the library (wich may have caused you this trouble). Maybe you should transfer your library again. Just make sure the original files are on your portable HD and don't erase them accidenatally)

Move itunes library from one computer to another while keeping data (e.g date added, play counts etc.)

Hi guys,
I'm really sorry if this question has been asked before but I just upgraded my computer and I want to move all of my itunes library from my old one while keeping all of my info.
I tried copying the xml files but my new computer has a different location for the songs so they wont show up in the library.
Thanks

The following article(s) may help you.
Moving your iTunes library to a new computer

Using Home Share, on the same account, can i transfer / download my iTunes library from one computer to another?

I have a match account and i am not trying to share with another account, i am only trying to move from one computer to the other. I see my music on the new home laptop but i think they are only showing b/c they are in the cloud and i am worried that the moment i give up my other computer and and that library is blown away (its a work computer that my library will be gone, I know really poor planning).

Decide which one will be the Master/primary Mac for your iTunes.
If it is the new one then get a ext HD and drag/copy the iTunes folder to the HD then plug it in to the new Mac and drag the iTunes folder in to the Music folder or connect the 2 Macs via TB/FW/Ethernet and drag the iTunes folder to the new Mac.
MJ

How do i transfer my entire itunes library from one computer to another?

I recently bought a new computer and i need to transfer my entire music library from one laptop to the next. how would i even begin to do this?

See this migrate iTunes library post.
tt2

Transfer itunes library from one computer to another

How do I transfer itunes library/playlists from one computer to another

See this User Tip for a suggested technique for backing up the library. You can use the same tool to "restore" the library into a new computer and then maintain an ongoing backup.
tt2

How do I put my iTunes library from one computer to another?

My old computer is infected with spyware and is no longer usable. My question is: how do I get the iTunes library from that computer to my new computer that I have now? Is this even possible?

Yes, connect them on a network (I use my home's wireless netowrk) and set up windows file sharing
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2291?viewlocale=en_US

How do you transfer your ITunes library from one computer to another?

Is there any way I can tranfser my ITunes library from my old computer onto my new computer, or can I take it off my ipod and transfer it onto the computer?

The best method actually combines the two:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=607339

How do I move my iTunes library from one computer to another?

Is it accessaible online or how do I do it?

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.
If you do it properly there is no need to "import" anything on the new computer, you connect iTunes to a copy of the original library and it just works.
tt2

Moving an iTunes library from one computer to another that isn't consolidated

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