Dec 31, 2016 How to transfer full iTunes music library without losing playlists, play counts, likes or ratings! I transferred my entire library from a 2011 MacBook Pro to the new 2016 MacBook Pro with touch bar. Jan 04, 2020 How to Move Your iTunes Library. You can move your iTunes library to a different folder, computer, or drive. Here's how to do it, even in macOS Catalina, which ditches iTunes for the Music app.
Run out of storage on your computer? Thinking about removing iTunes library and sending it to the external hard drive? Well, this article can help you out with two simple solutions on how to move iTunes library to external hard drive.
When we get a large collection of music in our iTunes library, it would be not easy for us to delete certain songs from the whole collection. However, when you are confronting that there is not enough space on your computer, it would be a better option for you to move it to an external hard drive. Besides, for these beloved songs, you may just like the question above want to transfer your iTunes library from one device to another.
Then here comes the problem: how to move iTunes library to external hard drive? This post can render you two possible ways to achieve it. Read on to learn more.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive with iTunes
Step 1To find the location of your iTunes media folder, launch iTunes on your computer > Then click “Edit” (PC) or “iTunes”(Mac) on the menu bar > Preferences > Advanced > Here you will see the “iTunes Media folder location” in your computer.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive with iTunes – Step 1
Step 2Then click File > Library > Organize Library > Check the box named as “Consolidate files” > Click OK.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Drive with iTunes – Step 2
Step 3Quit iTunes > Connect your external hard drive to the computer > Open the iTunes media folder from the location in step 1 > Drag the folder to the external hard drive.
If you intend to delete the original iTunes media content in your computer, to make iTunes still work with this iTunes library, you have to open iTunes > then click “Choose Library” in the pop-up window > select the iTunes library folder in your external hard drive.
Remember you have to connect your external hard drive to your computer every time you want to use iTunes with this iTunes library.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive with AnyTrans for iOS
Besides using iTunes to move the music from your iTunes library to external hard drive, there is an easier way for you to achieve it – AnyTrans for iOS. It is a professional iOS data manager that allows you to simply transfer your iOS data from one device to another.
- Transfer music directly from iTunes to your hard drive or another iDevice without hassle.
- Transferring music speedily. AnyTrans for Android supports you transfer more than 1000 songs in minutes.
- Manage and transfer almost all your iOS data like contacts, photos, ringtones, music, calendar, from one iDevice to another or from iDevice to computer and vice versa.
- No leak or loss of data. AnyTrans for iOS assures that all the data in the process of transferring would not be leaked or lost.
AnyTrans for iOS – iTunes Library Manager
Thinking about a good way to transfer your iTunes library to an external hard drive? AnyTrans for iOS can be your perfect helper. You can easily move iTunes Library to external hard drive or computer or another iDevice without any trouble.
Download AnyTrans for iOS now on your PC/Mac and follow the below steps to know how to move iTunes library to external hard drive.
Step 1Launch AnyTrans for iOS > Click the button in the middle of the top bar > Choose iTunes Library in the drop-down menu.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive with AnyTrans for iOS – Step 1
Step 2Select all the items at once or some of them > Click on Send to PC/Mac button.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive with AnyTrans for iOS – Step 2
Step 3Click “view files” to find the exported files in your computer > Then connect your external hard drive to the computer > Drag the folder to your external hard drive.
How to Move iTunes Library to External Hard Drive Windows with AnyTrans for iOS – Step 3
The Bottom Line
That’s the two methods on how to move iTunes library to external hard drive. As you can see, with the help of AnyTrans for iOS, you can manage your iTunes library or iPhone data easier than ever. You can also back up your iOS app and restore them to your iDevices at any time. Download it now and enjoy your free trial!
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Contents
- iTunes from Mac to Mac
Part 1: How to Transfer iTunes Library from Mac to Mac
Often, Mac users will have more than one Mac in their home. It is the nature of the beast, as they may be so pleased with their exclusive Mac environment that there may suddenly be a MacBook or an iMac in the house where there may have been only one Mac computer previously. So, like households with both PC and Mac systems in them, households with more than one Mac may decide that it’s time to copy their iTunes library from one Mac to another. There are a number of steps to follow when transferring iTunes from one Mac computer to the other, just as there are when you transfer iTunes from PC to Mac. Here is how it’s done:
Step 1. Open iTunes. Go to Preferences > Advanced
From there, click “Keep iTunes Media folder organized” in order to see your iTunes folder stay properly organized and keep the transition from one computer to the other smooth.
Step 2. Deauthorize your computer from the iTunes store
It’s important to ensure that you deauthorize your old computer from the iTunes Store if you are planning on not using your old computer on iTunes anymore. All you need to do is go to Store>Deauthorize this computer, and your old computer will be deauthorized.
Step 3. Move your iTunes Media Folder
From here, it’s simply a matter of closing iTunes on your old computer and moving your iTunes Media folder across the network to your new computer. Locate the Music folder (~/Music) and use either an external hard drive or a wired or wireless network to get the job done.
Step 4. Change the Library on the new computer
Move the iTunes folder to the same location on the new machine as you had it on the old machine. This will help your iTunes on your new computer locate all the music files on your new machine.
Step 5. Launch iTunes while holding down the Option key
A dialog box will open, asking whether you want to 'Cancel', 'Create a new library', or 'Choose an Existing Library'. Select 'Choose Library', then navigate to where you moved the iTunes folder. Remember that you will overwrite any existing music files in your library.
How To Move Itunes Library To Another Mac Os
Step 6. Authorize the new computer in the iTunes Store
This allows you to get any authorized purchases in your iTunes account.
While Mac may be the platform of choice for many iTunes users, there are multiple users who have iTunes for PC and may be looking at transferring iTunes to another PC system. Therefore, it is important to know how to transfer iTunes from one PC to another.
Transfer iPhone/iPad/iPod touch music, videos and photos to Mac and iTunes.
How To Move Itunes Library To Another Account
One-click backup to iTunes and manage your songs, videos, and photo albums.
- Copy music from iPhone, iPod, iPad to Mac or iTunes.
- Export videos from iPhone, iPad, iPod to iTunes/Mac.
- Transfer all photos from photo album to Mac or iTunes.
- Copy playlists with rating and play counts to iTunes.