HT201610: About iTunes library files

Learn about About iTunes library files
cjags

Q: So...if I have limited hard space, is adding all my music to the iTunes library "doubling" the space taken up by my songs/albums?

I'm relatively new to Apple and iTunes.  If I "add folders" that contain 1000s of songs from my hard drive to the iTunes library...does iTunes copy/create new files that essentially double the amount of space taken up on my hard drive, or does iTunes simply "point" to the original file?

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1.2

Posted on Mar 4, 2013 9:48 AM

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Q: So...if I have limited hard space, is adding all my music to the iTunes library "doubling" the space taken up by my songs/albums?

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  • by Chris CA,Helpful

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 4, 2013 10:32 AM in response to cjags
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 4, 2013 10:32 AM in response to cjags

    Drag items to /Music/iTunes/iTunes media/Automatically add to iTunes/ folder.

    This will move the items, not copy them.

     

    I keep a shortcut to this folder on the desktop.

  • by cjags,

    cjags cjags Mar 11, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Chris CA

    Can I move that folder off my C drive onto an external drive? 

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Mar 11, 2013 1:54 PM in response to cjags
    Level 9 (79,653 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 11, 2013 1:54 PM in response to cjags

    cjags wrote:

     

    Can I move that folder off my C drive onto an external drive? 

    The Automatically add to iTunes folder needs to be in the iTunes folder. If you move it elsewhere, it won't do anything.

     

    To move yoru iTunes library to another drive...

    Quit iTunes.

    Move the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to the external drive.

    Hold Shift and launch iTunes.

    Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.

     

    You can now delete /Music/iTunes/ folder.