Elrich
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Moved iTunes library, but iTunes can't find it

I followed the online instructions and moved my iTunes library from one external hard drive to another. The music is all there on the new drive, but iTunes is looking in the wrong folder and the music doesn't show up in iTunes.

 

I tried changing to the correct folder in Preferences/Advanced, but that doesn't change anything.

 

Everything I find online is about how to make iTunes COPY all your files to a different drive and then access it there. How can I make iTunes recognize files that already exist in a different location?

iPhoto, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 23, 2014 4:58 PM

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Elrich

Q: Moved iTunes library, but iTunes can't find it

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 23, 2014 6:22 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 9 (54,195 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2014 6:22 PM in response to Elrich

    Uh, which instructions exactly? Too many people follow the wrong instructions.

     

    Incomplete information. Do you have the entire iTunes library on the external drive (artwork folders, library files), or just media files?  What do you currently see when you start iTunes?

     

    Changing the preferences just tells itunes to start storing files there from that point on,  It does not tell iTunes that is where your files are now located.  Each file has its own location exactly defined in the library.itl file which only iTunes can modify.

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Jan 23, 2014 6:45 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 6:45 PM in response to Limnos

    Followed the instructions on Apple's site...

     

    All my music was in (harddrive)/iTunes/Music, but iTunes was looking in (harddrive)/iTunes/iTunesmedia/Music. So when I opened iTunes, all it would show me is the music I have on the cloud (iTunes purchases).

     

    With the preference set to the former location, I found that I could use File > Add to Library... to make it find my music. Now all that's missing is my playlists. How do I get those back?

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jan 23, 2014 6:49 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 9 (54,195 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2014 6:49 PM in response to Elrich

    Again, which instructions exactly?  Apple has lots on its site.  Some tell you how to move media which many misread as how to move your library, but isn't the same.

     

    Again, you have not told me what you see when you start iTunes.  I can't tell if you lost the entire library or just have broken links.  Since you say you lost playlists it sounds to me like you have lost the entire set of library files which contain that information.

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Jan 23, 2014 6:52 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 6:52 PM in response to Limnos

    I told you what I see. I see the music on the cloud. That's all. No broken links.

     

    I only know of one set of instructions:

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Jan 23, 2014 6:53 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 6:53 PM in response to Elrich

    Ah, but I see I made the mistake you mention. Moving the media folder. How do I move the library?

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Jan 23, 2014 6:54 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 6:54 PM in response to Elrich

    Odd that Googling "move itunes library to external drive" brings up moving the media folder as the first choice.

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Jan 23, 2014 7:10 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2014 7:10 PM in response to Elrich

    Oh, I see. The library didn't get copied from the old hard disk. I'm importing it now, using File > Library > Import Playlist.

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jan 23, 2014 7:24 PM in response to Elrich
    Level 9 (54,195 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2014 7:24 PM in response to Elrich

    If you see a file called library.itl in the folder on the other drive that means it is likely your whole library is there.  Copy that entire folder (do not import, do not export, do not change preferences, do not...) to the other drive.  Start iTunes with the option key held down and guide it to the library file on the new drive.

     

    If you do not see a library file there then the library file is in the iTunes folder on your computer and just media were on that first drive.  Dealing with that is a whole different set of instructions.

     

    Yes, many, many, many sites confuse a library with media files.  It is not the same.  It's like confusing a pile of random books in a vacant lot with an organized library building.

     

    This is the one you probably needed to follow, except it is confusing:

     

    iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.

     

    Do not confuse moving your whole folder and library with moving just media files as in

     

    iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

  • by Elrich,

    Elrich Elrich Feb 3, 2014 8:58 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 3, 2014 8:58 PM in response to Limnos

    Thanks. By the time I saw this post, I had solved the problem a different (somewhat less satisfactory) way, but I had to do the same thing again to get my kids' library switched over to my old Mac, and your method went great!