RTod
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Q: Transferring iTune Library -- but not content -- to my laptop

A few years ago my iTunes library got so big I had to put it on a separate hard drive.  I access it through my laptop, which of course has to be connected by cable to the hard drive. 

 

Now however, I want the ability to open iTunes on my laptop even if I am not plugged in to the hard drive.  So I am hoping there is a way to move my 'library' (am I suing the right word?) to my laptop so that I can open iTuns whenever I want, even if it can't access all of the content -- which will still be on my hard drive.

 

Is this possible, and if so how?

 

Also, if it is possible, will I be able to access all of my music on the cloud from my laptop when it isn't plugged into the hard drive, or does whatever has the library on it have to forgo the option to play music off of the cloud?

 

Thanks in advance...

iPhone 4S

Posted on Jul 29, 2014 8:33 PM

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RTod

Q: Transferring iTune Library -- but not content -- to my laptop

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  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 29, 2014 8:47 PM in response to RTod
    Level 9 (54,353 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 29, 2014 8:47 PM in response to RTod

    There's ways to do some of what you want to do but it won't be pretty, nor what you really want to do, nor easy to maintain, and I don't know if I am ready to spend 20 minutes typing in instructions which would also probably need me to test them on my computer which I am not prepared to do.   I'll go the easy route and make these offerings:

     

    I am pretty sure playing music on your laptop off the Cloud downloads it to your designated media folder so it will end up on your computer like it or not.

     

    You don't have to start iTunes from your main library.  You can start iTunes on your computer without your drive turned on.  iTunes will go back to using the default location and create a new, blank library or use one it finds there.  Do what you want with it.  Next time you want to use your old library, start the external drive, then start iTunes while holding down the option/alt and guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file on your external drive.

     

    What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660

     

    More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management

     

    What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html

     

    Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391