lumail
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Q: Reassign library to hard drive from external hard drive

I have my iTunes library on an external hard drive. Whenever I add files to iTunes with the hard drive plugged in, it automatically adds them to the library on the hard drive.  When I add files to iTunes without it plugged in, it adds them to a library on my computer.  I bought a new computer that has enough hard drive space to allow me to fit the whole thing on my computer's hard drive.  Do I just have to "choose" the library on my computer via the option key startup choose library method and then drag all the files over from the hard drive into my iTunes music folder? Wanted to ask before I give it whirl and somehow mess everything up inadvertently (has happened!)

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Dec 28, 2015 1:13 PM

by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer
Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe
Level 8 (39,573 points)
Mac OS X
A:

I see.  The "internal" iTunes folder is on the new computer already, not the old computer.  That actually makes it easier.

 

You are kind of doing the procedure in this Apple document

 

How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

 

except you already have the "backup" of iTunes folder on the external drive.  Where it says "Part 2" and "Part 4" are where you retain the existing iTunes content on the new computer.  I don't think this document is that well written.  This is my shorter summary...

 

Do this with iTunes NOT running.  On the new computer, find the iTunes folder (in the user account Music folder).  Since it has iTunes media you want to keep, move that iTunes folder somewhere else, like to the desktop.  From the external drive, copy its iTunes folder to where the new computer's iTunes folder was located (before you moved it).  Run iTunes.  It uses your old iTunes folder that you copied from the external drive, and it looks like running iTunes on the old computer, including supporting data such as playlists and ratings. 

 

NOTE:  At this point, you should check iTunes preferences Advanced pane.  Make sure the iTunes Media folder location path is set correctly, to the default location of the iTunes Media folder (in the Music/iTunes folder).  Below that, checkmark the TWO boxes for Keep iTunes folder organized AND Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library, if they are not already. 

 

Apple's document says (in "Part 4") to put the iTunes media files that were already on the new computer in the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder, but you can also use the Add to Library command in iTunes.  If you use the Add to Library command, iTunes is making a copy of the media files to put in its iTunes Media folder, so after confirming everything is now in the new computer's iTunes library, you can delete the iTunes folder you moved to the desktop.

Posted on Dec 28, 2015 9:26 PM

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lumail

Q: Reassign library to hard drive from external hard drive

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  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Dec 28, 2015 1:21 PM in response to lumail
    Level 10 (313,800 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 28, 2015 1:21 PM in response to lumail

    You drag the larger of the two libraries to the computer’s hard drive, choose that one, and then drag the other’s media files to the open iTunes application window or the Automatically Add to iTunes folder.

     

    (137744)

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 28, 2015 1:41 PM in response to lumail
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 28, 2015 1:41 PM in response to lumail

    If I understand what you are saying, your previous computer (that you still own in working order) has an external drive with some of your iTunes media files.  Its internal drive also has some of the iTunes media files (at the default location).  Currently (on that computer), are all of your songs accessible in the iTunes library, whether the song's file is stored on the internal drive or the external drive?  So, iTunes knows where each song file is store, and accesses them from BOTH internal and external drives.

     

    If you want to keep your supporting data, such as playlists, song ratings, and play count, you do NOT want to simply add the song files to the new library on the new computer.  I can make a suggestion for transferring your complete iTunes library (from old computer) to the new computer, but there are a few factors.  First, is my description of your situation (above) correct?  Second, are your old and new computers BOTH Macs?

  • by lumail,

    lumail lumail Dec 28, 2015 4:14 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 4:14 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thanks for getting back.  Allow me to clarify.  My current computer is set up to default to the iTunes library on the external hard drive when its plugged in. It has also created an iTunes library on the HD of the computer when I didn't have the external hard drive plugged in.  I want to put all the files that are in on the external HD into the one on my computer.  The obvious solution that i have already thought of is just dumping all the files (86 GB) from the itunes folder on the external HD onto my computers desktop, then unplugging the external hard drive, then plopping them all into iTunes, but there will be tons of doubles that way and I feel like there has to be a more elegant way to do it.   Right?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 28, 2015 5:06 PM in response to lumail
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 28, 2015 5:06 PM in response to lumail

    So, there are TWO separate iTunes libraries, one on the external drive and one on the internal drive.  It's NOT one iTunes library that has files stored in two iTunes Media folder locations.

     

    If they are separate library, one library does not know about the media in the other library.  The only "merging" process I know about is the one iTunes Match uses to create the user's iCloud music library.  And I do not know how "smart" it is.  When I started using iTunes Match, I first added my primary Mac, which had my complete iTunes library.  My other Mac and devices accessed that complete library (which became my iCloud music library), so I never had to merge one iTunes library into an existing iCloud music library.  If I recall, the choice to merge or not merge comes when a new device or computer is added.

     

    I do know that for my iTunes library on my primary Mac, iTunes Match does not match or upload duplicated songs.  The second copy of same song is marked as "ineligible" for iTunes Match (and is not duplicated in my iCloud music library).  So, something similar may happen when merging takes place, and a song that is already in the user's iCloud music library is not matched or uploaded.  The process analyses the actual song file to determine duplication, so two songs with the same superficial attributes will NOT be seen as duplication, if the song's files are different.

     

    Other than that, I can't think of a way to automatically merge two separate iTunes libraries.  If you use the method you described, be sure to use the larger of your two iTunes library (or the one with more playlists defined) at the starting point.  Don't add your song files to the new computer's new iTunes library.  REPLACE your new computer's iTunes folder with your existing  (somewhat complete) iTunes folder.

  • by lumail,

    lumail lumail Dec 28, 2015 7:35 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 7:35 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Okay great, getting closer!  My only concern about replacing the iTunes folder on my computer with the one from the external hard drive, is that I will lose all the song files that I have loaded onto the new computer iTunes that aren't in the older/original iTunes folder. I get why I should do that, because I already have the songs from the old, larger external hard drive iTunes in my iTunes, they are the ones that have the little exclamation mark by them when I am not plugged into the external hard drive, but is there not a risk of losing the stuff that hasn't been loaded onto the external iTunes folder?

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 28, 2015 9:26 PM in response to lumail
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 28, 2015 9:26 PM in response to lumail

    I see.  The "internal" iTunes folder is on the new computer already, not the old computer.  That actually makes it easier.

     

    You are kind of doing the procedure in this Apple document

     

    How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support

     

    except you already have the "backup" of iTunes folder on the external drive.  Where it says "Part 2" and "Part 4" are where you retain the existing iTunes content on the new computer.  I don't think this document is that well written.  This is my shorter summary...

     

    Do this with iTunes NOT running.  On the new computer, find the iTunes folder (in the user account Music folder).  Since it has iTunes media you want to keep, move that iTunes folder somewhere else, like to the desktop.  From the external drive, copy its iTunes folder to where the new computer's iTunes folder was located (before you moved it).  Run iTunes.  It uses your old iTunes folder that you copied from the external drive, and it looks like running iTunes on the old computer, including supporting data such as playlists and ratings. 

     

    NOTE:  At this point, you should check iTunes preferences Advanced pane.  Make sure the iTunes Media folder location path is set correctly, to the default location of the iTunes Media folder (in the Music/iTunes folder).  Below that, checkmark the TWO boxes for Keep iTunes folder organized AND Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library, if they are not already. 

     

    Apple's document says (in "Part 4") to put the iTunes media files that were already on the new computer in the "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder, but you can also use the Add to Library command in iTunes.  If you use the Add to Library command, iTunes is making a copy of the media files to put in its iTunes Media folder, so after confirming everything is now in the new computer's iTunes library, you can delete the iTunes folder you moved to the desktop.

  • by lumail,

    lumail lumail Dec 28, 2015 9:37 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 9:37 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    You're the man!  I'm going to try it in the morning, I'm too tired right now and this stuff makes me anxious, despite everything being backed up. Thanks for the clear summary, and thanks for the tip on where to find out how to set the default location for the media folder, I was searching around for it and didn't think to look in the advanced pane.  Awesome directions, your use of italics is super helpful, so many labels for things. I will let you know how it all goes but I'm going to go ahead and say that it solved my problem since you've put in the time and it looks pretty bulletproof!

  • by lumail,

    lumail lumail Dec 28, 2015 10:04 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 10:04 PM in response to Niel

    Thanks, Niel, I am realizing you said the same thing as Kenichi, but I needed a bunch more help to get there!

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Dec 28, 2015 10:33 PM in response to lumail
    Level 8 (39,573 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 28, 2015 10:33 PM in response to lumail

    I recall you were concerned about duplicates earlier.  To avoid duplicates that you need to sort through later, instead of dumping (at once) all the existing content from the new computer back into your "new old" iTunes library, you may want to add it selectively.  Basically have a Finder window open (showing the media files you want to add) next to your iTunes window (showing an appropriately sorted library list), to visually compare.  Try to avoid the obvious major duplicates.  iTunes has a command to Show Exact Duplicate Items, so you don't need to be perfect.

     

    menu bar -> View -> Show Exact Duplicate Items    (hold down Option key to get "Exact" in the command)

     

    NOTE:  The other way to "add to library" is to drag-and-drop media files (or folders containing media files) from a Finder window to the iTunes window, which is useful for "selective" adding.