tetters

Q: Transfer iTunes Music from iTouch to MacPro

I did a time machine backup of my old Mac then Migration Assisted everything to my new Mac. I don't have the old MacPro anymore.

 

Shock & Horror: my iTunes music wasn't included in the backup!!! I do however have all my music on my iTouch. Question: how do I get everything off my iTouch into my new [empty] iTunes media folder on my new MacPro? I do have automatic sync firmly off as presumably that would sync my empty MacPro to my iTouch and then I'd have lost everything.

 

Just want to "sync' the other way, FROM iTouch TO MacPro. Is it some sort of import function? I've just done a full backup of my iTouch while USB-connected to my new MacPro, perhaps one can access that backup and download it to my iTunes Media folder yes?

 

Thanks anyone - desperate situation!

DonSimon

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 3:04 PM

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Q: Transfer iTunes Music from iTouch to MacPro

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  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Mar 26, 2016 3:17 PM in response to tetters
    Level 9 (53,976 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 26, 2016 3:17 PM in response to tetters

    Your i-device was not designed for unique storage of your media. It is not a backup device and media transfer was planned with you maintaining a master copy of your media on a computer which is itself independently backed up against loss.  To use a device with a different setup you transfer the old library from a computer or a backup directly to the new setup, not the device to the library. Media syncing is one way, computer to device, updating the device content to the content on the computer, not updating or restoring content on a computer. The exception is iTunes Store purchases which can be transferred to a computer.

     

    Redownload or transfer your iTunes Store purchases from an iPhone, iPad or iPod to a computer - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201267 - "This feature works only for content bought from the iTunes Store." As of iOS9 it no longer does apps which now must be re-downloaded directly from the Store.

     

    For transferring other items from an i-device to a computer you will have to use third party commercial software.  See this document by turingtest2: Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991  Even this method may not fully recover what you had in the library originally. For example if in order to save space when syncing you had converted music files to a lower bitrate, or photos to a lower resolution, it is those lower quality files you will recover.

     

    If you subscribe to Apple Music, tracks which are not part of content you have purchased or uploaded cannot be transferred and have to be downloaded directly from iCloud.

  • by tetters,

    tetters tetters Mar 26, 2016 3:13 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 26, 2016 3:13 PM in response to Limnos

    Limnos, fabulously quick response mucho gracias.

     

    OK: sounds tricky. But if instead I subscribed to Apple Music from my iTouch, would all be sent to the cloud then I could download permanent copies to my MacPro's iTunes Media?

     

    Sorry, you can see that despite carefully reading your response I'm a dummy on technical stuff. If that 3rd party software is the only way, then I suppose I'll have to try it. Just trying to get assurance that that really is the only viable way to go to solve my dilemma!

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Apr 1, 2016 4:07 PM in response to tetters
    Level 9 (53,976 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2016 4:07 PM in response to tetters

    Apple Music does not provide permanent copies. They only work as log as you subscribe.

     

    Match provides permanent copies but only for what is on your computer. Again, a mobile device is not considered the primary resource.

     

    Are you absolutely positive your iTunes library did not get backed up?

     

    06/2014 ChrisCA post: Restore iTunes library from Time Machine backup - https://discussions.apple.com/message/26104480#26104480 Useful tips where restoring to a new drive: http://pondini.org/TM/B6.html --> https://web.archive.org/web/20150511032110/http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html and https://discussions.apple.com/message/27599985#27599985 Make sure you go back far enough for the version you want. If Time Machine just backed up the "latest" version may be one you do not want.

  • by tetters,

    tetters tetters Mar 26, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 26, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Limnos

    Limnos, that's a good question: where does MacPro iTunes backup the media files to? I could have another rummage through my Time machine backups to see if it's there.

    Having said that, I can't find a restore backup function anywhere in my MacPro iTunes interface. How does one restore any MacPro iTunes backup - I'll certainly need to know for the future.

     

    Thanks keep coming!!

     

    P.S: If all else fails, then thanks for that link and it looks as though I can pay Senuti Software $19 for an app that WILL it says transfer my iTouch contents into my MacPro....last solution at this stage, and I'm not talking about the cost!