HT204350: Move your content to a new Mac

Learn about Move your content to a new Mac
pjdunbar

Q: where can i find my iTunes library?

I cannot find my iTunes library on my old Power Mac?  I need to move it to my newer 15' Retina MacBook.

 

Where should I be looking for it?

 

Peter

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jul 19, 2016 9:52 PM

Close

Q: where can i find my iTunes library?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Apple recommended

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 20, 2016 12:39 AM in response to pjdunbar
    Level 10 (139,475 points)
    iLife
    Jul 20, 2016 12:39 AM in response to pjdunbar

    The Music Folder in your account.

     

    If it's not there, select any track in the iTunes window and right-click on it and choose 'Show in Finder'

  • by Limnos,Apple recommended

    Limnos Limnos Jul 20, 2016 6:04 AM in response to pjdunbar
    Level 9 (53,643 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 20, 2016 6:04 AM in response to pjdunbar

    Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings:  Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive, hold down the option/alt key (shift on Windows) while starting iTunes, and when requested to select a library select the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied folder.  https://support.apple.com/HT201596

     

    When this is to a new drive/computer put the copied iTunes folder in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music  (or Home > Music) then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there.  (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)  Remember to authorize the computer in iTunes to your Apple ID if you use this to sync to Apple mobile devices or play DRM protected media (e.g., movies).

     

    Your iTunes folder is normally in your Home > Music folder.