Import iTunes library into clean installation of Catalina

oh my I deleted this old xml file because I had my 'library' on my Synology-NAS. That had an app called ITunes server and all songs were in iTunes on my computer.

Because of this, and the fact that the file was very old I deleted it some time ago. Why can't I just simply import the whole bunch?

Well it seems a good time to say goodbye to the Apple music app.

So I copied my Itunes media folder in its entirety and pasted into the music folder in Catalina. Clicked option upon opening the music app and selected the file called "iTunes Library.itl". All playlists work.

Many thanks! This worked! I struggled in so many, many ways to get my playlists to load, trying a lot of other suggestions off the web. And this finally worked!

One little detail that may help others, and that wasn't immediately clear to me from the above: First you have to go into your old iTunes (in my case, on another laptop), and go to File > Library > Export Library. I put that on my iCloud, and then went in to Music and followed the instructions above. (The file that iTunes exported was simply called Library.xml in my case.)

This saved me so much work. Thanks again!

Hi,

i tested Catalina on my test Mac Book Pro and have the same issue, my Library dont migrate to the new music app.. Only purchased sources i will see.. The old Library not migrated to the new Music App. With my iTunes (antoher Mac) will running my library without any errors.

I take the same solution (Import Playlost from XML File..)

I Think Apple not interested any solution for this issue.. My used Running IMAC still standing on older OSX 1.14. for al long time,propably...

...

Wow, me too!

I upgraded to Catalina and signed up for Apple Music then my music that was on an external drive just "disappeared".

Only part of the songs that are in my "Music" play.. the other songs pop up a notice to find the location for the song and it is nowhere to be found.. its like they were wiped from my system.

I just finished ripping 200 CD's from my collection into my iMac and donated them before I move.. now I only have 700 of 1800 songs in my library..

I'll be watching this thread.

hey, and thank you turingtest2.

the tracks that were playable I did find migrated into the default folder.

I just finished clicking and downloading each song manually and now I am awaiting with the hope that they'll be in there.

See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Mac - Apple Community to make sure Music is allowed to read the file.

Otherwise see Empty/corrupt iTunes/Music library after upgrade/crash - Apple Community to try repairing the library with a copy from the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. I'd suggest copying, pasting, and renaming as if you were going to open iTunes with rather than simply accessing the file in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder.

tt2

I, too, have this issue. I've tried everything I could think of to to avail. Tonight I finally broke down and called Apple technical support.

The representative I spoke with initially suggested changing the "Music Media folder location" under Preferences > Files to be the iTunes Media folder from my old iTunes folder structure, which I copied to my Mac after installing Catalina. On the first attempt I got an error along the lines of "required file not found". I did a reboot, tried again, and was able to select the folder. Sadly, upon closing Preferences and restarting the Music app, still none of my music was showing up in the app.

I also tried the Option+Click method when opening the Music app and pointing to my old iTunes Library file. Like Orestes Chouchoulas above, I received an endless loop of the dialog box opening again after selecting the file.

Eventually, the representative suggested I go to File > Import and select the folder that contained my music files from the old iTunes folder structure. For me, that was iTunes > iTunes Media > Music. In doing so, the Music app did import all the songs from my iTunes library, and indeed this may be enough for some. This solution did not, however, import Playlists or carry over any library metadata like the original Date Added, Rating, etc. At this dead end, it would seem Orestes Chouchoulas' solution above – (In the Music app, go to File → Library → Import Playlist… then navigate to your old iTunes folder and select the iTunes Music Library.xml file) – would be better.

The most interesting thing I gleaned from my call was that migration of iTunes libraries to the Music app happens seamlessly and automatically when upgrading from previous versions of macOS to macOS Catalina. Unfortunately, it seems those of us who prefer to do a clean install were not considered. I asked the representative if there are plans to release a migration tool for those of us who did a clean install and, unsurprisingly, he said no.

So, my next course of action is to copy my iTunes library to a Mac running a previous version of macOS and then do any upgrade to Catalina. With any luck, after install I'll have a copy of my iTunes music migrated to the new Music app folder structure. From there, I can copy the files to my own Mac. Cumbersome, no doubt, but as of now I see it as the only potential way to do a true migration of my library.

4.) After that, I held the ALT Button on the Keyboard and clicked on the Music app.

this leads to a window where you can pick a Library. sorry, no screenshots, as I am on the road, but I am sure we all know that window 🙂

5.) Pick the File you just renamed (Music Library) in the iTunes Folder and confirm. *

music.app will suggest to save a new Library called „music“. Just save this new Library and it should look like this:

You should now have all your music in your Library and all songs be playing in the app.

So what happened here is, that music.app actually changed the file paths of your music files. If you go to preferences of a song and click the file tab, it should direct exactly to the itunes Folder.

6.) make sure, that your music „home“ directory in music.app preferences is set right (your music Folder)...

now you should have the 90% solution. Everything is working and all songs are playing in the frontend, but in the backend there are still two libraries....

the itunes one from the past, and the music one from now on. So if you add a n ew Album or File (see the highlighted File in the screenshot from above „- - - - . .“ (or so...🙂) it is actually an album that was added after all those steps, and it proves that new library additions will go to the new library...

*Don‘t ask me why, but if you pick the itunes Library.itl the folder paths won‘t be adapted and you‘ll be left with dead links to your music path

Yes, I could convert my lib into 128 kBit/s files. I could chop my hands off, too.

The entire process took about 20 minutes for 42,017 files or 409 GB. (Copying the files beforehand from my external Adata SSD took another 23 minutes.) And, again, AT NO POINT in the process of assigning the old lib to Musik does anything duplicate.

Quote: “This sounds like you haven‘t changed the music.app media path in the preferences of the software”

Right. But why should I? The path is correct, it’s working.

I could manually move the iTunes Media folder into the Music folder (while the Musik app is closed) and reassign it after opening Musik. But I’m scared of confusing things and make a mess of a formerly running system …

Last night I relied on the .xml file—and it saved my a**. ;)

Fortunately, it contained my newest data. But I know, it won’t get updated any longer. I need to switch to a software that is able to handle the Music Library file—Mixxx won’t do so, I’m afraid.

I just did it in that way and it worked, created a new file for each app, one for TV and one for Music from the original iTunes library. I have the Catalina 10.15.1

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

Thanks, I've added a little note.

tt2

hi there and merry christmas! for me, this whole thing is still not working and this makes me quite sad...

any other help available?