User profile for user: smiler2729
smiler2729 Author
User level: Level 1
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Which are Essential Files in Finder's Music Folder?

I have MacBook Pro running Catalina and I'm trying to organize the music folders in Finder... Which are essential files that I absolutely cannot delete and which can be trashed?


Inside the folder titled "iTunes" with subfolders titled:

"Album Artwork"

"iTunes Media" which contain the mp3 files

"iTunes Media copy" which also contain mp3 files - Which can I trash or do I need both?

"Previous iTunes Libraries" which contain a dozen iTunes Database Files - Can I delete older ones?

iTunes Library Extras.itdb (Document)

iTunes Library Genius.itdb (Document)

iTunes Library.itl (iTunes Database File)

Music Playlists.txt (Plain Text Document)

sentinel (Unix executable)

iTunes Library.xml (XML Document)


And also I have a separate folder beneath the iTunes folder titled "Music" that contains a file named "Music Library" (Music Library)


Does anyone have any info on which can be deleted?

Thanks


MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on May 17, 2020 4:32 PM

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User profile for user: jeremy_v
jeremy_v
User level: Community Specialist

May 18, 2020 10:05 AM in response to smiler2729

Hello smiler2729,


I understand that you are wanting to organize your music folder on your computer and need to know which files are important.


I would be cautious when removing files here- all of the dependencies listed under the iTunes folder are required for iTunes to be completely optimized.


With that being said, the folder "iTunes Media copy" is a copy of the folder "iTunes Media," one of which is not needed BUT the copy may contain information you need of the other might as well.


Your best course of action may be to copy the iTunes folder as a backup in case iTunes "messes up" and delete files. I however would not venture into removing any of these necessary dependencies of iTunes.


I hope this is able to resolve your issue. If you have any more questions or this does not resolve your issue, please reach back out on the thread!


Cheers

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Which are Essential Files in Finder's Music Folder?

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