Problems copying itunes library from PC to music on Macbook Pro

I got a Mac recently and I've been having some technical issues when moving all my stuff from an Asus laptop with Windows 10. I moved almost all my files and programs without any problem using an external Hard drive, but when it came to copying my music to the new computer I just hit a stone wall.



The first method I used was to just copy the itunes folder from my pc to the hard drive. Then, on my Mac, just drag that folder to the music folder that's on the Home and media folders. It took quite some time (it's around 200gb of music), but it copied all the files into the music folder. Then, when I open the music app, nothing happens, I wait some minutes because I know it's a lot to process, but not a single music file appears on the music app when it opens, there's no music on my new library. So then I close and quit the app and delete the recently copied items from that folder.



The second thing I tried kinda worked but some things were a bit off. I dragged only the audio files from the external unit to the music app (the app was open) and the copying process started. It took a long time but it copied every single song to the new library, but the library wasn't in the order I had it on my old pc. Some albums were split into two albums, some were not in the order I had them. However, being that many albums, I didn't notice at first. At first I thought I succeeded and tried to import my playlists with little to no avail. I didn't know that, due to system differences, the Mac couldn't read those xml, txt and m3u files correctly. I used the search and replace method, replaced the pc type of file address ad with the one that apple uses, as well as replacing all "/" symbols with " \" (I can't remember if it was the other way around regarding the back/forward slashes, but it worked). Then, when i imported the "corrected" versions of the playlists it seemed to work but I noticed that many of the playlists were incomplete, playlists that were originally 1000 songs were now 953. That's when I noticed that the library wasn't sorted exactly the way it was when I made the playlists, so probably that's why it couldn't import the complete playlists. 



I knew I must've done something wrong, so I deleted all the music files from the Mac and tried a third method. I went back to my PC and, on itunes, I consolidated my library so it could solve any sorting issues it had originally. Then copy the itunes folder to the external unit again. I tried dragging that folder again to the music folder. But again the music app showed no music when I opened it, there was still no library. 



I considered trying the windows migration assistant, but I read a lot of bad things about it, seems faulty, slow and unreliable, besides, I already moved successfully almost everything to the new Mac, except for the music. I'm not even sure it copies the library exactly as it was (ratings, playlists, etc.). I couldn't even download it, (the mojave version is the one I tried to download), all of my browsers say there is a certificate problem and that the link can't be opened, I know there are ways around it, but I'm not even sure if they're worth the time, I doubt the Migration Assistant can make an exact copy of everything that's on my itunes in the order it is and with the ratings, playlist etc. 



An additional problem I had with the Music app, btw, is that when I connect my ipod touch (the latest generation), although it recognizes it and shows the songs it has, there are no playlist. It just doesn't display any of the dozens of playlists that I have on the device.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 15, 2020 1:41 PM

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2 replies

Nov 23, 2020 2:36 PM in response to Numberflan

Hello Numberflan,


It sounds like you are trying to transfer your iTunes Music Library from your PC to your Mac.


Here are some resources that might help:





Hope this information helps.


Have a good day.

Nov 24, 2020 7:32 AM in response to Numberflan

See Move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Community.


Music provides reduced support for manually managing devices when compared to iTunes. In particular you cannot play content from a connected device nor directly manipulate the existing playlists on it. You can remove files, and add new lists. Syncing with selected playlists will give better control.


tt2

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Problems copying itunes library from PC to music on Macbook Pro

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