iTunes Media folder resets back to default

I had the same issue as many users with iTunes resetting back to it's default folder location, <user>\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media.

I also keep media files on an external drive to save local hard drive space, for backups, and for the massive amounts of data that media files can consume.

I found a good solution, however, some of the post are missing one important bit of information.

Please read full post, my additions are toward the bottom.

One solution I found is from post: itunes media folder keeps resetting back … - Apple Community

"I have a second hard drive for my media files with plenty of space (call it the F drive) every time I open iTunes it reverts to the default media folder location on the C drive... OS Windows 10, iTunes version 12.9.4.102. What do I need to do to make the F drive as my default?"

Solution:

"To solve this issue hold down the shift key and double click the iTunes icon.

This will pop up a menu window with the Choose Library option. Use that to point to the migrated library and every thing works."

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My additions and Missing information you need to know:

You need to locate the file called: iTunes Library.itl. This where iTunes stores information about everything related to the library.

If it is NOT in the iTunes folder located on your external drive you will likely find it in the default location, C:\Users\<user>\Music\iTunes.

Check the file "Date Modified" date to make sure it is fairly current. If not, it could be an old library file.

Copy this file to the external hard drive iTunes folder (or where ever you keep your media files for iTunes. On my external drive I named my folders similarly to how Windows and iTunes name their folders. Although Windows used to call the Music folder 'My Music', they have since changed it to just 'Music'. Mine is still in the older format, I keep my iTunes media files in: E:\My Music\iTunes. Even if some of my iTunes files are NOT music (videos, podcasts, voice memos, etc), if they are intended for to iTunes to find them, they go in E:\My Music\iTunes.

As stated above, hold the shift key and double click the iTunes icon. When the dialogue box appears choose the "Choose Library" option and navigate to the external drive folder where you copied the iTunes Library.itl file. Choose that file.

Once iTunes loads, double check the iTunes Media folder location. Edit>Preferences>Advanced. If it's not correct, change it to where you keep your files. Close iTunes, then launch it how you normally would to see if it keep that setting.

This worked for me, hope it works for you.

There are other iTunes Library clean up and organization tools within iTunes. Such as:

File>Library>Consolidate Library

File>Library>Organize Library

You can read about those in other community posts or help pages.