Import iTunes library into Apple Music

Hi there.

Monterey has a problem converting .itl files. One workaround is to import an XML file generated on the old computer, but that resets all date added values. An alternative approach is to convert the .itl to the new .musclibrary format using Catalina or Big Sur. All that is needed is the file, not the media. If you don't have access to either, or a friend that might help, then you can email the .itl or a link to it to me and I can convert if for you on my old Mac mini running Catalina. You can find my email address in my profile here if you'd like me to try to help. I'm up to about 50 of these so far.

Note this should work for the file that hangs when you open it. Those that claim to be incompatible may still fail, but I'm prepared to try.

tt2

Thanks very much for your tip. I had the well-documented problem where the Music app on Monterey could not import an iTunes .itl file. I did the conversion on another Mac running Catalina and this worked perfectly.

cnfcomp wrote:

Thanks very much for your tip. I had the well-documented problem where the Music app on Monterey could not import an iTunes .itl file. I did the conversion on another Mac running Catalina and this worked perfectly.

Glad that worked out for you. Another tip for those going from older versions of iTunes, (e.g. High Sierra or older) is that these may need to be updated using the Mojave build of iTunes before Catalina can convert them to the .musiclibrary format. Catalina or later versions of Music may otherwise report the files as invalid rather than convert them. As above I'm happy to try to convert files for those that don't have access to suitable hardware/software.

tt2

Create a backup of the library if there isn't already one.

If you're trying to keep the library separate, launch Music with the Option key held down and choose it.

If you're trying to import its contents into an existing one, drag it into the open Music application window.

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I have tried this a few times but I just keep getting an infinite loading spinner. Do these files need to be in a specific place for this to work? I am choosing an old .itl file from 2018 if that makes any difference. I have several from different years and with the older files I get an incompatible file format error (even though they are all .itl.) With the 2018 file it just keeps getting hung up on the loading screen.