How do I move an iTunes library from one external drive to another?

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Level 2

326 points

How do I move an iTunes library from one external drive to another?

I need to move my iTunes library from one external disk to another, because the original disk is about to fail. So, I went into iTunes Perferences --> Advanced, and set the library to a new, empty folder on the new drive.

Nothing changed. I expected all my music to vanish from iTunes, so that I would have to re-import it. However, all the music remained, still on the old disk. At this point, if I were to recreate the library on the new disk, I would have all of my music twice.

Is it possible to move an iTunes library from one external drive to another, or am I stuck with my original choice until I buy a new machine? If I can move it, can one of you clever folks explain how it could be done?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 8, 2012 10:40 AM

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Answer 1

Paul Seymour1 Author

Level 2

326 points

Jun 8, 2012 10:46 AM in response to Paul Seymour1

Note: I've found a few tutorials on how to do this, such as http://lifehacker.com/238296/ultranewb--how-to-move-your-itunes-library-to-an-ex ternal-drive

However, those are all dealing with old versions of iTunes that still contained the Advanced --> Consolidate Library command which is no longer part of the app. (I'm on iTunes 10.6.1.)

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Answer 2

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jun 8, 2012 1:06 PM in response to Paul Seymour1

What is on the external drive?

Is it the iTunes library (/iTunes/ folder with Artwork folder, iTunes media folder, Previous iTunes libraries folder and some other folders/files?

Or is it /iTunes media/ folder with Musi, Movies, etc. in it?

If it's the iTunes folder...

Quit iTunes.

Copy the iTunes to the other drive.

Hold Option, launch iTunes, select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the new drive.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jun 8, 2012 1:41 PM in response to Paul Seymour1

Paul Seymour1 wrote:

However, those are all dealing with old versions of iTunes that still contained the Advanced --> Consolidate Library command which is no longer part of the app. (I'm on iTunes 10.6.1.)

Consolidate is still part of iTunes.

It is in iTunes menu File > Library > Manage library > Consolidate.

The article you linked to is old and it is (and was) a hacky way of doing it.

Just copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder to new location, hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) when launching iTunes.

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Answer 4

Paul Seymour1 Author

Level 2

326 points

Jun 8, 2012 6:39 PM in response to Chris CA

Thanks! I'm in the process of copying all my files over (it's gonna take 11 hours) and then I'll switch libraries and see how it goes.

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