Move iTunes library to external hard drive?

What was the question again? 😝

Thanks for the quick reply! I've read the split library post and the replies to Ben. I seem to be in a similar situation, but the difference is I managed to delete the iTunes library file and Media folder on the internal harddrive, but in doing so, created two lots of files and library files on the external hard drive.

My file path is: F:/ iTunes/

And within that folder there is:

Album Artwork

Automatically Add to iTunes

Books

Home Videos

iTunes Media

Movies

Music

Previous iTunes libraries.

And the library and xml files.

Then within the Music folder mentioned above, there's lots of music and a library and xml file.

Then within the iTunes Media folder, there's also:

Automatically Add to iTunes

Downloads

Home Videos

Movies

Music

But no books, and no library file.

I double checked and the Movies and Videos had copied so I deleted the duplicates in the main folder.

I consolidated my library, and tried checking the edit>preferences as you described. It keeps letting me consolidate the library. It won't ever copy the books. And I can't check the dupes as it's literally thousands of files so it seems I'm stuck with them. My main question is how can I be sure all the files copied over when I consolidated (and it's therefore ok to delete the duplicate Music folder)?

And my main problem is I can't even figure out which of the two libraries mentioned above is the right one and when I have figured it out, then what do I do with it?

Thanks for your help!

Ok, assuming the F:/iTunes up there was an abberation and we're discussing E:\iTunes then all the evidence says that within E:/ iTunes/ the following folders ought to be redundant:

Automatically Add to iTunes

Books

Home Videos

Movies

Music

However you mentioned that Books have not moved into iTunes Media. Use File > Library > Organize Library... and, if possible tick both boxes, else tick the one you can, then click OK.

After that go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, turn off Keep..., click OK, then go back and turn it on again.

Have the Books moved or copied yet?

Might be worth double-checking with my script Unconsolidated pointed at E:\iTunes\iTunes Media to make sure it doesn't find anything it sees as outside the media folder.

tt2

Excellent, thanks for all the help! 🙂

I'll run that script and check for files outside.

turingtest2 wrote:

Not quite. See this bit.

iTunes uses the name of the folder holding the library files as the window title. (Not any more) Having made a library "portable" you may need to take a final step of renaming the library folder to iTunes or, if the library files have ended up at the root of a drive, moving all of the library files and content folders into a new folder called iTunes.

It would seem your "media folder" is <Root>/iTunes and the library is in the "new" layout so the process (briefly) is:

1. Move/copy library files (inc. Album Artwork) to <Root> and connect to them there, test.
2. Close iTunes, rename iTunes to iTunes Media, start iTunes, test.
3. Close iTunes, create a folder called <Root>/iTunes, move library files (inc. Album Artwork) and media folder inside <Root>/iTunesand reconnect to the moved library, test.

tt2

Just wanted to make sure that I need to do the "Option" key thing each time I open iTunes so I can point to the library files... I assume I do but wanted to check.

Thanks!!

Needed for steps 1 and 3, the library database doesn't move in step 2. Once you've completed step 3 iTunes remembers where to go each time.

tt2

Hi I don't understand where I am finding the folder to drag please help me. Your instructions seem simple but when I am looking at it I don't see that part

Hello.

I have never posted before so I apologize for any errors. I attempted to move my entire itunes library (music/movies) to an external hard drive, however still access them through iTunes. My internal hard drive is full, so I needed to move everything to an external drive. I used this process (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449) first. At the end, I deleted my library from the internal hard drive. However, I still have no space on internal drive. I later found the explanation on this post (using the "option" key), however I can not locate my library on the internal or external drive. I apologize if I am not using the correct terminology. Feel free to use really "dumbed down" explanations.

I suspect you used iTunes to consolidate the media to the path, that is create copies of the files in their new locations, link the entries in the library to the new copies, leaving the originals in place. Space isn't automatically freed up because the originals are left behind. I then suspect that instead of deleting the iTunes Media folder on the original drive you deleted the parent folder iTunes which contains the database for the library. Once this is done iTunes will create a new empty library next time it starts. There is no iTunes Library.itl file for you to find on the external drive because you never copied it there.

If you have a backup of the original iTunes folder in Time Machine or elsewhere you may be able to recover the missing database, otherwise you're probably going to need to reimport the media into an empty library.

See also Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.

tt2

Hi everyone,

I am about to move my itunes library from my macbook to an external hard drive, which already contains an old version of my itunes library that I saved as back up. After reading through the above, I'm not quite sure where to start, so hoping you can help me please...

My goal is for the backed-up version of my library and the library currently on my computer to come together (without duplicates and missing songs/albums), so that I am able to access them via itunes. Do I need to create a slit drive to do this?

Also, once everything is moved off of my computer, will I still be able to access the playlists I've created?

Thanks for the help!

Thank you Limnos. Is it then still easy to Sync or otherwise get updates after the library is off-loaded? If I follow the "shift" Open iTunes library , (PC), and choose my externall device, will it sync to regular devices still as if it's still on the hard drive? Thanks in advance for the reply. My husband's iTunes has killed my hard drive and it's time to get it better organized and off the hard drive.

When you relocate the library properly to a new hard drive or computer and then connect to it iTunes behaves as if nothing has changed. All your content will be present, downloads and updates come into the new media folder and your devices will sync as before. You should always backup the library to a second drive for security.

tt2

it has been working properly from the external hard drive for months, its only since the last itunes update that it doesnt recognise the library

estia wrote:

it has been working properly from the external hard drive for months, its only since the last itunes update that it doesnt recognise the library

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.

tt2

Thanks, turingtest2. I've since moved my library, but have now lost all of my playlist information. From everything I've been reading, I should be able to re-import the .itl files from either my backup or my time machine and they should be restored, but it's not working for me. So much love and time went into making these playlists that I hate to lose them. Any help here? When I try to import the itl files, I get a message saying 'The file “iTunes Library.itl” cannot be imported because it does not appear to be a valid exported file.' . Thanks for any help!

Hi. The .itl files are not importable. You can open alternate library files by holding down shift (Win) or option (Mac) as you launch iTunes. However if you've moved things around in the wrong way then the library may not be able to "see" your media.

tt2

Thanks I did try that route without success, but have just discovered a previous libraries folder and now have my playlists returned. Thank you so much!