Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Move iTunes library to external hard drive?

I want to free space on my hard drive by moving my iTunes library to an external harddrive any suggestions? Warnings? I have bought a Lacie 1TB portable for this.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 11, 2012 8:57 AM

Reply
123 replies

Jan 3, 2017 8:12 AM in response to corinnajanevocals

The key information I got from the previous post was:

I have done as suggested and held down the 'shift' key upon opening iTunes, but nothing happens. I set up a new location via the Preferences tab, but nothing is working properly.


That suggests to me that iTunes is connected to the default library in <User's Music>\iTunes that it will have created when it was first installed, and that you haven't actually connected to the .itl file on the external drive. Do you see all of the tracks, ratings, playlists and play counts of your old library? Changing the media folder doesn't connect iTunes to the content in the selected folder, and importing the media won't restore ratings, playlists, play counts etc. If you are certain you have connected to right file but don't see the expected content then see Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash. When you connect to your original library any sync settings will make sense. If you're connecting to a new library, even if it has the same media, then when you connect your device to sync it iTunes is likely to want to remove the current content before replacing it. Alternatively if nothing changes when you try to sync you may need to review and update the sync options on the summary and music tabs for your device.


tt2

Jan 3, 2017 4:13 AM in response to mac4mark

Hi everyone,


I am currently struggling with this issue. I have had a variety of responses from Apple Care product specialists, from the gracious to the utterly rude, but am getting nowhere fast. My laptop, which contained my iTunes library, abruptly died. A friend of mine retrieved the hard drive and put it into a portable hard drive. They also kindly provided me with a new desktop computer that they did not need anymore. I copied the iTunes folder and put it on drive D of my new desktop computer. I wasn't sure how to proceed, so downloaded the iTunes software onto drive C. I have done as suggested and held down the 'shift' key upon opening iTunes, but nothing happens. I set up a new location via the Preferences tab, but nothing is working properly. My new song purchases and additions don't make it onto my iPod whatsoever. I spent two and a half hours on the phone to Apple today but nothing is really working and the last staff member that I have contacted is confused, not knowing how to use Windows.


I was advised to contact Windows for support but that is a ridiculous suggestion, given that I run Windows 7 and because the fault is with iTunes, not my new desktop computer.


Please give me a hand, folks!! I need my iPod for work and it is going to be useless if I can't update it readily.


CJ

Jan 3, 2017 4:19 AM in response to corinnajanevocals

To select a different library file click the icon that launches iTunes and immediately press and hold down the left shift key. Keep holding until you see a dialog asking you to choose or create an iTunes library. If iTunes opens normally close it, wait until it closes fully, then try again. When you get the dialog click choose, then browse to the iTunes folder on D: and open the iTunes Library.itl file inside of it.


tt2

Jan 3, 2017 4:36 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi TuringTest2, as mentioned, I finally got a dialogue box, after several attempts. I added the iTunes Library as suggested (the staff member had been using iTunes Media). Then I added new songs, synced my iPod..... No joy whatsoever. Nothing in Recently Added or just general Songs. 😟 Thank you for helping. Do you have any other suggestions?

Jan 11, 2017 8:15 PM in response to turingtest2

Hello again, Turingtest2,


I tried it again, and this time got the details of play counts and so forth. I undid some of the changes made by the iTunes product specialist.


I still had no luck adding new items. They seemed to add okay to the library, but weren't adding to the iPod itself with any sync refresh. In the end, I did a click and drag option, dragging them onto the iPod, which worked.


Will investigate the iPod settings. Apparently I have the iTunes person calling me back any moment now, so will see how they go.


Thank you for helping me!


CJ

Dec 11, 2012 9:44 AM in response to mac4mark

There's a difference between moving your iTunes media to a different drive (reference in another post) and moving your whole iTunes library. It's up to you but some prefer to keep it all intact versus media on one drive and library files on another.


iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.


Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the new location of the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.

For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168

Dec 19, 2012 3:38 PM in response to Limnos

Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Sheesh, wish I woulda read @Limnos answer 30 minutes ago. It's complicated so I won't explain how I ended up as I did, but basically I had my home dir on one drive (iMac), and my 250GB iTunes library on an external drive. None of this business about re-organizing libraries and the like did anything.


All it takes is as Limnos said - hold the Option key down, start iTunes, and point it to the existing "iTunes Media" folder. Voila! Thanks for sharing.

Move iTunes library to external hard drive?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.