Can I move my iTunes 11.0.1 to a USB flash drive?

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Can I move my iTunes 11.0.1 to a USB flash drive?

With USB Flashdrives of 64 and 128GB appearing at prices of external harddrives, and an overly crowded MacBook Pro, I have revisited HT1449 and am curious if anybody has tried this combination, physically moving the entire music library (I don't do or care about videos; just music), with iTunes 11.0.1? The HT was written in 2011, iTunes 10, and has not been updated -- anybody who has tried it, I would appreciate knowing how it works with 11.0.1. (BTW, my library approaches 36GB of which 95% was brought in from CDs and only 5% purchased from iTunes and therefore subject to DRM....if that matters.)

The purpose is to be able to play music from the USB flashdrive through the MBPro....not to play in a car stereo or anything else.

Thanks, in advance.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iTunes 11.0.1

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 8:49 AM

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Answer 1

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varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Feb 1, 2013 9:20 AM in response to BPWMorro

The process would be the same, but I would not trust a flash drive with your only copy of your library. Flash drives are too fragile and prone to loss or failure (I've seen enough dead ones come through here not to trust them).

To use a flash drive or any other volume, though, drag the entire iTunes folder (the _entire_ folder, _not_ just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Option key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location.

Note that this procedure assumes that all of your content is contained in the iTunes Media/Music folder. If things are scattered around your drive, moving them becomes much more complex.

Once you get things moved successfully, be sure not to launch iTunes with the external drive not mounted or iTunes will default back to the internal drive. If it does, though, just mount the external drive and launch iTunes with the Option key again.

Regards.

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Answer 2

BPWMorro Author

Level 1

103 points

Feb 1, 2013 9:55 AM in response to BPWMorro

Varjak,

Thanks...I presumed it would be the same, but I appreciate your input.

Another question, though....if I add more songs to the library in the future, obviously I must have the flash drive inserted before starting iTunes ...but will the "re-direction" work for new music, also?

And another question -- Home Sharing with the other occupant's MBPro and the iPod should still work?

And, a Third question -- can I erase the entire iTunes/Music folder from the internal drive once I know the external system works?

Thanks, again.

PS: Only copy? No. Been there like in 1982 -- redundacy was a virtue then; today it is a must! But it still bears your repeating the caution, yes!

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Feb 1, 2013 10:05 AM in response to BPWMorro

Yes and yes. Everything that works in ITunes will work no matter where the library is located, so when you add new music, it will go to the flash drive and Home Sharing should be no problem.

As to the third question, once you have confirmed that the library works from the external and you have followed my instructions, not the ones from Apple that just relocate the content, then yes, you can delete the entire iTunes folder from the internal drive.

Regards,

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Answer 4

rquirosb

Level 1

0 points

May 5, 2013 6:44 PM in response to varjak paw

Just wnat to say thanks, from all the replys yours was the best...

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