HT201610: About iTunes library files

Learn about About iTunes library files
LVirden
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Is there any help regarding cleaning up the library area?

I run itunes on Windows Vista. I have the latest version. I am moving my itunes music from my small drive to a larger external hard drive.

The instructions on this site discuss moving the music into the recycle bin. In the same folder as the music are a folder for album art, a folder called previous versions of itunes libraries, and a large number of files that end in .tmp .

 

Are there any instructions regarding whether those must stay, can move, etc.?

 

I am trying to prepare for the day when I may find that my original drive dies- I want to have my library off of that so that I don't lose my music.

 

It would be nice if all of itunes lived on the external drive.

 

Thanks for your help.

iTunes 11.0.1.12, Windows Vista

Posted on Mar 28, 2013 2:52 PM

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LVirden

Q: Is there any help regarding cleaning up the library area?

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Mar 28, 2013 3:09 PM in response to LVirden
    Level 10 (87,434 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 28, 2013 3:09 PM in response to LVirden

    See make a split library portable for a generic guide on getting the whole library on the external drive.

     

    In a well mannered library there should be no .tmp files in the iTunes folder (except briefly when iTunes is updating the library), the Downloads folder should be empty unless something is downloading and Automatically Add to iTunes should be empty as well. I don't know if iTunes does any garbage collection on the Album Artwork folders but leave them alone unless artwork gets really mangled. As for the iTunes Media folder, eveything in it ought to be connected to iTunes, and everything that iTunes is connected to should be inside iTunes Media. Where inside is a matter of choice, but obeying the last rule ensures the library is portable.

     

    tt2