My iTunes shows I use 38GB but on my Mac (About this Mac - Storage) Music is showing as 86GB.
Assuming (?) iTunes is right how do I clear 48GB (i.e. 86GB less 38GB) off my laptop?
I am posting this here but have also posted it elsewhere and you might want to read the advice string so far received but which sadly has not resolved the problem.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5894464?answerId=24872497022#24872497022
Thank you
Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
See if you have consolidated the music into itunes - i.e. if you look in Finder for your standard Music folder do you see the same music tracks as in Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Music? They may not be in the same folders but it sounds like you have both copies on the Mac..
The way I use iTunes is to go to File/Library/Organize Library then check Consolidate files to make sure I have a copy of all my music in iTunes itself. Then I erase all the music held raw in Music folder in Finder. (much the same way you would use iphoto or Aperture)
NB make sure you have backed all of this up first as you may not want your music entirely in m4a format, you may want the mp3s again one day.
Thank you.
My file path for itunes is:
music/itunes/itunes media/music....the all the tracks are shown
Does that make sense?
I don't see any other folders where music is stored.
I presume from the above there cannot be or appear to be any duplicates
I have consolidated the library and I guess that consolidation is based on the file path above
Andrew
You will have to right click (2 finger tap) on the various subfolders and do get info on each to find the locations of the extra music, always supposing you have emptied trash. Could you have a partition with backups on?
You can try a couple of things:
First, do a Spotlight search for some random song titles, choose Show All in Finder, and look for duplicates. Make sure that the Path Bar is showing at the bottom of the Finder window (Finder > View > Show Path Bar).
Select the file names one at a time, and keep an eye on locations in the Path Bar...
Thank you
Tried that in all the cases I tried the file path stayed the same.
No duplicates found following your recommendations.
I deleted all my music (restoring it later via my backup) and after deletion my music folder on the HD halved with iTunes not working that means music must be stored somewhere. So confusing!
Did you try tuttle's search option after the deleting? Looking for mp3's after you have deleted all the audio you know of might locate the hidden music. And did you empty the trash?
yes followed his advice but with no results save I did accidentally delete the whole of my music and had to recover via Match!
In Finder I can see two music folders:
HOWEVER, if I delete either (keeping one) then all my music in itunes is lost and I need to reload from my backup.
I am sure this is the cause of my problem. So, how can I safely delete one folder whilst keeping itunes playing?
Thank you
how can I safely delete one folder whilst keeping itunes playing?
Not sure I understand. With an issue like this, why is keeping iTunes playing while you figure this out any kind of a priority?
Why don't you just move all of the music, both folders (at least) onto an external drive, sort out the files in each, see what's duplicated, what's not, and so on, then move one folder containing all of your music back to your Mac?
The two folders look like this:
and the other like this:
the top one's file path is the same as itunes BUT if I delete the second screenshot then the music plays albeit by locating it in the trash so I have to then undelete.
All I want is one folder with my music and that should be about 40GB
Thank you
Your file management is a bit of a mess. You have two "music" folders embedded inside even more music! I cant tell what holds all this but if it is yet another higher level "music" folder you are in a real mess.
You should be able to delete the lower one. If that messes up itunes, Like Tuttle says get all your music reorganised into one place. Clear out the itunes database then "Add to Library" with the reorganised music. when clearing out the itunes entries dont send the music to trash, just the itunes entries.
Space used to store music
