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ahmadka Author

Level 1

9 points

How do I move iTunes Library folder to another location?

Hi guys .. I have a question I can't seem to find a fully working answer to.

I have iTunes 11 installed, which has it's folder in the default location:

C:\Users\ahmadka\Music\iTunes\ ...

However I have all my music stored in one central folder located in my Dropbox:

C:\Users\ahmadka\Dropbox\ahmadka's Music Library\..............

I've recently made the switch from Dropbox to Google Drive, so I'm trying to move the above music containing folder to:

C:\Users\ahmadka\Google Drive\ahmadka's Music Library\..............

But before doing anything, I made a backup of my Music\iTunes folder.

Then I moved the folder as mentioned above (moved ahmadka's Music Library folder from Dropbox to Google Drive). However obviously after moving the folder, iTunes was unable to locate any songs (I see that ! sign next to any song I try to play). So then I tried going to File >> Add Folder to Library, and then I browsed for the new 'ahmadka's Music Library' folder. However now iTunes just re-added all the songs again, instead of realizing that they are the same songs which have just been moved.

Restored my iTunes backup and then tried this:

In another thread someone suggested running the FindTracks script to fix those incorrect links. I did this and it seemed to have fixed the links to 80% of the songs, but the remaining 20% still remain. Since they're a lot of songs, I can't manually fix each song's link.

One way would be to just delete everything in my library and re-add all songs from the new Google Drive folder, but I don't want to do this as I loose my ratings, playcount, etc .. I don't want to loose years worth of work.

Is there any other easier way that allows me to move the songs from one location to another ?

iPhone 5, iOS 6.0.1

Posted on Aug 25, 2014 5:16 PM

22 replies

turingtest2

Level 10

272,831 points

Aug 27, 2014 5:16 AM in response to ahmadka

Device backups should live elsewhere but apps are normally stored in either <Library Folder>\Mobile Applications or <Media Folder>\Mobile Applications depending on whether your library is in the "new" layout or the "old" one. I've assumed new because it usually is, and that is the portable one, but the specific steps I've given so far would leave the library in the old layout if that is how it was.

tt2

ahmadka Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2014 5:37 AM in response to turingtest2

Okay, I followed your steps. At Step 9 though, the content doesn't play. It says it cannot find the file. I guess it's looking for it in the Dropbox location still. How do I fix this ?

I have backups of both my iTunes folder and my ahmadka's Music Library folder, so not worried or anything.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,831 points

Aug 27, 2014 6:12 AM in response to ahmadka

Select a track with a broken link. Press CTRL+I to get info, then look on the summary tab. My guess is that iTunes has "decided" that the media folder is in the newer layout and there will be a bonus Music folder somewhere in that path. If so close iTunes, open the file C:\Users\ahmadka\Google Drive\ahmadka's Music Library\.iTunes Preferences.plist in a text editor and change the integer value 1 into a 0, save the file and open iTunes. That should fix the issue.

tt2

ahmadka Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2014 6:22 AM in response to turingtest2

Well, I don't see a 'Music' folder added in the path, but I do see something else. iTunes has replaced the ahmadka's Music Library from all paths to iTunes Media.

As an example, this is what I see for the 'Where' field in the Summary tab for one particular MP3 file:

file://localhost/C:/Users/ahmadka/Google Drive/iTunes Media/Gladiator/H. Zimmer and L. Gerrard - Earth.mp3

I guess it should probably have been this:

file://localhost/C:/Users/ahmadka/Google Drive/ahmadka's Music Library/Gladiator/H. Zimmer and L. Gerrard - Earth.mp3

Also, the media folder now shown in Edit > Preferences > Advanced is now C:\Users\ahmadka\Google Drive\iTunes Media.

Please tell me what to do 🙂

turingtest2

Level 10

272,831 points

Aug 27, 2014 6:38 AM in response to ahmadka

Under Edit > Preferences > Advanced set the correct the media folder location which should currently be C:\Users\ahmadka\Google Drive\ahmadka's Music Library then close iTunes and reopen. Working now?

tt2

ahmadka Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2014 7:05 AM in response to turingtest2

Yes, working now, thanks so much ! 😀

I first changed the Media folder location to C:\Users\ahmadka\Google Drive\ahmadka's Music Library, closed iTunes, re-opened iTunes, and everything was playing again !

I then moved the iTunes files back from the Google Drive folder, to the original Music\iTunes folder, and then opened the ITL now present in Music\iTunes. Again, everything playing fine. Now, I created an empty iTunes Media folder inside Music\iTunes, and then changed the Media folder location to this new blank iTunes Media folder (to match the original configuration). Still, everything is playing fine.

Now as I wanted, there's nothing in Dropbox anymore, ahmadka's Music Library folder has been successfully relocated to Google Drive, and iTunes library files and all configuration are again as they were originally 🙂

I'll do some more testing, etc, but it looks okay for now at least. Thanks again for your continuous help tt2, won't have been able to do this without your help ! 😀

turingtest2

Level 10

272,831 points

Aug 27, 2014 7:36 AM in response to ahmadka

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

How do I move iTunes Library folder to another location?