Compare two iTunes music folders and eliminate duplicates

I have seen this question asked multiple times in the 10 years I have been on this forum and not seen a solution. You can see if there are third party solutions out there, though you have to be confident in the skill of the programmer.

You could combine all the media from the various libraries into one library, then handle them all from inside that library using the find duplicates features of iTunes. Yes, it is still manual one-by-one but at least then you are looking at them all in front of you in one place. I also know I have things that iTunes thinks are duplicates but are not really, and some files that are duplicates that iTunes doesn't think are, so in the end if you want 99.99% certainty you have ot do it yourself.

What exactly is the scenario? Do you already have multiple media folders but only one iTunes library? If that is the case, consolidating should get iTunes to put all the files listed in that library in the main active media folder and the others can be deleted (or better yet, put on an archive drive, then delete and see if everything is as it should be).

I use an older iTunes so I can't give you a step-by-step in new iTunes. Here's some references. I guess "consolidate" is now called organize.

iTunes 11 for Mac: Change where your iTunes files are stored - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12165 - Unfortunately this is misnamed. It should say "Change where your media files but not where your library files are stored" - more information at: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5036221?answerId=22026652022#22026652022 - and steps 5-8 in https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5782936?answerId=24491967022#24491967022 -- you don't need to actually change it from default, just ensure everything end up in one folder.

iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

Sept. 2010, Consolidate selected content - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2589812 and April 2014, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6067967?answerId=25414357022#25414357022

turingtest2 post on consolidating old and new iTunes library structure into one - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3933432?answerId=18327128022#18327128022

Did you find a way to do this? One thing I am trying is I used the spotlight search and found ALL music files on my computer.

I'm deleting all the duplicates but my music files are still scattered all over my computer. I'm also wading through thousands of files ending in .caf (don't know what that is about)

I'm hoping I can delete iTunes, reinstall, and have iTunes search my whole computer for music files, iTunes will take a copy of everything and put it in an iTunes media folder and then I can save that file while I wipe my hard drive because I have some kind of infected adware slowing my computer to a crawl.

I don't care about saving my playlists but this is LABORIOUS! I can't figure out another way.

1. iTunes is basically a database. As such, you should never, ever go into the User > Music > iTunes folder and mock around there manually. The only way to avoid creating major issues is to delete, add, modify, etc, files thru the iTunes app interface.

2. If you already messed it up, make a backup of what you've got, then use Time Machine to revert the iTunes folder to an earlier, good version.

3. To clear your Mac of adware, download ClamXav and run it. http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/15850/clamxav

4. To consolidate all your music into a single location go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > and check on the "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" options. Click on the OK button.

From your description, I'm not sure if you actually have multiple iTunes folders, or just multiple folders with music files in them, so come back here if you have additional questions, or I mis-interpreted your description.

Rysz wrote:

3. To clear your Mac of adware, download ClamXav and run it. http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/15850/clamxav

I do uncompensated tech support for the ClamXav Forum and have to say that neither ClamXav nor any A-V software is nearly as good at getting rid of adware as AdwareMedic, developed by thomas_r. a colleague of mine, operator of TheSafeMac web site and frequent contributor here in the forum on Mac Malware. It will safely and efficiently identify and remove all currently known adware. A-V software may find the installers, but normally leave the installed adware alone since it's considered to be a Potentially Unwanted Application/Process (PUA/PUPP) rather than a malicious infection.

Removed 3 adware and my computer starts up like new again! WOW! Thank you so much. Now back to deleting duplicate music files....

I have music in multiple folders and duplicates in different folders. After I get all the duplicates deleted I guess I will browse my saved search again and locate the various folder and "add" them to a new iTunes library

AND it wasn't a "spotlight" search I went to finder and saved my search. Sorry bad description. Pardon please.

nicholefrommccall wrote:

AND it wasn't a "spotlight" search I went to finder and saved my search.

Actually, it was. The Finder uses only the Spotlight database, just allows additional constraints and the ability to save, as you mentioned.