How do I import an existing library into iTunes 12?

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Level 1

4 points

How do I import an existing library into iTunes 12?

I am incredibly frustrated. Software that should be simple.... Which has been simple in the past, no longer is--Dragging and dropping a folder is pretty simple, but iTunes 12 does NOT support that. Change just for change's sake is not a good thing.

My question is, how do I import a previous library into a clean install of iTunes 12? (One cannot drag and drop folders.... And my library is big enough, I don't have time to do individual files.)

Barring that, where can I find an install file for iTunes 11?

I will rant on my dislike of this software--for those of you asking, I have files in my library that can only be accessed with iTunes. I don't want to pay for them twice, so I am stuck. Quite frankly it is the best trolling device Apple came up with. Grrr.... Sorry, I am trying to control the rant, but it is awfully hard.

iTunes 12-OTHER, Windows 7

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 4:07 PM

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Answer 1

hhgttg27

Level 5

5,597 points

Jul 28, 2015 5:13 PM in response to Fizwalker

Restore a backup of your previous iTunes library, or see How to move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Support.

If you only have the media files/folders from your previous library (i.e., no iTunes Library.itl file) then you can still add content in one of three ways:

File > Add Folder to Library ... (press Ctrl-B to enable the menu bar if you don't see the File menu)
Copy files/folders to the Automatically Add to iTunes folder - if iTunes is running it will add the media to your library immediately, otherwise this will happen the next time you run it
Drag and drop from Windows Explorer to iTunes (which does work in 12.2, no different from previous versions), where the current view in iTunes is either your complete library or a regular playlist (drag and drop will not work if the current view is of a Smart Playlist or of a Playlist Folder)

In the third case your cursor should change to this:

if you've configured iTunes to copy new files to the iTunes Media folders, otherwise it'll be this:

where iTunes will add media to your library using the current file/folder locations.

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Answer 2

UGADog

Level 4

1,972 points

Jul 28, 2015 4:14 PM in response to Fizwalker

I'll ignore the rant....

Have you tried in iTunes File > Add to library? You'll need to know the location of the songs you want to add on your hard drive. Hopefully they are arranged by artist, album, songs.

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