Do I copy the itunes folder or the itunes media folder to transfer to a new computer

Moving a library: Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its sub-folders and files) intact to the other drive. Hold down the option (alt) key (shift on Windows) and open iTunes. At the select prompt choose the iTunes Library.itl file in the copied iTunes folder.

When this is to a new computer put the copied iTunes folder in the default location then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.) Also remember to authorize the computer in iTunes to your Apple ID if you use this to sync to Apple mobile devices.

Drag the entire iTunes folder. If you find that the music isn’t on the new computer afterwards, check the Advanced section of the iTunes preferences and copy the folder in that location.

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If the iTunes Media folder is inside the iTunes folder, copy the entire iTunes folder, not just the Media one.

If the iTunes Media folder is outside the iTunes folder, copy both folders.

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The iTunes Media folder should be inside the iTunes folder (by default, this is in C:\Users\username\Music), with a structure like this:

As Neil says, you need to copy the complete iTunes folder with all its content including subfolders. If you only copy the iTunes Media folder you will have to rebuild your library; by copying the whole iTunes folder you are including the iTunes database (the iTunes Library.itl file) which is where the descriptions and locations of everything in your library, your playlists, ratings, play counts, etc. are stored.

There are two sets of iTunes folders:

• the iTunes application itself - in either C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (86), depending on the edition of Windows you are using.
• the iTunes library, by default in C:\Users\username\Music

The latter is what you need to transfer to a new computer - and yes, this can be large since it contains all your media files. Only the smallest of iTunes libraries will completely fit on a typical USB thumb drive - if you're very careful about retaining the file/folder structure you can transfer the library in pieces, but you'd be better to get a USB hard drive that's big enough to hold your complete library. Once you've successfully completely the transfer you can use this to create and maintain a backupof your library,