How do I backup my iTunes Library and Playlists to an external hard drive that I can restore from if my PC crashes or I accidentally delete an album?
iTunes: 12.3.0.44
iPod Nano: 7th generation
PC: Windows 7
Thanks
iTunes-OTHER, Windows 7, iPod Nano 7th generation
Hi Big_Generator,
You can back up your iTunes library by consolidating your library into one folder, and then copying that folder to an external drive. The following link will walk you through this:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201625
Hit the ⭐️ if this help
New Info: I think the problem is related to Backup grayed out in: File, Devices, Backup.
I found an article from: http://osxdaily.com/2012/05/15/disable-itunes-backup-for-ios-devices that shows how to disable and enable backups in iTunes on a PC: "%ProgramFiles%\iTunes\iTunes.exe" /setPrefInt DeviceBackupsDisabled 0
I entered the above line and it completed without error.
Please help.
An iPod nano is not an iOS device. iTunes doesn't back it up when you sync it. Further you haven't so far mentioned a problem as such. Your original question asked how to be properly prepared for a certain type of problem should it occur in the future, which I answered in my post above.
Confused. 😕
Unless you currently have content on your device, but not in your library, in which case see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2
I don't think I am asking the right questions. And a new user to iTunes/iPod.
I have a PC (Windows 7) with iTunes (12.3.0.44) and an iPod Nano (7th Generation).
I thought that I should be able to backup my iPod (library and playlists) using: iTunes: File, Devices, Backup. Backup is always grayed out. Is backup grayed out because an iPod is not an IOS device?
I also tried this method to do a backup:
Open iTunes, click once on the iPod symbol, click on Summary and I should see Backup as an option. I do not see anything that says Backup. Just a basic summary of the iPod and a few options that do not include Backup.
The original problem I had was the accidental deletion of an album. Took me a while to get it back. Now I want to understand how to do a backup and restore it if my hard drive crashes or I make another mistake. Hope that helps. Sorry for the confusion.
I thought that I should be able to backup my iPod (library and playlists) using: iTunes: File, Devices, Backup. Backup is always grayed out. Is backup grayed out because an iPod is not an IOS device?
Wrong. File > Devices > Backup only applies to iOS devices; iPhone, iPad & iPod touch. Even then it only backs up some of the data on the device. Not the applications or the media. Some of the content can be copied across using Transfer Purchases, but iOS 9 no longer stores complete versions of all apps so they no longer transfer, and non-iTunes media isn't copied either. The recovery tip posted above should give you all the help you need. The last three entries in the table of recovery tools should get all content, ratings and playlists for non-iOS devices, and I've already posted my backup tip for protecting your library in future.
tt2
Ok, I think I am starting to get it.
An "iPod touch" has an IOS operating system. My iPod Nano (with a touch screen) is not an "iPod touch" and is not an IOS device. This is why BACKUP in iTunes is always grayed out???
I also have a basic understanding of the instructions you sent. Looks simple. Going to try it shortly.
It's starting to make sense.
Thanks
🙂
You're welcome. 🙂
tt2
When I ran SyncToy everything worked great but:
The external drive did not have my two playlists and my laptop did not have them in iTunes folders either. My playlists are in the iTunes Application and working normally.
I suspect that playlist are not filled with duplicate songs. Instead they probably have a file that keeps a list of songs from the library. If this is correct, is there a method of confirming the presence of the playlists in the iTunes file(s)?
Looking to confirm my backup. Means a lot to me.
Thanks
Playlists, ratings, play and skip counts and dates, date added, and various other bits of data that are not stored in tags are all stored in the iTunes Library.itl file along with supporting files for iTunes Extras (and LPs), the Genius feature, and an artwork cache. The backup method I've suggested captures all of this additional information.
tt2
Thanks for the help and education!
🙂
You're most welcome. 🙂
tt2
How do I back up my iTunes library and playlists on a PC?
