Backing Up iTunes Match Library Kept On External Drive

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Level 1

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Backing Up iTunes Match Library Kept On External Drive

I've been considering iTunes Match to give me more space on my MacBook. After reading Make and keep a backup of your iTunes library, and only stream from the cloud, I think I understand the process of creating the library on an external drive. As iTunes Match should not be considered as an online backup, I'm wondering how those who have one iTunes library, and keep it on an external drive, are choosing to back up that library. My assumption is that it can no longer be backed up with Time Machine and that, in fact, eventually it would be overwritten on the Time Machine backup.

And, one follow up on the topic I linked above, one section reads, "Next, close iTunes and open it again while holding the Option key and choose "new library." In the new, empty library do not let iTunes scan for new content but do enable iTunes Match. Let the scan complete. Now you will see all your music in the cloud and be able to stream it." Is that new, empty library to be created on the MacBook rather than the external drive? I didn't see a reply button for replying on the topic page.

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 2:15 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 3, 2016 2:40 PM in response to claybeez

claybeez wrote:

And, one follow up on the topic I linked above, one section reads, "Next, close iTunes and open it again while holding the Option key and choose "new library." In the new, empty library do not let iTunes scan for new content but do enable iTunes Match. Let the scan complete. Now you will see all your music in the cloud and be able to stream it." Is that new, empty library to be created on the MacBook rather than the external drive? I didn't see a reply button for replying on the topic page.

Hi,

I have changed the above Highlighted above to read as follows:

"In the new, empty library go to preferences and check iCloud Music Library. Now you will see all your music in the cloud and be able to stream it."

The new library should be created on your computer.

claybeez wrote:

My assumption is that it can no longer be backed up with Time Machine and that, in fact, eventually it would be overwritten on the Time Machine backup.

Correct. The back up will be on the the external drive but you can include the external drive in your time machine back up.

Jim

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Answer 2

claybeez Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 3, 2016 2:49 PM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Thanks, for the quick reply. I didn't realize I could include the drive in the Time Machine backup. I appreciate the alteration you made to the original post. However, maybe it was just me, but I had been unclear as to where the new iTunes library was to be created. Reading a reply you made to another topic led me to believe it was to be on the MacBook. Lastly, at what point in the process is the music uploaded to the iCloud Music Library? Thanks, again.

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Answer 3

Jun 4, 2016 12:26 AM in response to claybeez

Hi,

The process to match / upload tracks usually commences within a few minutes after you added tracks to your library. You can speed up proces by selecting new tracks, ctrl/ right click and select add to iCloud music library. iCloud status will show as "waiting" and will change to "matched or uploaded" once process is completed.

Jim

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