Moving iTunes, but leaving some files behind.

Question

Level 1

129 points

Moving iTunes, but leaving some files behind.

I'm switching from one laptop to another, and have to move my iTunes instance.

I have a lot of older podcasts I've saved, and I want to keep them. Unfortunately I don't have as much hard drive space on the new machine as I had on the old, so I'll have to prune them on the new machine.

What's the best way of accomplishing this?

Do I more the iTunes files, and then delete the individual podcasts I don't want to keep on the new machine?

Is it possible to load iTunes, signin, and NOT have it automatically download those historical files from the iTunes server?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 5:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,385 points

Aug 30, 2016 6:47 PM in response to coop42

See Backup your iTunes for Windows library with SyncToy. You could keep a full copy of the library on the external drive, but delete some content (and exclude from syncing) certain files in order to cut down the size of the live library. Alternatively you can run the full library from the external, and use another for backup.

tt2

Reply

Answer 2

coop42 Author

Level 1

129 points

Aug 30, 2016 6:55 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the reply.

I keep a backup on another drive so that part is taken care of.

So the process would be:

Make Backup (for safety)
Open current iTunes on current machine
Prune files
Shut down iTunes
Copy pruned iTunes fileset to new computer
Install iTunes on new computer
Point iTunes at new pruned iTunes fileset on new computer
Sync with iPhone

Does that make sense? I can just copy the iTunes fileset from one location to the other?

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 30, 2016 7:12 PM in response to coop42

An iTunes library is normally the entire iTunes folder and its contents. If you have sufficient room on the old computer you could duplicate the entire iTunes folder so you have a copy of the library. Start iTunes while holding down the shift key and select the other library to open that library. Now prune. Quit iTunes and restart with shift key held down to select original library. Copy edited library to other computer. When you're happy with the result you can deleted the edited copy on your main computer.

Reply