Are you fed up with the frequent errors, issues and problems in using iTunes to transfer media files to iOS devices, purchase songs and other media files from iTunes Store, or backup/restore iOS media files from iOS devices to computer? You don’t have to uninstall iTunes from your PC or Mac because the culprit is not iTunes but media contents you streamed, downloaded or synced to other devices using iTunes. These contents are crowding up your iTunes and making it function less effectively.
Therefore, you need to reset iTunes Library to get a new start. Once your iTunes Library is reset to its default settings, all your media contents, playlists, ratings, and apps will be completely wiped out. So, if you don’t want to lose your files, backup your iTunes Library to an external drive.
- Part 1: How to Reset iTunes Library
- Part 2: What If Your iTunes Cannot Work Normally?
- Tip: How to Consolidate, Find and Backup iTunes Library
May 07, 2013 To clean up iTunes library, you need to do at least two things: remove duplicates in iTunes and add missing album artwork to iTunes songs. ITunes 11.0.1 and late versions has the ability to do these two things, but not performs well. Leawo Tunes Cleaner for Mac, however, could easily help you clean up iTunes library in only a few clicks.
Nov 24, 2016 On the Mac, things are a little more complicated because iTunes lacks a dedicated interface for adjusting the size of its cache. As explained in this tutorial, you only need to delete a pair of special folders on your Mac to free up quite a bit of storage space lost to caches that accumulate as you stream tunes with Apple Music. Comprehensive iTunes cleaner to clean up and organize your iTunes library to be neat and tidy: thoroughly search your iTunes library as well as local music collection to identify and delete song duplicates, get album artwork and metadata, download and add music tags like album, song name, artist, year, etc. To make a complete music info, allow.
How to Reset iTunes Library
If you want to reset iTunes Library on your Mac or Windows PC, then follow the steps outlined below.
#1. How to Reset iTunes Library on Mac
Step 1. Shut down iTunes on your Mac computer.
Step 2. Click on “Go > Home”.
Step 3. Select the Music folder, and click the iTunes folder.
Step 4. You will see two files named “iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml,” delete both files from your Mac.
Step 5. If you’ve completed the above steps, then open your Mac and create your own music library.
#2. How to Reset iTunes Library on Windows PC
Step 1. Shut down your iTunes on your Windows PC.
Step 2. Open Windows Explorer, then click “Music > iTunes” folder.
Step 3. You will see two files named “iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml,” delete both files from your Windows PC.
Step 4. If you’ve completed the above steps, then open your PC and create your own music library.
What If Your iTunes Cannot Work Normally?
If resetting iTunes Library was unable to fix iTunes errors and issues, then a better approach to solve iTunes issues and problems should be adopted. iMyFone TunesFix is the only iTunes repair tool that can fix all iTunes errors and problems without erasing or tampering with your iTunes Library files.
iMyFone TunesFix can correct any iTunes errors, or repair iTunes when it refuses to launch, reset, or respond to certain commands. It can fix iTunes errors such as install, connect, restore, backup, and reset errors. You can use it to boost your PC by freeing up your iTunes caches and media contents clogging up your iTunes.
Key Features:
- Fix and reset iTunes Library when iTunes fails to work.
- Repair any iTunes issues without losing important files or library.
- Clear contents clogging up iTunes to free up space and boost your computer.
- Fix more than 100 iTunes errors and issues in a few minutes.
- Completely uninstall iTunes and all of its related components.
Steps to repair iTunes via TunesFix:
Step 1. Download and install iMyFone TunesFix on your PC.
Step 2. Launch iMyFone TunesFix and it will auto-detect your iTunes, and if there is no issue with your iTunes or iTunes software components, then you’ll be in the Home interface.
Step 3. From the Home interface, choose “Fix Other iTunes Problems” as the repair mode.
Step 4. Click “Repair”, and make sure you are in a stable internet connection. When the repair is completed, click “Open iTunes” and try using iTunes again.
How to Consolidate, Find and Backup iTunes Library
It would have been appropriate to first discuss how to consolidate iTunes library, find the iTunes media folder, and backup iTunes library and media files, before discussing how to reset iTunes Library on Mac or Windows PC. However, we let the first come last for a genuine reason.
How to Consolidate iTunes Library
Follow these steps to consolidate your iTunes Library.
Step 1. Launch iTunes, and go to the menu bar to click “File > Library > Organization Library”.
Step 2. Select “Consolidate files” and click “OK”.
How to Find iTunes Media Folder
The iTunes media folder is by default located in the iTunes folder.
- On Mac: Open the Finder window, and click “Username > Music”.
- On Windows 7 to 10: Go to Users > Username > Music.
However, if the iTunes media folder is not located in the default folder, then open iTunes and click “Preferences > Advanced > iTunes Media Folder Location” to know where to find your iTunes Media Folder.
How to Back up iTunes Library
You can back up your iTunes library to an external hard drive before resetting it.
Step 1. Close iTunes on PC or Mac, and find your iTunes folder.
Step 2. Drag the iTunes folder from its location and drop it on the external hard drive.
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Though we store more and more of our music online these days, a hard-copy backup is still the gold standard for keeping your data safe. And if you use Apple Music or iCloud Music Library, the best way to do that is still iTunes.
There are a few ways to back up your iTunes library; it's important to choose one and regularly back up so that you won't have to worry about your local copy getting lost or damaged. My music — at least for me — is one of those must-backup items; I don't want to have to manually re-build or re-buy thousands of tracks.
First: Make sure your entire library has been locally downloaded
If you use iCloud Music Library or the iTunes Store, you may have some or all of your music stored in the cloud. But to truly make sure your purchased and owned content is backed up, you'll want to download a local copy to your Mac. Here's the best way to do so:
To download specific items in your iCloud Music Library right now to your Mac's drive, do the following:
Launch Music (or iTunes on Mojave and earlier) on your Mac.
Source: iMore
- Find the Artist, Albums, or Songs that you want to download.
Click the ... button to bring up a pop-up menu.
Source: iMore
Click Download to initiate the download of these items.
Source: iMore
And if you want to start automatically downloading everything that you add to your Apple Music library from this point forward, then it's easy peasy! Here's how:
Launch Music (or iTunes on macOS Mojave and earlier) on your Mac.
Source: iMore
- Click Music in the menu bar.
Click Preferences (or press ⌘, on the keyboard).
Source: iMore
Make sure you're in the General tab.
Source: iMore
Click the box for Automatic Downloads to turn it on.
Source: iMore
Once that is turned on, any music you add to your Apple Music library will be downloaded automatically to your Mac's hard drive.
How to back up iTunes via Time Machine or another backup service
If you have Apple's Time Machine backup system enabled — or any other cloud — or system-based backup — your iTunes library should automatically be covered. This way, if you ever need to restore, you can just pop back in Time Machine's History (or a past backup from CrashPlan or Carbon Copy Cloner, for example) to retrieve it.
How to manually back up your iTunes library
If you're not employing a Mac-wide backup service (really, you should get on that), or if you just want to manually back up your iTunes library separately, here's how to go about that.
Consolidate your library
To ensure that all of your iTunes files are in the same place when you make a manual backup, you should first consolidate your iTunes library.
- Make sure you've downloaded a local copy of your music to your Mac.
Launch Music (or iTunes in macOS Mojave or earlier) on your Mac.
Source: iMore
- Click File in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
Hover your cursor over Library in the drop down menu.
Source: iMore
Select Organize Library from the secondary menu.
Source: iMore
Tick the box for Consolidate Files when the Organize Library window appears.
Source: iMore
Click OK.
Source: iMore
This will make a copy of all files in the iTunes media folder, leaving the originals in their current location.
Copy your iTunes library to a backup source
- If you are using an external hard drive, connect it to your Mac using a USB cable.
- Click on Finder to open a Finder window.
Select your Mac's Hard drive.
Source: iMore
Click on Music in the sidebar.
Source: iMore
Select the Music folder (or iTunes on macOS Mojave and earlier) and drag that folder to the external hard drive icon on your desktop or copy it to your online backup service.
Source: iMore
- Click Authenticate, if prompted, to give permission to make a copy of the iTunes folder.
- Enter your administrator password.
Click OK.
Source: iMore
The copy process will begin. This could take a very long time, depending on how big your Music/iTunes library is. So, sit back, relax, watch a movie, or whatever you do to pass the time.
Desperate times call for desperate measures
If you are about to do something wild with your Music or iTunes library and don't have a way to back it up on an external drive or online backup service, you can make a temporary backup that you store right on your Mac. This is, by no means, a solid backup plan, but can be useful in a pinch.
Note: After making a copy, it is a good idea to move the copied folder to an easy-to-find location that is separate from any folder you plan to make changes to (like the Music folder). This copied folder should be deleted immediately after it is no longer needed because it takes up extra space on your computer's hard drive unnecessarily and could cause confusion with your most current Music or iTunes folder.
- Click on Finder to open a Finder window.
Select your Mac's Hard drive.
Source: iMore
Click on Music in the sidebar.
Source: iMore
Right-click or control-click on the Music folder (or iTunes folder if you're still on macOS Mojave or earlier).
Source: iMore
Select Duplicate from the drop down menu.
The copy process will begin. This could take a very long time.
Source: iMore
Move the copied iTunes or Music folder to a new, easy-to-find location.
- Delete the copied iTunes or Music folder once you no longer need the temporary backup.
Any questions?
Running into issues making an iTunes backup? Pop them in the comments below.
March 2020: These are still the current steps for how to back up your music.
Serenity Caldwell contributed to an earlier version of this guide.
Backing up: The ultimate guide
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