Transfer Itunes Library To External Drive Mac

Jul 24, 2015 If you want to transfer your iTunes to an external hard drive, you first have to make sure the program is closed. On Mac, press Command + Q on the keyboard while iTunes is open. On Windows, right-click the iTunes tab on the taskbar and click on “Close.”.

Get a new Mac but don’t know how to transfer your iTunes library from the old computer to the new one? Well, this article can help you out with two simple solutions on how to transfer iTunes library to new Mac.

Q: How to transfer iTunes library to my new Macbook? I would like to move my entire iTunes Library from my Windows PC to an external hard drive and I’d like to keep it there because it won’t fit onto my new Macbook Air. I am happy to plug this in whenever I wish to use my iTunes Library.

–A User from Apple Community

With a large iTunes library, it would not be an easy case for you to transfer it to your new Mac. Transfer data between two computers can be pretty annoying. With diverse genres of content in your iTunes library, it would be nice if you can find a good tool to transfer it simply and quickly.

And to help you out, in this article, we shall render you efficient methods on how to transfer iTunes library to new Mac.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via External Hard Drive or USB Drive

Step 1. To find the location of your iTunes media folder, launch iTunes on your old computer > Then click “Edit” (PC) or “iTunes”(Mac) on the menu bar > Preferences > Advanced > Here you will see the “iTunes Media folder location” in your computer.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via External Hard Drive or USB Drive – Step 1

Step 2. Then click File > Library > Organize Library > Check the box named as “Consolidate files” > Click OK.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via External Hard Drive or USB Drive – Step 2

Step 3. Quit iTunes > Connect your external hard drive or USB drive to the computer > Open the iTunes media folder from the location in step 1 > Drag the folder to the external hard drive/USB drive.

Step 4. Open iTunes > Then click “Choose Library” in the pop-up window > Select the iTunes library folder in your external hard drive.

Step 5. On your new Mac, connect your external drive to Mac > Click Finder on your new Mac > Choose the Music folder > Then drag the iTunes library folder in the external drive to the music folder in new Mac.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via External Hard Drive or USB Drive – Step 5

Step 6. Launch iTunes on your new Mac > Hold down the Option key while opening iTunes > Click “Choose Library” in the pop-up window > Select the music folder in your local hard drive > Choose the iTunes library folder > Click Open.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via External Hard Drive or USB Drive – Step 6

If you do have iPod classic, iPod nano or iPod shuffle, you can also use it as a hard drive in iTunes on Mac. Connect the iPod to your computer > Click the device icon on your iTunes > Summary > Select “Enable disk use” > Click Apply.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via AnyTrans for iOS

Besides manually moving your iTunes library to a new Mac, there is an easier and quicker way for you to achieve it – AnyTrans for iOS. It is a professional iOS data manager that allows you to simply transfer your iOS data from one device to another.

  • Transfer media content selectively or wholly from iTunes to your hard drive or another iDevice without hassle.
  • Transferring music speedily. AnyTrans for iOS supports you transfer more than 1000 songs in minutes.
  • Manage and transfer almost all your iOS data like contacts, photos, ringtones, music, calendar, from one iDevice to another or from iDevice to computer and vice versa.
  • No leak or loss of data. AnyTrans for iOS assures that all the data in the process of transferring would not be leaked or lost.
AnyTrans for iOS – iTunes Music Transfer

Want to transfer your iTunes library to another Mac simply and quickly? You can easily achieve it with this helper – AnyTrans for iOS. It can help you transfer your media content from iTunes to iDevice or computer without hassle.

Download AnyTrans for iOS now on your Windows PC or Mac and follow the below steps to know how to transfer iTunes library to new Mac.

Step 1. Launch AnyTrans for iOS > Connect your iDevice to the computer as an external drive > Click the button in the middle of the top bar > Choose iTunes Library in the drop-down menu.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via AnyTrans for iOS – Step 1

Step 2. Select all the items at once or some of them > Click on Send to Device button.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via AnyTrans for iOS – Step 2

Step 3. On your new Mac, connect your iDevice to the new Mac > Under Device Manager, go to Category Management > Choose Content to iTunes.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via AnyTrans for iOS – Step 3

Step 4. Check the box of the data types you want to transfer > Click the arrow icon to initiate the process.

How to Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac via AnyTrans for iOS – Step 4

The Bottom Line

That’s the two methods on how to move iTunes library to new Mac. As you can see, with the help of AnyTrans for iOS, you can manage your iTunes library or iPhone data easier than ever. You can also back up your iOS app and restore them to your iDevices at any time. Download it now and enjoy your free trial!

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Contents

  • iTunes from Mac to Mac

Part 1: How to Transfer iTunes Library from Mac to Mac

Often, Mac users will have more than one Mac in their home. It is the nature of the beast, as they may be so pleased with their exclusive Mac environment that there may suddenly be a MacBook or an iMac in the house where there may have been only one Mac computer previously. So, like households with both PC and Mac systems in them, households with more than one Mac may decide that it’s time to copy their iTunes library from one Mac to another. There are a number of steps to follow when transferring iTunes from one Mac computer to the other, just as there are when you transfer iTunes from PC to Mac. Here is how it’s done:

Step 1. Open iTunes. Go to Preferences > Advanced

From there, click “Keep iTunes Media folder organized” in order to see your iTunes folder stay properly organized and keep the transition from one computer to the other smooth.

Step 2. Deauthorize your computer from the iTunes store

It’s important to ensure that you deauthorize your old computer from the iTunes Store if you are planning on not using your old computer on iTunes anymore. All you need to do is go to Store>Deauthorize this computer, and your old computer will be deauthorized.

Library

Transfer Itunes Library To External Drive Mac Download

Step 3. Move your iTunes Media Folder

From here, it’s simply a matter of closing iTunes on your old computer and moving your iTunes Media folder across the network to your new computer. Locate the Music folder (~/Music) and use either an external hard drive or a wired or wireless network to get the job done.

Step 4. Change the Library on the new computer

Move the iTunes folder to the same location on the new machine as you had it on the old machine. This will help your iTunes on your new computer locate all the music files on your new machine.

Step 5. Launch iTunes while holding down the Option key

Transfer Itunes Library To External Drive Mac Pc

A dialog box will open, asking whether you want to 'Cancel', 'Create a new library', or 'Choose an Existing Library'. Select 'Choose Library', then navigate to where you moved the iTunes folder. Remember that you will overwrite any existing music files in your library.

Step 6. Authorize the new computer in the iTunes Store

This allows you to get any authorized purchases in your iTunes account.

While Mac may be the platform of choice for many iTunes users, there are multiple users who have iTunes for PC and may be looking at transferring iTunes to another PC system. Therefore, it is important to know how to transfer iTunes from one PC to another.

Transfer iPhone/iPad/iPod touch music, videos and photos to Mac and iTunes.

One-click backup to iTunes and manage your songs, videos, and photo albums.

  • Copy music from iPhone, iPod, iPad to Mac or iTunes.
  • Export videos from iPhone, iPad, iPod to iTunes/Mac.
  • Transfer all photos from photo album to Mac or iTunes.
  • Copy playlists with rating and play counts to iTunes.