sorry if this has been asked before (cant seem to use the search function, coms up with some error message when i search). im planning to get a new mac, how do i copy my existing itunes library if i manually organize my music files? meaning, on preferences, i have the option "Keep iTunes folder organized" unchecked. let's say i manually copy all my song files to a disc or hard drive (or simply connect the two macs via ethernet), can i just drag the song files to the other mac? i can live with losing my playlists, but will all album artwork be moved as well?
@angel_benet: I think the following will work, but will other MUGers confirm if I'm right? -Copy the same folders to the same exact location in the new Mac. If there are no such folders, create them so that the file system is the same as on your old one. -Hold down the Option Key when you start the iTunes App. -Find the iTunes Library File in your Music Folder -Everything should be exactly the same as on your previous iTunes. -Remember to log in if you have Store purchases so that they'll play on your new Mac/iTunes.
thanks for the reply, do you mean to say copy the whole iTunes folder located in the Music folder in my user account in Finder?
Yup, just copy the whole thing over into the new Music Folder. I'm assuming that's where you keep everything.
Yep, but I do keep a separate folder that contains all my songs. i'm kinda OC in a different way and i don't let my mac do the organizing. hehe. will remember this when i get a new mac. thanks a bunch!
@angel_benet: In that case, you'll need to move your song folder to the same exact location on the new Mac, since this is the location where the iTunes Library file recognizes it as being. If you don't move the Song folder, if you click on the song in iTunes it won't play and you'll get the "exclamation point" since the link to the song is invalid (the song folder isn't where iTunes thinks it should be). You get what I'm saying?
alternatively, you can try what i did last night: transferred my iTunes library to a different hard drive; went to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > iTunes Music folder location and set it to the new folder.
will copying the whole itune folder also moves all iphone apps to the new mac? and you can sync on both mac with the same itune acct? trying to move to a new mac but still can't give up everything on my old mini
@DON2003: I'm not sure, but if it doesn't work, simply double click on all the apps in the folder and I think they'll all get manually added to iTunes.
when i got my mac, i used home sharing in itunes to transfer my itunes library from my windows based laptop...
Consolidate your files, copy all the items in your iTunes to an external HD then: - Locate your external hard drive. - Drag the iTunes folder (backed up earlier) from your external hard drive to whatever location you desire on your internal hard drive. It is recommended that you choose the default location for the iTunes folder, which is: Mac OS X: /Users/username/Music - Open iTunes while holding down the Option key (Mac) More info here
That works for OSX. I am interested to copy from OS X to Windows or the other way around. File structure and references are different. At the moment Home Sharing is the way to go. But it doesn't allow copying of playlists and settings.
How do I keep the same playlists? I remember being able to do this before... Copying plists. I'm just not sure how anymore. Help.
i just bought a mbp 15'. i migrated all my files from the old mbp 1,1 by buying a 400 to 800 firewire cable in virra mall. transfering files from itunes, iphoto, mail, etc was a breeze. just use the same folders as the old mac and the os does everything automatically. it was fast too!
Just copy the old file "iTunes Music Library.xml" from your old iTunes folder. Save it into your new iTunes folder on your new computer. Hope this helps.
need your help guys... i transferred my music, photos, contacts from my pc to my new mbp using migration assistant... but i can't seem to find them... i thought that that they would automatically transfer to their corresponding locations like itunes, iphoto, etc... if anybody can please guide me through... newbie to mac.
