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How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another

This wikiHow teaches you how to move your iTunes music library from one computer to a new computer. You'll need to use a USB drive or an external hard drive to do this. Open iTunes. On the computer from which you want to copy your iTunes...
Part 1 of 3:

Consolidating Your iTunes Library

  1. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 1How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 1
    Open iTunes. On the computer from which you want to copy your iTunes library, click or double-click the iTunes app icon, which resembles a multicolored musical note on a white background.
    1. If prompted to update iTunes, click Download iTunes and follow the on-screen instructions. You may have to restart your computer before you can proceed.
  2. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 2How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 2
    Click File. It's either in the top-left side of the iTunes window (Windows) or in the top-left corner of the screen (Mac). A drop-down menu will appear.
  3. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 3How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 3
    Select Library. This option is in the drop-down menu. Selecting it prompts a pop-out menu to appear next to the drop-down menu.
  4. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 4How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 4
    Click Organize Library…. It's in the pop-out menu. Doing so opens a window.
  5. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 5How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 5
    Check the "Consolidate files" box. This option is near the top of the window.
  6. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 6How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 6
    Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window. Your iTunes library will begin backing up to the iTunes Media folder.
  7. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 7How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 7
    Wait for your iTunes library to finish consolidating. Depending on the size of your iTunes library, this process can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Part 2 of 3:

Copying Your iTunes Folder

  1. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 8How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 8
    Plug your USB flash drive or external drive into your computer. Your flash drive or external drive should plug directly into one of your computer's USB ports.
    1. If you have a Mac, you may need to use a USB-C flash drive (or a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter).
    2. Your flash drive or external hard drive must be large enough to fit your entire iTunes library onto it.
  2. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 9How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 9
    Go to the iTunes folder. This path varies depending on whether you use a Windows computer or a Mac:[1]
    1. Windows — Open File Explorer
      How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 10How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 10
      , click Music on the left side of the window (you may have to scroll down), and find the iTunes folder.
    2. Mac — Open
      How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 11How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 11
      Finder, click Go at the top of the screen, click Home in the drop-down menu, and double-click the Music folder. You'll find the iTunes folder here.
  3. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 12How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 12
    Copy the iTunes folder. Click once the iTunes folder to select it, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac) to copy the entire folder.
    1. If you already have music in iTunes on the new computer, you'll instead double-click the iTunes folder and then copy the iTunes Media folder inside of it.[2]
  4. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 13How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 13
    Open your USB flash drive or external hard drive. On the left side of the File Explorer or Finder window, click the name of your plugged-in USB flash drive or external flash drive.
    1. On a Mac, you can also find the shortcut for the flash drive or external drive on the Desktop.
  5. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 14How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 14
    Paste in the copied iTunes folder. In the flash drive's or external drive's window, press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘ Command+V (Mac) to paste in the folder.
  6. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 15How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 15
    Eject your USB flash drive or external drive. Once you've safely removed your flash drive or external drive, you can proceed with adding your iTunes library to the other computer.
Part 3 of 3:

Transferring Your Library

  1. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 16How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 16
    Make sure iTunes is installed and up-to-date. If you haven't yet installed iTunes on the computer onto which you want to copy your iTunes library, download and install it before proceeding.
    1. If iTunes isn't up-to-date, you'll be prompted to update it when you open iTunes.
  2. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 17How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 17
    Plug your USB flash drive or external drive into the new computer. Use one of the computer's USB ports to do so.
  3. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 18How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 18
    Open the flash drive or external drive. Either click the drive's name in the File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), or wait for the drive's window to open automatically.
  4. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 19How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 19
    Copy the iTunes folder. Click the iTunes folder inside of the drive's window, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac).
  5. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 20How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 20
    Open your computer's Music folder. Go to the location of the Music folder, which is where you found the iTunes folder on your first computer. You shouldn't see an iTunes folder here if you haven't already used iTunes on this computer.
    1. If you instead copied the iTunes Media folder in the last part, you'll double-click the iTunes Media folder, then double-click the Automatically Add to iTunes folder before proceeding.
  6. How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 21How to Transfer Your iTunes Library from One Computer to Another Picture 21
    Paste in the iTunes folder. Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘ Command+V (Mac) to do so. You should see the iTunes folder appear in the Music folder. Once the folder finishes copying into the Music folder, you should be able to open iTunes and view your music.
    1. If you do see an iTunes folder and you haven't already used iTunes on this computer, you can delete the iTunes folder clicking it and then pressing Del (Windows) or clicking and dragging the folder to the Trash (Mac).
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