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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines Apps
Ever wanted to move your music library from one computer to another and keep all your ratings, playlists, etc. in iTunes intact? You can! This hint is structured for going from a Windows box to a Mac, although there is no reason it wouldn't work in the reverse or from a Mac to a Mac or from a Windows computer to a Windows computer. Each variation is just another minor tweak that you should be able to figure out on your own.
  1. Consolidate your iTunes Library. This is the default setting on the Mac, but not so on Windows. Go to Advanced » Consolidate Library. iTunes will copy all of your music into your "some_folder/iTunes/iTunes Library/" folder.
  2. Open iTunes on the computer you will be transferring the music to. Make sure iTunes runs, etc. If there is anything in this library, it won't be for long. (You can copy these songs in later, but you won't be able to keep their ratings, etc. For the adventurous, seek out SyncOTunes, a somewhat abandonware project that may help you.) Open iTunes' Preferences and make sure that the options "Copy Music to iTunes Library" and "Keep Library Organized" are checked. They'll come in handy later.
  3. Close iTunes. Drag its iTunes folder to your Desktop. On the Mac, it is found at "~/Music/", on Windows, "My Documents/My Music/".
  4. Move the iTunes folder that contains the library you want into the spot you just vacated.
  5. Re-open iTunes. There is a good chance you will see a dialog pop up that reads "Upgrading Library" if the versions don't exactly match. In fact, going from an older version to a newer version is sometimes better as iTunes does some magic to the XML file that contains its library on the upgrade cycle which can weed out old junk.
  6. If the iTunes folder that you dragged to your Desktop contained anything you wanted, you can now open it up, open the iTunes Library folder, and drag those folders (which contain the music) into iTunes to copy them into iTunes. Otherwise, trash that whole iTunes folder; you don't need it. (The one on your Desktop, silly!)
Follow those six steps and you should have successfully have migrated your iTunes Library from one computing platform to another, just like that!
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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines | 10 comments | Create New Account
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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: kainewynd2 on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 8:09AM PST
You could just move the ~/Music/iTunes to the ~/Music/iTunes folder on the other machine - it works. Don't forget to authorize that machine afterwards.

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: morespace54 on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 9:07AM PST
...And de-authorize the old one! (if you whish) ;)...
I did that a few months ago and I forgot to de-authorize the old machine. I was wandering who else installed my songs on their computer... :/ ;)

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: kdawgforever on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 10:50AM PST
Apple will let you clear out your authorized machines list once a year. After that just reauthorize the machines you own. Just log into your iTunes account. Under account information, if you've deauthorized your whole list in the last 12 months you wont see the button. If you've never deauthorized then you should be able to see a button.

Hope this helps.

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: ravedog on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 3:15PM PST
Actually, u can clear authorizations as many times as u want... the trick is when u get to the max of 5 machines, then you can goto your account settings in the iTunes Store and it will then let u reset all authorizations. This works every time. Try it. I can't tell you how many times I've had to do this.

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Use the same Hard Drive name
Authored by: Brontojoris on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 6:29PM PST
If you want to preserve play counts, last added date and last played date, you need to make sure the name of the hard drive is the same on both machines. eg: Macintosh HD. You also need to make sure that the name of the User folder is the same (including capitalization).

Then just copy the library from one Mac to the other. Afterwards start iTunes, and you should have an exact duplicate of your old Library on your new Mac.

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: hackenbush on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 7:39PM PST
I apologize for the "dumb" question but I am a new user and do not understand your solution. I have just purchased a imac and wish to transfer my itunes files from my pc to the imac. Your solution suggested that once you have consolidated your itune library to a folder on your desktop, you move the folder to the vacted itunes?. I assume that in my case, I create a consolidated folder on my pc desktop. But how do I get the folder from my pc to the imac? Your assistance is appreciated.

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: kainewynd2 on Fri, Feb 2 2007 at 8:36AM PST
Go onto your PC and go into your My Music folder. There should be an iTunes folder there - you need to get that to your iMac. I would suggest initiating a network connection if you are on a high speed connection and just dragging and dropping. Otherwise, if it is small enough, you could always just burn that folder to a DVD.

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How to transfer a full iTunes library between machines
Authored by: eliotw on Thu, Feb 1 2007 at 8:58PM PST
Another great Mac to Mac iTunes sync utility is Syncopation by Sonzea. I've been using it to keep my library in sync between my 3 Macs. Check it out at:
http://www.sonzea.com/

Eliot

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Still Works in '08!
Authored by: LaoTzim on Sat, May 10 2008 at 9:30PM PDT
Just finished transferring 45 GB from my crusty old Dell to my spankin' new 20" iMac 2.66 C2D. I rely heavily on ratings to populate dozens of smart playlists and they transferred perfectly, even coming from the XP ghetto to the OSX promised land! My playcounts are still there as well, and I figured they'd be gone for sure. Thanks!!

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Still Works in '08!
Authored by: ceratophyllum on Sun, May 11 2008 at 3:11PM PDT
I know this makes me sound like a luddite troll, but you would not have to "authorize" or deal with any other hassles if you just bought good ole fashioned CDs. Then you could do what you like with the stuff YOU BOUGHT, rather than kowtow to your corporate lords and masters. There's no incomprehensible 6-page EULA and you won't have to buy the white album again once Apple and iTunes have gone the way of Commodore.

CDs will probably still work in '18. I have my doubts about proprietary, DRM-laden audio codecs.

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