Put Itunes Library On External Drive Mac

admin 06.04.2020

Nothing is as painful as losing data or content you gathered for a long time. Your iTunes liberal comprises albums and songs you have cherished for years. So, it is expedient to back up iTunes to external hard drive to prevent a total loss of your precious data if something happens to your iPhone, iPad or iPod.

Put Itunes Library On External Drive Mac Computer
Install Itunes On External Hard Drive

In the browser window that appears, navigate to your external hard drive, click the iTunes folder there and choose the iTunes Library file. Mar 18, 2020 Also Read: How to Backup iTunes Library to External Hard Drive Part 1. Transfer Music from External Hard Drive to iTunes Directly. ITunes supports users to directly add music from external hard drive. But one thing needs to be mentioned is that you can only transfer iTunes-supported music format, such as MP3, AAC, M4A, WAV, M4R, AIF, AIFF.

With the use of the modern application and easy-to-follow procedures, you can back up your iTunes successfully and without any hassles. This guide will take you by the hand and show you how to back up iTunes to external hard drive.

Your existing iTunes Library will be moved to the new drive and any new music, videos, or whatever you have in iTunes will be backed up to the new drive as well. Please keep in mind that you can go back to step 2 and change where your iTunes Library is stored — to your computer or a different external drive — at any time. Nov 14, 2015 If you plan to move the external drive between copies of iTunes running on a Windows-based computer and on a Mac, make sure the drive is set. Oct 07, 2019 After you consolidate your media files, you can back up your library and media files to an external drive. Find your iTunes folder. Right-click on your iTunes folder, then choose Copy. Go to your external hard drive, then right-click and choose Paste. Jan 17, 2011 This is how to transfer your itunes library to an external hard drive. This is just a simple mac tip. It is always good to back up your music, or anything on your computer really.

Part 1: How to Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive
Part 2: Tip: What If Your iTunes is Damaged?

How to Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive

1. Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive on Windows

This guide is for users with Windows PC. Follow the steps below to backup iTunes to external hard drive.

Step 1: Sign in to your Windows PC and launch the desktop.
Step 2: Find iTunes icon and start the application.
Step 3: Click the “Sign In” button located at the top-left corner.
Step 4: Input your Apple ID credentials and sign in.

Step 5: On the window that comes up after signing in, click Edit menu at the menu bar from the top left corner.
Step 6: Click preferences.
Step 7: Click the Advanced tab on the General Preferences.

Step 8: Check the “Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library” checkbox and click “Ok” under the Advanced tab. This setting ensures that a copy of files goes to the iTunes Media folder when adding them to the iTunes library.

Step 9: Click the file menu on the iTunes main window.
Step 10: Click library.

Step 11: Click the organize Library option.
Step 12: Check the “Consolidate files” checkbox and click Ok.

Step 13: Having completed 'Step 12,' close the iTunes window.
Step 14: Connect your external hard drive to the PC.
Step 15: Go to the iTunes Media folder and locate your iTunes Media folder’s location (refer to step 1-7).
Step 16: When you have located the iTunes Media folder, move a step up to the iTunes Media’s Parent folder.
Step 17: Drag and drop or copy and paste the iTunes from the parent folder to your external hard drive to backup your library.

2. Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive on Mac

Having used your Mac for some time, you are likely to have several music files on your computer backing up your data is advisable. Below are the steps to take to backup your iTunes to external drive.

Steps 1: Consolidate your library. Gather all scattered music files on your computer. Start iTunes→ Click File→ Select Organize Library from the Library’s dropdown menu→ Check “Consolidate Files” checkbox →Ok.

Step 2: Backup your iTunes library to your external hard drive. Launch iTunes→ Connect external hard drive→ Open Mac’s hard drive→ Click music folder→ Select iTunes, drag it to your external hard drive→ click authenticate if prompted→ Enter your password→ Click Ok.

Tip: What If Your iTunes is Damaged?

iTunes may get damaged as a result of different factors such as failure to complete an update, corrupted files, incomplete backup, and more. These could make iTunes to malfunction or show “not working” message. However, it is not a big problem to fix. Download and install iMyFone TunesFix, and follow the guide below to fix the error.

Key Features:

Repairs all iTunes problems or issues with only one click.
Four comprehensive modes to resolve all kinds of iTunes’ errors and repairing requirements.
Repairs iTunes issues without erasing your data.
Deep clean iTunes and boost your PC.
Deep uninstallation of iTunes and all components.

Using iMyFone TunesFix to Fix the Issue

iMyFone TunesFix is an all-in-one application that is effective for resolving all errors or problems that iTunes may have. The application solves the problems without leaving a trace behind. To fix a damaged iTunes, follow the step below:

a. Auto Fix

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix, and it will detect iTunes and its errors automatically.
Step 2: Let iMyFone TunesFix fix the errors automatically.

b. Repair Backup/Restore Errors

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix.
Step 2: Select the repair mode, click “Restore backup/Restore Errors.”

Step 3: Wait as the errors get fixed.

c.Fix Other iTunes Problems

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix.
Step 2: Click Fix Other iTunes Problems to solve any unknown error or problem .

Step 3: Allow the application to fix the error.

In conclusion, if your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac ever has a problem with iTunes, do not despair; download and install iMyFone TunesFix. Run the application to detect the problems with your device, let iMyFone TunesFix fix the issues, and you can have fun with your device again. iMyFone TunesFix offers an enhanced experience with your device. It is, therefore, an indispensable app you must have nearby, just in case.

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Put Itunes Library On External Drive Mac Computer

Prepare your drive

You can store your library on an external storage device, such as a USB or Thunderbolt drive formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled).¹ Find out how to check the format of your external storage device.

To prevent data loss, Apple doesn't recommend storing photo libraries on external storage devices like SD cards and USB flash drives, or drives that are shared on a network.

Move your Photos library to an external storage device

Quit Photos.
In the Finder, go to the external drive where you want to store your library.
In another Finder window, find your library. The default location is Users > [username] > Pictures, and it's named Photos Library.
Drag your library to its new location on the external drive. If you see an error, select your external drive's icon in the Finder, then choose File > Get Info. If the information under Sharing & Permissions isn't visible, click , then make sure the 'Ignore ownership on this volume' checkbox is selected. If it's not selected, click to unlock it, enter an administrator name and password, then select the checkbox.²
After the move is finished, double-click Photos Library in its new location to open it.
If you use iCloud Photo Library, designate this library as the System Photo Library.

Delete original library to save space

After you open your library from its new location and make sure that it works as expected, you can delete the library from its original location.

In a Finder window, go back to your Pictures folder (or whichever folder you copied your library from) and move Photos Library to the trash. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash to delete the library and reclaim disk space.

Open another Photos library

If you have multiple libraries, here's how to open a different one:

Quit Photos.
Press and hold the Option key while you open Photos.
Select the library that you want to open, then click Choose Library.

Photos uses this library until you open a different one.

Learn more

If you have a permissions issue with your library, you might be able to resolve the issue by using the Photos library repair tool.

1. You can't move your library to a disk that's used for Time Machine backups.

Install Itunes On External Hard Drive

2. If the volume isn't formatted APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), or has been used for Time Machine backups but hasn't been erased, this checkbox will either not be present, or won't be selectable after unlocking. Erase and reformat the drive for this option to be available.