How to move your iTunes Library to another PC
I have looked online and couldn’t find a good simple guide to moving iTunes from one compter to another - so here’s my version. Unfortunately you can’t use your iPod to do this (actually you can but it’s pretty fiddly and this method is far easier and less time consuming).
I’m going to assume that you let (and want) iTunes to manage your music files - I can’t see why you wouldn’t - or why you would particularly care - there are those that do, and this sort of information probably isn’t for them.
Summary - we need to copy all of the music files (MP3s, etc) and also make sure we copy the library information (ratings, listening info, etc). You can either copy these directly (over the network if you have one) or copy them to an intermediate device - external hard drive, USB key, etc.
First, we need to copy the files from the old computer
By default iTunes stores the music files in C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music (Windows XP) or C:\Users\<Username>\Music (Vista) - you need to copy the entire folder structure either to the new computer (easiest to copy to the desktop) or via the Hard Drive.
You now have two options - if you already have music (that you want to keep) on the new computer then we will add to the existing library. If the new computer doesn’t have any music on it then we will use the existing library (from the old computer.)
I have iTunes on the new computer and want to keep the music stored on it.
- Assuming your music files are now on the desktop of the new computer we just need to copy the music files to iTunes.
- First check that iTunes is managing the music files:
- Launch iTunes - Menu - Edit - Preferences - Advanced
- Make sure the following options are checked -
- ‘Keep iTunes Music folder organized’
- ‘Copy files to itunes Music folder when adding to library’
- Keep iTunes open and move and resize the window to the right-hand side of your screen.
- Make sure you have selected Music (top left hand corner).
- In the left hand side open the Music folder on the desktop, and navigate to the ‘iTunes Music’ folder where you should see folders for each of the artists in your collection.
- Select all folders and drag them onto the iTunes window.
- You should now see the music being copied in the iTunes status window.
I don’t have any music on the new computer and just want to copy what I had on the old one.
- Install iTunes on the new computer if you haven’t already
- Close iTunes if it is running
- Copy the ‘iTunes’ folder from the desktop to ‘C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\My Music\iTunes’
- Start iTunes