How to Back Up an Entire Playlist and Library in iTunes

Using Apple's iTunes, you may have amassed a collection of your favorite songs and film clips. Wouldn't it be frustrating to lose the whole collection with a poorly timed system crash? If you have an Apple .Mac account, you can use the Backup feature in iTunes to save your entire library to a CD, DVD, external hard drive or your iPod-and you can schedule it to automatically back up files. Here's how it works.

Things You'll Need

• Apple .Mac account
• Computer
• Apple iTunes

Instructions

1. Open iTunes on your computer.

2. Select "Backup." Click the plus sign in the lower left corner of the screen.

3. Highlight "Custom" at the bottom of the window. Click "Choose Plan."

4. Enter a name for the new plan.

5. Click the plus sign under the "Backup Items" window. Choose the "QuickPicks" tab and click "iTunes Library." Select "Done" to exit.

6. iTunes will display the size of your iTunes library. Using the "Destination and Schedule" window below this, choose the media you want to back up to and the frequency and time of the automatic backup.

7. Click "Back Up Now" to back up immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Click "Continue" after you click the first plus sign if this is the first time you've backed up your files. Onscreen prompts will guide you through the process.

• iTunes 7 gives you the best quality and most options for backup.