How to Back Up iTunes to an External Hard Drive

Preserve your iTunes media by backing it up to an external drive.

It's a good idea to regularly back up all important files on your computer to an external source to prevent data loss. Your iTunes music, videos and other digital downloads are stored in separate files within the iTunes folder. However, if you consolidate them into a single folder, it's easier to back them up to an external hard drive.

Instructions

1. Launch iTunes. Go to the program's Preferences menu.

2. Click the "Advanced" tab. Check the box next to "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" and click "OK."

3. Click "File." Select "Library" and then "Organize Library." Check the box next to "Consolidate Files" and click "OK."

4. Close iTunes. Connect your external hard drive to your computer.

5. Find the iTunes media folder on your computer's hard drive. Drag the folder to the icon for your external drive to copy your iTunes media.

Tips & Warnings

• Back up your iTunes music library each time you add new music.

• By default, the iTunes folder is located in a "Music" folder for your username.

References

• Apple: Back Up Your iTunes Library by Copying to an External Hard Drive