How Do I Transfer an iTunes Library From One Hard Drive to Another?

Your iTunes library serves as a digital storage unit for songs, video and other media transferable between a computer and a media player such as an iPod. But what do you do when you need to transfer the library itself to a new computer or hard drive? You can use your iPod to make the transition, or you can use a CD, DVD or flash drive.

Things You'll Need

• iPod
• CD-R
• DVD-R

Instructions

Use Your iPod

1. Plug your iPod into your computer using the USB-to-dock cable.

2. Open iTunes. You will need to enable your iPod to manually send and receive files.

3. Click the “iPod” icon in the left column of the iTunes window. Your iPod options should then appear.

4. Check the box that reads “Manually manage music and videos,” if the box is not already checked.

5. Close iTunes.

6. Locate your iTunes library folder. For Mac users, it will appear in your “Music” folder on your hard drive. For PC users, it will appear in “My Music Folder.”

7. Drag the folder to your iPod. For Mac users, the iPod will appear on your desktop. For PC users, it will appear in the “My Computer Folder.”

8. Eject your iPod.

9. Plug your iPod into your second computer.

10. Click the iPod icon to open it.

11. Drag the iTunes folder to the “Music” or “My Music Folder” folder on the hard drive of your second computer.

Use a CD, DVD or Flash Drive

1. Locate your iTunes library folder on the first computer. For Mac users, it will appear in your “Music” folder on your hard drive. For PC users, it will appear in “My Music Folder.”

2. Load a blank CD/DVD or flash drive into your computer.

3. Drag the folder onto the disc or drive. If copying to a disc, you will need to select the “Burn” option to finish the copying process.

4. Transfer the disc or drive to your second computer.

5. Drag the iTunes folder from the disc or drive onto the “Music” or “My Music Folder” on your second computer.

Copy to an External Hard Drive

1. Plug your external hard drive into your computer using the USB or firewire port, depending on the type of drive.

2. Locate your iTunes library folder on your computer. For Mac users, it will appear in your “Music” folder on your hard drive. For PC users, it will appear in “My Music Folder.”

3. Copy the folder to your external hard drive by dragging it and dropping it onto the drive. For Mac users, the drive will appear on your desktop. For PC users, it will appear in “My Computer Folder."

References

• Apple: How to Use Your iPod to Move Your Music to a New Computer