How to Back Up iTunes on Another Computer

Apple's iTunes software has become one of the most widely used music and media organization programs available thanks to its ease of use with Apple's wildly popular iPod and iPhone hardware devices. The program has evolved over the years from a simple music-organizing tool into an all-in-one station for music, movies, television shows and ringtones. It is especially important then for iTunes users to make sure their iTunes libraries are safely backed up on multiple machines.

Things You'll Need

• Two or more computers on the same network (method 1 only)
• iTunes software for each computer (preferably iTunes 9 or higher)
• iTunes library content
• iTunes account (method 1 only)
• USB drive or external hard drive (method 2 only)
• Blank CD-R or DVD-R (method 3 only)

Instructions

Using Home Share

1. Open iTunes on the computer containing the library you wish to back up (computer 1). Select "Advanced > Turn On Home Share." Enter your iTunes account information in the fields where prompted and click "Done" on the resulting screen.

2. Open iTunes on the computer on which you wish to back up the library (computer 2). Select "Advanced > Turn On Home Share" and enter the same account information as Step 1. Click "Done" when prompted.

3. Click the library you are trying to back up, located in the "Shared" column on the left side of the iTunes application on computer 2. There should be an icon that looks like a house with a music note in it to the left of the library name.

4. Select the parts of your iTunes library you would like to back up to computer 2 from the main portion of the iTunes application window on computer 2. Type "ctrl + A" ("command + A on a Mac) to select the entire library.

5. Click the "Import" button at the bottom right-hand portion of the application window. This will prompt the transfer. Your iTunes library is backed up to computer 2 once the progress bar has completed.

Using USB or External Hard Drives

1. Connect your drive to the computer containing the library you want to back up.

2. Locate your iTunes library on your computer and copy it to the drive by clicking on the folder and selecting "Edit > Copy" from the application menu at the top of your screen, then selecting the drive and selecting "Edit > Paste." The "iTunes" folder is normally located in the "My Music" folder ("Music" on a Mac).

3. Eject the drive once the file transfer is finished and connect it to the computer on which you would like to back up your iTunes library.

4. Locate the "iTunes" folder on the drive and select "Edit > Copy." Open your "My Music" ("Music" on a Mac) folder and select "Edit > Paste." The iTunes library is now backed up to the second computer.

Using a CD or DVD

1. Insert a blank CD or DVD with adequate space into the computer containing the iTunes library you wish to back up. This process can be repeated as many times as necessary to accommodate libraries larger than a blank CD or DVD can contain.

2. Open iTunes and select "File > Library > Back Up to Disc."

3. Select which elements you would like to back up from the "iTunes Backup" window that appears and click "Next." The selected library elements will be burned to the disc.

4. Eject the disc and insert it into the backup computer once the burning process has completed.

5. Open iTunes on this computer and select "OK" when prompted to import the files from the disc into iTunes.

Tips & Warnings

• Transfer by way of external hard drive will only work between two computers running the same operating system.

References

• Apple Support: Understanding Home Sharing
• Apple Support: How to Back Up Your Media in iTunes