Copying iTunes Library, Playlists etc. Not Move or Transfer but Copy/Duplicate?

[GlynH]

Hi there,

Basic question I hope! Famous last words...

I have my iTunes Library on my MacBook Pro containing 12,500 songs which takes up 70GB+ and would like to copy/duplicate it onto my Mac Pro but every time I search whether here or on the Internet in general I see references to moving or transferring which sounds to me like it physically picks it up and moves or transfers your library from one Mac to another but I don't want to do this.

I want to leave my library where it is on the MacBook Pro as that is where I physically slot in the CD and import it into iTunes but as I have a lot more HDD space in the Mac Pro I would like to use that to host a copy/backup call-it-what-you-like without disturbing my existing carefully curated library on the MacBook Pro.

How best to do this please?

I wouldn't want to upset anything in my original library on the MacBook Pro but like the idea of keeping another complete backup on the Mac Pro and use maybe use that as a source for Sonos and to stream to other devices in the house especially when my MacBook Pro is off or travelling with me.

Is there a 'best' way to do this please?

I am still running MacOS 13.6 High Sierra and iTunes 12.8.3.1 on both Macs if that makes a difference?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[0128672]

Copy and paste your Music folder. I don't know what the path is on High Sierra, but it should be similar to
user > Music > Media > Music

But before doing anything else, make sure you've got backups of that folder.

Maybe the folders are labeled as iTunes, but if you look at the contents and folder sizes, you should be able to find your primary music folder. Copy it to an external drive (or a sharing option) and copy it from there to your Mac Pro. If you haven't already, I would make sure too that your Mac Pro is of course authorized computer for your iTunes account.

That said, you may want to copy and paste some of the other files recommended in those move threads to make everything is in the right place. This Apple discussion thread is pretty comprehensive. Hope it's helpful.

 

[GlynH]

Thanks for the reply WildSky...apologies for the late reply.

I did something similar to keep my Synology NAS in sync with my MacBook Pro using Beyond Compare as I use the NAS as the Sonos Library as often the MacBook Pro travels with me.

Figured there might be an 'official' way to achieve what I am looking to do but it seems copy/pasting/syncing to keep everything up-to-date going forward is the easiest way.

I was hoping to maintain just the one iTunes library on the cMP and get away from syncing but I guess having multiple copies wouldn't hurt as a backup policy.

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-