Move Music (iTunes) Library to External Drive

[MushroomMan]

I am now running Catalina. It has been about 10 years since I last moved my iTunes library onto external drives, and back then I just made sure I had the 'XML' file in the same place as all my music and things seemed to work fine.

I have heard with iTunes now being called 'Music' and streamlined, that the use of the 'XML' file has changed (DJ programs are having trouble with 'Music' now, or something?).

So, I just wanted to ask what exactly I need to move to the external drive, ie. just the folder I store all my music in, or the main 'Music' folder, or my folder where I store all my music and the iTunes folder? (I don't let iTunes manage my music, attach artwork, or mess with my library in anyway which I am able to avoid)

I was planning to just move the iTunes folder and the folder I store my music in, but have noticed a new 'Music' folder within the 'Main Music' folder and this has a Music Library File (6MB in my case), should this folder be moved as well?

For reference, most of my music is just backups of CDs and Vinyl rips, and a lot of Beatport from 10+ yrs ago. I don't really buy new music anymore and have no interest in being part of the Apple Music Subscription thingy.

TLDR: When moving my Audio Data (music etc.) to an external drive from my laptop, which exact folders/files need to be moved to ensure iTunes (or 'Music' or whatever it is called now) will continue to run as normal?

Any assistance would be much appreciated!

 

[haralds]

You could just move the Music or iTunes folder and create a symbolic link to it on the original location.
Even if you use Option start to point to a new Music library location the music files in the db would not be in the correct location.
An alternative is to move the folder, reinitialize, set preferences to place music into the new localtion and then import everything again.
In the past I have handled it by mass editing the XML file and then importing it. But I have not had good luck with the Music app doing that. It chokes early in the process.

 

[MushroomMan]

Thanks very much for the pointers, I think I will go with your 2nd option and just move the folder and import everything again - seems the safest.

Cheers,

 

[mikzn]

TLDR: When moving my Audio Data (music etc.) to an external drive from my laptop, which exact folders/files need to be moved to ensure iTunes (or 'Music' or whatever it is called now) will continue to run as normal?

IMHO - the easiest thing to do is copy the entire folder to the external drive (complete)

Then close the Music App (if open) and re-open while pressing the "option key" to choose a library and browse to the external drive and Music Folder where you have moved/copied it and select "Music Library.musiclibrary" to open and use that library as the default

FWIW it sounds like you might have created several Music libraries - so if you happen to select the less complete version - close and open Music again with the "option key" and select a another "different" library to switch to a more complete version.

FWIW The XML is not the real library file - in iTunes (or Music) - it was the iTunes Library.itl - which is now "Music Library.musiclibrary"

If you need an XML file for a 3rd party app ( ie Sonos?) then you can still generate one manually using the export file in Music

Once you have it working you can delete the "lesser versions of the libraries" and un-needed music folder on you local drive.

 

[MushroomMan]

Thanks for the reply mikzn,

I'm copying the 6 folders which are in my user 'Music' folder (about 90mins to go now, but thinking about it, I probably should have just copied folder 1?):

1. My Master Audio Folder (The one where I store all of my music files)
2. Audio Music Apps
3. GarargeBand
4. iTunes
5. Music (Previously mentioned folder)
6. PioneerDJ (I think this is tied to Rekordbox)

Unless I have confused myself, I believe folders 2 - 6 have been created by the OS, so as I mentioned, I should be just copying folder 1 and then navigating iTunes to the new location of my music files. Is this correct?

Now you mention the .itl file, I may have backed that up as well. I was just making sure that if my internal HDD failed, or an external failed, then I had a copy of my entire 'library' file, so that even if I had lost all my music files, I wouldn't have lost the file which iTunes opens with to give me all the playlists I had created (maybe 1000?), and their songs with all the tag info....this was the thing that would take an eternity to re-do. I don't know if I was using the .xml or .itl file to do this, or both?

 

[mikzn]

5. Music (Previously mentioned folder)

the only folder you really need to copy is - 5. Music (Previously mentioned folder) - unless of course you wanted to move everything off the internal and over to the external - this "Music Folder" should have all you music files

I am not famiiar with Pioneer CJ - but it may use the XML file - you can recreate one with music. export to XML

I also created music extra folders in music by mistake - ie Music, Music 1, Music 2 - lol - once you figure it out you can delete the ones you don't need
[automerge]1572803194[/automerge]
Here is a screen shot / picture of the Folder - it is confusing because the Main folder is "Music" and so is the sub folder (Media) "Music" 0r "Music 1" etc

 

[MushroomMan]

Yeah, I actually want to move all my music files onto an external drive as I only have 25GB free out of 1TB. My music files take up about 700GB so that is my only long term option really.

The music folder just has one file in it called 'Music Library' which I believe you are saying is the file that has all the info of my iTunes library playlists and song tags etc. now?

I don't want to duplicate things and cause problems, but I would like to keep a backup copy of this key library file on the external HDD, just in case I were to lose my internal SSD for some reason. But, I do regular TimeMachine backups, so maybe I am overthinking things here regarding a backup of the Music Library file?

 

[mikzn]

But, I do regular TimeMachine backups, so maybe I am overthinking things here regarding a backup of the Music Library file?

I kept an iTunes (Folder back up) on a separate drive - I only have one mac on Catalina so far - and use itunes with my other Mojave Mac's - I also back up music folders and libraries weekly - seprately on 2 other drives - BAK1 Saturday - BAK2 wed - in case I accidentally back up a problem - ie delete folder by mistake etc.

so NO I don't think you are "overthinking things" - LOL - - but maybe I do

 

[MushroomMan]

Thanks for the pic - unlike you, my media files are not inside my music folder. See pic:

Ha - that is quite a routine for your backups, but it's no fun losing data so good to see someone with a system!

 

[mikzn]

your folder structure makes sense to me - my external drive has the same structure - all audio files (MP3's, aiff, wav, m4r, m4a, wma, flac, etc) stored in a consolidated folder outside the iTunes/Music folder and can be shared, copied backed up by this folder alone to other apps 👍

696 gb is a lot of music - - good folder to have multiple back ups - IMHO

iTunes stored movies and podcasts in the media folder - in your case it might be "Audio From HDD" ? you might want to figure that out - if / are there are videos and podcast in there? Catalina changes the storage locations of some of these iitems

with 696 gb of music perhaps you are a DJ - Pro or hobbyist & the XML file might be important - easy to create on Catalina with the export function

hope all goes well

 

[Doug828]

I've asked this question elsewhere on the forum but since you seem to understand the file structure, I'll ask it again here.
I converted my itunes library to Music upon Catalina installation. I really don't like music and would love to go back to iTunes. I was able to install iTunes on Catalina but when i load my library, it loads a library from 2017.

Do you know how to convert the Music app musiclibrary file back to something iTunes can use to mirror my current library in Music (so it's current with files and playlists)

Thanks in advance.

 

[hagjohn]

You can move the files via the Music app.

1) Music -> Preferences -> Files -> Change location and make sure "Keep music fold organized" -> Ok
2) File -> Library -> Organize -> Select "Consolidate Files" and Reorganize files (if available) -> Ok

And it should move the music to the new directory.

 

[mikzn]

Do you know how to convert the Music app musiclibrary file back to something iTunes can use to mirror my current library in Music (so it's current with files and playlists)

Easiest thing to do would be find the last version of “iTunes Library.itl”
file that you have - any back up? / previous drive? etc and put that in your new iTunes folder ( perhaps rename the current library “iTunes Library.BAK“ so you can restore what you have now if needed?

another option - Create a new XML file from Music app by “exporting“ from your current music installation and then open iTunes and import the music XML file “from Music” into the iTunes app - again rename the iTunes library to “iTunes Library.BAK“ before you do the import so you can revert if it does not work.

hope that helps

 

[Doug828]

I was stupid and didn't do a backup before installing Catalina. And for some reason the latest itl file stored on my hard drive was from 2016.

Exporting the XML file from music also does nothing. I thought it was the itl file that had all the library information. But of course, I could be wrong.

I may be stuck with Music. But I am getting used to it. I think my biggest complaint is that you can't see the time on the top window as a song plays unless you hover over it. I want it to be there all the time.
And the search function is so buggy and has so many issues. Using filter is better, but I hate that it also doesn't stay permanently.

 

[mikzn]

Yes you are correct (in iTunes) the .itl file has the play counts, play lists, and all that type of info - The XML file has basically the same info in a separate parallel file that can be used by other 3rd party apps.

My biggest issue with music is also the search function especially the “column browser” being removed unbelievable that Apple did that - it’s almost like they want people to stream music only and move away from having copies.

Apple seems to be intentionally removing all the features that were in iTunes and that were great for managing purchased music and downloaded music

 

[Yodus71]

Hi I'm using Music on Mac Os 11 big sure and i'm trying tu move my music from an external HDD to another one wich whas unsuccessfull until now.
I've cloned the disks, change the location of the media folder, copy the music library file into it and try to consolidate the files to change their location in the new disk (it lasted more than a day...) but after that the files location are still i the old disk.
I'm gonna try again tonight after deleting the new files to consolidate again to see if it moves the files.
Does anybody try to move its music libray files to another place and did it without importing again all the files ?
I realised after the first try that it was easier before with itunes...