Updating to new Mac when iTunes is on an external drive

[GLTirebiter]

Over the next few months I’ll be buying an M1 iMac to replace my late 2012 iMac with Mojave. My iTunes library is on an external USB drive. if I use migration assistant, do I need to plug in my USB drive to the new Mac so it can update to the new OS and the Music app? Or, if I migrate and plug in my USB drive, will the new Mac convert the iTunes library to a Music App Library?

In other words, will the new MacOS recognize an old iTunes library on an external and be able to convert it?

 

[Darth.Titan]

• Plug the external drive into the new Mac before launching Music.
• Hold down the option key on the keyboard while launching the Music app.
• Select 'Choose Library...' and browse to your music library on the external drive and click 'Choose'.

That should do it. Whatever conversion needs to take place for iTunes -> Music should be automatic.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Something else you need to know.

You may not have to give up iTunes on a new Mac.

If you use the free software called "Retroactive", it will install and make usable a copy of iTunes on newer versions of the Mac OS.

I've tried it and it works, even on the latest Monterey beta.

NOTE:
My Mac is Intel-based.
I can't confirm as to whether Retroactive works on m1 Macs (although I've read that it does).

One other thing:
I'm going to take a guess that all you need to do is plug in the external drive with the iTunes music folder, and then hold down the option key when you launch "Music.app". If Music works like iTunes, you should see a dialog asking you to choose the library you want to use. Just choose the iTunes music folder on the external drive...

 

[GLTirebiter]

OP:

Something else you need to know.

You may not have to give up iTunes on a new Mac.

If you use the free software called "Retroactive", it will install and make usable a copy of iTunes on newer versions of the Mac OS.

I've tried it and it works, even on the latest Monterey beta.

NOTE:
My Mac is Intel-based.
I can't confirm as to whether Retroactive works on m1 Macs (although I've read that it does).

One other thing:
I'm going to take a guess that all you need to do is plug in the external drive with the iTunes music folder, and then hold down the option key when you launch "Music.app". If Music works like iTunes, you should see a dialog asking you to choose the library you want to use. Just choose the iTunes music folder on the external drive...

Thanks, I’ll look into Retroactive. I’m still determining whether I want to move to Music. I have a 2TB music library that’s well tagged and don’t want to screw anything up.