Move Your iTunes Library to an External Drive (The Simple Way)

Has Your iTunes library become too big to fit on your computer? This video will show you how to move your iTunes media collection to an external hard drive


Skill Level : Intermediate

Note : for the new itunes the consolidate feature has been renamed organize but it does the same thing.

IMPORTANT FOR ITUNES 9 & ABOVE Read below :

In itunes 9 to consolidate the library. You can find that option in File / Library / Organize Library / Consolidate Library / OK

HOPE THIS HELPED FOR iTUNES 9

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[RaulDuke97]

after transferring music from itunes to external hdd , can i now transfer from the external hdd to new computer ? and if so, how? much thanks.

[redz220]

@RaulDuke97 I don't see why not highlight all the files from the external hdd and drag them over into your itunes library. Hope this helps :)

[DaEvilGenius2008]

i'm using a PC and under Library, i don't have a "Consolidate" option. Need Help

[redz220]

In itunes 9 to consolidate the library. You can find that option on File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Library > OK

[137Paradise]

I want to know why my itunes wont locate my music in my exsternal hard drive please? cheers Danny

[chamthebam]

THANK YOUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[r3tr0G4m3r666]

how can i move my library to windows media player?

[Glimma]

Can someone tell me if this same method will work if I don't have anything in my regular Music dropdown in iTunes, but am instead trying to take the music from the Music dropdown under Levi's iPod in iTunes when my iPod and external hard drive are plugged in? I hope that makes sense.

[jebzino]

This might be the problem. When I go to delete my songs off Itunes it prompts me "do you want to remove these items into the recycling bin or keep them in your Itunes folder" I have been deleting them into the recycling bin and then my "music" folder has been disappearing. Maybe I need to chose the other option and keep the file in the Itunes folder? I take it that is the new linked folder?

[jebzino]

Should I add the "music" and "movies" folder to the "automatically add to Itunes" folder and then try to link that folder with my Itunes and see what happens?

[jebzino]

Something weird is going on with mine. When I delete everything off Itunes just my music folder on the external hdd disappears? I now also have a file called "automaticall add to itunes"? Nothing is in it. The folder thats linked to my Itunes is called "Itunes Library" and inside is a "movies" folder and "music" folder. When I start Itunes I have to use the "add music from home" function to re-upload my stuff. Where did I go wrong? Thanks.

[jebzino]

Itunes isn't automatically downloading my music from the external hard drive when I open Itunes. What could be the problem? Thanks!

[ciavarella1292]

@BekahCat You just have to make sure on your new computer that you're putting it onto, that in the Preferences menu that you have the location that the music will be loaded from onto the new computer from your External drive. Worked for me.

[MegaJabawokie]

Very good tutorial... Thumbs up. Way up!