iTunes library relocation won't take

September 15, 2021 9:12 AM

I have moved my iTunes library from my very old MacBook Pro (2009) to an external hard drive, so that I can use it with my new(er) MacBook Pro (2016), but iTunes on 2016 doesn't see it.

I followed the directions to change the iTunes library location on my new(er) MacBook Pro here:

1) Launch iTunes

2) Select "Preferences" from the iTunes menu

3) Click on "Advanced"

4) Click on "Change..."

5) Choose the new location


But when I open iTunes, I don't see any of that music. Am I missing something important?

posted by tzikeh to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

First quit iTunes, move the library & music files, then re-launch iTunes and point it at the new folder location.

Here's a step-by-step set of instructions that matches how I have done it in the past: https://www.imore.com/how-move-your-itunes-library-external-hard-drive
posted by wenestvedt at 10:01 AM on September 15, 2021

Response by poster: I have encountered a further problem:

My old Mac is showing an entirely different location for the library -- a folder that is *on* the old Mac itself -- but that folder has nothing in it, and iTunes on my old Mac is showing all of the music that's currently on the external drive, which it is not connected to.

I'm *SUPER* useless at this point. I posted to the Apple discussion boards but no one has answered.
posted by tzikeh at 10:21 AM on September 15, 2021

Well, iTunes doesn't check to see if the external drive is available: it's stupid-yet-obedient like that. :7)

But if the music files and the iTunes library database file are on the external drive, you should be able to plug that external HDDinto the new Mac and start up iTunes with the Option key down to find it and use it.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:28 AM on September 15, 2021

Response by poster: "iTunes library database file"

This... does not exist as far as I can tell. Can I create one?
posted by tzikeh at 5:19 PM on September 16, 2021