Mac Can I Delete Previous Itunes Libraries

Here are some things to know

Use multiple iTunes libraries on Mac. You can have more than one iTunes library. For example, you could have a library of holiday music that wouldn’t appear in iTunes the rest of the year. Or you could keep your music in a library on your computer and your movies in a library on an external storage device. Open iTunes for me. Aug 28, 2015 It may happen that after updating iTunes some of your music files, videos or podcasts no longer appear in your library. This procedure explains how to clear your iTunes library and create a new one, by deleting two files from the iTunes folder. First close iTunes and then navigate to the iTunes folder: On Mac OS X: Click on Go Home. Sep 27, 2018  Rename iTunes Library.itl to iTunes Library.old. Open the Previous iTunes Libraries folder and copy the latest library file. The same date format exists in Windows too. Paste the file into the iTunes folder and rename it to ‘iTunes Library.itl’. Open iTunes and retest. Now when you open iTunes everything should work fine. Oct 07, 2019 In macOS Catalina, your previous iTunes media library is now available in the Apple Music app, Apple TV app, Apple Podcasts app, and Apple Books app. And when you back up your Mac, your media library is automatically included in that backup. It's possible to have multiple iTunes libraries, with separate content, on one computer. This lesser-known feature helps you keep multiple people's music, movies, and apps separate and lets you sync multiple iPods, iPhones, or iPads to a single computer without getting other people's music on your device unintentionally.

Your iTunes library, a database that's made up of all of the music and other media that you add to iTunes for Windows, is organized into two iTunes library files and an iTunes Media folder.

Before you back up your media:

  • Consolidate your iTunes library.
  • Redownload any previous purchases, like music, movies, TV shows, and more. The only way to back up your purchased media is to download your purchases to your computer.

iTunes and Store availability and features might vary by country or region. Learn what's available in your country or region.

If you have a Mac

In macOS Catalina, your previous iTunes media library is now available in the Apple Music app, Apple TV app, Apple Podcasts app, and Apple Books app. And when you back up your Mac, your media library is automatically included in that backup.

Consolidate your iTunes library

  1. Open iTunes.
  2. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen or at the top of the iTunes window, choose File > Library > Organize Library.
  3. Select Consolidate files.
  4. Click OK.

When you consolidate, copies of any files that were outside of your iTunes Media folder are added to your iTunes Media folder. To save space on your hard drive, you might want to delete the original files after you make sure that the copies are in your iTunes Media Folder.

The next time the backup runs, you want to be confident that the images you deleted from the library aren't also removed from the existing backup. The word archive has different meanings depending on how it is used. This happens when you back up your Photos or iPhoto Library and then, before the next backup, delete a few images. Another method for backing up your precious images is to use a third-party backup app that can handle archives. Mac os x photos import iphoto library. In this case, it specifically refers to the ability to retain files on the destination drive that no longer appear on the source drive.

Find the iTunes Media folder

By default, your iTunes Media folder is in your iTunes folder. To find it, go to User > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media.

If you don't see your iTunes Media folder in the above location, here's how to find it:

  1. Open iTunes.
  2. From the menu bar at the top of the iTunes window, choose Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
  4. Look in the box under 'iTunes Media folder location' for the location of your iTunes Media folder.

Back up your library and media files

After you consolidate your media files, you can back up your library and media files to an external drive.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Find your iTunes folder.
  3. Right-click on your iTunes folder, then choose Copy.
  4. Go to your external hard drive, then right-click and choose Paste.

Restore your library from a backup

Previous Itunes Libraries

You can restore your iTunes library from your external drive to your computer. If you're restoring an iTunes Library from a different computer, make sure that your new computer has the latest version of iTunes.

Mac Can I Delete Previous Itunes Libraries Free

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Go to 'This Computer,' then click your external drive.
  3. Select your iTunes folder, then right-click and choose Copy.
  4. Go to the location on your computer where you want your iTunes library, then right-click and choose Paste.
  5. Hold down the Shift key while opening iTunes.
  6. When you see a message that asks you to Choose iTunes Library, click Choose Library.
  7. Choose the location where you copied your iTunes folder.
  8. Click Open.
  9. Choose the iTunes Library.itl file inside.