Move your iTunes music library to a new Mac
iTunes
I use iTunes on my Mac, but don’t let it manage my library. It is not allowed to rename or move any of my files, for the obvious reason that it will totally mess up my Serato, Ableton Live and personal sorting methods. If you’re looking for the way to move your managed iTunes music library, Apple has a nice tutorial.
Having bought a new Macbook Pro, finding the quickest way to move the library from the old to the new laptop was not so easy, so let me share it with the world.
iTunes uses two files to build your library: iTunes Library (binary file) and iTunes Music Library.xml (XML file as backup).
If iTunes fails to find/read the iTunes Library file, it uses iTunes Music Library.xml to rebuild it. That’s what we’ll use.
My new username is identical to my old machine, so the path to the music location will also be exactly the same (f.e. /Users/OrT/Music).
If this would not be the case, you’ll have to do a search and replace in the XML file changing the path to the new location.
- Make sure iTunes is closed, on both locations
- Copy your music to your new mac (in my case, to the same location)
- Back up your iTunes Music folder! (actually only necessary when you already added songs)
- Delete the iTunes Library file and make a new, empty one (in Terminal: touch Music/iTunes/iTunes\ Library)
- Delete the iTunes Music Library.xml file and copy the one from your old mac to the new one
- Start your iTunes. It will detect the binary library file being empty and rebuild your library using the XML
Ta-daa, all your music and playlists magically reappear.
If you’re using an iPhone, just authorize your computer (Store, Authorize Computer) and hit File, Transfer Purchases to import your precious apps.
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