The fastest way to move your iTunes library

The simplest method is to copy your entire iTunes Media folder from your old computer to your new one, then point iTunes to that folder. This preserves all your music, playlists, ratings, and play counts in one operation. On Windows, your iTunes Media folder lives inside your user account folder at Music > iTunes > iTunes Media. On Mac, it's in your user account folder at Music > iTunes > iTunes Media.

Before you start, make sure you have enough storage space on your new computer. Your iTunes Media folder is usually several gigabytes or more, depending on how much music you own. You'll need that much free space on your new machine's hard drive or external drive.

Key Takeaways

  • Copy your entire iTunes Media folder from your old computer to your new one using an external drive or network transfer.
  • After copying the folder, open iTunes on your new computer and point it to the copied folder in your preferences.
  • If you purchased music from the iTunes Store, sign in with the same Apple ID on your new computer to redownload it.
  • Playlists, ratings, and play history transfer automatically when you copy the iTunes Media folder and update your library location.
  • Songs you added from CDs or other sources transfer with the folder; DRM-protected music from other services may not play without additional steps.

Copy your iTunes Media folder to an external drive

The easiest way to move a large music library is with an external hard drive or USB drive large enough to hold it. Connect the external drive to your old computer, then navigate to your iTunes Media folder. Right-click the iTunes Media folder and select Copy. Open your external drive and paste the folder there. This usually takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how much music you have and how fast your drive is.

If your iTunes library is too large for an external drive, you can split it into smaller chunks. Create a folder on your external drive called iTunes_Part1, then copy half your music files into it. Repeat with iTunes_Part2 for the rest. When you get to your new computer, you'll copy both parts back and merge them into one iTunes Media folder.

Once the copy is complete, disconnect the external drive from your old computer and connect it to your new computer. Copy the iTunes Media folder from the external drive to your new computer's Music folder (Windows) or Music folder (Mac).

Point iTunes to your copied library on the new computer

After you've copied the iTunes Media folder to your new computer, open iTunes. On Windows, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced. On Mac, go to iTunes > Settings > Files. Look for the field that says "iTunes Media folder location" and click Change. Navigate to the iTunes Media folder you just copied and select it. Click OK, and iTunes will now read your music from that location.

iTunes will scan the folder and rebuild your library. This can take several minutes if you have thousands of songs. You'll see a progress bar at the top of the iTunes window. Don't close iTunes while this is happening. Once it's done, all your songs, playlists, and ratings should appear in your library exactly as they were on your old computer.

Sign in with your Apple ID to restore purchased music

If you bought music from the iTunes Store, you'll need to sign in with the same Apple ID you used to purchase it. Open iTunes and go to Account > Sign In (Windows) or iTunes > Sign In (Mac). Enter your Apple ID email and password. Once you're signed in, iTunes will recognize which songs you own and let you redownload them if needed.

You don't have to redownload everything if you already copied the files. But if some purchased songs didn't copy over, or if you want to make sure you have the latest version, you can redownload them. Go to Account > Purchased > Music, find the song you want, and click the download button next to it. Downloaded songs go directly into your iTunes Media folder.

What happens to playlists, ratings, and play history

When you copy your iTunes Media folder and point iTunes to it, your playlists come along automatically. iTunes stores playlist information in a file called iTunes Library.itl, which sits in your iTunes folder (not inside iTunes Media). You may need to copy this file separately if the playlists don't show up after you move the media folder.

To copy your playlists manually, go to your old computer's Music > iTunes folder and copy the file called iTunes Library.itl. Paste it into the iTunes folder on your new computer. If iTunes asks whether you want to keep the existing library or replace it, choose Replace. Your play counts, ratings, and all playlist information will transfer over.

If you're moving from a Mac to a Windows computer or vice versa, playlists may not transfer automatically because iTunes uses different file formats on each system. In that case, you can export your playlists as XML files on your old computer, then import them on your new one. Go to File > Library > Export Playlist, save the file, copy it to your new computer, and go to File > Import to bring it back in.

Moving music you added from CDs or other sources

Any music you added to iTunes from CDs, downloads, or other sources transfers when you copy the iTunes Media folder. These files are stored the same way as purchased music, so they move with everything else. Make sure you copy the entire iTunes Media folder, not just individual songs, or you'll leave files behind.

If you have music from streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music, those songs don't live in your iTunes Media folder. They stay in those services' apps. You'll need to sign in to those services on your new computer separately. Your playlists and saved music in those apps won't transfer through iTunes.

Troubleshooting when songs don't show up

If you copied your iTunes Media folder but some songs don't appear in iTunes on your new computer, the most common cause is that iTunes is still looking in the wrong location. Go back to your preferences and double-check that the iTunes Media folder location points to the folder you copied. If it points somewhere else, change it to the correct location.

Another common issue is that the iTunes Media folder didn't copy completely. This can happen if your external drive disconnected during the transfer or if you ran out of space. Check that the folder on your new computer has roughly the same size as the original. You can see folder size by right-clicking the folder and selecting Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac). If the new folder is much smaller, the copy didn't finish. Go back to your old computer and try again.

If individual songs still won't play after you've verified the folder location, the file itself may be corrupted or in a format iTunes doesn't recognize. Try deleting that song from your library and redownloading it if it was purchased, or re-adding it from the original source if it came from a CD or download.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to redownload all my music when I move to a new computer?

No. If you copy your iTunes Media folder to your new computer, all your music files move with it. You only need to redownload purchased songs if the files didn't copy over or if you want the latest version. Music you added from CDs or other sources doesn't need to be redownloaded at all.

Can I move my iTunes library from a Mac to a Windows computer?

Yes, the music files themselves work on both systems. Copy your iTunes Media folder to your new Windows computer and point iTunes to it the same way. Playlists may need to be exported and reimported separately because Mac and Windows iTunes use different file formats, but your music and ratings will transfer.

What if my new computer doesn't have enough space for my entire iTunes library?

You can keep your iTunes Media folder on an external drive instead of copying it to your computer's hard drive. After you copy the folder to the external drive, point iTunes to that location in your preferences. The external drive must be connected whenever you want to listen to your music.

Will my iTunes library transfer if I use iCloud Music Library?

If you have iCloud Music Library turned on, your library syncs across devices through your Apple ID. Sign in with the same Apple ID on your new computer and turn on iCloud Music Library in iTunes settings. Your library will download to your new computer automatically, though this can take hours for large libraries.

What about music I bought from other stores or services?

Music files you bought from other stores (like Amazon Music or Bandcamp) work the same way as iTunes purchases. Copy them in your iTunes Media folder and they'll transfer. However, some services use copy protection that only works on the computer where you bought the music. Check the service's documentation if songs won't play on your new computer.