Support and restore your iTunes library on your PC

Earlier you transfer or restore your iTunes media library on your PC, consolidate it and create a back upward.

Here are some things to know

Your iTunes library, a database that's made up of all of the music and other media that you add together to iTunes for Windows, is organized into 2 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 and Tv set shows, and more than. The merely way to dorsum up your purchased media is to download your purchases to your computer.

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

If you have a Mac

In macOS Catalina or later, 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 dorsum up your Mac, your media library is automatically included in that fill-in. When you set a new Mac, you can also restore your Mac from a backup.

Consolidate your iTunes library

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

When you consolidate, copies of any files that were outside of your iTunes Media folder are added to your iTunes Media binder. To save infinite on your difficult drive, you might desire to delete the original files after yous make certain that the copies are in your iTunes Media Folder.

Observe the iTunes Media folder

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

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

  1. Open iTunes.
  2. From the bill of fare bar at the pinnacle of the iTunes window, choose Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
    Advanced Preferences screen showing iTunes Media folder location
  4. Look in the box nether "iTunes Media binder location" for the location of your iTunes Media folder.

Back up your library and media files

Afterwards you consolidate your media files, y'all tin back up your library and media files to an external drive.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Find your iTunes folder.
    iTunes folder showing Music and iTunes selected
  3. Correct-click on your iTunes binder, then cull Copy.
  4. Go to your external hard drive, so right-click and choose Paste.

Restore your library from a backup

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

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

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