r/applehelp • u/emiliadaffodil • 18h ago

Solved How to transfer my iTunes library back onto my Macbook Pro

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Hi my itunes lbrary is on an external hard drive (8 years ago I needed the space, now I don't). I want to move it back onto my mac cos there's tons of space, but I don't know where exactly it needs to go.

Please can you help?

Update: Solved thanks

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u/DeliciousIsopod909 18h ago

Might better to just open iTunes and use the Import function.

1

u/Aguilar_Slimanie 13h ago

agreed, dragging files manually can cause issues with metadata sometimes

1

u/HappySmurfday 18h ago

Move the library to your local drive again (I usually put it in the Music folder), then hold Option while clicking on iTunes (when it's not running) and you will be prompted to select your library. Then locate your library which should be on your local drive.

1

u/marian_jimmy 11h ago

copy the whole iTunes folder (the one with the library file and iTunes Media inside) from the drive into your Music folder in Finder, dont just drag the songs over. then quit Music, hold Option while you open it again and pick the library file you copied. after that its running off the internal copy, and if some tracks still point to the drive go to File > Library > Organize Library and tick Consolidate files. keep the external drive untouched until you checked everything plays

old libraries like that are usually a mess tag wise too, missing covers and albums split in three, i had the same with my own collection. tried Picard and Mp3tag and ended up building my own Mac app, Truffle. biased obviously, but it runs Shazam's audio recognition in the background so tracks with no names get figured out on their own and you mostly just click yes.