Support and restore your iTunes library on your PC

Before 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 two iTunes library files and an iTunes Media folder.

Before you support your media:

  • Consolidate your iTunes library.
  • Redownload any previous purchases, similar music, movies and TV shows, and more than. 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. Larn what'south available in your state or region.

If you have a Mac

In macOS Catalina or later, your previous iTunes media library is now available in the Apple tree 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. When you ready a new Mac, you tin also restore your Mac from a backup.

Consolidate your iTunes library

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

When y'all consolidate, copies of whatsoever files that were outside of your iTunes Media folder are added to your iTunes Media folder. To relieve space on your hard drive, y'all might want to delete the original files later on you make sure that the copies are in your iTunes Media Folder.

Find the iTunes Media folder

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

If yous don't meet your iTunes Media folder in the to a higher place location, here's how to detect it:

  1. Open iTunes.
  2. From the menu bar at the top of the iTunes window, choose Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
    Advanced Preferences screen showing iTunes Media folder location
  4. Await 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 tin can back up your library and media files to an external drive.

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Discover your iTunes folder.
    iTunes folder showing Music and iTunes selected
  3. Right-click on your iTunes folder, and so choose Re-create.
  4. Go to your external hard drive, then right-click and choose Paste.

Restore your library from a fill-in

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

  1. Quit iTunes.
  2. Go to "This PC," so click your external bulldoze.
  3. Select your iTunes folder, then correct-click and cull Re-create.
  4. Go to the location on your computer where you want your iTunes library, so right-click and choose Paste.
  5. Concord down the Shift key while opening iTunes.
  6. When you encounter 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 binder.
  8. Choose the iTunes Library.itl file inside.
  9. Click Open.

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