Read Itunes Library from External Hard Drive instead of iMac

feracuffz61 · feracuffz61 #1 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 07:54 PM

Hey Everyone!
I have about 110 gigs of music in my iTunes Library and I'm looking to clear some space on my iMac. I've already backed up my whole library onto an external hard drive. I'm just wondering if there is a method to keep my library intact (renamed songs, playlists, etc.), delete the files from the computer itself and have it read the files straight from the hard drive instead. If anyone can help me with a solution to this I'd be more than appreciative!!! Thank you in advance!

(Details: I have a 2TB Lacie external HD. I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.8. Library is located in User/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music. Not sure if this helps at all.)

Thank You!

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #2 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 08:10 PM

go into iTunes preferences, go along to the "Advanced" tab, then browse for a new location for the library.

feracuffz61 · feracuffz61 #3 (**permalink**)

12-20-2011, 08:31 PM

Alright great found it! So just change the iTunes media folder location to the back-up folder on the external? The library will stay intact? No playlists or manually renamed track information will be lost?

robduckyworth · robduckyworth #4 (**permalink**)

12-21-2011, 08:06 PM

have you copied your "itunes media" folder onto the new drive already?

Kevriano · Kevriano #5 (**permalink**)

12-22-2011, 01:29 AM

When you move it, you must consolidate the library in iTunes, otherwise it won't work.

Follow the instruction in this article and you can't go wrong.

iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

Slydude · Slydude #6 (**permalink**)

12-22-2011, 10:31 AM

Keep in mind also that once this is done you must make sure the drive with your library is mounted when iTunes is launched. If not iTunes will look in its original location for the library. It will mark songs it can't find with an !.

The fixes are simple. Either quit iTunes and relaunch once the external drive is mounted or create an Automator workflow that mounts the drive before launching iTunes.

feracuffz61 · feracuffz61 #7 (**permalink**)

12-22-2011, 02:44 PM

Thank you everyone for all your help! Kevriano that article is gold! It worked perfectly!

feracuffz61 · feracuffz61 #8 (**permalink**)

03-13-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slydude

Keep in mind also that once this is done you must make sure the drive with your library is mounted when iTunes is launched. If not iTunes will look in its original location for the library. It will mark songs it can't find with an !.

The fixes are simple. Either quit iTunes and relaunch once the external drive is mounted or create an Automator workflow that mounts the drive before launching iTunes.

Hey Slydude. I know I posted this a while ago but I'm just curious if you could explain to me how to create an automator workflow to mount the drive before launching iTunes. Thanks man.

Slydude · Slydude #9 (**permalink**)

03-13-2012, 11:23 PM

No Problem. I think I promised to post this on another forum as well but can't remember where. Must be getting a bit old.

My original workflow doesn't quite work unless the drive is attached to something like a Time Capsule which behaves as a server. I tried something different with a directly connected drive and it does not seem to work reliably. I will keep poking at it and post an answer ASAP.

feracuffz61 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 22, 2011 Posts: 15	12-20-2011, 07:54 PM Hey Everyone! I have about 110 gigs of music in my iTunes Library and I'm looking to clear some space on my iMac. I've already backed up my whole library onto an external hard drive. I'm just wondering if there is a method to keep my library intact (renamed songs, playlists, etc.), delete the files from the computer itself and have it read the files straight from the hard drive instead. If anyone can help me with a solution to this I'd be more than appreciative!!! Thank you in advance! (Details: I have a 2TB Lacie external HD. I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.8. Library is located in User/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music. Not sure if this helps at all.) Thank You! Last edited by feracuffz61; 12-20-2011 at 08:03 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

robduckyworth #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	12-20-2011, 08:10 PM go into iTunes preferences, go along to the "Advanced" tab, then browse for a new location for the library. If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
	QUOTE Thanks

robduckyworth #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2011 Location: Reading, UK Posts: 2,972 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, 2.5GHz i7, 750GB, 6770M 1GB, iPad 3, iPhone 4, custom PC	12-21-2011, 08:06 PM have you copied your "itunes media" folder onto the new drive already? If you find a post helpful, don't forget to use the reputation system (top right of post.) Join us in the IRC! How? Add me on Steam, Origin or PSN (Vita): robduckyworth
	QUOTE Thanks

Kevriano #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	12-22-2011, 01:29 AM When you move it, you must consolidate the library in iTunes, otherwise it won't work. Follow the instruction in this article and you can't go wrong. iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
	QUOTE Thanks

Slydude #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 3,880 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	12-22-2011, 10:31 AM Keep in mind also that once this is done you must make sure the drive with your library is mounted when iTunes is launched. If not iTunes will look in its original location for the library. It will mark songs it can't find with an !. The fixes are simple. Either quit iTunes and relaunch once the external drive is mounted or create an Automator workflow that mounts the drive before launching iTunes. Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

Read Itunes Library from External Hard Drive instead of iMac

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feracuffz61 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 22, 2011 Posts: 15	12-22-2011, 02:44 PM Thank you everyone for all your help! Kevriano that article is gold! It worked perfectly!
	QUOTE Thanks

Slydude #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 3,880 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	03-13-2012, 11:23 PM No Problem. I think I promised to post this on another forum as well but can't remember where. Must be getting a bit old. My original workflow doesn't quite work unless the drive is attached to something like a Time Capsule which behaves as a server. I tried something different with a directly connected drive and it does not seem to work reliably. I will keep poking at it and post an answer ASAP. Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

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