Multiple iTunes Libraries on different HD's

Hey guys,

I am running out of space on my Mac HD.
Is it possible to create a secondary iTunes folder on an external hard drive to store my least used iTunes playlists/playlist folders and use my Mac HD to store my most frequented ones?

If I did this, would my External HD song titles/playlists still be visible in iTunes even through the files are currently not attached?
Would it be possible to set up so that; when I am away from my External HD, I can only access the playlist folders on my Mac HD but, when I am back with my external I can have my full range of iTunes playlists.

Here is the answer

Keeping your iTunes collection on an external

The following assumes you want to keep all your iTunes music and movies on an external disk and ensure new music is always stored on the external drive.

First, you need to consolidate your iTunes Library to a folder you have chosen on the external drive.

Set the new iTunes folder location to the external in iTunes preferences > Advanced

Select the command consolidate library from the Advanced Menu (or from the File Menu > Library > Consolidate library _ in Itunes 8). This will copy all your iTunes media to the external folder and link the iTunes library file to it

The files will now be on the external while the library.xml file (the index as it were) will still be in the Users > Me > Music folder of your mac.

If you want this file on the external as well as well, copy it to external iTunes folder, start itunes with the alt key pressed and you will have the option to select the library file now on the external



Select the library file you just copied and now both your music and the library are on the external

You can now delete the old iTunes folder off your mac

You can also use the choose library dialogue to switch between a large music collection on the external and a smaller music folder on the mac if you wish

Click to expand...

You would not move "Playlists". A playlist is not a folder made up of the songs themselves - but only pointers to the actual songs in your iTunes library.

You would also "not" create a 2nd iTunes library. Multiple libraries are only available 1 at a time and you would have to switch between them by holding the option key while opening iTunes and then selecting which library you wanted to use.

Found several tutorials using google on splitting your iTunes library up onto multiple drives - one important point not all of them mention - you'll need to head into the advanced settings and uncheck "Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to Library".

Basically, you're going to want to move the songs to the external drive, after moving them and verifying they are indeed there, you'll delete them from your internal drive, then head back to the external and re-add them to your library.

You are also likely going to have to recreate the affected playlists, because those songs are not in the same location any longer - don't know, I don't use Playlists.

You can google search "iTunes multiple drives" etc. and should find several tutorials.

There's also an app for that - TuneSpan - online or in the Mac App store.