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Scott Hamilton
User level: Level 1 (41 points)

Transfer Mac TV app library to a new external drive

I have a large TV (Mac app) library on an external drive, and I'd like to transfer it to a different external drive. What is the best way to do that? I'm looking for a way that will retain as much of the "played" and similar statuses inside the app.


Would just duplicating the TV media folder from the old drive to the new drive and then changing the media location in the settings (Settings>Files>Media Location) work? Or do I need to do something else, perhaps involving the "consolidate media" function (Files>Organize Library).


I'd prefer a solution that won't freeze my TV app for a long time, but my media folder it quite large so I know that may not be an option.

Posted on Oct 3, 2026 7:24 AM

4 replies

neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)

Oct 3, 2026 7:46 AM in response to Scott Hamilton

You can transfer your TV Library from one external drive to another with the following method. This method handles the heavy lifting in macOS Finder so the TV app doesn't freeze or lock up during the transfer.


  • Quit the TV app completely (Cmd + Q).
  • Copy the entire TV/Media folder from your old external drive to your new external drive using Finder. Let this finish completely.
  • Eject your old external drive (this forces the TV app to look for a new path rather than getting confused between the two drives).
  • Open the TV app while holding down the Option (⌥) key on your keyboard.
  • A prompt will appear asking you to "Choose TV Library." Click Choose Library...



  • Navigate to your new external drive, select the TV library file/folder you just copied, and click Open.


Why this works: Holding the Option key forces the TV app database to permanently update its file paths to the new drive while keeping all your watch history intact.


More info from Apple: Manage your library in the Apple TV app on Mac - Apple Support


Scott Hamilton Author
User level: Level 1 (41 points)

Oct 6, 2026 8:37 AM in response to Scott Hamilton

So if anyone is wondering about how to do this, here's what I ended up doing, and it worked.


I closed TV. I ejected every external disk except the one with the new copy of the folder Apple Media Library. 


I opened the TV app. It automatically updated all the file links to the new folder on the new drive. Then I changed the Media Location (it had gone back to the default, Movies), and it asked if I wanted to rename the files. I said yes, that ran for a couple minutes (doing nothing, I assume). Everything seems to be working perfectly. I changed the name of the old folders called Apple Media Library just in case.

Scott Hamilton Author
User level: Level 1 (41 points)

Oct 5, 2026 5:01 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Can you explain exactly what I'm choosing here? I followed all the steps exactly, I navigate to the new Apple Media Folder on the new drive, and choose it. It shows me the contents of the folder, and no option to continue.


neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)

Oct 6, 2026 8:42 AM in response to Scott Hamilton

Apologies, missed your 'what next?' post but glad that you got it sorted, and thanks for posting the solution!

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256369672