User level: Level 1 (4 points)Trying to transfer itunes library to new computer and from the old computer it’s only grabbing purchased iTunes music, not my all my cds i upoladed. My IT manager is helping me, what are we doing wrong? He copied the iTunes folder onto external hard drive and so much of my music is missing!
is the issue possibly not properly selecting all music, and Using the Consolidate Library feature before copying the files to the external hard drive?
Posted on Nov 4, 2026 5:58 PM
User level: Level 4 (2,112 points)Nov 4, 2026 8:01 PM in response to Stacy_taylor
Yes, that's the usual miss. Purchased songs can download again from the Apple ID. CDs you ripped only exist as files on the old computer, and they stay behind if they were never copied into the iTunes Media folder. On the old computer, in iTunes or the Music app, use File > Library > Organize Library and turn on Consolidate files. Let it finish. Then copy the whole iTunes folder, including iTunes Library.itl and the iTunes Media folder, not just the purchased tracks. On the new computer, quit Music, put that folder in place, and open the library. If a song shows an exclamation mark, the file is still only on the old drive.
User level: Level 10 (462,771 points)Nov 4, 2026 8:06 PM in response to Stacy_taylor
Have a look at this user tip by contributor turingtest2. https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10831
User level: Level 1 (4 points)Nov 5, 2026 4:40 AM in response to tillu_code
This is what I kept seeing when searching online, but my it guy says the “Consolidate” comes up grayed out and he is not able to select it. Which is why I’m wondering does he need to somehow select all the music before going to consolidate? Will selecting all the music then allow Consolidate to be an option?
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256388978