Trouble Transferring Old iTunes Library to Apple Music

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Trouble Transferring Old iTunes Library to Apple Music

Hoping someone can help answer my question re: transferring my old iTunes library from 2017 MacBook Air still running iTunes to a new 2022 MacBook Air with Apple Music.

I have gone through all of the steps to consolidate the old iTunes library on the old computer (following steps outlined as if it were a PC), copied that library to an external USB, then copied the library from USB into new Apple Music root folder. In doing so, I now see two folders: Music/music and Music/iTunes. If I just straight open the Apple Music app, I don't see all of my music or playlists. From what I have read on these forums (and elsewhere), I think I need to hold down the option key when opening Music and choose the .itl file that is in my iTunes folder in order to get it to see everything ...? Should I delete the existing Music/music folder or leave it? OR do I actually still just open Apple Music and do some sort of consolidation from inside the app itself to everything is reconciled.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to assist.

MacBook Air, macOS 12.5

Posted on Jul 30, 2022 2:59 PM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

274,516 points

Jul 31, 2022 8:04 AM in response to CHC17

~/Music is the historic Mac location for music related content. iTunes, GarageBand, Logic, Music, etc.

~/Music/Music is where the Music Library.musiclibrary database is by default.

~/Music/Music/Media is the default location for the media folder for the library.

~/Music/Music/Media/Music ends up as the location for artist folders as a legacy from iTunes Media Organization which put each media type in its own subfolder within the media folder. As far as I'm aware Music doesn't generate any other subfolders unless you have an Apple Music subscription, but I might have missed something.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

274,516 points

Jul 30, 2022 3:48 PM in response to CHC17

See Move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Community. You should be able to opton-start-Music and choose the .itl file from your old library to convert it to the Music format. You will be prompted for a location to save the converted library. The default location of the Music library is ~/Music/Music so you may want to rename any existing folder on that path so you can use it. The default media folder is ~/Music/Music/Media. If you reset the media folder and consolidate then your library will be independent of the USB drive.

tt2

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Answer 3

CHC17 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2022 6:53 AM in response to turingtest2

Thank you, tt2, for replying. I will give it a go.

Might I ask what is the difference between the ~/Music/Music folder and the ~Music/Music/Media folder? I am guessing Music is for music and Media for video, etc.?

Thanks again.

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Trouble Transferring Old iTunes Library to Apple Music

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