Moving iTunes Library from Mac to PC with iTunes Match
I have an extensive Apple Music library, built-up over the last 20 years. This is all locally saved on my 2009 MacBook Air in the Music app which I sync to my iPhone. I don't use any music subscription service (Spotify, Apple Music, etc).
I've transitioned to using a PC as my primary personal computer (Surface Laptop 5) and my Macbook Air is going to conk out soon, so I'd like to move my entire iTunes library either to my PC or to the cloud, but continue to sync it to my iPhone.
A couple of things are key:
- I have lots of local files in my Apple Music library (recordings, personal performances etc) that I want to make sure I don't lose. I have no purchased items on the iTunes store.
- I want to continue syncing to the Music app on my iPhone. I'm often in environments without internet, so having the files on my iPhone is key, streaming does not work.
- I'd like to keep my playlists, play history, etc, but also the date the music was added to the library - this is more nostalgic than anything else, so I know what got me through high school, law school etc.
How best should I do it?
- Physically transfer the iTunes Library from Mac to PC --> so far I haven't found a way that does this, but let me know if you do!
- Subscribe to Apple Music and iTunes Match, sync my library to Apple Music for Windows, select all my songs and hit "download". This should save down DRM free versions of matched songs, and local copies of my unmatched songs. I can then unsubscribe from Apple Music and iTunes Match and will be left with a local copy of my music library saved on my Windows hard drive.
Do you have any other suggestions or thoughts on whether #2 might work?
MacBook Air 13″