iTunes Media Folder path and network drives

Article

iTunes Media Folder path and network drives

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

Q: I have moved my iTunes library to an external network drive. I have configured the Music folder in iTunes to point to the corresponding folder on the external drive. iTunes finds the music and plays it without a problem. However, if I exit and restart iTunes, the music folder has been reset to the default location in my user folder and iTunes is unable to find any of my music. I have to manually reconfigure it to the external network drive to be able to play any music and to be able to sync to my iPod. What’s going on here? Shouldn’t iTunes just be able to reconnect to the network drive at each startup? Why does it change the location of the music folder in the config? This setup used to work just fine when I was still using a Win XP box.

- Alberto

A: When using an iTunes Media folder on an external hard drive or network drive, iTunes will default back to its default original path if it cannot find the external drive or network path when it’s first started. This most commonly happens if the external hard drive is disconnected or you are not logged on to the network share.

Once iTunes is running, it will remain set to this path until you either set the path back to the external or network drive manually, or shut down and restart iTunes after connecting to the external drive or network location. iTunes will not automatically connect to or map a network share at startup—you must establish this connection manually before starting iTunes.

Note that this default iTunes Media folder location should not affect your ability to actually play your tracks as iTunes still references those using a full path to the network share regardless of what the iTunes Media folder path is set to. Again, however, if the network share is not connected, then iTunes will not be able to find the music until you’ve manually connected the network share.

The easiest way to solve this is to ensure that you’ve actually connected to the network share in Finder before starting iTunes by using the Connect to Server command on the Finder menu, or selecting the server from your Finder sidebar and establishing a connection to the actual shared location.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy content from my iPod/iPhone onto my computer?

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Win)

Best Speakers?

Best Headphones?

Best Case?

Best In-Car Solution?

Best Battery Extender?

Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!

Ask iLounge Archives:

5-21-13: Inability to use Find My Friends without a passcode

5-17-13: Calendar info disappears after iCloud restore

5-16-13: Remove old iCloud backup after restoring to a new iPhone

5-15-13: Setting up a ringtone in iTunes

5-14-13: Using a Wi-Fi hard drive with an iPad

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

« Backing up audiobooks to CD

Recovering iPod serial number from iTunes »

Comments

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

New Deals

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

Article