Restoring iTunes to an external hard drive

Article

Restoring iTunes to an external hard drive

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 previously had iTunes installed on a work laptop, and now I have DVD backups of this. The laptop is no more and I want to know if I can install iTunes on an external hard drive and then transfer the backups on the DVDs to the install? We have 3 iPods (touch, classic and nano) in the family that need to be synched to the iTunes install. If I can run the whole of iTunes from the external drive can I then attach this to other computers as and when required? I don’t want to install iTunes to the internal drive of the home computer due to storage issues.

- Anonymous

A: There are a couple of ways you can handle this. If it’s your intent to run iTunes from a single family computer, then the simplest solution is to just store the content on the external drive. In this configuration, the iTunes library database remains on your internal drive, but your actual media files are stored and maintained on the external hard drive. Moving the iTunes database is a separate process, and realistically the database itself takes up minimal space as compared to your media content.

In this case, you would simply start off the new library with a media folder pointing to the external hard drive. You can specific your iTunes Media folder location under iTunes Advanced Preferences:

Once you’ve set the media folder to live on the external hard drive, any new content you add to your iTunes library will be copied to that location and stored there. So, as you restore or import your DVD backup, the files should be copied straight from the DVDs to the external hard drive.

Alternatively, you are looking to have an iTunes library on the external hard drive that’s shared between more than one computer, then you will want to move the iTunes database to the external hard drive as well. If you’re starting a new iTunes library, you can place the database wherever you want initially by holding down the SHIFT key (Windows) or OPT key (Mac) while starting iTunes. iTunes will prompt you to either create a new library or choose a library from another location.

If you’re starting fresh, simply choose “Create Library” and point iTunes to a folder on the external hard drive where you would like your library to be created. If you already have an existing iTunes library, then you will need to manually move it to the new location, and then use the “Choose Library” option in this dialog box to point iTunes to the library database in the new location.

You can read more information about how all of this fits together in our iPod 201 article on Transferring your iTunes Library.

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:

5-17-13: 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

5-13-13: Backing up and restoring an iPod classic

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

« iPod touch shuffle mode

Using an iPhone without a SIM card »

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