Transferring Playlist to New Computer

[KAP]

Hello,

I currently use a 10 year old iMac running Snow Leopard. When Sierra is released in the fall, I will be purchasing a brand new iMac.

I want to bring over my entire iTunes Library along with my Playlists, Album Art, etc.

Because my computer is sooooo old, I plan to do a MANUAL TRANSFER, which will assure I get everything I need and none of what I don't - clean house.

Where will I find the iTunes Playlists that I created to make sure these transfer well?

 

Thanks,

KAP

[kirkmc]

All you need to do is copy the iTunes folder in your user folder. If your media is in a different folder, make sure to copy that too, to the same location on the new Mac.

[KAP]

Thank you. My media is in a folder called iTunes Music within the iTunes folder.

 

Is it safe to dump the contents of my iTunes Previous Library folder? The most recent file in there is from 2014. And I am assuming that the iTunesLibrary.itl and the iTunesLibraryMusic.xml are my current configuration?

 

I also have a Temp File.tmp and a Temp File 1.tmp - do you know if those are Temporary or Template? The latest there is from May 2015.

[kirkmc]

Yes, the previous libraries aren't useful any more. And for the tmp files, you can dump them. The .itl and .xml are the important ones; you'll see they date from the last time you used iTunes.

[KAP]

Awesome! Thanks.

One more question - The official Apple instructions for migrating iTunes to a new computer tell you to go to File/Library/Organize Library/Consolidate Files before moving anything over. I understand this is supposed to put a copy of everything in one place, but it seems everything already is in one place.

My guess is that this is an unnecessary step and maybe applies in some other circumstance. Am I correct about that?

[kirkmc]

It's worth doing just in case. Especially if you store music on an external drive, there may be some files on your startup drive, and this re-locates them. It's not a long process.

[KAP]

So, the songs that are already located in iTunes Music folder stay put and any that are elsewhere get put into that folder?

[kirkmc]

Exactly.