I have a large iTunes library on my PC. It includes my music files, Apple Music playlists, ratings, artwork, and everything I use in iTunes. Now I'm moving to a new computer and want to keep my entire library exactly the same. So how do I transfer it?
Whether you use Apple Music or not, iTunes (or the Music app) stores your music in the iTunes folder by default. This folder works with two important files: the .itl file (iTunes Library) and the .xml file (iTunes Music Library). These files help iTunes remember your playlists, song order, and library layout. This setup makes it easier to organize and move your music to a new computer, but it does not always act as a full backup of your library.
That's why we also introduce another option that is more reliable. ViWizard Apple Music Converter converts your library to MP3 files first and then adds them to your new computer. In real-world use, MP3 files are easier to move and manage, which often makes the transfer process smoother.
If you want to move your iTunes or Apple Music library to a new computer without losing anything, there are a few simple ways to do it.
- Back up your whole iTunes/Music folder to an external drive.
- Don't forget the .itl/.musiclibrary files and artwork; playlists and ratings need them.
- Make sure all your music is in the iTunes Media folder; move or consolidate files if needed.
- Turn off iCloud/Apple Music until the transfer is finished.
- Authorize your new computer to play purchased songs.
Method 1: Organize and Transfer Your iTunes Library Folder to a New Computer
Your iTunes library is basically a single folder called "iTunes" in a predictable location, like /username/Music/iTunes/. Moving it to a new computer or external drive for backup is easy if you do it carefully. Before you start, it's important to consolidate your library.
Why this matters? Basically, it gathers all your scattered files into the iTunes folder so everything is in one place. Without this step, you might miss songs that are stored in random folders on your hard drive. Consolidating makes sure every song, podcast, and video is safely organized in the iTunes Media folder.
How to Organize and Transfer Your iTunes Library:
Step 1 Open iTunes on your old computer. If it's Windows or macOS Mojave or earlier, go to File > Library > Organize Library. Check the box next to "Consolidate files", then click OK. This moves all your music and media into the iTunes Media folder - a small step that can save you headaches later.
Step 2 Locate your iTunes Media folder. On Mac it's usually at /Users/YourUsername/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media, and on Windows it's C:\Users\YourUsername\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media. Take a moment to make sure all your files are there.
Step 3 Identify important files. Look for iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml. The XML file isn't mandatory, but it can be useful if you want a backup of your playlists.
Step 4 Decide how to transfer your library. You can use an external drive, a network share, or an iPod/iPhone. An external drive is usually the simplest and most reliable.
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Option 1: By Connecting Computers
- Connect both computers to the same network and share the iTunes folder from your old computer.
- On the new computer, navigate to the shared folder and copy iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Music Library.xml, and the iTunes Media folder to the local Music folder.
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Option 2: By Using an iPod
- Connect your iPod, iPhone, or iPad to the old computer and enable Manually manage music under Summary > Options.
- Go to File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from [Device Name].
- Connect the device to the new computer and repeat the transfer. Note: this only moves purchased items, not playlists or ratings.
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Option 3: By Using an External Drive
- Drag iTunes Library.itl, iTunes Music Library.xml, and the iTunes Media folder to a USB drive or external hard drive.
- Connect the drive to the new computer and copy the files into the local Music folder.
Step 5 Open iTunes with the transferred library. Hold down Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) while opening iTunes. A prompt will appear. Click "Choose Library", then select the iTunes Library.itl file you copied. You should see all your playlists and ratings appear.
Step 6 To authorize your computer, go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer, enter your Apple ID and password, and click Authorize. Now your new computer can play everything without errors.
Method 2: Back Up and Transfer Your Apple Music Library to a New Computer
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you have another highly recommended option: using ViWizard Apple Music Converter. This tool converts any Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and even your whole Apple Music library into standard audio files such as MP3, M4A (AAC), or WAV. Why does this matter? Apple Music tracks are DRM-protected, which means they are basically locked to the app. With ViWizard, you can make a local backup of your library that works on any system, including PC, Mac, or Linux. This also protects your library if your subscription ends.
ViWizard Apple Music Converter preserves all metadata like song titles, artist names, and album artwork while keeping the original sound quality. Once converted, you can add the files to iTunes or the Music app on the new computer. Subscribers can still upload these files to iCloud Music Library, which matches them with Apple Music versions automatically. If you don't subscribe or have iCloud turned off, you still keep your original files. This method gives you full control over your music and removes DRM restrictions.
Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter
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- Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
- Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
- Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
- Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details
1: Convert and Download Your Apple Music Library
Step 1 Download and install ViWizard Apple Music Converter, and sign in with the same Apple ID.
Step 2 In the Preferences, choose MP3 as the output format. Adjust bitrate or sample rate if you want higher-quality audio.
Step 3 Browse your library in the converter and select the songs, albums, or playlists to save. Add them to the conversion list.
Step 4 Click Convert to create transferrable MP3 files. Wait until the process is finished.
Step 5 Click Open to locate the downloaded music files on your computer.
2: Transfer Converted Audio Files to a New Computer
Step 1 Use a USB drive or another storage method to transfer the downloaded files.
Step 2 Make sure iTunes is installed on the new computer.
Step 3 Open iTunes, go to File > Add File/Folder to Library, locate the transferred files, and click Open.
Step 4 If prompted, authorize your computer by signing in with your Apple ID and password. After this, your Apple Music library is fully accessible with album artwork and metadata intact.
Method 3: Sync Your Apple Music Library to a New Computer (iCloud Music Library)
If you want something easier, you can use iCloud Music Library (also called Sync Library). Sign in on your new computer, turn on Sync Library, and all your playlists, purchased songs, and Apple Music tracks will appear.
It's convenient, no doubt about it. But keep in mind that syncing is not a full backup. If you delete a song on one device while syncing is on, it could disappear everywhere. Some local-only tracks or rare versions may not sync. For most Apple Music users who stream their music, this method is an easy way to get started on a new computer.
Step 1 Open iTunes (Windows) or the Music app (Mac) on your old computer. Sign in with your Apple ID if you haven't already.
Step 2 Go to Preferences > General and check Sync Library (or iCloud Music Library on Windows). Wait for your library to upload, including songs, playlists, ratings, and album artwork.
Step 3 On your new computer, install iTunes (Windows) or open Music (Mac), and sign in with the same Apple ID.
Step 4 Enable Sync Library in Preferences > General. Your library will appear automatically.
Step 5 To have offline access, select songs, albums, or playlists, then click the Download button (cloud icon).
Step 6 Verify your playlists, ratings, and artwork are intact. Any changes you make on one device will now sync automatically across all devices.
Pro Tip: Common Problems When Transferring Apple Music to a New Computer
Some things can go sideways if you're not careful. Playlists may go missing, songs may not play, or file paths may break. Consolidating your library first or using ViWizard Apple Music Converter ensures your files stay organized and playable. If you use iCloud Music Library, remember to turn off Sync on your old computer during the transfer to avoid accidental deletion or overwrites.
Library doesn't show all music
After copying your iTunes library, some songs or albums might be missing. Make sure all music files are in the iTunes Media folder and that iTunes is using the correct library file.
iTunes opens the wrong library
If iTunes keeps opening an old library, check that the .itl file on your new computer is the right one. On Windows, hold Shift, or on Mac, hold Option when starting iTunes, and pick the correct library.
Missing album artwork or songs won't play
Sometimes album covers are missing or songs won't play. This happens if iTunes doesn't recognize the files. Try consolidating your library or adding the missing songs again.
Transfer Purchases isn't working
If Transfer Purchases doesn't copy content from your device, it might be because the computer isn't authorized. Sign in with your Apple ID and authorize the computer to play purchased songs.
Playlists or ratings are gone
Playlists, ratings, and play counts are stored in the library file. If these are missing, make sure you copied the right .itl file and that iTunes is loading it.
Still having problems?
Moving iTunes can be tricky with older music or DRM-protected tracks. If you still have issues, try ViWizard Apple Music Converter instead to download and convert your entire music library to MP3.
Keep Apple Music songs forever by saving them in formats like MP3 to play anywhere.
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Adam Gorden, the digital media specialist at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing the best solutions for digital media management, including audio and video conversion, file optimization, and media workflow enhancements.
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