Transfer iTunes Library to New Mac: Full Guide

To transfer your iTunes library to a new Mac, you need to copy the entire iTunes folder (or the Music folder on macOS Catalina and later) from your old Mac to the new one, then point the new Mac’s Music or iTunes app to that folder. This guide covers both the traditional Home folder method and the external drive method, plus how to handle purchases, playlists, and common pitfalls.

What Exactly Is Your iTunes Library?

Your iTunes library isn’t just a single file—it’s a folder that contains your media files (music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks) and a database file that tracks your playlists, ratings, play counts, and other metadata. On older macOS versions (Mojave and earlier), this folder is called iTunes and lives in ~/Music/iTunes. On macOS Catalina and later, the Music app replaced iTunes, and the folder is now Music at ~/Music/Music.

Inside that folder, the key files are:

• iTunes Library.itl (or Music Library.musiclibrary)—the database that stores your playlists and metadata.
• Media subfolder—where your actual audio and video files are stored, organized into subfolders by artist and album.
• Optional Previous iTunes Libraries folder with older backups.

If you’ve kept your library organized (with “Keep iTunes Media folder organizedâ€� checked), copying the whole folder preserves everything. If you have files scattered elsewhere on your drive, those won’t move unless you also copy them.

Method 1: Migration Assistant (Easiest for Full Transfer)

If both Macs are on the same network or you have a Time Machine backup, Apple’s Migration Assistant is the simplest way to move your entire user account—including your iTunes/Music library—to the new Mac. Here’s how:

1. On your new Mac, during initial setup, choose “From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.�
2. Select your old Mac (if using Migration Assistant over Wi-Fi or Ethernet) or your Time Machine backup drive.
3. Choose which data to transfer—make sure Music (or iTunes) is selected under your user account.
4. Wait for the transfer to complete. The library will appear in the Music/iTunes app exactly as it was on the old Mac.

This method also moves your apps, settings, and other files, so it’s ideal if you’re setting up a brand-new machine. However, it can take hours over Wi-Fi; using a wired Ethernet connection or a Thunderbolt cable (with Target Disk Mode) is much faster.

Method 2: Manual Copy via External Drive or Network

If you only want to move the library (not your whole account), or Migration Assistant isn’t practical, do this:

1. On your old Mac, quit iTunes or Music.
2. Connect an external drive (or use a shared folder over your network).
3. Copy the entire iTunes or Music folder from ~/Music/ to the external drive. This can be large—a 50 GB music library will take a while.
4. On your new Mac, copy that folder into ~/Music/ (replacing any default folder with the same name).
5. Open Music (or iTunes). If it doesn’t automatically find the library, hold Option (⌥) while launching the app, then click Choose Library and select the .musiclibrary or .itl file.

If your library is spread across multiple drives (e.g., you stored media on an external drive), you’ll need to copy those too, and then re-link them in the app’s preferences under Files → Media Location.

What About Purchased Content and Authorizations?

Music and movies you bought from the iTunes Store are tied to your Apple ID, not your Mac. After transferring the library, sign in to the same Apple ID on the new Mac, and you can re-download any purchased items from the store (even if the files themselves didn’t copy). However, you should deauthorize your old Mac before you sell or give it away: in the Music app, go to Account → Authorizations → Deauthorize This Computer. You’re allowed up to five authorized computers per Apple ID.

Apple Music subscription content (songs added from the catalog) isn’t stored as files—they’re streamed or downloaded temporarily. Those will re-sync automatically when you sign in on the new Mac, as long as you have Sync Library enabled in Music preferences.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Even with a successful copy, you might run into issues:

• “The library is in useâ€� error: This happens if the Music/iTunes app is still running on the old Mac when you copy the folder. Always quit the app first.
• Missing files (exclamation marks): If you see a “!â€� next to songs, the app can’t find the actual audio file. Go to File → Library → Organize Library and check Consolidate files to copy all referenced files into the Media folder. Then re-copy the library.
• Playlists show but songs are greyed out: This usually means the files are on a drive that isn’t connected. Reconnect the external drive or re-consolidate.
• Library appears empty after transfer: You may have copied only the .itl file but not the Media folder. Make sure you copied the entire parent folder.
• Duplicate songs: If you had “Copy files to Music Media folderâ€� unchecked, some files may be referenced in place. After transfer, use File → Library → Show Duplicate Items to clean up.

How to Verify the Transfer Worked

Before you wipe the old Mac, do a quick sanity check on the new one:

1. Open Music and check that your playlists appear with the correct song counts.
2. Play a few random songs from different albums to confirm the files are intact.
3. Check that your ratings, play counts, and last-played dates are preserved (these live in the library database, not the files).
4. If you use Smart Playlists, confirm they update correctly when you add new music.

If everything looks good, you can safely erase the old Mac. If something’s off, you still have the original copy to troubleshoot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to convert my iTunes library to the Music app on macOS Catalina or later?
No. The Music app reads the same library format. When you first open Music after transferring an iTunes library, it will automatically upgrade the database to the new format. It creates a backup of the old file just in case.

Can I transfer only my playlists without the music files?
Yes, but it’s awkward. You can export playlists as XML (File → Library → Export Playlist) and import them on the new Mac, but the songs will show as missing unless the files are also present. It’s easier to just copy the whole library.

What if my old Mac is dead and I only have a Time Machine backup?
You can restore from Time Machine during new Mac setup. If the backup is from an older macOS, the Music folder will be restored as-is, and the app will handle the conversion.

Why does my library show “iTunes Library.itl� but the new Mac uses “Music Library.musiclibrary�?
That’s normal. The Music app uses a different file extension, but it reads the same data. When you open the transferred .itl file, it converts it to the new format.

Do I need to re-download my Apple Music songs after transfer?
If you had “Sync Library� enabled, your playlists and library metadata will sync via iCloud. The actual audio files for Apple Music catalog songs will re-download when you play them or when you download them for offline use. Your own ripped or imported files need to be transferred manually.

Can I use AirDrop to transfer the library?
Technically yes, but AirDrop is slow for large libraries and may interrupt. It’s better to use an external drive or a network share. If your library is under a few gigabytes, AirDrop works fine.

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