The major hurdle is that iTunes does not offer any direct method to merge two separate iTunes libraries. Users may have to manually import all the music and media files into one database for their library. You need to plug the hard drive into your computer in order to merge and create a new iTunes library for yourself. Open iTunes for me. In the iTunes app on your Mac, choose iTunes Quit iTunes. Hold down the Option key while you open iTunes. In the window that appears, do one of the following: Create a new library: Click Create Library. Choose a different library: Click Choose Library. Your questions about iTunes, answered. Ask the iTunes Guy: Consolidating iTunes libraries, deleting songs, correcting an email address for an iTunes account. Jan 16, 2020 On your PC with iTunes for Windows. From the menu bar at the top of your screen, choose Edit Preferences. Go to the General tab and select iCloud Music Library to turn it on. If you don't subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match, you won’t see an. Jan 18, 2017 Libraries have many parts. It is like a city library which is more than just a pile of books on a street corner somewhere. The main parts are the catalog file (the iTunes Library.itl or.xml file) and the media folder which has many folders of media track files.
To combine Photos libraries, open the source library and export the photos and videos that you want to keep. Then open the destination library (the one that you want to use as your main library) and import the photos and videos.
Choose a photo library
Here's how to open one of the multiple photo libraries that you might have on your Mac or on a connected external drive:
- Press and hold the Option key as you open the Photos app.
- Select the library that you want to open, then click Choose Library.
Photos uses this library until you open a different one using the same steps.
Export photos and videos from the source library
Open the source library, then decide whether you want to export your files as unmodified originals or edited versions:
Edited versions retain their edits when you import them. The advantage is that you don't have to recreate any edits; however, these files become the destination library's originals. This means that you can't revert to their earliest pre-import version.
Unmodified originals don't show any edits that you made when they were in the source library. This gives you flexibility for later editing, but recreating your edits might take substantial work.
How to export edited versions
- In the Photos app, select the photos and videos that you want to export. To select multiple items, press and hold the Command key while you click. To select a group of items in order, click the first one, then press and hold the Shift key while you click the last one. This selects all of the items between the two that you clicked.
- Choose File > Export > Export [number].
- An export dialog appears.
- In the Photos section, set Photo Kind to JPEG, TIFF, or PNG. JPEG recompresses your photos, which may result in smaller file sizes. TIFF and PNG files are higher fidelity and may result in larger file sizes.
- In the Videos section, choose a Movie Quality setting. This section appears only if your selected items include videos.
- In the Info section, select the checkboxes if you want to preserve metadata and location data in the exported files.
- In the File Naming section, set File Name to Use File Name and set Subfolder Format to either Moment Name or None. Moment Name creates a subfolder for each Moment that's represented in your selected items. This is useful if you'd like to create an Album in the destination library for each Moment. The None option exports all of the files directly into the destination folder.
- Click Export. A Finder dialog appears.
- Navigate to the location where you want to save the files, such as the Desktop or an external drive. Click New Folder if you create a new folder for your exported items.
- Click Export.
How to export unmodified originals
- In the Photos app, then select the photos and videos that you want to export. To select multiple items, press and hold the Command key while you click. To select a group of items in order, click the first one, then press and hold the Shift key while you click the last one. This selects all of the items between the two that you clicked.
- Choose File > Export > Export Unmodified Original.
- An export dialog appears.
- If your photos include IPTC metadata (such as titles or keywords) that you want to keep, select the Export IPTC as XMP checkbox.
- Leave the File Name setting on Use File Name.
- Next to Subfolder Format, choose Moment Name or None. Moment Name creates a subfolder for each Moment that's represented in your selected items. This is useful if you'd like to create an Album in the destination library for each Moment. The None option exports all of the files directly into the destination folder.
- Click Export. A Finder dialog appears.
- Navigate to the location where you want to save the files, such as the Desktop or an external drive. Click New Folder if you create a new folder for your exported items.
- Click Export Originals.
How to import photos and videos into the destination library
Open the destination library, then drag the folder that contains your exported items into the main area that shows your other photos and videos. When a green plus sign appears on your pointer, you can release the folder.
The photos in the folder are sorted into Moments based on their creation dates and locations. The videos are sorted based on the date you exported them from the source library.
If you created subfolders when you exported the items and you want to create an Album for each subfolder, follow these steps:
- In the Finder, open a subfolder.
- Select all of the photos and videos within the subfolder.
- Drag the items onto My Albums in the Photos sidebar.
- Name the Album in the highlighted text box that appears in the sidebar.
- Repeat for each subfolder.
Save space by deleting the source library
If you're sure that you've exported all of the photos and videos that you want to keep from the source library, you can delete it to save disk space on your Mac.
First, open the Finder and find the source library that you want to delete. By default, photo libraries are stored in your Pictures folder. If you can't find the library, follow the steps to choose a library; the path to the selected library's location appears in the Choose Library window.
Next, move the source library to the Trash. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash to permanently delete the files.
Learn more
Aug 09,2019 • Filed to: Manage iTunes • Proven solutions
Many people may have such puzzle: is it possible to merge two iTunes libraries?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/002_transfer-itunes-library-pcs-to-one-2000593-5f54a544d2d3425889dd3410a00e3a8e.jpg "Itunes")
Music can be stored along with other media on iTunes. It will maintain various files which will contain information about the content in your library. Every household does not require more than a single computer that can run iTunes. But, there are cases when it is required to stream videos and music to devices that may be connected all over the house. If a house has more than one personal computer to manage, you can then consolidate the libraries of iTunes from multiple devices into one single library on a selected computer.
On account of the large size of many iTunes libraries, it is not easy to consolidate them. It is not as simple as burning a compact disc and then loading it on to a new computer. There are certain techniques, however, we can make the process of merging libraries easier.
Merge Itunes Libraries Mac
iTunes Library.itl is always the primary file. Library.xml file can be used to import libraries from other computers. iTunes will write those files in a format that is easily readable so that all other applications can also get a compiled list of the content of the library.
If you have two libraries, Library 1 and Library 2, and you would like to add Library 2’s contents to Library 1, you will have to go to the Media folder on iTunes that has your content. You can select File and go to Library and on to Organize Library. You will have to then check for 'Consolidate Files' and select OK. When you have many files which are not in iTunes Media’s folder, it may take several minutes. Create a fresh playlist and give it a temporary label. You will have to drag folder of iTunes Media into iTunes after switching to that particular playlist.
You will have to select File and go to Library and on to Import Playlist and opt for iTunes Library.xml file that was copied from the Second Library. It will help in not only adding all contents that were dragged to iTunes but the playlists from that particular library will also be added.
You will have to keep in mind that you will not be able to retain ratings and play counts. There may also be a chance that you may have some music that is duplicated on to Library 1 in your media files. It can get difficult if your library happens to be a huge one.
Now you’ll have a library that is derived from playlists taken from two separate libraries. However, there is a possibility that there may be some duplicates of the media files. iTunes shows you the duplication. When in the music library, you can select the Option (ALT) key and go for 'Show Exact Duplicate Items'. When this process is over, you would have successfully merged two libraries. The temporary playlist, which was created earlier, may then be deleted.
Part 2. Merging iTunes Libraries with iMusic
Aimersoft’s iMusic is ideal for merging and transferring musical content from a single or even multiple iOS devices to new personal computers or Mac units. It is perhaps one of the best tools available in the market for overhauling your iTunes libraries from data that has already been synced to various multiple devices. It is now laying more emphasis on helping to recover music libraries from iDevices and merging music from multiple gadgets to one iTunes library. It is also useful in importing the content from an old computer or Mac to a new unit.
iMusic - Merging iTunes Library Fast and Quickly
- Download music from more than 300 music sites by copying and pasting the URL.
- Record unlimited music from any website for playback in your computer with just one click.
- Built-in music library let you browse and preview the lattest and hottest music.
- Automatically save downloaded/recorded music to library for management and easy transfer.
- Identify and tag music with artist, title, album, genre, and more with the latest technology.
- 1 click to transfer downloaded music and playlist to USB drive to enjoy in car.
- Ability to burn downloaded songs and playlists to CDs easily.
Steps to Merge Two iTunes Library by iMusic
Mac Merge Itunes Libraries Online
Step 1: First all you have to do is to install iMusic on your personal computer or Mac. Launch it to it's main interface.
Step 2: Now connect your iPhone, iPod or iPad with usb cable , and select the paylist that you want to transfer.
The playlists and the selected content will be transferred and merged to the iTunes Library within your computer. It will go a step further than other library managers. When you merge the music content on to a new library, you can maintain your song ratings, the skip counts and the play counts intact. iMusic will also be able to copy the videos or any other data from a selected iDevice back to your computer and manage the libraries. It is the perfect companion tool for all users of iTunes as it allows them to do what iTunes cannot.
Part 3. Merging iTunes Library from an External Hard Drive or Other Computers
When you record the iTunes library on to an external hard drive, it is easy to consolidate and merge libraries. The major hurdle is that iTunes does not offer any direct method to merge two separate iTunes libraries. Users may have to manually import all the music and media files into one database for their library.
You need to plug the hard drive into your computer in order to merge and create a new iTunes library for yourself. You will then have to locate the iTunes folder on the external hard drive and the itunes music folder within it which contains the music, podcasts or movies. Choose the folders you want to be moved from the itunes music folder on the hard drive and drag them to your Library section of iTunes on your PC. When the section starts turning blue, the data is being transferred to your new library. You will have to remember that you will lose the play counts and the star ratings when the music is moved to the new library.