Best way to transfer music library?

[tardman91]

What is the quickest/best way to transfer my music library to a new Mac? I don’t want any other stuff from the old computer on the new one except for my music. I tried googling but most of the results are pretty dated. Is there a way to airdrop the whole library or do it wirelessly somehow? I also have an external drive that’s a little old, so it will take a while. It’s about 9GB.

 

[BrianBaughn]

What version of macOS is your old Mac running…and is the new one running Big Sur?

 

[Clix Pix]

I always just copy my music folder to an external drive (SSD) and then plug that device into the new machine and drag-and-drop the contents right into the music folder in the new machine. Simple!

 

[tardman91]

What version of macOS is your old Mac running…and is the new one running Big Sur?

Old one is 11.0.1 and the new one is a new M1 MacBook Air, which was 11.0 out of the box. Updating now... I tried to use migration assistant, but it told me no dice since they were different versions.
Can I just pass over the music using migration assistant after I update the new Mac?

 

[tardman91]

I always just copy my music folder to an external drive (SSD) and then plug that device into the new machine and drag-and-drop the contents right into the music folder in the new machine. Simple!

Santa is bringing me an external SSD for Christmas. With my old drive it would probably be a several hour ordeal to do it that way, but that's my fall back plan. lol

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Santa is bringing me an external SSD for Christmas. With my old drive it would probably be a several hour ordeal to do it that way, but that's my fall back plan."

You haven't told us what you use to PLAY your music.
Also, how do you "keep" your music library?
Example: do you just use iTunes...?
(If so, your music is probably in your "iTunes music folder" in your home folder).

You need to tell us about these things, so that we may make more specific recommendations.

IF it's "just iTunes"
and
IF you keep all your music in the iTunes music folder
then
You could try this:

Copy the iTunes music folder to the external drive.
Connect the external drive to the new Mac.
Open Music.app (is that what it's called, now?) and now "re-import" the music from the old iTunes music folder.

If there's a lot of music, it will take time to import, but it should eventually "digest it all"...

 

[tardman91]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I was able to just airdrop the iTunes music folder from my old Mac to my new one. I didn't think it would be that simple, but surprise!

 

[Jumpie]

I always just copy my music folder to an external drive (SSD) and then plug that device into the new machine and drag-and-drop the contents right into the music folder in the new machine. Simple!

What about movies and TV shows that I have on the hard drive? Same thing? There's a lot I didn't buy through iTunes.

 

[Clix Pix]

I would assume you'd use the same technique, copying the "TV" app and putting it in the appropriate place in the new machine.

 

[Jumpie]

I would assume you'd use the same technique, copying the "TV" app and putting it in the appropriate place in the new machine.

I figured it out. Movies & tv shows are buried in Music folder. dragged those separately.

 

[Jumpie]

What is the quickest/best way to transfer my music library to a new Mac? I don’t want any other stuff from the old computer on the new one except for my music. I tried googling but most of the results are pretty dated. Is there a way to airdrop the whole library or do it wirelessly somehow? I also have an external drive that’s a little old, so it will take a while. It’s about 9GB.

What I ended up doing was to "network" into the other MBP and navigate to the Music folder then I just dragged that into the new MBP's Music folder. Although, the pathing was a little different.

 

[Phil77354]

Although it sounds like you have already done this, the following Apple support pages may be of interest:

Move your iTunes library to another computer

On your PC, use the iTunes backup feature to move your library to a new computer.

support.apple.com

Use multiple libraries in Music on Mac

On your Mac, use multiple libraries and switch between them.

support.apple.com

 

[Sailormannn]

H'mm .. Not sure if this works for me. I have a 2013 MacBook Pro running Catalina 10.15. (Can't upgrade to Big Sur). I want to do a clean install on a new M1 Air. Music puzzles me. The old Mac is running Music v1.06.10. It used to be easy with iTunes.

Any suggestions not covered above on how to transfer. I don't subscribe to Apple Music; a lot of the music was purchased on iTunes.

 

[jrcsh6]

For future ref as it may help someone. I wish I'd found a right up like this a week ago with several failed attempts.

I was going from one Mac to another but not wanting to clone the computer so needed to manually move the library. I'd tried several things dragging files from drives and all. Finally, consolidated the music library on the external so I knew the files were organized. Then exported the large music library file ( Users>(username)>Music>Music). Took it to the same location on the new computer, dropped it in the same place. THEN option open the music app and load that library. All good then. I went on to migrate from the one external HDD by adding an external SSD, changing the Music Media folder in the music app and then organizing the library which moved all the music.

Use multiple libraries in Music on Mac