Transferring an iTunes Library to a new Mac

[dvir971]

Hey,
I have a PC laptop and I’m intending to buy a MacBook (don’t know if the type of computers matters in this issue)
But is there any way I can transfer my iTunes library from the PC to the new Mac so the songs will have all the details with them in the new Mac, like star rating, play count, ‘notes’, ‘love’ marks, top played playlist, etc. ? I assume just copying the song files to the Mac won’t cut it... any sort of transfer I can do or ‘iTunes media’ file to copy?

I know there’s the new iTunes iCloud library, but that doesn’t even update play count and ratings between my iPhone, iPad and PC so I don’t think it’s a good solution.

Thanks!

 

[DJLC]

You'll want to grab the entire iTunes folder on your PC and move it to your new Mac. On the Mac, you'll double-click the iTunes Library file located in that folder. Should do the trick, preserving metadata and playlists.

By default, this is located at C:\Users\[username]\Music\iTunes\ on the PC and /Users/[username]/Music/iTunes on Mac.

 

[dvir971]

You'll want to grab the entire iTunes folder on your PC and move it to your new Mac. On the Mac, you'll double-click the iTunes Library file located in that folder. Should do the trick, preserving metadata and playlists.

By default, this is located at C:\Users\[username]\Music\iTunes\ on the PC and /Users/[username]/Music/iTunes on Mac.

And if the actual albums are located in a different folder than the iTunes folder, on what order should I move? Will it ‘find’ the files in their new location on the Mac?

 

[Partron22]

You're best off consolidating your library before moving.
It's in the prefs somewhere.

 

[dvir971]

What

You're best off consolidating your library before moving.
It's in the prefs somewhere.

What does that mean?

 

[Nigel Goodman]

Consolidate library means moving all the disparate songs/albums from their current location on the computer into the iTunes library. Doing this means you can move everything all at once.

The command is in the File>Library sub-menu on a Mac. I should image it is the same place on a Windows machine.