Want to download iTunes purchases to another drive that isn't the iTunes library

[Apple_Robert]

My current iTunes drive 8TB is almost full. I have several iTunes purchased shows I would like to download to and store on another external for safe keeping. I rather not change my current iTunes library location. Is this possible? I didn't see a option in iTunes preferences to change the default download from the iTunes library.

 

[mpainesyd]

You can store purchased music and videos on any drive accessible to your Mac but if they are not in the iTunes default drive/folder you will need to make them known to iTunes. Make sure iTunes advanced preferences has the field "Copy to iTunes media folder.." is unchecked then you can simply drag the purchased items from Finder onto the iTunes window and they should appear in the iTunes library.

 

[Apple_Robert]

You can store purchased music and videos on any drive accessible to your Mac but if they are not in the iTunes default drive/folder you will need to make them known to iTunes. Make sure iTunes advanced preferences has the field "Copy to iTunes media folder.." is unchecked then you can simply drag the purchased items from Finder onto the iTunes window and they should appear in the iTunes library.

I think you misunderstood. I want to download my purchases. I want to download them to a place that is not in the iTunes folder. These downloads won’t be used by iTunes for reading for playback. I will be downloading these files for long term storage. Can I do that without changing the path of my current iTunes folder?

Thanks for replying.

 

[priitv8]

I don't know of a dedicated method to indicate custom location for downloading a film.
But I see some solutions to your problem:

1. relocate your library medis location to another larger drive (eg I keep mine on external disc array that I can grow as I need)
2. move your movies from media location to archive location, once downloaded

PS If you still want to keep them linked and playable in iTunes, you will have to turn off the "keep library organised" and "copy files to iTunes folder" in iTunes preferences and relink the file to new location after you've moved its physical path.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

I suggest you hold down Option while starting iTunes, create a new library whereever you want your backup, then download the files in question, and the restart iTunes and select the old library and continue as before.

 

[priitv8]

I suggest you hold down Option while starting iTunes, create a new library whereever you want your backup, then download the files in question, and the restart iTunes and select the old library and continue as before.

This works also, if manually moving files on the drives is not "your thing".
The only complication with this method - it is not easily obvious, which library you are currently running on.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

This works also, if manually moving files on the drives is not "your thing".
The only complication with this method - it is not easily obvious, which library you are currently running on.

It is clearly visible in Preferences. Also, the backup library would have no playlists, so easily seen as soon as iTunes is started up.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

Has anyone actually ever lost a TV series purchased in iTunes? I've got a few from 2009 onwards and none have been deleted. With TV shows, there's too many to back up - I leave them in the iCloud. All are still there in my library.
I'm maybe wanting to buy the One Tree Hill box set but there's no way that i'm downloading and storing 100+ episodes!

 

[dholaday]

Check out the app [available in the App Store] "TuneSpan for iTunes". It allows you to move files from one hard drive to another while keeping all the references in iTunes. I'm probably not explaining this very well so check it out yourself - it works well and should solve the OP's problem

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thanks for the replies. I will check out “TunesSpan.” I am also looking into getting a 10TB drive.