How to Move Your iTunes Library to a New Computer

The fastest way: use iCloud Music Library or sign in to your Apple ID

If you use an Apple device and have an active Apple ID, the simplest path is to let iCloud sync your music across computers. Sign into your Apple ID on the new computer, turn on iCloud Music Library in the Music app settings, and your library rebuilds automatically. This works whether you bought music from iTunes, added your own files, or subscribed to Apple Music.

On a Mac, open the Music app, go to Settings, click the Library tab, and check "Sync Library". On Windows, open iTunes or the Music app, go to Settings, select Account, and turn on "Sync Library". The process takes anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many songs you have and your internet speed.

This method does not require you to physically move files or use external drives. It also means your library stays current across all your devices — if you add a song on your phone, it appears on your computer automatically.

Key Takeaways

iCloud Music Library syncs your entire library automatically once you sign in with your Apple ID, and works on both Mac and Windows.
If you have music files iTunes cannot identify, you can authorize your new computer to play protected purchases, then copy the iTunes Media folder manually.
An external drive or USB stick works for moving large libraries when iCloud is not an option, though the transfer can take hours for libraries over 50 GB.
Playlists, ratings, and play counts transfer with your library when you use iCloud or copy your entire iTunes folder, but not when you copy individual songs.

Moving your iTunes Media folder if you prefer local files

If you want to keep all your music stored on your new computer rather than relying on cloud sync, locate your iTunes Media folder on your old computer. On a Mac, it is usually in Music > iTunes > iTunes Media. On Windows, it is usually in Users > [Your Name] > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media.

Copy this entire folder to an external drive, USB stick, or network location. The size varies — a typical library is 20 to 100 GB, so use a drive with enough space. Once copied, plug the drive into your new computer and move the folder to the same location (Music > iTunes > iTunes Media on Mac, Users > [Your Name] > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media on Windows).

Open iTunes or the Music app on your new computer. It will recognize the files in that folder and rebuild your library automatically. Your playlists, ratings, and play counts come with it. This method is slower than iCloud but gives you complete control over where your files live.

Authorizing your new computer to play protected purchases

Music you bought from the iTunes Store is protected and tied to your Apple ID. Before you can play it on your new computer, you must authorize that computer. Open iTunes or the Music app, go to Account (or Settings on some versions), select Authorization, and choose "Authorize This Computer". Sign in with the Apple ID you used to buy the music.

You can authorize up to five computers at once under a single Apple ID. If you reach that limit and want to authorize a sixth, you must deauthorize an old computer first. Go to Account > Authorization > Deauthorize This Computer, sign in, and confirm. You can then authorize the new one.

If you forget which computers are authorized, sign into your Apple ID on the web at appleid.apple.com, go to Devices, and see the list. You can remove old computers from there without needing to access them in person.

Transferring playlists and metadata when copying manually

If you copy only individual songs instead of your entire iTunes Media folder, your playlists and ratings do not transfer automatically. To move this information, you need your iTunes Library file, which is separate from the media folder.

On a Mac, go to Music > iTunes and look for a file called "iTunes Library.itl" or "iTunes Library.musiclibrary". On Windows, go to Users > [Your Name] > Music > iTunes and look for "iTunes Library.itl". Copy this file to your new computer in the same location. When you open iTunes or the Music app, it reads this file and restores your playlists, ratings, and play counts.

This works only if you are moving from one computer to another — you cannot merge two library files together. If your new computer already has a library file, backing it up first prevents you from losing anything.

Using an external drive for large libraries

Libraries over 50 GB take a long time to copy over a network or USB connection. An external hard drive or SSD is faster and more reliable. Plug the drive into your old computer, copy your entire iTunes Media folder to it, then unplug and plug it into your new computer.

USB 3.0 drives transfer data at roughly 100 to 400 MB per second, depending on the drive. A 100 GB library takes 4 to 17 minutes to copy. USB 2.0 is much slower — the same transfer takes 30 to 90 minutes. If you have a Thunderbolt drive on a Mac, it is faster still.

Once the copy finishes, move the folder from the external drive to your new computer's Music > iTunes folder. Do not leave your library on the external drive permanently — it slows down the Music app and the drive can fail or get disconnected.

What to do if your old computer is no longer available

If your old computer is broken, sold, or lost, you can still recover your library if you have a backup. Check whether you use Time Machine on Mac or File History on Windows — both back up your iTunes folder automatically if you set them up.

Plug in the backup drive, navigate to the backed-up Music > iTunes folder, and copy it to your new computer. If you do not have a backup, you can read your purchased music again from the iTunes Store on your new computer — sign in with your Apple ID, go to Account, and look for "Purchased" or "Redownload". Non-purchased music (files you added yourself or ripped from CDs) cannot be recovered this way.

If you subscribed to Apple Music, your library is already in iCloud, so signing in on your new computer restores everything. If you used Spotify or another service, those libraries are tied to those services, not to iTunes, so they transfer separately through those apps.

Transferring from iTunes on Windows to Mac (or vice versa)

Moving between operating systems works the same way — copy your iTunes Media folder and iTunes Library file to an external drive, then move them to the same location on your new computer. The Music app on both Mac and Windows reads the same file format, so there is no conversion needed.

One difference: on Windows, protected music uses a different encryption method than on Mac. If you have protected purchases from the iTunes Store, you may need to authorize your new computer and redownload the music rather than copying it directly. Check by trying to play a protected song on your new computer — if it does not work, deauthorize the old computer and authorize the new one, then redownload the song.

Unprotected music (anything you ripped yourself or added as an MP3) transfers without any issues between Windows and Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my playlists transfer if I use iCloud Music Library?

Yes. When you turn on iCloud Music Library, all your playlists, ratings, and play counts sync to your new computer automatically. This includes playlists you created, smart playlists, and folders you organized them into. The sync happens in the background once you sign in with your Apple ID.

How long does it take to transfer a large iTunes library?

iCloud sync can take several hours for libraries over 100 GB, depending on your internet speed. Copying via external drive is faster — a 100 GB library takes 4 to 17 minutes on USB 3.0. Network transfer over Wi-Fi is slowest and can take hours. Plan for the transfer to happen overnight if your library is very large.

Can I keep my iTunes library on an external drive permanently?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. The Music app runs slower when your library is on an external drive, and if the drive disconnects or fails, you lose access to your music. External drives are best used for moving files between computers, not for permanent storage.

What happens to my music if I do not authorize my new computer?

You can still play music you added yourself or ripped from CDs. You cannot play music you bought from the iTunes Store — it will show as a locked file. Authorize your new computer with your Apple ID to unlock protected purchases and play them normally.

Can I transfer my iTunes library to multiple new computers?

Yes, but with limits on protected purchases. You can copy your iTunes Media folder and library file to as many computers as you want. However, you can only authorize five computers at a time to play protected music. If you need to use a sixth computer, deauthorize an old one first.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.