Moving iTunes and iPhone to a New Computer
Filed Under (Personal) by Robert on November 27, 2009
I’ve been dreading having to move my entire iTunes library off of my old Windows XP computer and onto my newer PC running Windows Vista and have avoided it for a while now. I sync my iPhone with several computers—contacts and calender with one and music, videos, podcasts, and applications with an older PC running XP—and it was just time to get the iTunes library moved over to a third, newer PC. But, this seemed like a daunting undertaking and like everyone else I was concerned my iPhone wouldn’t be recognized by iTunes on a new PC, that iTunes would force me to wipe it and add it as a new device.
Because I sync my contacts with yet another computer, the potential for problems seemed huge. If you search the Internet you’ll find dozens of ways to do this. Some ways more complicated than others. There’s no need to have to re-add your devices, merge contacts, etc. as described in many of these procedures if you just follow these steps.
This procedure is simple and the upgrade will be completely seamless. Once you plug in your iPhone or iPod to your new computer iTunes will recognize it and not force you to add it as a new device. All of your music, playlists, ratings, playcounts, apps, etc. will be migrated and appear as they di on your old computer.
These steps are for moving your iTunes library from you current PC running Windows XP to a new PC on Windows Vista, but I’m sure the same can be done with a Mac just the locations of the iTunes folder will be different.
- Make sure you have the latest and the same version of iTunes installed on both PC’s.
- Do one last sync of you iPhone on your current PC which will create a recent backup file should you need it.
- As long as you let iTunes keep your media folders organized and copy all of your music to the media folders everything will get moved over without a hitch. Edit your preference and make sure that in the “Advanced” tab both “Keep iTunes Media folder organized” and “Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library” are checked. If not, do it now and save the settings.
- Copy your entire iTunes folder from your old computer to some external media. The easiest way to do this is with a portable or desk external hard drive. If your library is not that big and/or you have some large flash cards you can use these as an alternative though you may have to do it in pieces if your cards are not large enough to hold the entire contexts of your iTunes folder. In Windows XP the iTunes folder is located at C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music\. This is where you’ll be copying from. Copy this entire folder along with all of its contents to your external media.
- Copy the entire iTunes folder from your external media to your new computer. In Windows Vista the iTunes folder is located at: C:\Users\USERNAME\Music\. After you had downloaded and installed iTunes on your new computer, iTunes should have created the default iTunes folder underneath the Music folder. You can delete this entire folder since you will be copying it from your external media, or just copy over it.
- Start iTunes on your new PC. You should see all of your music and media just as you did on your old computer. Now edit your preferences and go to the advanced tab just as in step 3. Make sure that in the “Advanced” tab both “Keep iTunes Media folder organized” and “Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library” are checked. If not, do it now and save the settings.
- Authorize your new computer by going to Store->Authorize Computer.
- Connect your iPhone or other device and sync as usual. You should see all of the same sync settings as when you connected to your old computer.
That’s it!
Wish I found this post a few months ago. I changed computers and lost all the music I had bought with Itunes. Real pain 😉
Thanks man, I just upgraded to win7 x64 and your guide was really helpful, the iphone part was what I really cared
very informative indeed. well presented plan and leaves to stone unturned.
Once again this proves that Apple products are only “intuitive” after you learn how to use them. Why couldn’t they simply have a SYNC device to iTunes option?
Excellent, saved me tons of grief, fyi, for those tech savy, I created itunes share on replacement pc and overwrote library, saving time and step to move to external. Kind Regards
[…] Try this: Moving iTunes and iPhone to a New Computer | Robert Sojka – Chicago Wedding Photographer […]
Thanks for your sharing,please keep on posting
In my view, in fact, doing so is right, very supportive of your point of view.
Feel your article is very unique, great, reading your article is a pleasure.
Thank you so much for posting this! I have made the transfer in the past and it has always been nighmareish! And now with an iphone I was really dreading it. this post saved my sanity, thanks again!
What’s up everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this site, and piece of writing is in fact fruitful
in support of me, keep up posting these posts.
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
Specifically where web can a certified psyciatrist submit content or sites for them to become fashionable?
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
123movies
Tremendous issues here. I’m very happy to see your article.
Thank you so much and I’m having a look forward
to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
I think the admin of this website is in fact working hard in support
of his web site, because here every information is quality based data.
Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace
group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Thanks
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to
find things to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
Hello, this weekend is pleasant in favor of me, since this point
in time i am reading this enormous educational piece of writing here at my home.
Hi to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of
this weblog; this website carries remarkable
and really fine stuff for visitors.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website.
He was once totally right. This publish actually made my day.
You can not consider just how so much time I had spent for
this info! Thank you!
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it,
you will be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark
your blog and will eventually come back from now on. I want
to encourage you to ultimately continue your
great posts, have a nice evening!
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do
you ever run into any internet browser compatibility
problems? A number of my blog audience have complained about my
blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great
in Safari. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this problem?
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.
I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will come back
in the future. I want to encourage you to definitely
continue your great job, have a nice morning!
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I’m
not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty.
You are amazing! Thanks!
Asking questions are really good thing if you are not understanding something totally, but this
paragraph offers good understanding even.
For hottest information you have to pay a visit the web and on world-wide-web I found this web site as a most excellent web page for most recent updates.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog.
You have some really good posts and I think I would be a
good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to
write some content for your blog in exchange for
a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if
interested. Thank you!
Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having problems locating
it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some recommendations
for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing
it expand over time.
What i do not realize is in reality how you are not really a lot more well-preferred than you might be right now.
You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in terms
of this topic, produced me in my view consider it from a
lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested except it’s one thing to
do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. At all times handle it up!
Now I am going to do my breakfast, afterward having my breakfast coming over again to read further
news.
I visited various web sites but the audio quality for audio songs current at this website is in fact
excellent.
Hi there, You have done a great job. I
will definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends.
I am sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter
group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Cheers
This design is steller! You certainly know how to keep a
reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Does your website have a contact page? I’m
having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot
you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing
it improve over time.
Hello to all, it’s in fact a nice for me to go to see this site, it includes important Information.
WM7GfK pretty handy stuff, overall I believe this is worth a bookmark, thanks
OsyDQA Normally I don at read article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice post.
Wow, that as what I was searching for, what a material! existing here at this webpage, thanks admin of this website.
Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up very fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link
to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get
that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal.
I must say you’ve done a excellent job with this.
In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Opera. Outstanding Blog!
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this
onto a coworker who was conducting a little homework on this.
And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it
for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks
for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this matter here on your web page.