Merge 2 Itunes Libraries Mac
Jan 14, 2014 This guide will show you how to merge two iTunes libraries as easily as possible, either between users or same, with Mac OS X (Mavericks, Snow Leopard, Lion included). Category People &.
Aug 06,2019 • Filed to: Manage iTunes • Proven solutions
May 07, 2008 Then, just pull the folder back into OS X, and open up iTunes. All of your music files will be there, but only what was in the main library will appear in iTunes. From there, just go to file import and import your whole iTunes library. ITunes automatically skips files that are already in its database, so it will only add the new ones. Recommend tools to organize and merge iTunes libraries on a Mac. I need to merge two iTunes libraries and I’m looking for automatic tools to ID and tag mp3 files in iTunes. I would be great if there is a tool to find duplicates between two libraries because I’ve need to merge these two libraries: 1 - my own perfectly organized. Use multiple iTunes libraries on Mac. You can have more than one iTunes library. For example, you could have a library of holiday music that wouldn’t appear in iTunes the rest of the year. Or you could keep your music in a library on your computer and your movies in a library on an external storage device.
Managing Multiple Itunes Libraries
This guide will show you how to merge two iTunes libraries as easily as possible, either between users or same, with Mac OS X (MacOS 10.12 Sierra, Snow Leopard, Lion included). This can be very useful for those who have one iTunes library at home Mac, say iMac, and a MacBook for work, for example. If you happen to have troubles like this, you can:
- Get access to your whole iTunes library with any Mac
- Download movies, music on the go with your potable Mac
- Organize all your iTunes music, movies and more in one iTunes library
- Sync your iTunes library to your iPod, iPhone or iPad anytime you want
Part 1. Merge Two iTunes Libraries with Mac by iMusic
iMusic can be the best helper for you to download music from Tubidy.com. It is specially designed for people to download and record music from any music sharing sites. It's able to download music from more than 300 music sites by a single click, and record music from unlimited music sites and radio stations. To put it in a word, with iMusic, i'm sure you'll get the music you like. You can download it. If not, then you can record it. Solutions are always at your hand.
iMusic -All-in-one Tool: Download, Record, Transfer and Manage Music
- Download music from more than 300 music sites, including YouTube, by copying and pasting the URL.
- Record unlimited music from any website or any audio or video playing in your computer with just one click.
- Built-in music library let you browse and preview the lattest and hottest music from popular music sites.
- Automatically save downloaded/recorded music to library for management and easy transfer.
- Identify and tag music with artist, title, album, genre, and more with the latest ID3 tag technology.
- 1 click to transfer downloaded music and playlist to USB drive to enjoy in car.
- Ability to burn downloaded songs and playlists to CDs easily.
Step-by-step for combining iTunes libraries in Mac OS X with iMusic
Step 1: iMusic has versions for both Windows PC and Mac. Install and launch it. Now click “TOOLBOX” menu on the top of the software. Then, click “BACKUP/RESTORE ITUNES LIBRARY”.
Step 2: Click “Backup” option in the new pop-up window. Then check file types you want to backup in the next window and set up the destination for your computer to save the backup file. Click “Backup”.
Step 3: When the backup process is done, you can see the message “Congratulations! Your iTunes Library is backed up”. You can you enjoy the content from your iTunes on your Mac anytime!
Merge 2 Itunes Libraries Machine
To backup other iTunes to your Mac, you can repeat the process above so that files from different iTunes will be available on your Mac. Now you can find the files and combine them! EASY JOB!
Video Tutorial: iMusic- How to Backup iTunes with Simple Clicks
Part 2. Merge Two iTunes Libraries with Mac Directly on iTunes
This method is a bit complicated. You need to export your library from the first computer , and import it into the second computer as its final destination.To merge your iTunes library without losing metadata, go with the following steps:
Note:Please make sure that all of the media files from both libraries you’re combining are in their correct folders.
Step 1: Launch iTunes, to to 'Preferences', choose'Advanced'.Select ' Keep iTunes Media folder organized 'and 'Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to the library'. Next click OK.

Step 2: Find 'File' , choose'Library', further select'Organize Library'. Choose both Consolidate Files and Reorganize files in the folder ‘iTunes Music’. If you cannot select “Reorganize files in the folder ‘iTunes Music”, it means that your computer has already done this. Then select 'OK'.
Step 3: Next go to 'iTunes', find 'Preferences', choose' General'. Make sure all of the file types you’d like to export are checked off, such as Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, iTunes U, etc. Choose 'OK'.
Step 4: Now share the hard drive of Computer A. In iTunes on Computer B, go to 'File', choose'Add to Library'. Navigate to the 'User', find'Music', choose 'iTunes folder' on Computer A’s hard drive. Select the file ending in .xml (in my case, “iTunes Music Library.xml”) and click 'Open'.
Step 5: Connect the external hard drive to Computer A. Go to 'iTunes', find 'Preferences', choose'Advanced'. Where it says “iTunes Media folder location” select Change. Select (or create) a folder on the hard drive, and select 'Open'. Go to 'File', find 'Library', choose'Export Library'. Navigate to the hard drive and select 'Save'.
Step 6: Connect the external hard drive to Computer B. In iTunes on Computer B , go to 'File', find 'Add to Library'. Navigate to the external hard drive. and select the file you’ve just saved there ending in .xml. Click Open.
That's it ! You’ve merged your library for FREE.
For both methods to merge two iTunes library, we strongly recommend you to use iMusic to consolidate two iTunes library on Mac . Which is easy and fast !
You can also read this guide in Français.
There are lots of reasons why you might want to merge two iTunes libraries. Maybe you had two accounts in the past for some reason, and you want all of your purchases to be under one account now. Maybe you and your friend want to share music with each other. It could also be that you want to share your files with your spouse. Whatever the reason, this guide offers the best way for you.
- Method 1: How to Merge Two iTunes Libraries without Duplicates
- Method 2: How to Merge Two iTunes Libraries Manually
Method 1: How to Merge Two iTunes Libraries without Duplicates
iMyFone TunesMate iPhone Transfer is a perfect transfer tool that lets you transfer nearly any kind of file between iPhones, computers, or even iTunes libraries. This means that you can merge two libraries very easily and without running into any of Apple’s restrictions. You can do this by simply transferring your iTunes library to your iPhone/iPad/iPod as temporary storage, and then transferring iTunes library from iOS device to another iTunes library. Besides, this tool is trusted by thousands of users (every year) and reported by well-known media around the world, such as Getintopc, Geekreply, etc.
- The two iTunes libraries can be signed in with different Apple IDs.
- It will detect different contents between these two iTunes libraries and only transfer the missing ones, avoiding duplicates.
- You can select what kinds of contents to merge and what kinds not.
Guide to Merge Two iTunes Libraries without Duplicates

First, you need to transfer the first iTunes library to your iOS device (iPad / iPod / iPhone):
Step 1: Make sure that TunesMate is installed on your computer where the first iTunes library locates, then plug in your device.
Step 2: Open TunesMate and choose “Transfer iTunes Media to iDevice.”
Step 3: The entire iTunes media library will be selected by default. Click “Transfer,” then wait until it is done.
Next, you need to transfer the iTunes library from your iOS device to the other iTunes library. The second library won’t be overwritten by the first library.
Step 4: Make sure that TunesMate is installed on the second computer with the second library, then plug your device into it.
Step 5: Launch TunesMate and click where it says, “Transfer iDevice Media to iTunes.”
Step 6: Click “Start,” and it will begin to scan your device. Click “Start” again to transfer the files, and click “OK” when it is done.
You can find the music, movies, TV shows, playlists, podcasts, audibooks, iTunes U, etc. of the first iTunes library in the second iTunes library.
Note
Method 2: How to Merge Two iTunes Libraries Manually
This method is not so recommended, but this is how you can manually merge two iTunes libraries:
Step 1: Go to the computer with the iTunes library that you want to extract and plug in an external hard drive.
Step 2: Move the iTunes Music folder onto the external hard drive. How to make library show in finder. This contains all of your iTunes data.
- Mac: Go to “Finder” and then “Go > Home” from the menu bar. Double click on “Music” folder.
- Win: Go to “UsersusernameMy MusiciTunes”.
Step 3: Plug the external hard drive into your second computer, that contains the library that you want to combine to.
Step 4: Open iTunes and go to Files > Library > Organize Library, and make sure that Consolidate Files is checked.
Step 5: Drag the iTunes Music folder on the external hard drive to the “Library” section of iTunes.
Note that there are a few limits here:
- You will lose your star ratings and playcounts on your songs being moved to the second library.
- You may have duplicates.
- You may not be able to transfer data from different Apple ID’s.
- You can’t select which to combine and which not.
Conclusion
The best way to merge two iTunes libraries while preserving all of your data and not giving up any of your freedoms is to use iMyFone TunesMate. It’s much easier and faster than the manual method.
BTW, I call this the 'local' library, because in NextStep it was /Local/Library, but you'll see all sorts of other names for it, such as the root library, computer library. The local library, /Library, stores computer-wide settings etc. The network library, /Network/Library would store settings shared by all computers in a network domain - if a network domain admin set one up, which nobody does anymore.
TunesMate has tons of other features that make it a great tool for not only merging your iTunes library, but also transferring files between devices. With TunesMate, you can:
- Transfer all kinds of files, such as music files, video, photos, contacts, playlsits, audiobooks, and more.
- Transfer music/video/files library from one iPhone/iTunes to another iPhone/iTunes without duplicates.
- Transfer iPhone music to and from any computer that runs Windows or OSX.
- Transfer both purchases and non-purchased files easily.
- Sync your iPhone/iTunes files without losing data.