How To Save Itunes Library To External Hard Drive Mac

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How To Save Itunes Library To External Hard Drive Mac 4,6/5 2596 votes

There's never too many photos on iPhone, right? Wrong. When it comes to backing up your iOS device, endless photos, messages, and files can suffocate your internal storage on Mac.

Jan 17, 2011  This is how to transfer your itunes library to an external hard drive. This is just a simple mac tip. It is always good to back up your music, or anything on your computer really. Jan 30, 2018  Move/Backup iTunes Library to External Hard Drive 1.Quit iTunes and open the iTunes Folder on your computer. 2.Drag the iTunes folder from your computer (Mac or Windows) and drop it on the external drive. All files in iTunes Folder will be copied to the external drive. Move Your iTunes Library to an External Drive To free up space on your computer or make a backup, just follow these simple steps within the most current version of iTunes: 1. From the main iTunes menu, go to iTunes Preferences then click Advanced.

The old iTunes library, along with any other files that may have been in the trash, will be deleted, freeing up space on your startup drive. General Tips If you’re using Time Machine to back up your iTunes library, make sure the external is not excluded from the locations being backed up. Nov 14, 2019  Drag the iTunes folder to the external hard drive to copy the iTunes library to the hard drive. The size of your library and the speed of the drive determine how long the transfer will take. Make new backups regularly. If you frequently add content to your iTunes library, backup the library.

The first way to solve the problem is pretty straightforward: Keep your iPhone or iPad clean. It became a bit easier with the release of iOS 13, which allows removing similar shots and clutter from your Photos gallery automatically. If you take your gallery cleanness seriously, you can go further and install a smart duplicate finder like Gemini on your phone. Whether you're an Instagram husband/wife, or simply love good photography — this is a pro-level tool to save your disk space.

iPhone Backup to External Storage

Get the best Mac apps to backup and transfer data from iPhone, iPad, iTunes, iCloud to external drives without any loss.

But what if photos are not the problem? Sometimes it's about text docs, mail attachments — lots of small files that become heavier and heavier as they pile up. It will take hours of work to free up storage space manually. So we suggest you don't. You can solve the problem by changing iPhone backup location instead.

In this guide, we'll tell you everything about where iPhone and iPad backups are stored by default, how to move them to an external drive, and what's the best Mac tool for running direct iOS backups.

Hard

How to change iPhone backup location on Mac

There are two Apple ways to backup iOS devices to Mac — using iTunes or iCloud. None of them is very easy. We've prepared detailed instructions on how to locate and move iPhone backup to an external drive both ways. If you follow these, nothing could go wrong.

Locate iOS backups in iTunes/Finder

How To Save Itunes Library To External Hard Drive Mac Download

Here's how you find a list of iOS backups if you use iTunes:

  1. Click on the Spotlight Search button in the menu bar
  2. Type the following command: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
  3. Hit Return.

The mechanism is a bit different if you're searching for a specific backup. In this case, go to iTunes > Preferences > Devices. Control-click the selected backup and select Show in Finder from the drop-down menu.

Note that if you're using macOS Catalina, you'll have to locate backups via Finder, while the latest macOS doesn't have iTunes in its original form:

  1. Open a new Finder window
  2. Select Go > Go to Folder
  3. Type the command ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
  4. Hit Go.
  5. Access your Backup folder from there.

An important thing to remember is that you shouldn't copy or extract specific files from your Backup folder — this might lead to your files being ruined. What you have to do is to copy and transfer an entire folder.

Locate iOS backups in iCloud

If you use iCloud for iPhone backups, you don't have to suffer from the low storage problem. Once your iPhone or iPad files are backed up, you can simply delete the backups. None of your valuable data will be damaged.

How to remove backups from iPhone or iPad and turn off backup for your device.

  1. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud
  2. Click Manage Storage > Backups for iOS 11 and iCloud Storage > Manage Storage for iOS 10.3
  3. Select your device name
  4. Delete Backup > Turn Off and Delete.

On your Mac:

  1. Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud
  2. Select Manage and click on the Backups
  3. With the backup selected, click Delete to remove the backup. Confirm that you would also like to turn off Backup if needed.

Backup iPhone to external hard drive

For those who backup via iTunes/Finder, the journey isn't finished. Now it's time to backup iPhone to USB drive, an external hard drive that won't affect your storage on Mac. This should be done very carefully. Any attempt to extract files from the backup folder or using the wrong name of a hard drive may end up in a failure.

Also, let us warn you in advance that you shouldn't delete a backup after you move it to the new storage location. Before you do anything to your old iOS backups, make sure you set iTunes to backup from the hard drive. Let's go through it step by step.

How to save iPhone backup to external hard drive:

  1. Connect your external hard drive to Mac and open it.
  2. Select the backup folder from the Finder window or iTunes. Usually, the name of the backup folder consists of random numbers and letters, or it's called 'Backup.'
  3. Drag the entire folder — couldn't emphasize it more — to your external drive.
  4. Type your admin password.
  5. Rename the backup folder to 'iOS_backup' and enter the admin password once again to confirm your action.

Now, the most delicate part. It's not enough to create iPhone external storage, you have to tell iTunes where it is to ensure the backups will be done externally from now on. To make that work, you should create a new path — or a so-called symbolic link — for iTunes/Finder.

Before you dive into it, make sure you allow Full Disk Access for Terminal. You'll have to enable it manually if you use macOS Mojave. In this case, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy. Unlock by entering your admin password and click Full Disk Access. Add Terminal to the list of apps with full access permission via the plus button.

Now you're ready to work with Terminal. Make sure you pay close attention to every word you type — Terminal commands can be cumbersome. Open Terminal via Spotlight and type the following command (no rush, you might need to customize it):

ln-s/Volumes/External/ios_backup~/Library/ApplicationSupport/MobileSync/Backup/ 4f1234a05e6e7ccbaddfd12345678f1234b123f

In the command above, 'External' is the name of your hard drive. Possibly, your drive has a different name, so you'll have to change it in the command. The last part '4f1234a05e6e7ccbaddfd12345678f1234b123f' is the name of the backup folder. If you're transferring via Finder, it's very common for this folder to be named 'Backup.' Make sure they match or rename accordingly.

Once your command is accurate, hit Return and quit Terminal.

You've done everything right if you can find a newly created symlink file with the name of your backup folder in the MobileSync folder. The file icon should have an arrow in the bottom left corner.

Backing up to external drive: How to check it works?

Now when you've backed up iPhone to portable hard drive, run a test to see whether iTunes is really backing up from the new location:

  1. Connect your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Launch iTunes or find your device via Finder.
  3. Select Back Up Now.
  4. With the backup completed, open the iOS_backup folder on the external drive.
  5. Check the date and time of the last backup — it should coincide with your recent activity.

Transferring Itunes Library To External Hard Drive Mac

Only after the test proves successful can you delete your old backups.

How to backup iPhone directly to external drive

There are two big problems with iTunes backups. And we can understand why you say 'nay' to both of them. First of all, if you're backing up with iTunes or iCloud, you never know what files are covered. While you have to move an entire folder to your external drive, there's no way to check what's inside — not to mention selecting specific files for a backup.

Another thing is Terminal commands can go wrong — and they often do. A single mistake can break the whole process, so you'll have to start all over again. The good news is you can actually back up iPhone to external hard drive without iTunes and iCloud. The tool that you need for that is called AnyTrans for iOS.

AnyTrans is a Mac utility that handles connections across iOS, macOS, and Android devices. And by 'connections' we mean lots of useful things that built-in utilities like iTunes can't handle:

  • Transfer media files, including photos, messages, and documents from your iPhone/iPad to Mac.
  • Back up your iOS device to an external drive in seconds.
  • Preview files that you're backing up and select your custom file types if you don't want to back up everything.
  • Preview old iCloud and iTunes backups and transfer files from your old backup directly to an external drive.

As a nice perk, AnyTrans has a built-in media downloader that enables you to download video and audio from 900+ websites, including YouTube and Dailymotion.

The backup process is a four-step deal if you use AnyTrans — instead of complicated Terminal commands. Here's how you back up directly to external drive:

Dec 05, 2019  By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input device. To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac keyboard shortcut for library. Use Library keyboard shortcuts to streamline your work in Motion. Oct 23, 2016  In the Keyboard Shortcut field, define the shortcut that you would like to use to get to the library folder on your Mac quickly. Make sure this shortcut is not already used on your Mac with other items. When you are done, click on “Add” to add the shortcut to the list.

  1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to Mac and open AnyTrans.
  2. Click on Backup Manager and view the list of files that can be backed up.
  3. Tick the boxes next to specific file categories or select all.
  4. Choose your external drive as the target save location and click on the Next button to start backing up.

That's it. Everything you've backed up will now appear on your external drive.

Let's sum up with a few tips that will help you keep your iPhone data protected:

Double protection

If you're determined to use the built-in tools for your iOS and iPad backups, we recommend to use both iCloud and iTunes/Finder. It's never a waste of time when it comes to ensuring your data security. So in case something goes wrong, you'll have a backup plan. Pun intended.

Move backups across storages

Maybe you have lots of data. Or, you simply prefer cloud storage to storing your files on a local drive. That's understandable. To ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle, use CloudMounter to mount your cloud drives as local disks and thus, transfer backups across multiple storages flexibly.

There's always a way back

We encourage you to simplify things with AnyTrans. And even if you decide to go with iTunes, note that you can always delete your symlink and try an easier option. To go back to internal backups, type ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup in Spotlight and delete your symlink folder.

Two (or 162) for the price of one

Both AnyTrans and CloudMounter are available with a Setapp subscription. Setapp is a package of curated Mac utilities that solve the majority of jobs on Mac. So if you get the Setapp subscription, you'll be able to handle automatic iOS backups, move backups across storages and do 160+ other things.

Nothing is as painful as losing data or content you gathered for a long time. Your iTunes liberal comprises albums and songs you have cherished for years. So, it is expedient to back up iTunes to external hard drive to prevent a total loss of your precious data if something happens to your iPhone, iPad or iPod.

Drive

With the use of the modern application and easy-to-follow procedures, you can back up your iTunes successfully and without any hassles. This guide will take you by the hand and show you how to back up iTunes to external hard drive.

  • Part 1: How to Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive
  • Part 2: Tip: What If Your iTunes is Damaged?

How to Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive

1. Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive on Windows

This guide is for users with Windows PC. Follow the steps below to backup iTunes to external hard drive.

Step 1: Sign in to your Windows PC and launch the desktop.
Step 2: Find iTunes icon and start the application.
Step 3: Click the “Sign In” button located at the top-left corner.
Step 4: Input your Apple ID credentials and sign in.

Step 5: On the window that comes up after signing in, click Edit menu at the menu bar from the top left corner.
Step 6: Click preferences.
Step 7: Click the Advanced tab on the General Preferences.

Step 8: Check the “Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library” checkbox and click “Ok” under the Advanced tab. This setting ensures that a copy of files goes to the iTunes Media folder when adding them to the iTunes library.

Step 9: Click the file menu on the iTunes main window.
Step 10: Click library.

Step 11: Click the organize Library option.
Step 12: Check the “Consolidate files” checkbox and click Ok.

Step 13: Having completed 'Step 12,' close the iTunes window.
Step 14: Connect your external hard drive to the PC.
Step 15: Go to the iTunes Media folder and locate your iTunes Media folder’s location (refer to step 1-7).
Step 16: When you have located the iTunes Media folder, move a step up to the iTunes Media’s Parent folder.
Step 17: Drag and drop or copy and paste the iTunes from the parent folder to your external hard drive to backup your library.

2. Backup iTunes to External Hard Drive on Mac

Having used your Mac for some time, you are likely to have several music files on your computer backing up your data is advisable. Below are the steps to take to backup your iTunes to external drive.

Steps 1: Consolidate your library. Gather all scattered music files on your computer. Start iTunes→ Click File→ Select Organize Library from the Library’s dropdown menu→ Check “Consolidate Files” checkbox →Ok.

Step 2: Backup your iTunes library to your external hard drive. Launch iTunes→ Connect external hard drive→ Open Mac’s hard drive→ Click music folder→ Select iTunes, drag it to your external hard drive→ click authenticate if prompted→ Enter your password→ Click Ok.

Tip: What If Your iTunes is Damaged?

iTunes may get damaged as a result of different factors such as failure to complete an update, corrupted files, incomplete backup, and more. These could make iTunes to malfunction or show “not working” message. However, it is not a big problem to fix. Download and install iMyFone TunesFix, and follow the guide below to fix the error.

Key Features:

  • Repairs all iTunes problems or issues with only one click.
  • Four comprehensive modes to resolve all kinds of iTunes’ errors and repairing requirements.
  • Repairs iTunes issues without erasing your data.
  • Deep clean iTunes and boost your PC.
  • Deep uninstallation of iTunes and all components.

Using iMyFone TunesFix to Fix the Issue

iMyFone TunesFix is an all-in-one application that is effective for resolving all errors or problems that iTunes may have. The application solves the problems without leaving a trace behind. To fix a damaged iTunes, follow the step below:

a. Auto Fix

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix, and it will detect iTunes and its errors automatically.
Step 2: Let iMyFone TunesFix fix the errors automatically.

b. Repair Backup/Restore Errors

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix.
Step 2: Select the repair mode, click “Restore backup/Restore Errors.”

Step 3: Wait as the errors get fixed.

c.Fix Other iTunes Problems

Step 1: Launch iMyFone TunesFix.
Step 2: Click Fix Other iTunes Problems to solve any unknown error or problem .

Step 3: Allow the application to fix the error.

In conclusion, if your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac ever has a problem with iTunes, do not despair; download and install iMyFone TunesFix. Run the application to detect the problems with your device, let iMyFone TunesFix fix the issues, and you can have fun with your device again. iMyFone TunesFix offers an enhanced experience with your device. It is, therefore, an indispensable app you must have nearby, just in case.

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