How to Backup Your iTunes Library for Safe Keeping

If you're like me, you have spent a lot of time and money on your iTunes music. When you buy music via the iTunes store, you get a download copy but no hard copy. Usually, this is fine. But what if your hard drive crashes or your computer is stolen? You only get one chance to download your music from the iTunes store. So, you would have to buy the music again - unless you have a backup. Fortunately, it's very easy to make a working backup of your iTunes library.



CREATING THE BACKUP

In order to make a backup of your iTunes library, you will need a relatively large storage space. The ideal place is on an external hard drive - as it won't fit on a CD or DVD.

First we need to make sure all of your music is in your iTunes music folder. To do this, click (File > Library > Consolidate Library) in iTunes 8 or (Advanced > Consolidate Library) in iTunes 7.



Find the iTunes music folder. On an Apple Mac this folder is here: (yourusername)/Music/iTunes On a Windows Vista PC, this folder is here: (yourusername)MusiciTunes On a Windows XP or 2000 PC, this folder is here: Documents and Settings(yourusername)My DocumentsMy MusiciTunes.



Don't open the iTunes folder. Copy the entire iTunes folder onto your backup media (preferably external hard drive). Make sure you don't move or delete your original iTunes folder. If you move or delete your iTunes folder, iTunes may stop working



RESTORING FROM A BACKUP

First, close iTunes. You may not be able to replace all of the files you need to if iTunes is open and using them.

To restore your iTunes library, just copy your iTunes music folder back to where you found it. As a reminder: ----------- On an Apple Mac this folder is here: (yourusername)/Music/iTunes On a Windows Vista PC, this folder is here: (yourusername)MusiciTunes On a Windows XP or 2000 PC, this folder is here: Documents and Settings(yourusername)My DocumentsMy MusiciTunes. -----------



Once you have moved the iTunes folder back to its original location, you are free to relaunch iTunes. iTunes will now recognize all of your content perfectly.



Tips:

* Make a backup of your iTunes library after every iTunes software update so your library stays current. * Backup your iTunes library after every purchase from the iTunes store. This may seem too cautious, but it's better to be safe than out of a purchase.

* Be careful to not move or delete your iTunes folder or its contents. If you do, you can confuse iTunes and cause it to stop working properly.


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