How to Move Your iTunes Library to a New PC

The fastest way: authorize the new computer, then copy your iTunes folder

Moving your iTunes library to a new PC means transferring both the music files themselves and iTunes's record of what you own, what you've played, and your playlists. The simplest route is to copy your entire iTunes folder from the old computer to the new one, then authorize the new computer in iTunes so you can play protected purchases.

Start on your old PC. Open iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and note the location of your iTunes Media folder — usually something like C:\Users\[Your Name]\Music\iTunes. Close iTunes completely. Then open File Explorer, navigate to that folder, and copy the entire iTunes folder to an external drive or cloud storage. On your new PC, paste it in the same location (usually C:\Users\[Your Name]\Music\). Open iTunes on the new computer, go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and point it to that copied folder. iTunes will rebuild its library from the files you moved.

Finally, authorize the new PC to play your protected purchases. In iTunes, go to Account > Authorizations > Authorize This Computer, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Authorize. You can authorize up to five computers at once across all your devices.

Key Takeaways

Copy your entire iTunes folder from the old PC to external storage or cloud drive, then paste it on the new PC in the same location.
You must authorize the new computer in iTunes using your Apple ID before you can play music you purchased from the iTunes Store.
If you use iCloud Music Library, sign into the same Apple ID on the new PC and let iTunes sync your library automatically instead of copying files manually.
Protected purchases (songs bought before 2009) require authorization; DRM-free music and files you imported yourself will play on any computer without it.

Understanding what you're moving: purchases versus imported music

Your iTunes library contains two types of files, and they behave differently on a new computer. Protected purchases are songs you bought from the iTunes Store before Apple removed copy protection in 2009. These files are locked to your Apple ID and won't play on a new computer unless you authorize it. DRM-free music — songs you bought after 2009, music you imported from CDs, or files you downloaded from other sources — will play on any computer without authorization.

When you copy your iTunes folder, you're moving both types together. The authorization step unlocks the protected files on the new PC. If you have mostly imported music or newer purchases, authorization is still required but the process is the same.

Using iCloud Music Library instead of copying files

If you have an Apple Music subscription or an active iCloud Music Library, you don't need to copy files at all. Sign into iTunes on your new PC with the same Apple ID you used on the old one, go to Edit > Preferences > General, and turn on iCloud Music Library. iTunes will sync your entire library — playlists, play counts, ratings, and all — to the new computer over the internet. This takes longer than copying files (anywhere from minutes to hours depending on library size), but you don't need external storage and your library stays in sync across all your devices.

iCloud Music Library works best if your internet connection is stable. If the sync stalls, sign out of your Apple ID in iTunes, restart the computer, and sign back in. You can check the sync status in iTunes under Account > View My Account > iCloud Music Library.

Transferring playlists and play history

When you copy your iTunes folder, playlists and play history come along automatically — iTunes stores this information in files inside that folder. If you're using iCloud Music Library, playlists sync to the new computer as part of the automatic sync process.

If you're moving only specific playlists rather than your whole library, right-click the playlist in iTunes, select Export, and save it as an .m3u or .itunes file. On the new PC, open iTunes, go to File > Library > Import Playlist, and select the file you saved. The playlist will appear in your library, though the actual music files must be present on the new computer for the songs to play.

What to do if your old PC is no longer available

If your old computer is broken or you no longer have access to it, you can still recover your library. Sign into iTunes on the new PC with your Apple ID, go to File > Library > Import Purchases, and select your account. iTunes will download all the music you've purchased from the iTunes Store — but only purchases, not imported files or music from other sources.

For imported music and files you added yourself, you'll need access to the original files or CDs. If you have backups on an external drive or cloud storage, copy those files to the new PC and add them to iTunes by dragging them into the window or using File > Add File to Library. If the files are gone, there's no way to recover them through iTunes.

Deauthorizing your old computer

Once your library is working on the new PC, deauthorize the old computer so you don't waste one of your five authorization slots. In iTunes on the old PC, go to Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer, sign in with your Apple ID, and click Deauthorize. If the old computer is broken or inaccessible, sign into iTunes on any authorized computer, go to Account > View My Account > Manage Devices, find the old computer in the list, and click Remove.

You can deauthorize all five computers at once if you need to start fresh, but you'll have to wait 90 days before you can authorize them again. This is a safety measure to prevent unauthorized sharing of protected purchases.

Troubleshooting common problems

If iTunes doesn't recognize your copied library, make sure the folder structure is intact. The iTunes folder should contain subfolders named iTunes Media, iTunes Library.itl, and iTunes Library.xml. If these are missing or damaged, iTunes can't read the library. Copy the folder again from your backup or external drive.

If you see a message that your music files are missing, the file paths have changed. This usually happens if you copied the folder to a different location than the original. Go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, change the Media Folder location back to where you pasted the iTunes folder, and click OK. iTunes will re-scan the files and rebuild the library.

If protected purchases won't play after authorization, make sure you're signed into the correct Apple ID. Go to Account > View My Account and verify the email address matches the one you used to buy the music. If it doesn't, sign out, sign in with the correct ID, and authorize again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move my iTunes library to a Mac instead of another PC?

Yes. The process is the same — copy the iTunes folder from your PC to external storage, paste it on the Mac in the Music folder, and authorize the Mac with your Apple ID. iTunes on Mac looks for the library in the same place and will recognize the files you moved.

What if I only want to move some of my music, not the whole library?

Create a new playlist on your old PC with only the songs you want to move, export it as an .m3u file, and import it on the new PC. Then manually copy just those music files to the new computer. This is slower than moving the whole library but works if you're downsizing or splitting music between devices.

Do I need to authorize the new computer if I only have imported music?

No. Imported music and files you added yourself have no copy protection and will play on any computer without authorization. You only need to authorize if you have protected purchases from the iTunes Store.

How long does it take to sync my library using iCloud Music Library?

It depends on how many songs you have and your internet speed. Small libraries (under 1,000 songs) usually sync in minutes. Larger libraries can take hours. Leave iTunes open and connected to the internet until the sync completes — closing iTunes will pause the process.

What happens if I authorize more than five computers?

iTunes will reject the authorization on the sixth computer. You'll need to deauthorize one of the other computers first. You can deauthorize all five at once and start over, but you must wait 90 days before authorizing them again.

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.