How to Move iTunes Library to An External Drive

If you are using iTunes and you want to backup and restore your iTunes Library. Firstly, you can back up your iTunes library by consolidating your library into one folder, and then copying the folder to an external drive.

Part 1. Consolidate Your iTunes Library
Firstly, consolidation ensures all of your the items in your library are in one place. So you will be recommended to consolidate your iTunes Library before moving your iTunes library to an external storage.

1. Open iTunes on your computer and go to iTunes Preferences:
On Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences.
On Windows: Choose Edit > Preferences.
2. Click Advanced.
3. Make sure the option to "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" is selected.
“When you select this option and add files to iTunes, iTunes places copies of the originals in the iTunes Media folder. The original files are left in their original locations.”

If you’d like to save space on your computer, you can delete the original files after you confirm that they're in the iTunes Media folder.
4. Click OK and choose File > Library > Organize Library.
5. Select the option to "Consolidate files” and click OK.

Part 2. Move iTunes folder to External Drive
To copy all the items in your iTunes library including the iTunes Library file that holds all your playlists, playcounts, ratings, and other data to your external drive:
1. Quit iTunes and locate your external drive.
Mac: On the desktop or Finder sidebar.
Windows: In My Computer.
2. Locate your iTunes folder: By default, the iTunes folder is located in:
Mac: Finder > username > Music
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
Windows Vista: \Users\username\My Music\
Windows 7 or 8: \Users\username\Music\
“If the iTunes folder is not in the default location listed above, find the iTunes folder by following these steps:
(1)Open iTunes Preferences:
Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences.
Windows: Choose Edit > Preferences.
(2)Click Advanced.
The location of your iTunes folder will be listed in the "iTunes Media folder location" box.”

3. Drag the iTunes folder to your external drive. This can take a while if you have a lot of items.

Part 3. Restore your iTunes Library
When you need to restore the iTunes Library backup from your external drive to your computer, you can follow these steps:
1. Quit iTunes and locate your external drive.
Mac: On the Desktop or Finder sidebar.
Windows: In My Computer.
2. Drag the iTunes folder (backed up earlier) from your external drive to whatever location you desire on your internal hard drive. It is recommended that you choose the default location for the iTunes folder, which is:
Mac: Finder > username > Music
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\
Windows Vista: \Users\username\My Music\
Windows 7 or 8: \Users\username\Music\
3. While holding down the Option key on Mac or Shift key on Windows, open iTunes.
4. When the Choose iTunes Library message appears, click the Choose Library button.

5. Select the iTunes folder you just moved to the internal hard drive.
6. Click Choose on Mac OS X or Open on Windows.
7. Then choose the iTunes Library file inside.
Now your iTunes Library has been restored.

If you think the process is too complicated, you can also use FonPaw iOS Transfer to move the data on iTunes Library to new computer. This way can be much easier to help you move iTunes Library.