iTunes Media Library: How to back up your media

You can easily backup your iTunes library. In this practical tip we show you which steps are necessary and how you can best proceed.

iTunes Media Library - Merge media before saving

To secure your media in one place in the iTunes library, you first have to combine them. This can be done with just a few clicks.

• Start iTunes on your computer and navigate in the menu under "File" to "Media library -> Organize media library".
• A small window opens to manage the media library. Check the box next to "merge files" and confirm with "OK".
• iTunes will then copy all of your media files into a folder called "iTunes Media". Your original files remain in the respective storage locations.

Back up your iTunes library

After you've put all of the media in your iTunes library into one folder, backing up that media is easy.

• All you have to do is search for the iTunes Media folder you just created. You will find this folder on your Mac when you open the Finder and open the iTunes folder under "Music".
• Alternatively, select the route via the menu item "Go -> Go to folder" and enter "iTunes Media" there.
• Under Windows 7 and newer versions of Windows you will usually find the folder you are looking for under the path "\ User \ Username \ My Music".
• To backup your media, exit iTunes and drag the entire iTunes folder to the location you want, such as on an external hard drive.

You can find out how to fix iTunes error 39 in our next practical tip.