How to Backup your iTunes Files & Eradicate Duplicates?

You can backup all your iTunes files on an external storage, preferably an external hard drive or USB flash drive. Here is how you do this:

iTunes Backup & Duplicate Removal

Step 1: Consolidate iTunes Media Files into a Single Folder

The process of consolidation involves copying of all Library contents to a single folder and leaving original versions as they are. Let us first consolidate the files into a single folder named “iTunes Media”.

  1. Fire up iTunes application.
  2. Press Alt key on your keyboard to display menu bar.
  3. Click Edit menu, select Preferences.
  4. This opens up a new dialog named General Preferences.
  5. Click the Advanced tab, and then check-up the box labelled “Copy files to iTunes media folder when adding to Library”.
  6. Click OK to save new changes.
  7. Click File | Library | Organize Library.
  8. In Organize Library dialog, check-up “Consolidate files” checkbox.
  9. Click OK.

Step 2: Check for Duplicate Music Files

It is important to check your iTunes music files for duplicates, before you move them to an external storage. This helps reducing size of the final backup besides it saves time.

  1. Download, install Clone Files Checker (CFC).
  2. Add your default iTunes Media folder for scan.
  • Windows 8.1/ 8: C:\Users\[Your_User_Name_Here]\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
  • Windows 7: C:\Users\[Your_User_Name_Here]\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
  • Windows Vista: C:\Users\[Your_User_Name_Here]\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media
  • NOTE: CFC has the built-in iTunes duplicate scanner which will scan for all possible dupes based on music tags such as title, album, artist, track, duration, bit rate. It also scans duplicate songs based on the content resemblance technology in case music tags are missing.
  1. Scan contents of “iTunes Media” folder for duplicate music.
  2. Use Quick-Fix or Review & Fix, to successfully delete duplicates.

How to Locate iTunes Media Folder if the Original Location was Changed?

In that case, you may use Preferences dialog. Here’s how:

  1. Open up iTunes Preferences dialog. (Refer Steps # 1-4 under Consolidate iTunes Media Files into a Single Folder section)
  2. Click Advanced tab.
  3. Now you shall see the location of “iTunes Media” folder in iTunes Media Folder Location text box.

Step 3: Move Files to an External Storage

Thirdly, we have to move the consolidated files to an external storage.

  1. Connect a removable external storage such as an external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc.
  2. Open up iTunes Media folder. (Refer Step # 2 under Check for Duplicate Music Files section)
  3. Copy all files to your external storage.

Alternatively, you may use a file compression utility [such as WinZip, WinRar or Free 7 Zip File Manager] to compress all files into a Zip File and then move it to your external storage.

  1. First connect an external storage device to your PC.
  2. Go to the iTunes Media Folder location.
  3. Install a file compressing software and open the main user interface.
  4. Drag and drop all files into the file compressing program.
  5. Now you’ve a new window on your screen. Specify a name for the archive, select a preferred type, and then start compressing process.
  6. Finally, close the program and move your compressed file to the external device connected to your computer.

 

I am director and business manager at Sorcim Technologies. The product Clone Files Checker, this blog, and the content written for the blog are the properties of Sorcim. We are responsible for the content and we are always willing to answer your queries about our solutions. We encourage you to contact us should you have any questions!

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