I know I usually talk about Linux server related topics on this blog, but I'm pretty proud of what I've figured out this morning on my Mac. As you know, the iPhone can really only fully sync with one machine, and if you want to connect it to a new Mac that you've purchased, you have to fully erase the iPhone and start over. (Of course, if you used the Migration Assistant to set up your new Mac, this won't be necessary.)
Here are the steps to migrate your iTunes data from one Mac to another without having to erase and re-sync your iPhone:
- Make sure that iTunes is not running on both Macs.
- Disconnect your iPhone/iPod from both Macs.
- Copy your iTunes folder.
/Users/username/Music/iTunes - Copy your iPhone/iPod backups.
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/MobileSync - Copy your iTunes configuration files.
/Users/username/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes* - Open iTunes on your new Mac and verify that Applications and Ringtones appear.
- Connect your iPhone/iPod to the new Mac and accept any new authorizations.
- Use iTunes on your old Mac to de-authorize the computer.
If you choose to keep your MP3's separate from iTunes (and not in the library), this will only copy over the references to the MP3 files themselves.
It worked! Thanks
Pretty slick. Thanks for the tip. It worked like a champ.
Awesome! Thanks, This saved me a lot of work.
Great tip. Worked like a charm.
It would be nice if you could post a solution for when the OLD MAC is completely out of commision, and migration assistant can't grab that data.
But the iphone itself has the data
I can't even set up my mail, although mail works on my iphone
Worked perfectly, and saved a ton of time - thanks!
Dumb question - I'd like to wholly transfer my iphone over from an old Dell to a new MBP, so will this strategy work for a PC-to-Mac transfer just as well? I already transferred the iTunes folder, and do see the Applications and Ringtones. But when I plug in the phone it does threaten to erase everything, and although I think i am prepared (contacts, calendar = google sync), it does make me nervous. Thanks for any advice to a new MacNoob
Teh roxxors. Worked like a charm. Thanks for posting.
Another thank-you. Worked like a charm for me!
I'm glad everyone found this guide handy! Thanks for the feedback.
pure genius. thanks bra
great! thanks for the solution I was looking for
Thank you so much for this! Works perfectly and saved me a lot of time!
I was synced to an iMac and the HD when out. Anyway to sync the iPhone to a newly formatted iMac?
Thanks for the tips! Wish I could try your method.. wish my machine didn't die!
I'm in a similar situation as Jonah (above). I think if you've completely lost the hard drive (and thus, all your original itunes library) the only thing you can salvage would be the music by using one of the non-official iphone ripping software to pull whatever you have stored on your iphone, back to your new Mac. I would then make a backup of the iphone, right click over the device as it appares in itunes.
Then make the switch over and sync with the new iTunes on the new Mac... it gives you a warning that the iPhone is currently synced with another itunes library, you'll have to approve it, which will **theoretically** erase the music. I haven't done this step so i hope it doesn't erase the apps i've purchased. This is the only caveat i am slightly worried about is losing these apps. I've already been able to restore and snyc up the contacts into the address book from my iphone, which surprised me. Im using iTunes 9.0.1 and iPhone OS 3.1.0 i think.
Dude you rock. This helped me ten fold migrate over to my new macbook.
Thanks a lot. Worked well even between a Snow Leopard and Leopard Mac.
What a tip. I just moved from a pc to a mac. I just copied all itunes folder from my pc to my mac. Was not sure what backup and configuration files to copy so tried without them. It worked.... All seem to ok
Going to try this on my new i7 iMac quite scared as I have over £250 invested in apps!!
Woeked like a charm thanks a _lot_
What exactly do you mean by "copy" these three files?
Do you mean to say "Move them to the new computer"?
If so, how would I go about doing that?
Tried to use this to migrate from an old white iMac with 10.4 on it to a new 10.6 iMac but first of all the location of the files is a bit different on Tiger and second sadly this only worked for the apps but when I try to sync movies or TV shows it still comes up with the "Erase" option which drives me crazy...
Any ideas anyone?
Can I transfer music from a iphone. Tp my new make. With out migrating from my old computer?
THANK YOU!
This even works when switching from PC to MAC!
Glad to hear this is working well for so many people!
It has worked again ! thx
can i just copy my ipod backups and itunes config files without copying my music over?
nvm! you can't! tried and failed. but copied my itunes folder without my music folder (which was what i was trying to do. worked like a charm)
Thanks so much - this saved a lot of hassle. Worked like a charm!
My 17" MBP Duo Core is in the workshop for at least a week. So it's back to the G4 15" (Wonderful machine that one). I am sincerely grateful at this and the mail back-up are,I'm sure, everyone's major fears.
Worked first time and very smoothly (just a note to newbies, of course you need to replace the current items in the same folders as on the other machine and).
I now have the folder backed up on a shock-proof external drive with all the necessary items.
Thank you! (and bookmarked, I will be dropping by, the site is good).
Thank you so much. Worked without a hitch!
I know it was a while ago but someone asked what to do if your old mac is dead and you want to get ALL the settings and info off iphone. MobileMe should work for this but its really expensive. You should be able to get mobileme using the iphone then go into it using new mac and they should sync all non-music/movie stuff.
If you do not have access to your old computer, try senuti (itunes backwords). It will transfer all of your itunes files from your device to your new computer.
I appreciate your help, but damn if this ain't vague! I mean, you say "copy" but you don't say to copy to where. USB drive, your other mac, ext. drive... wtf? You guys could be really helpful if your instructions were just a bit more detailed. We're all here to learn and make the best of what we have to use... but "copy" doesn't tell anyone where to place these copied files... etc..
David -
You'll need to copy the files to the same location on your new Mac. For example, everything in /Users/username/Music/iTunes on your old Mac should be copied to /Users/username/Music/iTunes on your new Mac.
This crap is supposed to be "without hassles"?! Copying files and stuff? Why is there no simple, *human* way of doing this?
iLars, "Senuti" etc are neat, but I only want to move my apps, not my music. My music has 16,000 songs which I don't mind keeping in my home iMac. All I want to transfer to my Macbook Pro is the apps.
If your apps don't show up on your new Mac, what you can do is:
- Plug in your iPhone in the new Mac
- Authorize computer
- Right click on your iPhone in the left-hand panel
- Click 'Transfer Purchases'
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
So easy! Made my day!
Hi,
I'm trying this out tomorrow with my new macbook air. Crossing my fingers...
My question is...I've looked at my current MB library/preference folder and there are couple other files related to itunes/ipod:
com.apple.itunes.eq.plist
com.apple.ituneshelper.plist
com.apple.ipod.plist
Should I copy these files over as well?
Thanks in advance for your reply!!
:_)
Cheers, mate. Everything worked perfect.
This looks easy but what about contacts, photos etc...Will all that transfer over too when you synch your iphone to the other mac or do you have to manually do that?
Sean -
I'm not too sure about those items. I use MobileMe so I
haven't had to deal with that so far.
Hi,
I'm trying to move from and old Mac Book pro to a new one and although it's supposed to be super easy it just won't work... Takes forever.
I managed to get the music going - but my apps won't show and my iphone 4 won't sync, says it can't connect and has an unknown problem. Do you know where my apps can be hidden - if my phone won't sync is there no way to retrieve them????
Thanks in advance...
supr, thanks!
AWESOME: combined data from two older macs and this tip was great in getting the family's iphones/ipods synced nicely. The APPS tab / folder was empty though. So, right clicked the iphone in iTunes and transferred purchases to the APP folder. Worked great. THANK YOU!!!
Didn't get the 'copy' bit. After copy shouldn't there be a paste part? After the last of the three copy should one connect the iphone to the old mac and then sync with itunes? After connecting to the new mac how does the new mac transfer the apps/
Thank you, instruction is still good today.
I like to be able to install from scratch on my new MacBookPro, I do not want to use Migration tool.
Thank you, for the instructions here.
Hi,
This has worked for me today - 31/5/11 - THANK YOU. It has saved me so much time and hassle.
Also these instructions will help my daughter sync all her itunes too.
You're a star.
Jools
Thank you. Works perfect on itunes 10.3.1, OS X 10.6.8 (target machine)
I can confirm that this work on LION! To Find the User Library, You will need to hold the "Option" when selecting "Go" Tab in Finder menu bar. Lion automatically hides the user Library Folder. Good Luck!
Okay, I think it worked (on Lion). Though it didn't copy my apps to my computer... What to do now?
Just migrated to Lion on a new Air.. worked like a charm! Thanks
D
Thanks, this worked great when upgrading to a new Mac with Lion
OMG! You are the bomb. Just saved me hours of work. Thnx so much.
I am in the same situation as our friend underneath...! Do you have suggestions?
Thank you very much,
Marco
bud
04.04.09 at 11:53
It would be nice if you could post a solution for when the OLD MAC is completely out of commision, and migration assistant can't grab that data.
But the iphone itself has the data
I can't even set up my mail, although mail works on my iphone
Best tip ever!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am currently recovering apps after a disastrous update to iOS 5 using a brand new iMac!!!!!!!!!
worked well with Win7 + iTunes 10.5 + Iphone 4.
the directories for Win7 were different though. here below are the directories that I copied :
- C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes
- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\
- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences\
Thanks a lot, worked well for Iphone 4 (iOS 5) using Win7 + iTunes 10.5
The directories for Win7 are different though:
- C:\Users\username\Music\iTunes
- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\
- C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences\
Like a charm! Many many thanks
This works great! Thank you so much!