How do I transfer my iTunes library from one computer to another?

Moving your iTunes library to another computerIf you get a new computer, you can transfer your iTunes library by connecting computers or by using a portable hard drive or iPod. For more information, click the links below to see articles on the Apple Service & Support website. When you sell or give away a computer, don't forget to deauthorize it.

There is also information at the website on how to do this on a mac. ITunes for Windows: How to copy purchases between computers You can copy songs you purchased from the iTunes Store to a different computer. Note: If you will no longer be using your old computer, make sure to deauthorize it.

When you purchase a song from the iTunes Store, you're allowed to download it once. To play purchased music on a different computer, just copy the song files and authorize that computer. You can authorize up to five computers to play your purchased music.1 This document is for Windows users.

If you use a Mac, see "iTunes: How to copy music between computers"Once you've found your purchased music files, use any of these methods to copy them to another computer. Burn a data CD or DVD with the song filesBurn the song files to a data CD or DVD. Once you've burned the disc, insert it into another computer and import the songs into iTunes..Mac iDiskIf you have a .

Mac (pronounced "dot Mac") account, you can save song files to your iDisk and then copy them to other authorized computers. Mac website for more information on using iDisk. You can even use an iDisk with a Windows PC.

External hard drive Drag files to the disk icon of an external hard drive connected to your computer. Connect the hard drive to the other computer, and import the songs into iTunes. You can also use your iPod as a hard disk.

Use your iPod and iTunes 7With iTunes 7 you can transfer iTunes Store purchases that are synced with your iPod to any authorized computer. Let's say from your home to your work computer. Here are the steps to "reverse sync" purchases from your iPod.

Make sure that you are using the latest version of iTunes 7 and iPod software. Authorize your computer by choosing Authorize Computer from the Store menu in iTunes. Attach your iPod to the computer that contains purchases.

From the File menu, choose Transfer Purchases from iPod. File sharingTurn on file sharing to copy files over a network. Removable MediaIf you have an Iomega Zip or Jaz drive, or any other removable media that can be read by other computers, copy the songs to the removable disk, insert it into another computer, and import the songs into iTunes.

EmailYou could email music files as enclosures, but email is probably not the best way to copy music because most song files are too large for email servers to process. Notes iTunes DRM-protected music includes audio with a bit rate of 128 kbps and allows users to transfer songs and videos to up to five computers, burn seven copies of the same playlist to CD, and sync to an unlimited number of iPods. ITunes Plus music refers to songs and music videos available in our highest-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding (twice the current bit rate of 128 kbps), and without digital rights management (DRM).

There are no burn limits and iTunes Plus music will play on all iPods, Mac or Windows computers, Apple TVs, and many other digital music players.