How can I sync my music library across my iPad mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro?

Having had some difficulties in getting my music library, with the source music files stored on an external drive, to work both with my MacBook Pro and my older iPad mini, I was thinking I might try "starting from scratch" and building a new music library.


First, I thought I could rearrange all the files themselves into a consistent file structure—the Music app has created folders within folders over several years of adding files. I would eliminate all that and create one "Music" folder with all titles and artists there.


I'll be getting a new MacBook with spacious storage, so I can move all the music files onto that laptop's hard drive finally.


Then, I thought, I could create a new library file. But since I don't really know what steps to take to make this work smoothly, I thought I'd ask here if there are recommended steps. Pointers to existing documentation for a process like this would certainly be welcome.


My goal is to create a music library containing all my music from all sources that all my devices—my iPad mini, my desktop iMac, and my new MacBook Pro can access via the cloud and on my home network.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad mini 2

Posted on May 25, 2023 08:29 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 26, 2023 01:42 PM

Hi tccroc,


You can create a new Music Library for Apple Music.


Additionally, the easiest way to accomplish what you're looking ot do is to consolidate multiple music libraries into one, To do that, you can create a new library and then import your old data into it.


To create a new library, take a look at the steps here:


"Create or choose a library

  1. In the Music app  on your Mac, choose Music > Quit Music.
  2. Hold down the Option key while you reopen Music.
  3. In the window that appears, do one of the following:
    • Create a new library: Click Create Library.
    • Choose a different library: Click Choose Library.


You can name your new library (the folder containing your Music content) whatever you like. For best results, if you create additional music libraries, don’t name the new libraries “Music” or “New Music.” Make sure each library has a unique name so you’ll know which is which."



After you have the main library you want to use named, you can then import music from other places on your computer or external drive into that one library. Those steps and options for importing are shown here:


Cheers!

Similar questions

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 26, 2023 01:42 PM in response to tccroc

Hi tccroc,


You can create a new Music Library for Apple Music.


Additionally, the easiest way to accomplish what you're looking ot do is to consolidate multiple music libraries into one, To do that, you can create a new library and then import your old data into it.


To create a new library, take a look at the steps here:


"Create or choose a library

  1. In the Music app  on your Mac, choose Music > Quit Music.
  2. Hold down the Option key while you reopen Music.
  3. In the window that appears, do one of the following:
    • Create a new library: Click Create Library.
    • Choose a different library: Click Choose Library.


You can name your new library (the folder containing your Music content) whatever you like. For best results, if you create additional music libraries, don’t name the new libraries “Music” or “New Music.” Make sure each library has a unique name so you’ll know which is which."



After you have the main library you want to use named, you can then import music from other places on your computer or external drive into that one library. Those steps and options for importing are shown here:


Cheers!

May 31, 2023 03:35 PM in response to tccroc

Hello tccroc,


Thanks for keeping us updated. In order to be able to sync your music across all your linked devices, you'll need be a subscriber to Apple Music or iTunes Match. These subscriptions include the feature Sync Library. This resource explains more how this feature works: Use Sync Library to access your music library across your devices - Apple Support


If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can access your music library, including your playlists, on any device that has the Apple Music app and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with your Apple Music subscription.


We hope this information helps you. Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. Take care.



May 31, 2023 03:28 PM in response to DerekM87

So far, so good. I have created a new music library on my new laptop and it seems to have grouped the music in a less crazy way and the songs play on the laptop just fine.


Now I want to make this library function as my cloud library so that I can play the same songs from the other Mac desktop, from my 2nd gen iPad mini, and any other devices connected to my Apple account. So what settings do I need to make sure I use to make that happen? The settings in the Music app on this laptop (MacBook Air 2022 running Ventura 13.2.1, Music version 1.3.3.2) look slightly different from what I've used before, so any advice would be appreciated.

Jun 1, 2023 09:13 AM in response to Jeff_W.

I guess I must have had an iTunes Match subscription sometime in the past because I seem to remember being able to access my library of music from all my devices. I will try subscribing again. I do hope that my 2nd generation iPad will continue to be able to access the music using the Music app it runs. I'm still not sure how, once I've signed on for iTunes Match, to set up the old Music app on the iPad so it accesses all songs and playlists.

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How can I sync my music library across my iPad mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro?

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