Unable to access music library with Bose SoundTouch 20 Series III

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jspri20000 Author

Level 1

8 points

Unable to access music library with Bose SoundTouch 20 Series III

I recently replaced an old Bose iPod docking station (no longer supported) with a Bose SoundTouch Series III. The music library is accessed via Bluetooth from your computer - cannot be accessed through a mobile device. I have not been able to successfully locate the iTunes music library to add it to the SoundTouch service. The iTunes Library XML is shared with other devices in the Advanced settings so the problem is most likely the location of the file. The next step recommended by Bose is to be sure the "iTunes Music Library.xml" file is located in the default iTunes location (C:\Users\{usesrname}\Music\iTunes). Mine is not - I'm using Windows 10. They give no other instruction but to find the file and move it. My questions are: 1) What are the consequences for moving the iTunes library from it's current location (see below) to the new one and 2) Do they mean to move the entire library or is there just one file that can be moved. I'm a Windows/Microsoft person and while I use an iPad and an iPhone the functions of the iTune library is a bit of a mystery to me.

Posted on Sep 3, 2019 4:00 PM

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Answer 1

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Sep 4, 2019 1:36 PM in response to jspri20000

Hi jspri20000,

Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today with moving your iTunes library.

This article can help: Back up and restore your iTunes Library and scroll down to "Find the iTunes Media folder". You can move this folder to the default location through Advanced Preferences. This would be recommended if it is currently somewhere else. Also notice the checkbox so that the Library XML can be shared with other apps.

You may also want to follow the backup instructions to safeguard your music library.

Have a fantastic day!

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Answer 2

Sep 5, 2019 2:21 AM in response to jspri20000

I presume you have already seen - https://www.bose.com/en_us/support/article/adding-a-music-library-to-soundtouch.html

I must confess I have not played with iTunes on Windows 10 although I do have a Windows 10 system, I still use Windows 7 for my music system as I also use Windows Media Center. However the following may help guide you.

If you hold down the Shift key when launching iTunes in Windows you get the option to either select an iTunes library in a different location or to create a new iTunes library in a different location. See - https://www.imore.com/how-create-new-itunes-library-windows

You can move an existing iTunes library, this is often done by people wanting to move their library to an external drive if it becomes too big for their C:\ drive. See - https://www.fonepaw.com/tutorials/move-itunes-library-to-external-drive.html

Note: Based on the above article the normal location for Windows 10 would still be C:\Users\<username>\Music\iTunes

For what its worth, as long as your music is in either Apple Lossless aka ALAC, AAC or MP3 formats it can be shared with Windows Media Player by having WMP 'watch' the iTunes library folder. However as the music would remain in the iTunes location even though playable by WMP I don't know if this means using the WMP option would work any better for the Bose SoundTouch app in WMP mode. (I have my entire iTunes library in Apple Lossless and shared to WMP and hence via WMP accessible by Windows Media Center.)

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Answer 3

jspri20000 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 5, 2019 7:40 AM in response to jspri20000

I finally gave up and called Bosh. Other than the long wait for a support rep, they were extremely helpful, plus the rep called me madam and had a delightful English accent. The obviously don’t contract out their support. It was almost worth the 45 minute wait, no it was definitely worth it. Their “get started” manual is very simple and even their on line help sheets have limitations. I didn’t have to move my library, just adjust some misconceptions.

Turns out you you can use the SoundTouch with mobile devices but your library and the app need to be on the same device.

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Unable to access music library with Bose SoundTouch 20 Series III

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