How to manually upgrade iTunes library to Music.app library on macOS Catalina?
- Quit Music.app by
Cmd
+Q
- Hold
Option
key and start Music.app -
Choose music library
dialog opens. ClickChoose library...
- Locate the old
.itl
file (e.g.Music/iTunes/iTunes Library.itl
) and select it - Input a name for a new library and click Save
- Music.app starts with original library contents within a few seconds. Only a few megabyte large library is created on the disk. Media files and iTunes files are left intact.
- Optional: go to Music.app preferences -
Files
tab and check the settings, so you know which location is currently used for media files.
Note: This didn't work in beta versions of macOS Catalina – first versions of Music.app didn't support multiple libraries or selecting a library.
Good to know to avoid confusion while working with multiple libraries: double-clicking on .itl
file, or .musiclibrary
library (folder) from Finder opens Music.app with the last used library. It does NOT switch the library.