How to Back Up Your iTunes Library
You've spent months, years, decades updating your music collection from vinyl to 8-track, from 8-track to cassette, from cassette to CD, from CD to this new-fangled digital format. Don't let all that hard work disappear with one fried circuit—back it up.
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You Will Need
- An iTunes library
- And recordable CDs or DVDs
Steps
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Step 1
Open iTunes
Open your iTunes.
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Step 2
Choose "Back up to disc"
Under File, choose the option "Back up to disc."
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Step 3
Choose back up option
Choose one of the three options given: "Back up entire iTunes library," "Back up only iTunes store purchases," and "Only back up items added or changed since last backup."
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Step 4
Insert disc
When prompted to do so, insert a blank CD or DVD to begin the process.
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Step 5
Insert new discs
Wait for the disc to finish burning and continue inserting new discs as prompted until your entire library is burned.
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Step 6
Store discs
Store the completed discs. Remember, they cannot be played; they are for restorative purposes only.