How can I copy iTunes Media folder to an external drive?

Copy=cmd+c, paste=cmd+v. If you're still talking about your iTunes Media folder while running Ventura then you might take a look at Managing your Mac media libraries - Apple Community. You should be backing up the Music Library.musiclibrary database as well as the media folder. Restoring this to the same or another computer when needed will be easier if the library is in the standard layout.

If you're not already backing up your whole computer see Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support. This can capture all of your data, include your Music library, and updates automatically in the background. Generally better than a one shot copy and paste which is then quite tricky to update.

tt2

My personal logic suggests that you shouldn’t be able to „save“ your iTunes library on an external drive. So, why is that? Well, first, why would you want to? Your iTunes account is linked to your Apple ID, sorry, Apple Account, and you‘ll have access to every content you’ve bought on iTunes on every device you’re signed in on, except for content removed from iTunes due to copyright, license, or other conflicts. So, if you don’t mind the last part, you should be fine. Also, let’s say you would be able to store your library on another device. It would obviously be saved as FLAC, ALAC, MP3 or a similar format, because saving it in any context to iTunes, it wouldn’t make any sense to store it there in the first place. And if you’ve got it saved in FLAC, what would stop you from making it accessible for free or selling it saved on your drives, without a license, committing copyright infringement? Right! Nothing! So, I believe that you won’t be able to store it there.

sorry if you needed it

xWauwau wrote:

My personal logic suggests that you shouldn’t be able to „save“ your iTunes library on an external drive. So, why is that? Well, first, why would you want to? Your iTunes account is linked to your Apple ID, sorry, Apple Account, and you‘ll have access to every content you’ve bought on iTunes on every device you’re signed in on, except for content removed from iTunes due to copyright, license, or other conflicts.

Along with any media ripped from CD or obtained from third party sources like Amazon, Bandcamp, etc. Apple have mechanisms in place to stop you sharing DRM protected media. Anything else can and should be backed up to avoid the inevitable disappointment when a hard drive fails.

tt2

You can always download it again, except when you can't. I have security copies of several iTunes purchases that are no longer available to redownload. If I hadn't kept them they'd be gone. Likewise I have many podcast episodes that are no longer available online. Around 5% of my songs come from the iTunes Store. Backing up everything is easier than spending time weighing up what might be relatively safe to omit from the backup, particularly when I could get that judgment call wrong.

tt2

Well that’s for sure, but, if you’ve got time to explain, why would I back up content bought on iTunes locally? You can always download it again, right?

Alright, thank you