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Apple Says Multiple iTunes Libraries Are Not Supported in First Public Beta of macOS Catalina

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In a new support document, Apple has indicated that the first public beta release of macOS Catalina does not support switching between multiple iTunes libraries. This also applies to the first two developer betas of macOS Catalina.

macos catalina apple music
Initial betas of macOS Catalina can only open the previously selected iTunes library on your Mac prior to updating, according to Apple. Before you install the macOS Catalina beta, choose the iTunes library that you want to use by fully closing iTunes and reopening it while holding down the Option key.

Apple split iTunes into three apps on macOS Catalina: Music, TV, and Podcasts. The iTunes library that you choose will be the one that opens in the beta versions of Music, TV, and Podcasts on macOS Catalina. Your other music files, media, and additional iTunes libraries will remain wherever you have saved them.

Apple's support document suggests that multiple iTunes libraries will be supported in the general release of macOS Catalina this fall.

iTunes has long allowed users to have multiple libraries. Borrowing Apple's examples, you could have a library of holiday music that would not appear in iTunes the rest of the year, or you could keep your music in a library on your computer and your movies in a library on an external storage device.

Tag: iTunes
Related Forums: macOS Catalina, Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

nvmls Avatar
nvmls
94 months ago
Hopefully the new Music app will not follow in the trajectory of Final Cut X in terms of implementation of important features that were present on the app it replaced.
Sadly that seems to be the pattern with Apple (aperture, disk utility, etc)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bilibug Avatar
bilibug
94 months ago
Cool, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to switch my library unless there was a file that was corrupted. However awesome that they are including this functionality again. Seems like something that a number of people use.

I’m curious though, what are some people’s use cases for this?
25K+ music files that I don't necessarily want cluttering up my Apple Music account on my phone.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H
hagar
94 months ago
Save yourself a lot of aggravation and don't install the Catalina beta.
Who would be stupid enough to install a beta on their production machine? And then complain if things fall apart? No one ever.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeathBecomesMe Avatar
DeathBecomesMe
94 months ago
So does it still use the same iTunes library file for all three apps? I have my library on a network drive and access it on Windows and Mac, so wondering if that will still work.
Save yourself a lot of aggravation and don't install the Catalina beta.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
BootsWalking
94 months ago
Hopefully the new Music app will not follow in the trajectory of Final Cut X in terms of implementation of important features that were present on the app it replaced.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeathBecomesMe Avatar
DeathBecomesMe
94 months ago
Must be fiction. No one would install an initial PB on a production machine and then actually lose anything they weren't COMPLETELY willing to lose to a factory reset. Beta 101.
Did I say I was filing a class action lawsuit for losing some album art? It's my personal laptop, not a SpaceX guidance computer.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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