Using iTunes Match with an external hard drive

**Heathmel** · 02-20-2013, 11:34 AM

I have all of my music on an external hard drive to save space on my MacBook Air. Is there a way to use iTunes Match so that I can play music from my external on my iPhone and iPad?

**kch50428** · 02-20-2013, 11:38 AM

No.

iTunes Match will only stream from 'cloud' servers... if you want to play what's in your local iTunes library on another local device, you need to use AirPlay.

**Karenkcoulter** · 02-20-2013, 01:52 PM

No but if you're paying for iTunes Match and signed in with the same iTunes username on the iPhone and have match turned on, then you will have access to your entire library through match. It won't be streaming from your external hard drive, it will be coming from the cloud. Also on iPhones/iPads it will download tracks to the device when you are playing them so that you can later play them without a network connection.

**Allyson Kazmucha** · 02-20-2013, 09:35 PM

I think what she is asking is how she initially matches her library. Since it's on an external and won't all fit on her Macbook Air.

I'm assuming some of the music is purchased from iTunes and some is not.

This is a question I was interested in knowing the answer too as well. I'd like to clear off some space on my hard drive but not if it's going to pull them from Match.

**kch50428** · 02-20-2013, 09:44 PM

I think Match just sees things as being in a library tied to your AppleID... and doesn't care where things are physically.

**Garz** · 02-20-2013, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by kch50428

No.

iTunes Match will only stream from 'cloud' servers... if you want to play what's in your local iTunes library on another local device, you need to use AirPlay.

Not quite. As Karen said, it downloads each song to your i-devices as it plays them. I bought it thinking I could stream to my iPad mini and I was wrong. Wasted $25. I just uploaded them to Google Play so I could stream to my iPad. And that was free.

And to answer Heatmel's question, I don't think it can be done from a external HD. Or at least not that I'm aware of.

**Peligro911** · 02-20-2013, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Allyson Kazmucha

I think what she is asking is how she initially matches her library. Since it's on an external and won't all fit on her Macbook Air.

I'm assuming some of the music is purchased from iTunes and some is not.

This is a question I was interested in knowing the answer too as well. I'd like to clear off some space on my hard drive but not if it's going to pull them from Match.

That's what I think the op was asking

I don't see why it would not work

If your library is on the external when you open iTunes like normal when match it first started I don't think it matter where the actually music files are located as long as it can access them ..

It need to match them and upload ones it dont match to the cloud once that is done then they are able to be access on your devices

I have noticed on your device sometimes you can download a song but sometimes it streams not sure why but as far as the op question I think as long as your external is connected when you turn on match for the first time you will be ok

Sent from my iPhone 5 from a galaxy far far away (in the USA ) using Tapatalk !

**Karenkcoulter** · 02-21-2013, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by kch50428

I think Match just sees things as being in a library tied to your AppleID... and doesn't care where things are physically.

Correct. In fact after you match them, you could delete them entirely and it wouldn't matter because Match has them and you can always download them again. You could…but its still probably better to keep a backup somewhere.