When you upgrade from Mojave (or earlier) to Big Sur 11.7, Apple ensures your content moves over automatically. However, if you have manually managed iTunes libraries on an external drive or need to access an older library:
For nearly two decades, iTunes was the monolithic heart of the Apple digital experience. It was a jukebox, a store, a device manager, and a social network all rolled into one. However, with the release of macOS Catalina in 2019, Apple famously dismantled iTunes, replacing it with three distinct apps: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts. Yet, a specific segment of the user base remained on older operating systems, specifically macOS Big Sur 11.7. For these users, iTunes exists in a unique transitional state—or rather, its absence defines the experience. Understanding iTunes on macOS Big Sur requires analyzing the software’s evolution, the specific stability of the Big Sur architecture, and the implications of the "split" app ecosystem.
With the macOS loaded, you already have the iTunes app loaded. iTunes was broken into several apps a few generations of macOS ago. Apple Support Community How do I install iTunes on my Mac OS BiG Sur 11.5.2 itunes macos big sur 117
"In macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur, your Mac has three dedicated apps—Apple Music, Apple TV and Apple Podcasts. Content from your iTunes library has migrated into each of these apps."
/Users/[Your Username]/Music/iTunes/
Your local music files, playlists, and smart playlists automatically migrate to the new app.
To create an immediate backup, click . For enhanced security, you can select Encrypt local backup to password-protect your backup data. When you upgrade from Mojave (or earlier) to Big Sur 11
This is the central question, and the answer requires nuance.
It was the summer of 2020, and the world felt like it was running on beta software. However, with the release of macOS Catalina in
If your iOS device does not appear in the Finder sidebar after updating to Big Sur 11.7: Disconnect the device and restart your Mac.