Albums can not play because original files can not be found

Suddenly about half of my albums in iTunes will not play. Error message says tunes will not play because original files can not be found. The other albums still play fine.

This happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool have moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout,or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you might be able to reconnect iTunes to them using my FindTracks script.
tt2

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HT204406 iTunes Match - can't play because original file can't be found

Hi, I've uploaded 600+ tracks to iTunes Match and since deleted the original files from my computer - when I go to play them 'via the cloud' only a handful of songs will play, the rest say 'can't play because original file can't be found!
I assumed the purpose of iTunes Match was to create a copy of all your tracks so you could access them from anywhere.
Hoping someone can help/offer advice?
Cheers, Lee.

This happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool have moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout,or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you might be able to reconnect iTunes to them using my FindTracks script.
tt2

Song could not be played because original file could not be found

Song could not be played because original file could not be found."
how do I fix/replace a damaged library without reloading all of my 3000+ songs?

Hello bartap,
I would be concerned too if I was not able to locate my music in iTunes. I recommend reviewing the following articles to locate you music files on your computer:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

I can not play a large percentage of my music due to "could not be used because original file could not be found" How do I locate these files again? Thanks

So I have not been able to play a large number of my songs duw to a message that reads "could not be used because original file could not be found". Does anyone know how to locate these files so that itunes will play them again? Thanks

by following this document here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93313
and then doing something else at the end.
I followed the instructions from 1-6:
Then rather than importing the XML file I open iTunes, selected "Add to Library" from the File menu then navigated to the itunes library on my external disc then let it do its work.
I guess something got fragged when I changed computer but it's all ok now.
This worked on a Mac I don't know about Windows

I want to play songe in itunes bur all i get i "song could not be used because original file could not be found"

i want to play songe in itunes bur all i get i "song could not be used because original file could not be found"i want to play songe in itunes bur all i get i "song could not be used because original file could not be found"

but they are on my phone and play

The song could not be used because original file could not be found

I just loaded iTunes on my new laptop running Windows 8. I then synced my iPod Nano hoping existing songs would be imported. Songs seemed to come across but when I try to play on my computer I get message - "The song could not be used because original file could not be found." Can anybody help?

Solution may be found if you search in the "More Like This" section over in the right column.

My LR 4 suddenly no longer recognized my memory cards. I am using the same cards and cameras but consisitently get the error message:"files not imported because the files could not be read. they are jpg and nef files...I am stuck without my workhorse! Any

My LR 4 suddenly no longer recognized my memory cards. I am using the same cards and cameras but consisitently get the error message:"files not imported because the files could not be read. they are jpg and nef files...I am stuck without my workhorse! Any advice is helpful. This has never happened in 6 years

answered in your other thread LR 4 suddenly no longer recognizes files.

Purchased a song from iTunes, i tried to transfer it to my itouch, but i received an error "iTunes could not copy because the file could not be converted". how do i convert the song (well, i thought it will automatically be converted)?

purchased a song from iTunes, i tried to transfer it to my itouch, but i received an error "iTunes could not copy because the file could not be converted". how do i convert the song (well, i thought it will automatically be converted)?

Problem Fixed:
Remove the song from your itunes library, then go to the itunes store and try to download it again. It will say something like "this song has already been purchased, would you like to download it again for free?". Click yes, and it will download again. This worked for me, hope it helped

Itunes could not copy because the file could not be converted

So I just bought two songs from Itunes...but they won't sync to my iphone and an error message keeps coming up. It just says "Itunes could not copy because the file could not be converted" I just paid money for the songs though...so I would really really like to get them on my phone...any suggestions??

Problem Fixed:
Remove the song from your itunes library, then go to the itunes store and try to download it again. It will say something like "this song has already been purchased, would you like to download it again for free?". Click yes, and it will download again. This worked for me, hope it helped

Song can not be used because Original file can not be located - HELP

Hi - Newbie here and I have run into and error and don't know how to fix it. When I try to play a large number of songs from Itunes I get the following message. "The Song (NAME) could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" I have no idea where the orginal files are and I am not sure how to fix this error. Could someone please help me out! Thanks - KAggie

This happens if the files are no longer where iTunes expects to find them. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the files, or that the drive they live on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
Select a track with an exclamation mark, use Ctrl-I to get info, then cancel when asked to try to locate the track. Look on the summary tab for the location that iTunes thinks the file should be. Now take a look around your hard drive(s). Hopefully you can locate the track in question. If a section of your library has simply been moved, or a drive letter has changed, it should be possible to reverse the actions.
Alternatively, as long as you can find a location holding the missing files, then you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes.
If the files are nowhere to be found on your computer, but exist on a device, see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
While deleting & reimporting works when the media can be found the process will delete user playlists, ratings, play counts, date added information and any other metadata not stored in tags.
tt2

I just updated Itunes to the newest version and now my entire song library is saying 'can't play this song because original file can't be found'. ***??

I have no idea what happened!? I just updated Itunes on my macbook and now my entire song library won't play. When I click on a song it says it can't play because it can't find the original file. How is this possible? The original files are on my computer. I just upgraded!! HELP!!

The only thing I can think of is that you deleted these files off your computer without using iTunes to do it. Or maybe you backed up your computer to a previous state to where these song files didn't exist? The last one doesn't even make sense to me unless you used Time Machine to do it. But those are the only things I can think of.

Error " song can't be used because original file can not be found"

Our computer was about to crash, so we backed up our iTunes library to disc like it suggested. However, once we imported the library back to the new computer, iTunes will no longer play the songs without the disc in! It says the "original file can not be found" unless the disc is in. How do we get the "originals" off the disc and back onto the computer so I don't have to carry the disc everywhere?? I can't seem to find any help on any of the help sights about this problem. I tried using iTunes Folder Watch like another post suggested and it didn't work. I still need the disc to play the songs.

Roberta hello,
The remedy is very easy...
Open the iTunes folder and select the iTunes Library file and type command -D
this will make another copy for safe keeping, if anything goes wrong you can always return this copy ... leave the duplicate file where it is.
Start iTunes in the normal way and open the preferences > advanced > general tab... set NOT to copy files when adding to library and DO keep iTunes Music folder organized.... OK your changes.
From the file menu select 'add to library' and choose the iTunes Music folder.
After iTunes has checked and made any adjustments needed have a look and see if any problems still exist ... come and let me know Roberta ... TP
iMac 800MHz PowerPC G4 17 Flat Screen. G4 iBook. Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Songs cannot be used because original files could not be found.

I had my laptop stolen with my original iTunes Music libary. The library was backed up on office server. When I copied bqackup to new laptop iTune file, the song list shows but all songs will not play with message:
"the song "XXX" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
Unfortunately, the originals are on stolen laptop? Is there anything I can do!

happyhannah wrote:
I right-clicked on the song to 'get info' and found out that the path is 'file://localhost/users/Hannah/desktop/iTunes' etc. I remembered that I had moved the iTunes library to the desktop as not to forget to back it up.
Hmm, if the active iTunes library knows where to look for files but they have been misplaced then putting them back where it expects to find them should work. However you should only be moving the media folder not the library files, or if moving both you should shift-start iTunes and choose a new library.
Now, I have deleted the iTunes library from the (default) Music folder and have put it on the desktop with the hope that this is now where iTunes will find the original library. However, it's still not working!!! Please help!!! I really cannot lose my whole iTunes library
As long as you have the media files and a copy of the library files from your old system it really should be possible to coax them back into working order.
Are you currently connected to a library which lists your media? If so what is the path given for a sample missing file and where is the actual copy of that file now?
tt2

"song could not be used because original file could not be found..."

My entire music library files cannot be found. When I click on a song I get a popup that says "song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" I can't find the files anywhere, can't open any from my Windows Media player, from Quicktime or anywhere and can't find them on my hard drive. I have about 2300 songs downloaded from my CD collection and a handful of songs purchased on itunes. I have searched for all "mp3" files, no luck, searched by "title/artist", no luck. Yikes!!

I've occasionally had an artist or LP go missing from my library, but to have the entire library disappear is incredible!
Depending upon which version of itunes you are using, you should find your music here: (if it still exists)
User (insert name here)>Music>itunes music>(Folders for each artist)
or
User (insert name here)>Music>itunes media (I think)>music> (Folders for each artist)
If you find your music folder in either of these places, close the windows, open itunes, from the file menu, select "Add to Library" and navigate to the music folder and select it. Itunes should recreate your library.

Songs in Itunes not playing - No Original File found

For some reason my ITUNES wont play my songs located on my computer. It has a pop up that says the Original file could not be found.

Have you moved your iTunes folder to a new location?

Albums can not play because original files can not be found

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