Songs cannot be found?

I just upgraded to Vista and I had some songs on their that my Dad didn't import onto Vista.... >_< Luckily, I burned them onto a CD. Well when I tried adding them to iTunes, I got an error that said something like "Songs cannot not be found in iTunes Store. Import anyway" Well the tags are gone. I think they are ID3 tags I'm not sure. Well there is over like 3 hours of songs that I really don't want to listen to and fill out all the blanks and find the albums artwork.... If you are confused I'll give you an example:
I have some songs on a CD like Holiday and What I've Done etc. I put the CD into iTunes but nothing is there. It doesn't say the name of the song, artist, or anything. I had a similar problem when I used XP. My dad downloaded some music that he calls heavy metal and what everyone else calls Alternative and I wanted to add it to my library but I got the same error.
It's not a critical error I'll just have to go through 40 songs and do every detail. I like my iTunes to be nice and organized with everything filled out.... I'm a nerd
I am editing this in HTML for some reason... but... I forgot to add I don't know the names to 3/4 of the songs... Especially the 10 from Black Rain.
It stinks I spent like 4 hours editing those songs and now they aren't edited. =[ Some of them were really nice edits, too.

That's what I would do; drag any songs that you've messed with back into the library. This shouldn't take all that long because the songs files are still on your computer, so it's not like you're copying them from an external source. After you've re-imported the songs again, you can locate duplicate songs under the edit menu. Once selecting this option, you can organize the songs by date added, and only delete the songs imported before the day you imported the messed up songs. Once the messed up songs have been reimported, you'll want to delete the songs files from the folders that wasn't in the iTunes folder.
Does that make sense? Good luck.

Similar Messages

HT203433 I purchased 8 songs on September the 18th, for some reason I am not able to dwnload on to my ipod. When I try I get a error that the songs cannot be found. Wha t can I do?

I purchased 8 songs on September the 18th, for some reason I am not able to dwnload on to my ipod. When I try I get a error that the songs cannot be found. Wha t can I do?

have a look at this support article.

I'VE HAD IT WITH iTUNES- Moved library, now "songs cannot be found"

I have HAD IT with itunes. Apple NEEDS TO FIX PROBLEMS RELATING TO ERRORS WHILST MOVING THE MUSIC LIBRARY. "the original file could not be found" seems to be an all too common error.
I'm using snow leopard, and have an external hard-drive, which has my music library stored on it. I plug in the drive whenever I listen to music. The drive had an error and I was forced to copy the entire music folder to a separate drive, format the drive, then move the music folder back.
I kept the path to the music folder the same, the files the same, and even the name of the drive the same. I opened itunes and in 'advanced' I selected the new itunes music folder location. I figured that it would be fine, as everything was the same as before.
WRONG.
Now, 2/3 of the songs cannot be found when I try and play them. This happens every time I move my library, even when following Apple's step-by-step instructions!!!
I have just clicked "consolidate library" but now I fear that I will have thousands of duplicates, or worse the songs still won't be recognised.
HELP, PLEASE
<Edited by Host>

That setting in Advanced doesn't tell iTunes where to find your library, that setting tells iTunes where to put files when you import them. I'm not well versed on the Consolidation function and what that they may have done. I can say that what you should have done was launch iTunes while holding down the option key and navigate to where the library is located is prompted. I suppose you could do that now...but I'm not sure if you might already have dupes from consolidating. If so, you could check for Corral Dupes, a script over at Doug's Scripts, get rid of the dupes, then follow the launch with option key step.

After installing the latest of iTunes the original files for almost 300 songs cannot be found for syncing to my iPod. The files are songs that were bought from iTunes, and copied into iTunes from CDs.

After installing the latest of iTunes the original files for almost 300 songs cannot be found for syncing to my iPod. The files are songs that were bought from iTunes, and copied into iTunes from CDs.

Apparently, security programs like Macafee and Norton view Itunes updates as new programs and block then from access. If you add Itunes to the list of exemptions, it solves the problem.

Songs cannot be found because original files could not be found, but...

I've just imported over 2,000 songs to iTunes and had my preferences set (Edit/Preferences/Advanced tab/General tab) to copy each file to my iTunes music folder when copying to iTunes library (I thought--at least the box is checked). However, when I moved several hundred of the files from their original location on my hard drive, the link was broken to iTunes. Each time I try to open or play one of these tracks, I get the error message that the file cannot be used because the original file cannot be found. Itunes is looking for the original files in folder(s) outside of my iTunes folder, instead of in the itunes folder. Or so I think; I'm still pretty new at this.
1. What did I do wrong?
2. Is there an easier way to fix this than to delete all 2,000 songs and re-import them?
3. Is it really necessary to re-establish links one song at a time, instead of a group of songs at a time? (UGH!)
4. I want to delete these songs from the other folder once they're copied into my iTunes folder AND FUNCTIONING in both iTunes and on my iPod. Can I do that?
5. What does the exclamation point icon mean that's appeared next to some of my songs (and Why can't I find any info about it in the iTunes help file or on apple.com)? In some cases it correlates to broken links, but some disappear when I open the song.
6. What does the check box mean that's next to each song (and why can't I find an info about it in the iTunes help file or on apple.com)? (GRR!)
7. A friend suggested I drag and drop files from my iPod disk space directly into iTunes, but I have USB1 ports/drivers which are excruciatingly slow. Is her idea better than copying the files from iPod to an intermediary folder on my desktop? I've already copied everything onto my computer, and having the iPod plugged in seems to slow everything down.
I've spent two days trying to fix this and the longer I look for answers on iTunes help and on apple.com, without finding a single one, the more questions I have. Please help!

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

Random songs "cannot be found" after transferring library

After spending many hours transferring my entire library to a new computer, some of my song files randomly "cannot be found". This makes no sense to me, because when I transferred the actual music files, I moved all the music in the itunes music folder on my old computer to the new one. For some reason, some of the songs that were transferred decide not to play while others, which are in the same folder that I imported will play. Can someone please help me figure out how to find all these "missing" files without having to add the folders in again (which will create annoying duplicates that I will then have to delete). Thank you...

Sounds like the songs did not exist in the iTunes folder on the old computer but were instead located elsewhere on the computer.
If they are in the iTunes folder, then something really strange is going on.

TS3212 over 100 of my songs stored in my library have an exclamation point next to them. When I click on the song it says that the song will not be downloaded to my phone because the original song cannot be found, and would I like to locate it? I need h

Over 100 of my songs in my itunes library have an exclamation point next to them. When I attempt to sync them with my phone it says that the song cannot be synced because it cannot locate the original song? Do I want to locate it? Can anyone help me figure out where my music is on my computer and where to locate it and how to send it back to itunes?

See this article: iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
B-rock

For some reason I am unable to access my purchased itunes music from my icloud or from my computer. I suddenly get this message: say that I the original location for the song cannot be found.

For some reason I am unable to access my purchased itunes music from the purchased folder in the itunes store or in my icloud. The descriptions of the songs I purchased are there, but when I attempt to play them it says that the original location of the song cannot be located. This is so frustranting. How do I get my songs back??

Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs (Win XP) or Programs and Features (later)
Remove all of these items in the following order:
iTunes
Apple Software Update
Apple Mobile Device Support (if this won't uninstall move on to the next item)
Bonjour
Apple Application Support
Reboot, download iTunes, then reinstall, either using an account with administrative rights, or right-clicking the downloaded installer and selecting Run as Administrator.
The uninstall and reinstall process will preserve your iTunes library and settings, but ideally you would back up the library and your other important personal documents and data on a regular basis. See this user tip for a suggested technique.
Please note:
Some users may need to follow all the steps in whichever of the following support documents applies to their system. These include some additional manual file and folder deletions not mentioned above.
HT1925: Removing and Reinstalling iTunes for Windows XP
HT1923: Removing and reinstalling iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
tt2

I just downloaded Itunes 10 and I now have an exclaimation icon beside three quarters of the songs in my library. Itunes says my songs cannot be found. Help!!!!!

I just downloaded Itunes 10 and an exclaimation point icon next to three quarters of my song library tell me that the songs cannot be located. I don't know how to bring them back...help!!!

You will always find somebody else having a problem they think is the same, but is it really? Then too, do you want people saying, "Yes, I have the same problem what do I do?" but no answers. Furthermore if this was a major issue there would be tens of thousands of posts here about this rather than one or two per month.
Did you do a backup of your computer before installing new software as is always a good idea?
Purchases you may be able to download a second time.
Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Availability by Country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid. Apple notes it is your responsibility to back up your purchases.
Select the store on the left side of iTunes.
Click on Purchased on the right side under Quick Links.
You can re-download your available previous purchases.

After installing the latest itunes update most of my music cannot be located. A box pops up and says the song cannot be found. What can I do?

I installed the latest itunes update and now I can't play most of my songs. A box pops up that says it cannot be located and asks me if I want to locate it and when I click on Yes it gives me all my files on the computer (dropdown box) and I don't know how to find them. Some of my songs will still play.

turingtest2 wrote:
The "missing file" thing happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has 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 say no when asked 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. I can provide a step by step guide if you give me the two paths.
In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps and locate the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links. 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.
tt2
Having the same issue.. All of playlists were deleted as well as the majority of my music can't be located. It seems the only music that can be located is the music I have purchased directly through itunes/iphone.
The location where itunes thinks my music file is:
"file://localhost/C:/Users/MY NAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/"
The actual location where my music file is:
"C:/Users/MY NAME/My Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/"
This is weird because I have not moved my music and it was working fine before I upgraded to the new iTunes...
My steps:
1) update itunes to latest version
2) plug in old phone take backup in itunes
3) plug in new phone and restore from that backup
I didn't notice the issue until I looked on my phone and all of music was missing from my phone along with playlists (minus the music I purchased directly from iphone/itunes.
Then I looked in itunes in my music library and saw itunes can't locate my music files. I also tried replacing the previous itunes library file as noted in the support link above but didn't do anything..
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,

Itunes Error song cannot be found would you like to locate it?

I downloaded Itunes 10 on windows vista last Saturday, but after I synched my Iphone 3gs I noticed that none of my 1000 songs where on my Iphone as well as my 55 Ringtones bought from myxer.com. When I click on the song/ringtone it comes up with an error stating "The song "such and such" could not be used because the original location file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" I have tried many times to locate and I upload it to my itunes library but as soon as I shut Itunes out it does it again. No matter what type of music it is whether it be downloaded, cds or bought from the store this error appears everytime with every song and ringtone. I have spent over 4 hours on the phone with apple techs with no results. This is very ridiculous to have to import all my cds and songs that are saved onto my computer over and over again. The apple techs have had me uninstall and re-install Itunes twice, and had me search for all different types of files for my Itunes to find them with no luck. Please help!!!!!!

Select a broken track and press ctrl-i to Get Info. Look on the summary tab for the location where iTunes "thinks" the file should be. Where is it really? Post back the two locations and I can suggest the best approach.
tt2

Purchased song cannot be found

I purchased a song with my current appli ID on my current computer and it has been on my ipod for several months. Now I when I click on it to put it in a play list it says the original file could not be found and would I like to locate it. I say yes and nothing happens. When I go to the itunes stores and click on purchases to download it again it isn't there, none of my purchases that are over 6 months old are there. Any suggestions I'm missing about $75 worth of songs. Thanks. Doubleblended1.

Hey doubleblended1,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities, and thanks for the question. I'd go through the steps from the following article in detail and see if you can locate the missing songs:
Resume any interrupted downloadsChoose Store > Check for Available Downloads from the iTunes menu. Click Resume if any downloads are listed as unfinished. For more information see How to resume interrupted iTunes Store downloads.
Check your iTunes media folder
For Mac OS X
For Windows 7 and Windows Vista
For Windows XP
Check your Trash/Recycle BinCheck the Trash (Mac) or the Recycle Bin (Windows). If you're able to find any of your missing items, you can re-add them back to your iTunes library.
Mac OS X: Control + click (or right-click) on the item and choose Put Back.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
Windows XP: Right-click on the item and choose Restore.
If after restoring the item from the trash your media doesn't reappear in your iTunes library. You will need to locate the restored file in your iTunes Media folder and drag the item into your iTunes library window.
via:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408
If following those instructions do not work and the media is no longer on your computer, you can try the following:
If the missing media is on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, (and you purchased the media from the iTunes store), you can transfer them back to your computer using iTunes.
If the missing media is on another computer, you can transfer your iTunes media between your authorized computers on your local network using the Home Sharing feature in iTunes.
If the missing media is an app, a song, an album, a music video, or a book, you may be able to download it again free of charge.
Regards,
David

I am getting an error when trying to sync that songs cannot be found

How do I correct this? I can see the songs on my ipod but they do not play.

I was able to get it to work. The root folder which held the pictures had a lock on it through windows 7. Even though the drive was shared, I still had to go into the folder properties and share it with everyone. Once i got the lock off and rebooted I was able to add captions again.

HT1386 Switched from ipod to ipod touch. When trying to sync songs get lost. Show in the library and playlist but a message says cannot be found. An exclamation symbol with a circle aroung it shows on the missing songs. How can I sync the new ipod touch?

Switched from ipod to ipod touch. When trying to sync, songs get lost. Songs show in the library and playlist but get a message that says songs cannot be found. An exclamation symbol with a circle aroung it shows on the missing songs. How can I sync the new ipod touch?

The ! Next to a song:
The song can’t be located; it may have been moved or deleted
To find them try:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
You can redownload iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

TS1389 I have a missing song on a previously purchased album. It is listed on my itunes library, but cannot be found anywhere on my computer. The rest of the album is fine. How do I re-download it when it thinks I already have?

I bought an album in 2010. As far as I knew it was complete, but now it shows a ! next to one song on my iTunes library. When I sync, the song "cannot be found". The album is still available in the store.
I cannot work out how to re-download the song because my computer and the store think I have it already.
help please!

Whether you can redownload music depends upon what country that you are in, it can't be done in all countries. What you can redownload will show via the Purchased link under Quicklinks on the right-hand side of the iTunes store home page on your computer's iTunes
If music shows there but that tracks doesn't have the cloud symbol against it for redownloading, then delete it from the Music part of your library (where you are getting the 'unable to locate' message) and it should then get the cloud symbol against it for redownloading.
If you aren't in a country where music can be redownloaded then you don't have a copy of it anywhere e.g. on an iPod or your backup of your downloads/library ?

Songs cannot be found?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for