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

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  • Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple.  Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"

    Moved iTunes library to an ext hard drive to make space on my int drive... Followed steps from apple.  Now I cannot access my music... It says: "File could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"
    I moved my iTunes library to my external hard drive some time ago and I followed the directions listed here on the apple support page.  It did copy my library and now is on my hard drive... I can open iTunes and use it to sync all of my devices but I would like to play my music... I can see all of my music files but can not play them if I click on an album or song it says the following:  "(file name) could not be used because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"  I click locate but do not know where to go from there?  I need a way to access all files and not to hunt down one at a time on my hard drive... I am pretty sure I deleted the original library to make space on my internal drive which was the reason for moving it.  I have tried and tried to fix it and do not have a lot of time to do so with a one and two year old at my house who do not like it whenI sit down at my computer.  What to do???  Any help is much appreciated!!!

    See Make a split library portable. Move all of the bits of the library together in the the correct shape and it should work. Or undo exactly what you did and then start over.
    If you're a former Windows user don't try merging two folders together that have the same name by dropping one into the same folders as the other, as that goes badly on a Mac.
    tt2

  • HT201413 I cannot access any of my music with my Windows 7 PC after I update iTunes.  I keep getting the error message " The song 'ABC' could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?", for the 1800 songs that I h

    My music library worked fine on my new PC until updated iTunes software.  Now I cannot access any of my music anymore.  What's happening here?
    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you,
    Lisa

    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

  • I'm getting an error message saying "file could not be used because the original file cannot be found. Would you like to locate it?" What gives?

    I've updated iTunes as recommended (and when recommended) but made no other changes to my computer or files. Why are the files gone?

    I was not complete clear.
    Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section.  If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
    If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
    But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
    In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
    Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

  • HT201272 several of my purchased itunes songs have an exclamation point next to them, they will not play, How can I fix that problem??

    Hello,  Can someone assist me with trying to figure out how to locate previously purchased songs on my itunes library that are showing up with an exclamation point infront of the titile.  I try and play the song and i get a message stating that Itunes cannot locate the original file... HELP:/

    This 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 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 .
    tt2

  • Question: I want to update to the new LION OSX, but it says that I need to at least have an Intel Core 2 Duo. When I click "about this Mac," it says that I have a 2.16 Intel Core Duo. Is there a difference between the "Core 2 Duo" and the "Core Duo"?

    Well, my title basically asks the question that I am seeking an answer for. Im not sure what year my MB Pro is, and I cant exactly find it on the Apple site. Its a 2.16 Intel Core Duo, 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. All I see (dating back to 2007,) is Intel Core 2 Duo on the apple site. Im pretty sure (but not 100% positive,) that my MB Pro is a late 2008/early 2009. Just trying to figure out if I can install LION OSX or not, since it requires atleast intel core 2 duo, and mine says I only have the intel core duo. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

    Core Duo is 32 bit processor and Core 2 Duo is 64 bit processor
    OS X Lion, will only on 64 bit Intel processor Mac's.
    The following Mac's that have 32 bit Intel “Yonah” processorsthat won't run OS X Lion.
    iMac 4,1 Early (Jan-Sept) 2006 17"
    iMac 4,1 Early (Jan-Sept) 2006 20"
    iMac 4,2 Mid (July-Sept) 2006 17"
    Mac Mini 1,1 (Feb-Sept) Early 2006
    Mac Mini 1,1 (Sept-Aug) Late 2006
    MacBook 1,1 13" (May-Nov 2006)
    MacBook Pro 1,1 15" A1150 (Jan-May 2006)
    MacBook Pro 1,2 17" A1151 (Aprl-Oct 2006)
    MacBook Pro 1,1 15" A1175 (May-Oct 2006)
    There is a difference between “Intel Core Duo” and “IntelCore 2 Duo” processors.
    Look under your Apple menu > About this Mac > more information for the details

  • After upgrading iTunes I can no longer play my songs.  It says that "The song  ________ could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"   I have NO clue where to look.

    After I recently Upgraded iTunes I can no longer play any movies or songs.  It says that "The song ______ can no longer be playe because the original file cannot be found.  Would you like to locate it?"   I have no clue where to look as I'm not tech savvy.  I did look in previous itunes libraries file and it's empty.  Any and all help is appreciated. 

    The links below illustrate how your iTunes should look if you use default settings in preferences.  If you don't use those settings then you have to know what you're doing.
    Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/message/13025536 and https://discussions.apple.com/message/17457605
    The above links also illustrate the Media folder and its subfolders.  Look for a file in there in the logical structure by folder artist and album.  If you're lucky, linking one file will get an offer to link others and it iwll all come together again.
    I see you are running OSX 10.5.8  it would help to know which version of iTunes you use now and which one you used before.

  • TS3694 Error: The Song "   "  could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?  Cannot find song.

    When I try to pay a song from my itunes page a message pops up that says, The Song "     " could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?  When I click of locate it cannot be found. This problem just started after I plugged in my new iPod Touch. After unplugging the ipod none of the songs in my iTunes library will plat.     HELP PLEASE.

    i've gotten that message after i delete a file so i think that is what is happening to you

  • On some of my files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Then when I click "Locate", I get nothing.

    I'm really dumbfounded on this one and it's driving me bonkers!!!! On some of my music files there is a ! in front of it, if I try to play the song, I get an error message; "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    This began to happen when Chuck made playlists2burn on2CD-and then he would delete the playlist; sending all the song files into oblivion. Certain songs have a ! right next to the file name, and as I stated before, i get that error message:
    "The song "_____" could not be used, because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    So I click on "Locate". No help. I get a menu with folders that say "catroot" and other folders which names I cannot remember, but I scroll PAST the file folders, & it's just a bunch of ".DLL" files.....I don't understand what any of the names of the folders mean...it's frustr8ing-coz this is my 2nd iTouch, my 1st one got stolen & I can't afford2buy my music back at this time & i NEVER before had a single problem with losing song file locations.
                  Is there anyone out there who has been through this frustrating game of chasing your tail?....<that's how I feel>
    If so I would be ever so gr8ful if maybe someone with the knowledge would be so kind as 2 tell me how/where 2 retrieve these songs & how to put everything back where it belongs, I would be 4ever gr8ful !!!
    I can't afford 2 replace the songs just like I'm unable 2 buy back my old music from my stolen iTouch....man that was an awesome collection-someday I'll be able 2 afford 2 do that & I would like 2 have all the new music that I paid 4 but cannot find when I got my new iTouch....that would just be  wonderful.
                 I hope someone sees this post that can help me retrieve these files....losing $100.00 of iTunes is a REAL BUMMER!!!!!!
                                                      ThanQ SO very much!
                                                                             [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] .
                                                                                               You can also find me on Facebook, my given name is Tiffinie Trimmer, &
                                                                                                that's my Facebook "handle".    ThanQ 4 taking the time 2 read all of this!
                                                                                                hope 2 get a reply someday....I'll B checking all my emails & my Facebook, as well
                                                                                                as marking this page in my FAVORITES so I can find it fast! Take Care!!!

    I was not complete clear.
    Since you never changed the settings in the advanced section of iTunes preferecnes, you have to chech that your music is really in the location setted in the folders reported in the advanced section.  If not you have 2 ways: reset the position of this folders or in the actual disk organisation or in the pointing on the preferences.
    If you press the reset button you just give to itunes its default setting as for the position of the music files: probably this will be a good choice if you have never changed any default preference.
    But before I would check the folders and see if the songs are really there
    In my iTune I have this, and I believe it is the default.
    Users/YOURHOMEFOLDERNAME/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music

  • After installing iTunes 10.5 update i get the following message when trying to play any song in my Library "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  how do i fix this??

    I have an iPod Classic and work on Windows 7.
    i recently installed iTunes 10.5 update and since then i cannot play any of the songs in the Library - i get the following message
    "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"
    what happened to all my songs (almost 2000) How can i get them back into my music library?
    Please help - i do not want to spend another week downloading all my cd's onto my computer !!!!!

    Try my script FindTracks. Select a few of the missing files to start with then run the script. Choose No at the first prompt so that you can check how it works track by track, then confirm or edit the location of the media folder where your files are. Once you are happy with how it behaves let it process larger numbers of tracks automatically.
    tt2

  • ITunes tells me "Could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  I can locate it and all my other music, but can only open one song at a time.  How do I set it to open all my music whenever I want it?

    iTunes tells me my song selection: "Could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  I can locate it and all my other music, but can only open one song at a time.  How do I set it to open all my music whenever I want?
    Message was edited by: Woildbill

    I just spent several hours dealing with this when switching to a new PC. It was extremely frustrating as I knew my files were on my external HD but no matter how many times I copied my old iTunes folder over the files were still missing...because dummy me had forgotten to "unhide folders" on my new PC and my old files were actually stored in a hidden folder created long long ago.
    This is how I did it on Windows 7 with iTunes 10
    1. Look in iTunes Advanced Preferences to see where iTunes is saving files. (Edit, Preferences, Advanced)
         Example: C:/Users/Woildbill/My Music/iTunes/Music
    2. Ensure you are able to see hidden files - Control Panel, Folder Option, View, Show Hidden Files
    3. Use Your Computer's Search Function to Locate the Missing File (Start, Search, type name of song - I started my search in "My Music" folder but be sure to expand to entire Computer if not found right away)
    4. In Search Results, right-click found folder and select properties. This will tell you where the file is actually stored.
    5. Use Windows Explorer (right-click start) to navigate to the location of the file. It is likley your other missing files are in the same location.
    6. In Windows Explorer, copy the newly located files to the iTumes location from Step 1 and everything should work again.
    Hope this helps!

  • What does it mean when a box pops up saying "The song could not be used because the origional file could not be found. Would you like ot locate it?"

    A  while ago, I was cleaning out some old pictures and music from my  computer. I noticed there were a lot of songs that I did not recognize,  and they had nothing to do with my itunes. I figured my step-dad or  sister might have put those songs on my computer or something. So I  deleted a few of them. The next day or so I realized all my music was  gone from my itunes. I still had the account but everything was wiped  clean, my music and playlists. I plugged in my ipod hoping it would  restore all my music but nothing happened, I still had my music on my  ipod and my cell phone. A friend of mine took my ipod, and put all of  the music on a hard drive, gave me the hard drive and I transferred all  of it in a folder onto my desktop. Then I drug that entire folder into  my itunes library. When I click to play a song through itunes a box pops  up and says "The song could not be used because the original file could  not be found. Would you like to locate it?" When I click on the song to  play it in the folder, it will go to itunes and then play it through  there. But I cant just go click on the song in my itunes and play it.

    It means the media is not where iTunes expects it to be.
    iOS devices are not and have never been backup devices.
    Are the files in question still on the computer?
    If not, you should restore them from the backup of the computer.  You do have a backup, correct?

  • My iTunes account sayscould not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? whenever i click on a song and i didn't move the songs anywhere. I don't know if i saved them to my hard drive so i can't find any songs

    I downloaded something that was told to me to get to put some of my itunes songs onto my android phone. I think it synced my account, though. Whenever i click on a song an exclamation point comes up and something pops up and says "could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" and i don't remember ever backing up my songs (this computer is fairly new) and now none of my songs come up. I have no idea what to do but ive spent hundreds of dollars on this account purchasing from the itunes store. Please help me!

    Tunes works through a database file which has a list of your tracks.  When you click on a track it looks up in the database which file it needs to play, then plays the file.  If something breaks this link then you get !  The two main ways to get ! are to move a file from where iTunes expects it to be, or to delete it altogether.  I don't know which has happened in your case.  You can try using Spotlight to find a file for the one referred to in a broken link.  If the files have been moved then they need to be moved back.  If they were deleted completely you will have to restore them from a backup or download them again from the iTunes Store and rebuild your library.

  • TS1718 Why do I get this message:  The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?

    Why do I get this message:  The song "title" could not be used because the oringinal file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?

    John Black3 wrote:
    Many of my songs in my iTunes Library no longer play.  I get this error message: "The song xxx could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?
    this usually happens when a user moves or deletes files in the finder - a sure way to upset iTunes.
    did you move or delete files in the finder ?
    I cannot locate the song.
    if you let iTunes manage your library, all your content will be in <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music/iTunes/iTunes music (or media)/music. did you look there ? tried a spotlight search ?
    if the files are really gone, and have been purchased from the iTunes store, see Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store.

  • My iTunes says: "The song ".............." could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    My iTunes says: "The song “..............” could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" How do I solve this ?

    That means iTunes cannot find the music file associated with the listing in its database.  The first thing to do is simply say "yes" and then try to find the file it should be.  If there are many entries like this, did you rename or move any files or folders with media?  Also run disk utility and check your drive isn't corrupted and losing files left, right and center.

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