Can't fix exclamation marks!

Several songs on my iPod show up with an exclamation mark when I connect it to iTunes. The same songs do not have that mark on my actual iTunes library. I've tried replacing the songs on my iPod with the ones in my library (didn't work) and then read the suggestions for how to fix them on this site. However, they say to double-click on the song and then locate it but when I do double-click on it, nothing happens, so how am I supposed to fix it??

Firstly, make sure you have the latest versions of both iTunes and the iPod software installed. This is very important.
For iTunes: In iTunes go to Help>Check for iTunes updates.
For iPod: There's an update link in the Start menu.
If your iPod is synchronized with iTunes (e.g. when you add songs to your library they are automatically added to the iPod) do the following:
1) Click on a song in your library.
2) Press Ctrl+A.
3) Press Del or Delete; it's to the right of the Enter button. All your music is now gone from your library, not from your computer. If you get any prompts about whether you'd like to delete the files from the computer, you don't want to do that.
4) Right click on your iPod in iTunes and click Update. This will clear all tracks from your iPod.
5) Add your tracks to the library again (if you have a music folder on the computer do this: In iTunes go to File>Add folder to library, then just add the folder.
6) Update the iPod.
If the iPod isn't automatically synchronized with iTunes, just clear the iPod and add the tracks again manually.
When all that's done the links between the tracks should be restored (no exclamation marks)

Similar Messages

How to fix exclamation mark problem

Basically since I updated to iTunes 11 and I went to make a new cd to listen to in the car a lot of my songs have got an exclamation mark next to them and says it can't find the original file so since I HATE the new iTunes i decided to downgrade back to iTunes 10. what ever it was before the update came out to see if that would fix the problem but no that didn't work, so I've since been looking all over Google to try and find a solution to this but everything I found was mostly about moving the iTunes library and how to fix that problem but in my case that isn't the problem at all as I haven't moved the library anywhere, I did find a post about transferring purchases from my iPhone to iTunes so I did that thinking it would fix the problem as all the songs that have the exclamation mark next to them are on my iPhone and play back perfectly fine but iTunes would only transfer my app's not my music, is there a way to change this? Or if anyone else knows how to fix this problem in a different way I would very much appreciate the answer to this problem as it's driving me insane!
Thanks in advance
Jordan

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. See this post for a detailed explanation of what the script does.
If your media is scattered around you may need to repeat the search using each of the different locations where you have stored things.
tt2

Trying to create a new playlist but several songs are marked with exclamation mark and will not transfer into playlist - any advice?

I have never had trouble creating playlists before but quite a few songs will not transfer and ate marked at the side with an exclamation mark. I know ZERO about technology so if you can help me in very simple language, I would be very grateful! I am wondering if it may have something to do with the fact that I have had to start new accounts when I have moved countries, on order to be able to use the credit card of the new country in the Itunes store of that country... I am in Aus and have bought a lot of tunes here but last year I was living in Brunei and, in order to use my brunei credit card ( as it was the only one with money in it) , I had to set it up as different to my Aus account. Could this be the issue? prior to Aus my account was in Ireland. I have paid for all these songs but it seems I cannot now use some of them... Please help!!! Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer, Lisa

The exclamation mark next to a song means it is no longer where iTunes is looking for it. iTunes won't let you add such "missing" songs to a playlist. Possible reasons for a song going missing are that you or some third party software has moved or deleted it, or a folder that contained it, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter, or a configuration file has changed making iTunes look in a slightly different place from before.
Select one of the songs with an exclamation mark, press CTRL+I to Get Info, say no when prompted to locate it, then note down the location from the Summary tab that begins file://localhost/ - please post back this path as given. Hopefully you can find the file this entry in your library is supposed to be connected to. Assuming you can please post back this path as well. These two items of information may suggest a fix through folder manipulation or a configuration change.
If things have got a little more disorganized then, as long as the tracks still exist to be found, my FindTracks script should be able to reconnect them to iTunes. FindTracks uses some fuzzy matching routines and searches for multiple potential locations. For more details see this thread. Start by selecting the tracks of a single album and then run the script. Your media folder should normally be detected automatically, e.g. as C:\Users\<User>\iTunes\iTunes Media, but you can edit the path if it is wrong or a particular batch of lost files are stored at another path. If it works as expected you can then move on to fixing the rest of the library in bigger batches.
tt2

Can't access songs in iTunes. There are exclamation marks on about half of my library. When I try to play them I get: "Can't find the file" notice and iTunes asks me to locate each song. Why is this happening and how can I fix it?

I had not opened my iTunes in weeks. When I opened it today, most of the songs in my library had exclamation marks beside them and when I clicked on them got the message: "the song could not be used because the original file cannot be found", then asks me if I want to locate it. When I press "locate" tab I am led to iTunes folders and have to hunt around for the song. Some songs I can't find in the folders. Any ideas as to why this is happening and what I can do to fix it?
Help would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
PE

The problem of tracks becoming de-linked between iTunes and the music files in your iTunes music folder happens for different reasons - this seems to come up fairly commonly in this forum.
The solution can be to locate each song in the iTunes library, as you mentioned - or, but wait, before I get to that...
trouble finding the original track in your iTunes music folder? maybe look for it under compilations, or if not using the 'group compilations preference' then look in the folder under the songs artist name, but what song artist name iTunes uses depends on what you have in the metedata tag spot for album artist or song artist. Any varyation in artist name spelling, in the menu item 'get info' metadata for any selected individual track will cause iTunes to create that as a separate artist folder in the library, even names like 'various' or any difference at all (even the word 'the' can change where in your iTunes music folder a track gets placed by iTunes). You can try to use the finder function of find file (finder munu item outside of iTunes) to locate hard to find items.
Back to how to re-link any de-linked tracks .
There may be scripts that can help re-link de-linked music files - or, at least provide you a list of such files, Scripts are easy to install and use...
at Dougs Scripts, there is one called iTunes Track CPR that might work
http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=itunestrackcpr
or, if you just want a list of de-linked tracks, go to
http://dougscripts.com/itunes/
and find the script called List MIA's, this will create a text file listing all de-linked tracks
if you review the thread at
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3633708
also the thread at
https://discussions.apple.com/message/17513078#17513078
you may find more insight into dealing with this kind of issue there, although some of that thread may not apply to your case, aspects of it might help.
Good luck.

I cannot see my photos in iphoto when I open it...it just shows the albums/titles but only an exclamation mark when I click on the picture. How can I fix this please?

I have downloaded some photos and all I see now is a black sqaure with an exclamation mark in it. If I double click and make them full screen I can see them, but not as thumbnails. Please help :-( In the EVENTS, they are just black sqaures.

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

My last computer died, but we've been able to transfer my files onto an external hard drive to put onto my new computer.I have now got exclamation marks next to 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago. How can I fix this?

After my brother transferred all my files from my old computer to an external hard drive, he then put them onto my new computer. It appears that 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago have the exclamation mark next to them. I cannot find the files on my new computer, and cannot remember where they were saved to on my old computer as it was over 3 years ago. I have also tried to consolidate the files as I've found people suggested, but that is not working. I have also read that you should tell itunes that you are moving the music, but my old laptop cannot be read when it is on. Is there any other way tofix this issue? I don't want to have to buy over 100 songs which I already have.

After my brother transferred all my files from my old computer to an external hard drive, he then put them onto my new computer. It appears that 100 songs which I downloaded from Frostwire years ago have the exclamation mark next to them. I cannot find the files on my new computer, and cannot remember where they were saved to on my old computer as it was over 3 years ago. I have also tried to consolidate the files as I've found people suggested, but that is not working. I have also read that you should tell itunes that you are moving the music, but my old laptop cannot be read when it is on. Is there any other way tofix this issue? I don't want to have to buy over 100 songs which I already have.

I can see my pictures in "Recent" but when I double click a picture to make it big its just a big exclamation mark on the preview. What do I do? I also can't see the pictures to upload to facebook or email.....

I can't view pictures to attach to an email or upload to facebook it's just blank or shows an exclamation mark for each picture. I can see them in "recent" but if I double click on a picture to enlarge it it's just an exclamation mark again. What is wrong and how do I fix it?
Thank you!!!

Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

I might have messed up my files and now have the big exclamation mark on a lot (but not all of my iphotos) My document folder was full of photos and I tried to organize it by putting it into a separate folder but now I can't see my photos :-( please help?

Hi there, I have the same problem as I've read on some of the questions posted although the answers hasn't been much help to me with regards to the big exclamation mark on iphotos when I try to open my photos. For some reason my photo files was stored in my document folder and you can imagine how that must have looked, very unorganized. When I tried to move the photos from there to another file that is just for my photos. Now I can't open them in iphotos and although I tried to undo my mistake it still doesn't want to work.. is there any way I can find all the images on my computer and fix my problem by storing them somewhere else without damaging the files?
Please help me find all my photos as I would be shattered if I were to loose any...
Thank you.

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

Exclamation marks next to songs, but I can no longer find them on my harddrive

I have a Win 7 laptop and an old 30GB ipod. Both iTunes and iPod software are up to date. I download songs from CDs that I own and they appear in the proper iTunes folder. However, after I sync my ipod, many of these songs suddenly get an exclamation mark next to them in iTunes and I can no longer find these songs on my hard drive anywhere. In some cases, only a couple songs from a CD get the exclamation mark and disappear and in other cases it is the entire CD. Why is this happening and where are the songs that I downloaded? These is happening over and over. What is the fix?

This means iTunes can't find the location of the files. Try these articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967?viewlocale=en_US
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408?viewlocale=en_US
Hope these helps my friend.

I can't get my music to play in my itunes. It comes with a exclamation mark next to the song numbers and says that the original songs can't be played cause cant find the file. How do I get the songs back? (I found the files)

I can't get my music to play in my itunes. It comes with a exclamation mark next to the song numbers and says that the original songs can't be played cause cant find the file. How do I get the songs back? (I found the files

You get exclamation marks or dead tracks because iTunes can’t find the file. This can happen for a number of reasons:
The song file or a folder in its path was renamed
The song file or the folder it is in has been moved
The song file has been deleted
The device containing the song files e.g. external drive is not accessible or the drive letter has changed.
If you use an external drive, a change in drive letter is a common cause and you need to change it back.
AS a way of working out what has happened, right click on a track and select the summary tab (you will have to go past an error message). The summary tab will tell you where iTunes thinks the track is located. How does that compare with where the track actually is?
The xml library file is not used by iTunes, it is created to allow other programs to access the library. You can recreate the iTl file from the xml file, but there is no point if the location of the files is wrong.
There is a simple way of getting you music back in iTunes, but it loses all playlists counts and rating. To do this drag iTunes library.itl and iTunes Library.xml to your desktop. Then open iTunes and an empty library is created. Add you iTunes Media folder to it.
If you can't work out what went wrong and how to fix it, you may have to do this.

Songs w/exclamation marks that won't play "file can't be found" Why??

I am getting inundated with more and more songs daily, with exclamation marks beside them, stating "the original file can't be located". It asks if I want to recover the file,I answer yes, but nothing seems to happen! I am a DJ and rely heavily on iTunes and will be extremely disabling for me if I can't get this figured out. Unfortunately, I am not a computer whiz, and would really appreciate all help I could get. I have weddings scheduled for this coming week end and really don't know what to do!
THANK YOU

It's lengthy, but not too complicated. When you tell it that you want to restore, make sure to show it where to look to find the file. Double click the file and move on to the next exclamation file. One after another, Takes time, but can be fixed. Another problem that continues to make iTunes difficult and lame.
Sly

I can't import vertical photos to my iPad using the camera connection kit. Horizontal photos import without a problem, but verticals have a red exclamation mark. Help?!

I can't import vertical photos to my iPad using the camera connection kit. Horizontal photos import fine, but verticals have a red exclamation mark, and do not import. Help!?

I have the same problem and apple needs to fix this - but in the mean time you can manually select the vertical photos then "import - import selected" and you can get your verticals. We need a better fix. THIS IS A BUG!

Hi I am having trouble with wifi my OSX version is 10.8.4 and I can't connect iv put the password in and it' keeps coming up with a exclamation mark in wifi symbol I can't get my computer to delete the network or forget it??

Hi I have a mac book pro OSX 10.8.4 iv connected to a wifi point where I am staying and iv selected network and put in password and over the wifi symbol a exclamation mark appears the wifi works perfectly on my iPhone but won't with my MacBook iv turned it off and on iv tried to forget/delete the network but it won't let me? Is there anything I can do I really need it cause I'm travelling and need to book things. Thanks

Information.
Wireless Connection Problems - Fix
Wireless Connection Problems - Fix (2)
Wireless Connection Problems - Fix (3)
Wireless Connection Problems - Fix (4)
Wireless Diagnostics - About

When I click to open a photo it opens a black screen with a grey triangle, exclamation mark in the middle. How do I fix this problem?

When I click to open a photo it opens a black screen with a grey triangle, exclamation mark in the middle. How do I fix this problem?

Make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

I can see the pics but when I click on the event itself a HUGE exclamation mark pops up and not my pic.

OK..this forum help me locate my iPhoto so HOPEFULLY ya'll can help me w/ 1 another issue. When I open an event in iPhoto...I can see the pics but when I click on the event itself a HUGE exclamation mark pops up and not my pic. Its really weird that I can see the pic but cant open it. Hopefully we can correct this issue. Also, if anyone has the energy....pls tell me how I can export from my iphoto-I want to place all my pics on CDs or my external hard drive and when I try to export it says.."unable to export.." I dunno!
Help PLZZZZZ!
Lost again,
Amanda

The two problems are related.
The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
And that's why you can't export as well.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

Can't fix exclamation marks!

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