Duplicates in iTunes Media Folder

Okay, so first a little background. I had to reformat my Mac awhile back due to an issue with some beta software. Now, my Mac is back to working again... but since I had to redownload everything from iTunes Match to keep from having to redo the match/upload process and restart all that. But now, my iTunes Media folder has at least two of every file. (It's on my External Hard Drive, so I didn't lose my music with the reformat) I did this because I have movies, TV shows, and other content that I could not download from iCloud.
My question doesn't necessary apply to just iTunes Match though, just the duplicates. My iTunes Library has one copy of each, although Finder has two or more. I would like to erase the duplicates without messing with the songs currently in my library from iTunes Match. I would prefer to not need to delete it all and redownlad my thousands of songs from iCloud again. It seems like there would be some way to do this, and I would really appreciate any help I could get.

You could try using Robert Jacobson's script itunes_remove_notfound, or install iTunes Folder Watch and set its option to check for dead tracks on startup, or you can make a set of Lost & Found Playlists and delete what is in lost, assuming you're certain there is nothing in there that you want to repair.
I've also got a script for cleaning real duplicates. The current version just ignores missing tracks but I'm contemplating an update which would safely eliminate the broken link while preserving ratings, play counts, playlist membership etc, assuming a live duplicate to merge this data to has been found.
tt2

Similar Messages

ITunes adds duplicate songs when importing but not making copies in the iTunes Media folder?

This is an irregular problem and does not happen at every new import, but every now & again iTunes is creating duplicate files entries for the same song when I import my music folder.
Now I know many people post a similar problem, but before we start can I state that both the 'Keep iTunes Media folder organized AND "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library are turned off, and always have been.
Right clicking on duplicates of a particular song proves that iTunes is not copying the file into it's own media folder and adding that to the library.
All listed entries for a particular song iTunes direct you to the same file in the same location in the finder.
I am currently just having to delete the duplicates everytime it makes them, although this is VERY time consuming!
Any ideas on what is causing it or what will fix the problem would be great!

Nevermind...I figured out my issue. The problem is that I'm an idiot.
When dragging my folders in, they not only had MP3 files, but a M3U file as well. iTunes was importing the M3U playlist, then the MP3s...that's how I was getting my dups.
=\

ITunes consolidation creates duplicate files in iTunes Media folder

Hi,
I recently downgraded from iTunes 11.0.2.26 to 10.7 to get around an AirPlay bug i see starting in 11.0.
As a result I need to rebuild part of my iTunes library and am seeing some strange behavior.
I have some Movie files currently in the iTunes Media folder (where iTunes is pointed for the media) -- when I drag and drop these into iTunes and do "Consolidate Library", iTunes creates 2 files (1 is a duplicate) in the Movie folder. For example, if I have a movie titled "HomeMovie" I see the following folders:
"Movies --> HomeMovie" and within the HomeMoview folder I see the following 2 files: HomeMovie.m4v, HomeMovie 1.m4v
There is only a single listing (HomeMovie) in the iTunes interface, pointing to HomeMovie 1.m4v.
Strange.
I can get around this by deleting HomeMovie 1.m4v. and pointing iTunes to HomeMovie.m4v, but this is not desirable.
"Copy files to iTunes Media Folder" is disabled.
I am also seeing this behavior when dragging and dropping files from an external Hard Drive.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Kevin

Hi,
I have been doing some testing on this subject and I agree that PSE does leave unwanted temporary files around.
I checked out PSE 9, PSE 10 and PSE 11 and they all leave the temporary files there. I'm assuming that the files are created as a safety measure for when the main file is updated but as you have found out, PSE doesn't remove them.
By reading other forum threads, I get the impression that Adobe aren't really interested in it as they feel we should tidy up our own file system. It's like taking a walk through the park and dropping some litter - do you pick it up or leave it for the park keeper to pick up. I was always told to pick it up.
I'm not sure whether you are aware, but there is another Adobe forum for bug reports and feeback. I think Adobe may look there more than they do on this forum. I searched that forum and found a similar question asked but nobody has answered. I have added my count and comments with a link to this thread. If you can, it might be good for you to add your count.
http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/photoshop_elements_organizer_leaves_ temporary_files
Sorry it's not an answer to your problem, but you are not alone.
Brian

HT1364 If I already moved Itunes media folder to external drive and now music is not matching up in iTunes?

Dear Itunes Community~
This is my first time using glad you are here, but all the passwords!!
Question/Quandry:
If I already moved Itunes media folder to my external drive and now my music is not matching up in iTunes, what should I do? I have tried my solution !?, and now I have 17,000 songs, instead of 9,000!
Should I just uninstall Itunes, and then reinstall Itunes, and let it do it's thing, and then figure out how to move to the external hard drive later?
Help, I screwed it up all on my own!
Any/all help and Itunes educated suggestions appreciated!
Thank you very much,
Doris =:o
PS ~~ Is there anyway to easily delete duplicates?? Seems not?

I have a very similar problem. Hope I don't confuse people trying to help us since the solutions may be different.
I had my iTunes path directed to a 2nd internal hard drive. Everything was working fine - except I found that purchased Apps were still being downloaded to the Mobile Applications folder on my main hard drive instead of the 2nd internal drive. I decided to retry directing the iTunes path to my 2nd internal drive, hoping that might get iTunes to save my Apps there. Big Mistake. Suddenly, there were no Apps showing in my iTunes Library Apps window at all. I verified the downloaded apps are still in my main hard drive's Mobile Applications folder, but I cannot get iTunes to display them in my Apps Library window anymore.
I decided to try downloading a new app and, sure enough, iTunes once again downloaded it into the very same Mobile Applications folder on my main hard drive, where all my (now orphaned) original apps are, but the only one iTunes will only display in my Apps window is the new one. I read you can redownload purchased apps, but my apps are not missing. iTunes just won't display them in the Apps window anymore.

Moving my itunes media folder back to my computer from external hard drive

Hope someone can help me here as I've gotten myself confused.
A couple years ago I moved my Media Folder to an external hard drive. I now want to move it back but I'm doing something wrong.
Here's what I did.
Copied the Media Folder from external to computer desktop.
Moved Media Folder into the Computer's iTunes Media folder.
Changed the folder location in Preferences of iTunes to the computer's Media Folder.
It didn't work. It is still looking for songs on the external hard drive.
Thoughts?
Do I need to follow the same tutorial for moving the media folder backwards?
Why can't I just move the media files to where I want them on the computer and then change the media folder location in itunes?
Do i need to create a new folder for it to work?

Jason R. McCarty wrote:
So I don't need to follow this tutorial and create a new folder? http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Correct, you don't need to create anew folder.
You may want to do that if you are putting the media elsewhere and don't want to simply have a folder named iTunes media floating around.
If there is already a Media folder in Music/iTunes will it make another or use that one?
It will use the one already there.
Also, what if there are duplicate files in the computer location?
After you consolidate, you will need to delete them from iTunes (if they actually show up in iTunes).
If they don't show up in Tunes, either add them to iTunes (if they are not duplicates) or delete them from the iTunes media folder.
I suggest first dumping them into a folder on your desktop before you actually trash them (in case they are not duplicates).

What's the difference between the music in the iTunes Media folder and music folder

I've noticed that the music in my iTunes folder has two copies -- one in the 'iTunes Media' directory and another copy in the 'iTUnes Music' directory. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the two, or what they're used for? When I click on a music file in the Music folder, iTunes opens up and plays, but the same thing happens when I click on the file in the Media directory. I have noticed that the file in the Media directory has the icon for the album cover next to the file name, while the icon for the file in the Music folder just has a couple of eight notes next to the file name.
It seems to me that it's a waste of space two have copies of the same file. Or am I missing something?

Here are typical layouts for the iTunes folders:
If you have upgraded from version 8 (or earlier) to iTunes 9 (or later) at some point, then your media folder (everything inside the red outline) may still be called iTunes Music instead of iTunes Media. The extra Music folder inside the media folder is used if you have allowed iTunes to Upgrade to iTunes Media Organization (iTunes 9) or used File > Library > Organize Library > Reorganize files in the folder "<Media Folder>" (iTunes 10). Depending on your choices for Keep iTunes Media folder organized and Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library plus a little bug in which one build changed the name of the file storing the choice of layout it is quite easy for some of your files to be organized according to one layout and some the other.
In your case it seems you also have both media folders structures sitting side by side with music in each. It is probable that everything in iTunes Music has a duplicate in iTunes Media, but if you are not sure then you could add it all in, then remove duplicates. (Steps 6-12 below)
Assuming you're happy letting iTunes organize your files the following steps should tidy things up:
1. First make sure under Edit > Preferences > Advanced that the current media folder is given as .../iTunes/iTunes Media. If not then in the following steps you need to swap the words iTunes Music for iTunes Media and vice-versa
2. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Reorganize files in the folder "iTunes Media" and click OK. Ignore this step if the option is greyed out.
3. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Consolidate files and click OK. This will bring any files currently organised outside the designated media folder into it.
4. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, uncheck Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK.
5. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, check Keep iTunes Media folder organized and click OK. This triggers iTunes into reorganizing everything.
6. Select Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab, uncheck Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library and click OK.
7. Use File > Add Folder to Library. Add iTunes Music. This may take some time.
8. Hold down the option key and click File > Show Exact Duplicates.
9. Sort the library on Date Added, select everything added today and delete it.
10. Click Display All at the bottom of the screen to show all files again.
11. Select File > Library > Organize Library... > Tick Consolidate files and click OK.
12. You have now confirmed that everything inside iTunes Music must be a duplicate copy of something in the iTunes Media folder and made sure your library is connected to the copy in iTunes Media. Delete the iTunes Music folder...
tt2

How can I move my iTunes media folder from users/shared back to one user account?

I shared my music with multiple users on one macbook pro.
Like on the Apple support discussions described I changed the iTunes media folder to users/shared. My question is how to reverse that action? Once I reset the media folder location it tells me /users/name/music/itunes/itunes media, that would be right but the files remain in users/shared?

Tell us what the underlying objective is in all this. You came here asking how to move a media folder but now we're getting into user libraries and moving things back and forth to their original locations. Why move it in the first place if you are just putting it back? Maybe you don't need to move things.
Read these to learn more about how iTunes works. If you move the wrong things you can end up breaking links. This goes double for moving things to other drives.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
It is almost certain that nothing you are doing will require removing the iTunes application itself. Asking that tells me you are doing something relatively complicated with insufficient background -- kind of like somebody asking me how to use a power saw. I can tell them, but when it sounds like their project is painting a room one begins to wonder if they are going about things correctly. That said, organizing/consolidating copies files. Open iTunes, get info on a track, look at summary and see where the file is now located iTunes uses to play the track. It should be in the moved location and it is okay to delete the others.

ITunes 12 - "Keep iTunes Media Folder Organised" feature no longer works

Hi everyone, I was wondering if you could help me with an issue I've been having.
Since updating to iTunes 12, the 'Keep iTunes Media Folder Organised' feature no longer works. When I add media to the library, iTunes doesn't copy it to a destination within my media library. It only works if I turn the feature off, and then back on again.
Thanks in advance for any help.

I don't use the feature myself, but it works properly in a test library for me.
It could possibly be a permissions issue. Different processes in iTunes seem to make use of either the system or the user account for file actions and it is just possible that which has been used in that case has changed. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows for details.
tt2

ITunes Media Folder Renameable on External Drive (mac)

I have a 1TB collection of music in a folder on an external drive within a folder that is NOT called iTunes Media, but which until now had behaved as if it were.
I just switched to a clone of my old 1TB drive on a 1.5TB drive. After 11 hours of locating my 157000 tracks, I was able to find and use every track. However, when I added a new track, apparently I lost the ability to add new music tracks within the Music folder. Instead, a new iTunes Media folder was created within the folder which SHOULD have been called iTunes Media.
In the (new) iTunes Media folder there are a few folders containing the music I added after the switch. In the Music folder (below, but higher hierarchy) there is 1TB of music, which means it cannot be copied into the (new) iTunes Media file on the 1.5TB drive (not enough space).
Even though it would entail 100+ hours of new clone-backup time, the most logical solution would be to discard the embedded iTunes Media folder, rename the top-level folder iTunes Media, then let iTunes relocate the tracks again (over another 11 hours) and reload the few tracks loaded since the switch.
However I do not know if iTunes will allow this to work, and if so, what needs to be done in order to make it work.
Can the top-level folder be renamed? Do I need to untick and tick the Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized button?
Thanks
Mac OSX 10.6.8, iTunes 11.4

I am getting a bit lost on what was done and exactly why you did it that way. It looks to me like you use iTunes with standard preferences settings and you didn't so much move your media folder to the external drive as your whole iTunes library (everything in the top level folder including all the media files). This should have been done simply by copying the iTunes folder from the old drive to the new one, renaming the AllMyiTunesMusic folder if you so desire, then starting iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and selecting that folder as the iTunes library to now start using. Apart from the copy time when you could go away and drink a pot of coffee the actual labor time would be about 2 minutes. I think you must have done something different which has kind of messed up your library and resulted in duplication of files. Some of those folders such as Movies and the neighboring Music folder should be in the media folder, but don't move things about in Finder or iTunes may lose track of them and things will get worse. If you can go back and do things properly then I recommend you do so, otherwise we can see what we can work with here.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

Laptop died. Had backup of ITunes Media Folder but now cant restore music to Ipod after ios5 upgrade!

Hi guys. My laptop died a week ago and I managed to get the Itunes Media Folder copied off hard drive before it completely died. Since then, loaded Itunes on my main PC for first time (ios5), authorised it and then pointed iTunes at the Itunes Media Folder. Since trying to sync my Ipod Touch (which effectively had to be overwritten) I've noticed that most of my music on the iPod Touch is Greyed out. Majority of the music was from Amazon and purchased CD's imported to Itunes. All plays OK on iTunes but Ipod wont play 'em.
Any ideas guys? Tried syncing about 8 times now. Real pain in the bum!

I am getting a bit lost on what was done and exactly why you did it that way. It looks to me like you use iTunes with standard preferences settings and you didn't so much move your media folder to the external drive as your whole iTunes library (everything in the top level folder including all the media files). This should have been done simply by copying the iTunes folder from the old drive to the new one, renaming the AllMyiTunesMusic folder if you so desire, then starting iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and selecting that folder as the iTunes library to now start using. Apart from the copy time when you could go away and drink a pot of coffee the actual labor time would be about 2 minutes. I think you must have done something different which has kind of messed up your library and resulted in duplication of files. Some of those folders such as Movies and the neighboring Music folder should be in the media folder, but don't move things about in Finder or iTunes may lose track of them and things will get worse. If you can go back and do things properly then I recommend you do so, otherwise we can see what we can work with here.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

My itunes doesn't save new music files to the itunes media folder, even though I have ticked the box in the preferences telling it do so...???

Ok so, my itunes version is up to date, and I've located my itunes media folder... However, newly purchsed songs are not being backed up to the media folder, despite all the right options being ticked in the preferences box. This is immensly frustrating as I cannot back up my itunes library to a separate hard drive. Why is this happening and how can I fix it?

iTunes stores media in the location set in preferences. If you have changed things then this won't necessarily be the same place it puts the library file and other files that also need to be backed up.
If you are content to have everything in one location then I suggest you consolidate it all into one place. Note this copies files, it doesn't move them, so you need ot make sure you have sufficient hard drive space wherever you select.
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
How to Consolidate Your iTunes Library and Keep It Organized - http://www.switched.com/2010/11/02/itunes-consolidate-library-keep-organized/
Technically you don't have to have it all in one location to back up. You just need to make sure you have gotten everything. I used to have iTunes on two separate drives but I would just make sure each drive was backed up 100% and I would know it was all backed up.

Moved iTunes Media folder, now iMovie can't find it

I moved my iTunes media folder in order to share it between two users on the same iMac, following these instructions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
That worked fine, but now iMovie can't find the iTunes media library. I don't see a way to change this setting in iMovie, the way that you can in iTunes. There must be a simple solution to point iMovie to the new location, but if so I am missing it. Can anyone advise?
OSX 10.6.8, iMovie 09, iTunes 11.1

anyone?

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit Preferences Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

I just installed iTunes on my computer, where I already have all my music. I went to Edit > Preferences > Advanced, and changed the iTunes Media Folder Location to where I have all my music, in the "Local Disk." But iTunes wont import all my music. Help?

Have you looked in the Music App on your iPhone? On the iPhone music is played by the Music App not iTunes.

HT4527 I want to move my music onto my computer, I have music stored on my laptop not in itunes, how do i put it into an itunes media folder and consolidate it without itunes?

Basically I didnt have enough room to consolidate my itunes libary on my C drive, I moved them to my D, they then were no longer in my itunes libary, I moved them back but the songs are still no longer in my libary. This is not a major issue, the problem is getting all my music into a itunes media folder and then consolidating it without the use of iTunes.

Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from old computer to /Music/ on new computer.
Launch iTunes.
That is all you need to do.

ITunes doesn't play files stored in iTunes media Folder

Hi, have this problem:
I had deleted my files from iTunes media folder, but as luckily I had the same files located in other place I just copied them to the iTunes Media but iTunes rejects to play them (in my iTunes Library). I'm only able to play them if I go through the procedure as followings: Play - "iTunes unable to open this file because the original file not found. Do you want to find it?" (or smith like that) - Find - Open and then it plays, but I have to perform these actions with every file separately and I have quite a lot of them. Oh, and after that first popping-up window the next one appears "Would you like iTunes to find other missing files from the same location as [the file's name]?" But when I click on "Find" it says "iTunes were unable to find other missing files". Why? How do I accomplish the same task but with all my albums at once without necessity to add them one by one? Does there some way exists to tie the tracks from my albums with original files without importing them to my iTunes library?
Thank you

Understand how iTunes works. iTunes does not actively look for files. When you add a file to iTunes the location of that file is saved in the iTunes database (library file). When you try to play a track iTunes looks in its database for where the linked file is to be found and tries to play the specific file it has listed in that location. If you deleted the file then it no longer exists. I think even if you replace it with one that is identical, iTunes is still looking for that specific file. You can link the track listing to a new file using the process you have done. In theory iTunes should be able to find others but the files have to have been organized by iTunes in the past because it will be working on the basis of how it thinks they should be arranged. Additionally the files you replaced have to have exactly the same name as the ones you deleted because iTunes will expect them to be named how it would name them when they were first entered into your library

Duplicates in iTunes Media Folder

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