Exclamation point next to all songs - won't go away

i have all my music on my external hard drive, and the other day i updated my ipod and forgot to turn the external hard drive on - therefore, all the songs on my itunes were marked as missing.
i've done this plenty of times before, and usually the songs show back up when i turn on my external hard drive and then plug in my ipod again...
but it doesn't seem to work like that anymore.. maybe it's because it's a new version of itunes?
no clue, but how can i fix this?

You need to explain your configuration a little more. Did you copy the iTunes folder onto your hard drive? If so, that is where the iTunes library file (iTunes Library.itl) should be.
One possibility is that when you didn't have the drive connected, iTunes reverted to a copy of the library on your local disk.
If this is the case, try starting iTunes with the shift key held down and when prompted to choose a library, choose iTunes Library.itl on the external drive.
Obviously this only applies if you have a copy of the library on the external disk.

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What does an exclamation point next to a song file mean?

I've been using iTunes for several months now and just today noticed that I have exclamation points next to a number of songs. When I go into my iTunes Music folder and try to find those files, they're not there.
Yet I haven't deleted any of these files.
What gives? I've got over 33,000 songs and don't want this to become a reocurring problem.
I did repair permissions with iTunes open just before I noticed the exclamation points b/c I was having a problem with copying new audio files into iTunes and it was suggested here that this would be a fix.
Could that have caused the exclamation point problem?
Either way, if someone can tell me how to fix this so that all of the exclamation points go away and the files reappear in my finder, I'd appreciate it.

Do you have an External Hard Drive connected to your iMac?
If you have some other storage device connected, you may have Saved these songs with the "!" next to them on THAT storage device.
If you DO have an external drive connected, try turning it on (or reconnect it) and bring up iTunes again, they will play if they were Saved to that external device.
Once you have identified if this is what has happened, you'll want to go back into iTunes Preferences and make sure it's set to Save to your 'Macintosh HD'(or whatever you call your primary Hard Drive).
iMac G5 Bluetooth, 512 Mb Ram Mac OS X (10.4.4)
iMac G5 Bluetooth, 512 Mb Ram Mac OS X (10.4.4)

HT1386 I have exclamation points next to all of my iTunes songs. How do I get rid of them?

I started this yesterday, but I lost my converstations. I'm not that computer savy. Please help! I cannot get rid of those exclamation points, and I can't play the music through my computer OR sync with my iPod Touch. Help!!!! I have Windows Vista. And my iTunes is up-to-date on the latest version! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ! means that iTunes can't find the music file. Try here to find the files.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads

HT203175 I don't know whether these articles apply or not. Here's what I seeing in my iTunes program. When I open iTunes, I see little exclamation points next to EVERY song that has been downloaded. Therefore, I can't play them from my computer or dwnl

Can somebody help me get rid of these exclamation points so that I can download all my songs to my iPod? Please? I don't know why they appeared, as I did have the songs working before and they were on my iPod. But, I didn't want ALL of them on there and I didn't know I could "select" which songs to send to the iPod. However, it's been a few months since I messed with it. But, yesterday, when I went to select my songs, I noticed all these excalamation points on everything that was there. Help, please! Again, I can't play them from my computer AND they won't download to my iPod!
Thanks,

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

Exclamation point (!) beside all songs when itunes is started up

When I start up iTunes, and attempt to right click on a song, I get the message "can't find original file". When I finally get to the summary page of the song it shows "Where: Not Available". in preferences it shows the library in iTunes Music. Am I missing anything?
HP Windows XP

Have your music files been moved recently? Are they on an external drive that might have been accidentally unplugged, or might have been assigned a different drive letter after being re-attached?

I have little exclamation points next to some of my songs and they won't play how do I get them to play?, I have little exclamation points next to some of my songs and they won't play how do I get them to play?

I have exclamation points next to some of my songs and they won't play...how do I get them to play?

I am not an expert but here's my two cents:
The exclamation point means itunes cannot find the music file in order to play it. There are several possible reasons for this, including but not limited to changing the name or location of your music library/songs, or storing them on an external hard drive or device that is not currently attached. The solutions for these are different so let me know if any of these apply and we can troubleshoot.

Exclamation point next to songs and won't play

Exclamation point next to songs won't play

Exclamation point
Next to a song: The song can’t be located; it may have been moved or deleted.
Next to a podcast: Recent episodes haven’t been downloaded because you have multiple unplayed episodes.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408

When looking at my Itunes songs that I have purchased and imported from CD, every song has an exclamation point next to it and says it can't be found. Why? and how do i fix it?

all of my songs in itunes have exclamation points next to them - why?

Hi Paula!
The exclamation points are due to iTunes not being able to find your music. This can be caused from either music being deleted from the computer or if the music folder has changed locations.
iTunes does not actually store the music in the program. All music is saved on the hard drive of your PC. iTunes just creates a link to their location and if that link is broken the exclamation points appear.
I see you're using a windows computer, the best way to locate these songs and add them back in to iTunes is to search for them.
You can click on your start menu, then in the search field type either the title of a particular song or .M4P
This should locate the music for you. Once you locate all the music or the one in particular you can right click on it and select properties. In properties you will be able to see the location.
An example of a location is, C:User Name/Documents and Settings/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media
Once you have that location you can go back to iTunes, click on a song with an exclamation, it will ask you if you would like to locate the file. Say yes and then direct the path to that song and after you select the appropriate song for that 1 file iTunes will ask you if you would like it to locate the other songs that are missing. Just say yes and your library will be back!

Moved library from PC to Mac w/ iPod now exclamation points next to songs

I used the instructions at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300173 to move my iTunes library from a PC to my new MacBook Pro.
Everything seemed to go smoothly...I moved the iTunes folder from the iPod to the Music folder on the Mac, then opened iTunes. Then something went wrong that I can tell will take me hours to fix. Or at least I hope not:
The first time I did it, all the songs had the exclamation point next to them and when attempting to play, I got the 'file not found do you want to spend hours re-linking all the files?' message. I moved the iTunes folder and tried it again. This time, about 95% of the 1,100+ songs had the exclamation point. And as I clicked on the few without the exclamation point to try and play them, they too developed the exclamation point blues.
Is this fixable? The .itl and .xml files are in the 'Music' folder. Should I try moving the iTunes folder from the iPod again? I also noticed that while my playlists and custom genre tags, etc. made it, the album artwork did not .
Please help! Thanks so much!

It is a likely possibility that the format of the folders is different between the 2 OS. Troubleshoot these
Make sure you have actually music files in the folder from your XP. Make sure you transfered your main music folder (My Music)
Do you have the folders in this order in your music category on your MacBook? iTunes>(iTunes Music Library.xml and iTunes Library data file)iTunes Music>(all of your music
If these dont work, then use Yamipod, a 3rd party utility that can extract all your info/music off your iPod into iTunes...

Exclamation points next to a BUNCH of songs! Please help!

Hi!
I turned to this forum for help and thought someone might be the one to answer this question. I have a 1st and 2nd generation Nano. I bought the 2nd generation from Apple after I was assured by them that I could connect the 2nd one to the same iTunes that is already used by the 1st one, on my laptop.
It doesn't matter which iPod is connected, it doesn't matter if I close and then reopen iTunes or if I just leave it open and then connect my (either one) Nano for an update:
I get those d@&& exclamation points next to a BUNCH of songs (these are either downloaded or from my CD's). One time it was 186 songs that had the exclamation points and when you click on it, iTunes says it lost the "info". I have not deleted these, moved them, ..... this is what happens when I am in my library. . . ANY IDEAS????????? please?????
Thanx!!!
Diane

The exclamation points tell you the songs are not found. You can re-link to each song if you OK the dialogue that comes up when you double click each of these songs.
Its a pain I know, but if you knowwhere these songs are stored, and hopefully they are stored where you expect to see all your songs, just find the artist, and the album for that artist, and select the song file.

Most of the songs on my Ipod have exclamation points next to them.

All of the songs on my Ipod (except for songs purchased from Itunes) have exclamation points next to them, however the songs are in my Itunes library and work just fine in the library, so Itunes knows where the songs are, the problem is on the Ipod itself. The songs stop working once they are on the Ipod. There is no explanation anywhere for what the exclamation point means.
I've tried re-copying the songs from my library to my Ipod. Didn't Work.
I've tried resetting the entire Ipod and recopying my music, only to have it stop working again the next time I tried to sync music.
I have a 6th gen Ipod touch on version 8.1.3 and im running Itunes on 12.1.1.4

The ! means hat the actual music file can't be found
Try:
- Reset the iOS device. Nothing will be lost
Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Unsync/delete all music and resync
To delete all music go to Settings>General>Usage>Storage>Manage Storage>Music>Tap edit in upper right and then tap the minus sign by All Music
- Reset all settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: Back up and restore your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.

When I look at my I tunes library on the computer I have a exclamation point next to a bunch of my songs and apps when I click on them it says that the original file couldnt be found. How do I go about finding out where the original file is and correct th

when I look at my I tunes library on my computer I have an exclamation point next to some of the songs and apps. when I click on this it tells me the original file couldnt be found. How do I go about finding the original file to correct this?

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

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

Exclamation point next to song

On every song in my library I have an exclamation point to the right of the songs and tv shows. When I click on it I can't play anything. It says file not found. Does anyone know how this happened? Help! Thanks

I've had the same problem in the past. I've found that the only way to fix the problem, is to delete the songs with the exclamation point next to them from itunes and then re-add them to itunes. As for how this happens, I don't know. I'll do the same thing if a song I want on my ipod does transfer over.

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.

Exclamation point next to all songs - won't go away

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