Files marked as missing in iTunes

My iTunes music storage folder is on an external drive. I recently started iTunes without the drive attached, and when i tried playing songs it obviously couldn't find the songs. Now all of a sudden there a hundreds of songs that are marked as missing, or whatever that mark means to the right of each song. After connecting the drive back I am able to listen to those songs, but only if i double click on the song. iTunes won't play them automatically if these marked songs are next in the sequence. My question is how can i Unmark all these songs so that iTunes once again starts playing them normally. I hope my question is clear enough.
thanks.

Try using my update script: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/update.txt
Rename it to update.js, then run it like any other program. It'll force iTunes to reread all your files. Might take a while, and has no progress meter, so be patient.

Similar Messages

My music files aren't missing, but iTunes has randomly lost many of them

Most of my albums can still be seen in iTunes, but many isolated songs, and occasional whole albums can't be found by iTunes. I get the exclamation mark. When I look for the song files, they are right where they are supposed to be, in many cases right next to other songs which iTunes lists as accessible.
Looking for patterns, it looks like most of these "lost" songs are purchased. I can't see any pattern to why some songs on an album are missing, and others aren't, or why certain albums appear lost.
1. Anyone else seen this oddness? Why did iTunes lose track of the (normal) location of these files?
2. Is there an easy way to have iTunes rescan these locations without creating thousands of duplicates, or do I have to do this one song file at a time. (Ugh)
3. I do have backups, with Time Machine. I tried bringing forward and older version of the iTunes Library file, thinking that stored these locations, but that didn't work.
4. I can easily do a column sort in the detail view on any column, but I can't do that on the exclamation point column, to manually identify missing songs by grouping them together. I can't search for these other than by scrolling.
Any help would be appreciated

It seems as though Itunes is doing something very similar to the reason why I left Windows Media Player, it seems to be allowing the info such as artist, album, etc to be erased for some reason and then dumps the music into the unknown artist folder while leaving a broken link to the original artist and album folders.
this is a complete pain in the butt because I have over 22000 songs, and about .05% are displaced so we're talking about 110 songs that i have to go in individually and double click the song then choose to find the find and go through this entire list to find the exact song. What if 2% of my collections goes the same way I'm screwed.

So whenever I try to download the newest itunes file it won't let me finish the install process because I'm missing the "Itunes.msi" file whatever that is and I've done some searches but I cannot find the file. Anyone know what to do?

So whenever I try to download the newest itunes file it won't let me finish the install process because I'm missing the "Itunes.msi" file whatever that is and I've done some searches but I cannot find the file. Anyone know what to do?

you can try this thread maybe? https://discussions.apple.com/message/16217061#16217061

I had to restore my computer. After reinstalling itunes and sincronizing with my ipod, the music files were not organized in itunes as in the ipod: some songs were missing, some albums has no cover? Why is the sincronization not working properly?

I had to restore my computer. After reinstalling itunes and sincronizing with my ipod, the music files were not organized in itunes as in the ipod: some songs were missing, some albums has no cover? Why is the sincronization not working properly?

See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

Repeating problems (1) Many Missing Files; and (2) Downloading From iTunes

I am having multiple issues with the iTunes store currently. I have spoken with an Apple Expert on August 14, 2010 (case number available if needed). Although he was very good at helping me to the best of his ability, he referred me to iTunes Store Customer Service, which I previously was in contact with.
I have 2 types of repeating problems (1) Many Missing Files; and (2) Downloading From iTunes Store.
_Problem One - (1) Downloading From iTunes Store_
I have 1610 missing files from my iTunes folders. I created a list of missing items by following these steps:
+If for any reason you find yourself with random missing tracks, (or are trying to recover from a dying hard drive like me), there is an easy way to isolate those missing tracks.+
+1. Create a standard playlist called "Not Missing".+
+2. Drag your entire library into that playlist. Missing tracks cannot+
+be copied to a playlist.+
+3. Create a smart playlist called where you select the following conditions in the options window for the new smart playlist:+
+*dropdown menu* PLAYLIST+
+*dropdown menu* IS NOT+
+*dropdown menu* NOT MISSING.+
+4. Rename the smart playlist "Missing"+
+5. Right Click the "Missing" playlist+
+6. Click the "Export..." option+
+7. Select the Plain Text option and Desktop location+
My missing playlistable items represent a better part of a decades worth of audiobook files, transfered files from my PC days, etc... i loved my - now missing - Doctor Who and Torchwood purchases from iTunes.
I have already read the Trouble Shooting, checked Time Machine Backup, and been walked through replacing the preferences list. The missing file path from the "get info" options in iTunes points towards a non-existant file.
_Problem Two (2) Downloading From iTunes Store_
I have had problems downloading files from iTunes for months. I first noticed it with the TV Show "Avatar: The Last Airbender". Lately, when I download from the (non-music) part of the store, the majority of files are downloaded and then immediately not found. This has been prompting iTunes to repeat the download. Until I force quit itunes and *potentially cry*.
There have been multiple iTunes store purchases of audio books recently. If I reported the missing file immediately, I can contact iTunes support to repost the file and that usually fixes the issue. But today, I went to go rewatch "Torchwood: Children of Earth" and noticed Problem One.
_Hind Sight_
If provided with a spreadsheet of my iTunes Store purchase history, I can write a vlookup( formula in excel to compare the list against my exported missing list so a shortlist of what is missing from just my iTunes Store purchase history can be created (hint: it's the majority of items from the list, others are years worth of files from my PC days). If we could do that, could iTunes make my missing purchases available?
Then we can focus on purely, trying to figure out why they went missing in the first place - so we can prevent it again & possibly help others from running into the same.
Plea
I strongly suspect the two issues are related to a root cause ... in addition to my user error in file management of backups ... what is going on?

iTunes Support (Eric) emailed me some instructions. I am posting, in hopes that this will help others.
_Suggestions from iTunes Support_
Troubleshooting 1. iTunes Store: Finding missing purchases and downloads http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
Troubleshooting 2. Direct Assistance
_Results based on Suggestions_
Results on "Searching the harddrive" - did not resolve my concerns
Results from "Direct Assistant" - i emailed the list of the missing files... status is pending
Conclusion
I'll follow up again later, if I have new news.

Tried loading the latest version of itunes but the download would not complete. Now when I connect my phone to a usb i get an error stating required files are missing, reinstall itunes. I tried that but the reinstall keeps timing out?

Tried loading the latest version of itunes but the download would not complete. Now when I connect my phone to a usb i get an error stating required files are missing, reinstall itunes. I tried that but the reinstall keeps timing out?

For general advice see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates.
The steps in the second box are a guide to removing everything related to iTunes and then rebuilding it which is often a good starting point unless the symptoms indicate a more specific approach. Review the other boxes and the list of support documents further down the page in case one of them applies.
The further information area has direct links to the current and recent builds in case you have problems downloading, need to revert to an older version or want to try the iTunes for Windows (64-bit - for older video cards) release as a workaround for performance issues or compatibility with QuickTime or third party software.
Your library should be unaffected by these steps but there are also links to backup and recovery advice should it be needed.
tt2

Error msg iTunes cannot run files are missing - reinstall itunes

I keep getting a message when i try to open iTunes 9 telling me to re-install. When I do, large portions of my music files are missing from iTunes on laptop. They are on my iPhone 3G, because I synced them from iTunes before it crashed. How do I get them to sync back into iTunes from the iPhone?

Have a look at this article in the Apple Knowledge Base and let us know if it brings you any combination of joy and/or satisfaction.

Missing the itunes installation file

i am missing the itunes installation file and thus can't uninstall old version or install new version - can someone help? thanks in advance

Download the Windows Installer CleanUp utility from the following page (use one of the links under the "DOWNLOAD LOCATIONS" thingy on the Major Geeks page):
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4459
To install the utility, doubleclick the msicuu2.exe file you downloaded.
Now run the utility ("Start > All Programs > Windows Install Clean Up"). In the list of programs that appears in CleanUp, select any iTunes entries and click "Remove", as per the following screenshot:
Quit out of CleanUp, restart the PC and try another iTunes install. Does it go through properly this time?

Apps missing from itunes file

My iTunes apps file was corrupted, and I restored what I could. But now a lot of the apps are missing from iTunes.
They're on my iPhone 4S, and various other Apple devices, but every time I sync my iPhone, the sync deletes the apps from my phone that it can't find in iTunes. I've re-downloaded them onto my phone, but I can't find a way to re-download them to iTunes. So the next time I sync to add music to my iPhone that I've purchased elsewhere and imported into iTunes, all those apps get deleted again. More hours spent downloading apps back to my iPhone and placing their icons where they belong. Very frustrating. And one old app that is no longer available from iTunes, but one that I use daily, is now only on my old iPod Touch - so I can no longer sync it, without totally losing that app..
This problem first started when I tried to update to iOS 8.3 from 8.2. The update failed for some "unknown reason", and I had to restore my iPhone to the backup made just before that update. The restore dumped all my apps and all my music. When I tried to re-sync my music, it only restored about 1/3 of the songs. So I've had to re-sync again, and again, trying to get all the music back on the iPhone. And every time, it dumps most of my apps.
My questions are: Is there any way to get the old, highly valued app from my iPod Touch back into iTunes on my Windows 7 PC? And is there any way to get the missing apps back in to the iTunes file on my PC from my iPhone?

Follow the instructions here or here.
(126337)

Very Strange Problem w/ external HDD - MP3 files missing on iTunes Library

I'm using a late-2007 MacBook, iPhone 3gs and an HP "SimpleSave" external HDD (500GB) which is NTFS-formatted. Since I wanted my media files on my ext. HDD, some of which exceed 4GB, to be read/written on both Windows and Mac, I had no choice but to use such applications as Paragon NTFS or MacFUSE, and I'm currently using Paragon NTFS on my Mac.
As mentioned, so.. I manage my media files - music, videos & photos - on my ext. HDD. I listen to a great deal of classical music, so managing my media files on my iTunes Library is so critical. I found iTunes suitable for managing classical music, because it provides diverse methods of managing, sorting and viewing my music list.
Disappointingly, however, I lately found that some of my music files on my iTunes Library as well as on the hard drive's actual location of the files were missing, even though I didn't change or delete those files. Those files, literally, vanished for no reason, and this happens occasionally on my ext. HDD. Now I have to identify those missing files and do the ripping, converting & putting in the DB again, having absolutely no idea as to which files are going to be deleted by itself again or what on earth the reason is.
It's unlikely that I accidentally deleted the files somehow, since I'm well aware of whereabouts of the files and I manage my iTunes Library 100% manually.
I googled the issue, but the clear reason is yet to be found. I would be grateful if you can help me with this.
Thank you.
Message was edited by: Shramana

> To Urami: Some of us hate newsreaders. Agreed, the web
based Adobe forums are
> pathetic and slow. But newsreaders are not for everyone:
yet another program
> running on the desktop, when people edit their posts
you're not assured of
> seeing the edited versions, and most are simply ugly
interfaces that are not
> comfortable to browse through. Please don't criticize
anyone for bumping a post
> or not using a newsreader. Chances are that someone has
the perfect answer for
> Nemesis, but doesn't obsessively check the forum every
day (and happens to also
> dislike newsreaders), and will have missed seeing it on
the top page. I don't
> find the bumping rude at all.
It's not about "like" or "not like", it's about following
common code of conduct of
this forum specified by the posting guidelines, to which by
the way you agreed upon
singing up in here.
Secondly, regardless your personal feeling on the topic, it
simply works against you
whether you like it or not. Regular forum participants will
ignore bumped posts,
bottom line just to prove that pushing your way while others
wait nicely in the queue
is plain rude. All posts are equally impotent and equally
urgent, it's rather arrogant
to climb your way back just so you can get answer faster.
So go ahead, bump away...tho, don't ***** about no body
entertaining your questions
but before you do that, familiarize yourself with posting
guidelines and general forum
ethics.
http://www.adobe.com/support/forums/guidelines.html
the "Don't..." section, topic "Don't 'bump' post."
Best Regards
Urami
<urami>
If you want to mail me - DO NOT LAUGH AT MY ADDRESS
</urami>

Missing itunes music files and exclamation point in iTunes 10

Hi
iTunes on my macbook is a copy of from my desktop. I have not added any music to it and only use it to play music when I am travelling.
Last night I opened itunes and it was updating album covers..i think this is the first time i opened it since updating to 9.1? Anyways every track had an exclamation point and could not locate the file.
I updated to itunes 10 and that did not fix the issue.
I checked where my music should be stored (users/shared/itunes/itunes music) and the only files there are 2 folders called "Automatically add to itunes" and another called "Incomplete". In "Incomplete" are 2 files "downloads.bak" and "downloads.dat"
I have done a spotlight search for .m4 etc and find nothing...
1. Is there anyway to find my music files or are they gone forever?
2. Can I sync my iTouch to my macbook and will everything be copied to my macbook?
3. Is there a easy way to copy or transfer itunes from my desktop to my macbook?
Help

Mac Steele wrote:
3. Is there a easy way to copy or transfer itunes from my desktop to my macbook?
if i were in your situation, i'd start over on the MB.
the simplest way would be to connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in _*Target Disk Mode*_, and copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the source (desktop) to <MacintoshHD>/users/<yourname>/music on the target (MB) (overwriting the iTunes folder in place there).
another option, which may be appealing if you travel a lot, is to get a suitably sized mobile HD such as [this|http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?pid=11030] and copy the iTunes folder there. then, on each Mac (one @ a time, mind you) launch iTunes while pressing option on the keyboard and, at the prompt, click on +choose library+. select the iTunes folder on the external.
that way, both computers will work with the same iTunes library. while @ home, the external is connected to the desktop. while on the road, it is connected to the MB. no matter on which machine you add content, it will be available to both.
if you opt for this setup, you must make sure the drive is mounted on your desktop before you launch iTunes.
JGG

Music files in my PC's iTunes directory have been moved around, now iTunes' index is not recognizing them and returns error messages. The files have previously been sync'd to my iPod, but when I tried to sync back from the iPod, iTunes on the PC error'd.

I want iTunes to reconstruct its index of my music.
We accidentally moved files around in my <<C:\Documents and Settings\Jordan\My Documents\My Music\iTunes>> directory. We tried to move them back, but anyway, the iTunes program now no longer can find/play the titles that the opened iTunes page/Library displays.
I had previously copied/syncd all my iTunes music to my iPod. I tried syncing back to the PC from the iPod. No improovement.
At the moment, my dad is on my computer, logged in under his name (with administrative permissions). It seems that looking at my iTunes music under his login is still working OK.
I do not have my music backed up to the "cloud".
What are my options?

The "missing file" error 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.
If another application like Windows Media Player has moved/renamed the files then the chances are that subtle differences in naming strategies will make it hard to restore the media to the precise path that iTunes is expecting. In such cases, as long as the missing files can be found somewhere, you should be able to use my FindTracks script to reconnect them to iTunes. See this post for an explanation of how it works.
If you have to resort to trying to pull back the library from your iPod see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

"Missing files" NOT actually missing

I had some drive problems that during play and syncing made iTunes mark many of my files "missing". With the working drive, these tracks are not actually missing - double-clicking on each one will refresh its view. The problem is that iTunes seems satisfied with its 'missing' status for each, such that 'next track' and ipod-syncing assume those files don't need to be checked again.
In other words, despite no real problems with file access, I can only get iTunes to refresh its view of those missing tracks by double-clicking each one, which is completely unworkable, given the thousands it thinks are missing.
I've seen other variants of missing file problems but not this. Can I get iTunes to refresh its view of those files? The file locations *have not changed*
I'm pretty sure this is new behavior, previous builds seemed happy to check a file anew if asked in any way (e.g. 'next').
Windows 2000

This is exactly my problem as well. The MP3's are still in the same location with the same names, and I can't deduce why it's only about 40% of the total files unlinked.
This is the second time I've had to repair my Library, and nothing in iTunes makes that easy. If I delete everything it resets my ratings and counts, which is precisely what I want to avoid. If I re-import the music, I end up with duplicate files with extra numbers.
I did the whole ITL/XML refresh in the support section, then it gives me this "missing" headache. iTunes already knows which Artist folder to start looking in for each song... strcmp() anyone???
In my security efforts I have disabled my system from launching any script files with double-click, so while I would be happy to try Otto's JavaScript method... It shouldn't be too much to ask the iTunes team for a "Resolve Missing Files" button.
Even kinder would be the ability to make the iPod the master list, and have iTunes be on the receiving end of the sync. But I can see the i's rolling when that comes to purchased content.
It's wonderful when things work.

"Ipod Cannot Be Updated, The File Required Is Missing" - Can someone help?

I just got this error today and its bugging me.
Whenever I try to update my ipod it gives me a new window saying "IPOD (name) cannot be updated, the file required is missing."
ummm I thought maybe if i restored my ipod the file would be restored too but that didnt work....
After i restored it, the itunes library updated my ipod with all my original playlists and videos, but now when i try to update it and sync my pictures to it or create new playlists, it gives me that message.
Can anyone give me some advice on what i can do to fix this problem? i do have the iTunes 7.01 my ipod is the 60G Ipod Video (White)
Thanks for your help guys, i really need it.

I just dealt with the same problem. None of the answers people gave to the problem worked!
Whatever it is that you're trying to put into your iPod... make sure that the file is located in your "My Music" file first.
Basically, when you get that message double check and if what you selected isn't in "My Music" drag and drop into it and try again.
I hope that helped!
I know... so frustrating.

"Ipod Cannot Be Updated, The File Required Is Missing" - Help!!

I just got this error today and its bugging me.
Whenever I try to update my ipod it gives me a new window saying "IPOD (name) cannot be updated, the file required is missing."
ummm I thought maybe if i restored my ipod the file would be restored too but that didnt work....
After i restored it, the itunes library updated my ipod with all my original playlists and videos, but now when i try to update it and sync my pictures to it or create new playlists, it gives me that message.
Can anyone give me some advice on what i can do to fix this problem? i do have the iTunes 7.01 my ipod is the 60G Ipod Video (White)
Thanks for your help guys, i really need it.

I just dealt with the same problem. None of the answers people gave to the problem worked!
Whatever it is that you're trying to put into your iPod... make sure that the file is located in your "My Music" file first.
Basically, when you get that message double check and if what you selected isn't in "My Music" drag and drop into it and try again.
I hope that helped!
I know... so frustrating.

Files marked as missing in iTunes

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