How do i backuup my library and playlists?

I need to restore my computer to factory settings, but I have a lot of music in my library - how do I back that up? I subscribed to ICloud and iMatch (I think), but When I RESTORE my computer, how do I get that back?

Backup the library with this User Tip.
Test the library works from the external drive using shift-start-iTunes.
Deauthorize the computer before wiping it.
Restore the backup to the fresh build using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
tt2

Similar Messages

Can anyone tell me how to restore my itunes library and playlists? After I downloaded mountain lion my library is missing and my devices can be synced to only one library ...the missing one

can anyone tell me how to restore my itunes library and playlists? After I downloaded mountain lion my library is missing and my devices can be synced to only one library ...the missing one

That .itl file actually is the library -- at least the critical part of it although the library is actually many files and folders.
Try starting iTunes and immediately hold down the option key. When it asks, guide it to the .itl file.
It's really hard to say without being able to poke around your computer. Upgrading should not delete the old library, but still it happens to the very, very few which is why we make backups before updating. If the old library file is gone then so are your playlists. You can always see if the following is of any use:
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

How do I connect my library and playlists to iTunes 10 on PC.

My computer crashed. Luckily I had my extensive library and playlists on external drive. I have a newer PC now with Windows 7. I have tried to download a version of iTunes 10 but I am uncertain of how to connect them. I have made a link with my Library on my external drive and then dropped the library into the Music title on the iTunes window. It took a while to catalogue, making up album playlists, and then a window appeared saying "iTunes has stopped working." I doubtlessly did something wrong along the way. I would appreciate it if someone could help me out of this predicament and set me up in a working iTunes 10 that will take my my playlists and iPod Nanos 6th and 7th gen. I'm willing to start from scratch.

there are a load of suggestions in itune - this is not an icloud issue as wifi sync is seperate
many people have found success by restarting the applemobiledevices process and opening some ports on the firewall - all detailed under itunes support

How do I share iTunes Library and Playlists

I had a desktop mac with 2 login accounts, we enjoy having our own spaces, mail, desktops, prefs, etc.. but we do not wish to duplicate nor keep either one out of our digital assests, ie music, photos, etc..
I used to have an alias to the other users itunes library and all was fine. He is the predominant music purchaser in the house and I have full access to even his latest purchases.
Upon buying a new machine, 1.66GHz duo core mini we seem to have lost this ability. If I make an alias now, when I launch itunes it says cannot find the folder itunes, it seems to now know its a folder it must find and not an alias to one. I have read ideas about sharing and fast user switching, not really the solution I am looking for or used to have. I think many couples find themselves in a similar situation. Seems silly that we now have to be logged in one side to play/stream music in the house and make sure we are logged into the other side whenever we connect the digital camera.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Chrallan
1.66GHz Intel Core Duo Mini Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Does this help?:
iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer

How do I get my library AND playlists back?

Almost every song in my library is telling me that:
+"The song XXX could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it"+
Every song that I have wanted to play, I was able to locate on my hard drive... but how can i get my entire library back into Itunes without tracking them down one at a time... While keeping all my playlists?
I have checked my *iTunes Music Library.xml*, and the locations listed in the library are correct.

This is how I fixed this problem on my sister's PC (Yes PC).
I deleted the itunes library.xml file.
I opened itunes and unchecked the 'organize' option.
I searched entire computer for *.mp3.
In the search results, I selected all mp3's that had been found.
I right clicked (yes PC) the selected mp3's and selected play with itunes.
When itunes opened, only one mp3 that was in the default itunes location opened.
I then went back to search results and dragged all mp3's onto the itunes player window;this in effect imported all music back into itunes but associated the player with the location of the music, in this case a 200 GB USB drive (F).
I then went back into the itunes options and rechecked the box to organize music.
This process took some time, as my sis has over 4000 songs.
Also, all playlists are gone, but I think I can recover these from the IPOD itself.
I hope this helps, CHEERS!!!

How do I transfer library and playlists from external drive to PC?

My old PC with iTunes died for good. Luckily library and playlists were save on and external hard drive. How do I transfer my library and playlists from that drive to another PC (Windows XP) and are the arrangement of tracks within the playlists included?

Correction to my last post (in bold): I'll try to explain what I did originally, not knowing everything that would be required to transfer, so you can better understand my situation. Just before my first computer died I saved my Music folder containing iTunes, Library, and Playlists folders to an external drive, so I no longer have programs, sub-folders or other information rooted in my first computer. I then downloaded iTunes to my second computer (Dell Vostro 1520, WindowsXP). I then dragged my Music folder from the external drive to iTunes 11.1.5.5 music tab and near as I can tell the library was transferred because in the Songs tab, the tracks are there in duplicate, one with the exclamation at the left and one that functions playback. (However, my total song number is doubled and that can be addressed later if it doesn't impede anything). In individual playlists each track within has a “not connected” mark. I have an extensive playlist catalogue so I would rather not have to reconnect them one by one. Can you think of a solution where I don't have to do that? Would you like more info? Aragorn

Updated to 7.7 ... Library and Playlists disappeared

I just upgraded to 7.7. After my computer restarted, I launched itunes. Library and Playlists are gone! The music files are still on computer. How do I get my Library and Playlists back?

I just upgraded to 7.7. After my computer restarted, I launched itunes. Library and Playlists are gone
The following troubleshooting document is worth trying with that:
No music shows up in iTunes after upgrading

HT4527 I am trying to move my library and playlists to a new computer by burning to CD's. However, I followed the directions by going to File and then Library - then they said to go to burn CD(s) - I DO NOT have that option for some reason. How do I do th

I am trying to move my library and playlists to a new computer by burning to CD's. However, I followed the directions by going to File and then Library - then they said to go to burn CD(s) - I DO NOT have that option for some reason. How do I do this? I have done the library sharing thing but I am getting rid of my primary computer and am afraid I will lose the library.

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
and select the Library that you moved. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
Your first option didn't work because you imported one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
Your second option didn't work because you simply referenced her library on the old machine.
Regards
TD

How can I transfer my iTunes library and playlists from one computer to another?

How can I transfer my iTunes library and playlists from one computer to another?

Copy the iTunes folder (Mac: Home\Music or PC: My Music) to the same location on the new computer. If an iTunes folder already exists on the new computer (it will on a Mac) replace it with one you copied.

How do I backup my Itune Library and Playlists to my Backup drive?

How do I backup my Itune Library and Playlists to my Backup drive? Where are they stored on my computer?

For iPhoto, see > iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location
For iTunes, see > iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

How do I backup and restore library and playlists?

I have 14 days left on my Win 7 trial version and now need to backup itunes. In the advance itunes preferences tab I have my music folder on a separate hard drive (K:\) but I dont see anything pertaining to playlists. How do i save playlists and what is the process needed to restore library and playlists once I get the OS up and running?
Thanks in advance.

You need the itunes database. It's a file named iTunes Library.itl
Just to be safe, my advice is to back up this folder
C:\users\ username \Music
That will include the itunes folder and that ITL file.

HT1386 Switched from ipod to ipod touch. When trying to sync songs get lost. Show in the library and playlist but a message says cannot be found. An exclamation symbol with a circle aroung it shows on the missing songs. How can I sync the new ipod touch?

Switched from ipod to ipod touch. When trying to sync, songs get lost. Songs show in the library and playlist but get a message that says songs cannot be found. An exclamation symbol with a circle aroung it shows on the missing songs. How can I sync the new ipod touch?

The ! Next to a song:
The song can’t be located; it may have been moved or deleted
To find them try:
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
You can redownload iTunes purchases by:
Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store

How do i transfer my music library and playlist from old computer to new computer with windows 7

How do I transfer my music library and playlist from old computer to new computer with windows 7?

Type "move itunes library" into the google search bar.

How to Restore Library and Playlists to Newly Wiped Hard Drive

Due to Windows problem, I had to reformat my hard drive.
Before I did, I copied the entire My Documents folder, including My Music and the iTunes music files and the My Playlist text files to a second hard drive - the D drive - in the same tree structure as they existed on the C drive.
I do NOT want the music files on the C: Drive - I want the music files on the new D: storage drive. I want iTunes on the C drive but knowing the music files are on the D drive.
I installed the iPod disc onto the newly cleaned C: Drive and downloaded iTunes ver 6.
Now I would like to have my iTunes library and playlists back just as they were but I am confused over the ADD FILE and ADD FOLDER commands.
Add Folder appears to copy the full music files back to the C Drive, which I do not want.
Add File appears to add the meta data, the library list, and
the playlists to iTunes, but when you go to play a track, the program says it cannot do so because it can't find the music file. To tell each track the new location of the music file listed means I would have to edit over 1200 line items -- even though I already told the program where the
music files would be.
Before trying to add the library and playlists as files, I went into EDIT, Prefences, Advanced and changed the iTunes folder location from
c:\mydocuments\mymusic\itunes\itunesmusic to
D:\mydocuments\mymusic\itunes\itunesmusic
Earlier I had used the Add Folder option and it copied all the music files to the C: drive. I had to delete them and
try something else.
What must I do to transfer just the meta data and keep the actual music files on the D drive?
Dell 8250 desktop Windows XP

The XML file is less important (See the link that Katrina provided above).
First re-install the iTunes program (if you have not already).
Make sure that the music folders and files are copied to the exact same location they were in prior to the PC Restore. If they were running on the C: drive, you'll need to place them there at first, then move them within iTunes.
Then copy the original ITL file you saved into the 'iTunes' folder, replacing the newly created (and smaller) ITL file that was created when you reinstalled iTunes.
Open iTunes and the Library should be as it was prior to the Restore.
To move the files to your D: drive keeping iTunes 'informed' see this link:
http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=721335&messageID=1316838
Post back if you still have questions.

Computer crashed- all new now. How to bring library and playlists from Ipod

My PC crashed and was pronounced DOA. All library and playlists were and still are on Ipod Classic (20GB). Obviously wasn't able to follow directions for normal transfer of lib. and p.lists as event not planned. Built completely new PC and loaded up Itunes. I had all my music library backed up on an external and can load, but is there any way I can save my 50 meticulously created playlists back into Itunes? Please say "Yes"!

Other free programs are Pod Player, SharePod and Floola.
If you want to recover just the structure of playlists from the iPod (and not the actual song files themselves), there's iRepo for Windows. which I understand has this feature along with all the standard features for these programs.
iPodRip also has the feature enabling you to reconstruct playlists.

How do i backuup my library and playlists?

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