How to make iTunes automatically import songs on my hard drive

Does anyone know if you can have iTunes search your hard drive and add all music to the iTunes library?

Limewire? That tells me you're stealing songs using P2P. Yuk.

Similar Messages

  • How to make iTunes read the song's name/singer from the file's name itself?

    Hi everyone,
    So I have this file with songs from everywhere. I spent quite some time now to make sure that the structure of each file's name is as such : "Singer - Song name", hoping that everything would be read by iTunes accordingly. However, either iTunes read it well, or it didn't read it at all ("Singer - Song name" appearing in Title alone), or iTunes read the "media" of the file (ie. what the guy I downloaded it from wrote for it in the Preferences, which usually is in capital letters or with a bunch of weird underscores). As I'm OCD and need everything to be neat, I'm highly tensed right now. I really want everything to be neat and clear!
    So, how do I make sure that iTunes reads the files' names such that it knows the structure is "Singer - Song name"? Thanks.

    iTunes doesn't use file names to determine how music appears in your library,  Rather, it uses metadata that is split between:
    data elements that are embedded within the media files
    data elements that are included in the entries in the iTunes database
    No amount of reorganization, renaming or other manipulation at the file level will make any difference to how songs will appear in iTunes.  Using your example:
    the value of the track number element is 1
    the value of the artist element is "Elvis Presley"
    the value of the song name element is "Blue Suede Shoes"
    Depending on how you configure iTunes then the file name is either:
    completely independent of iTunes (i.,e., the file containing this song could be xyz.mp3)
    dependent on the metadata managed by iTunes, (i.e., when you have these two options set:
    then iTunes will set the file name to be 1-01 Blue Suede Shoes.mp3 where:
    the file is in a folder called "Elvis Presley" (the name of the album)
    that folder is in one called "Elvis Presley" (the name of the artist) which is in iTunes Media\Music
    Going back to your question "How to make iTunes read the song's name/singer from the file's name" the answer is simple - you can't, as this is not how iTunes works.  There are some third-party utilities that you can use to set some metadata element values based on parsing of file names which might be a useful first step.  However, to use iTunes effectively you should really forget about / ignore file names - manage your media using appropriate metadata and allow iTunes to look after file names behind the scenes.

  • ITunes Match deleted songs from my hard drive. I had to re-rip them. How can I stop this from happening?

    iTunes Match deleted songs from my hard drive. How can I prevent this from happening if I try it again?

    iTunes Match can in no way be considered a backup service, this is due to the inexact nature of the 'matching process' (see https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4112, for more detail).
    Loss of files from a Disk is certainly possible through media failure.  However, the extent of iTunes Match capacity is solely to influence the content of the cloud.  Perhaps there was a coincident, or pre-existing, failure of the disk which was simply exposed by the iTunes Match interrogation of the disk content.
    There are certainly other services which depending upon your goal may work well.  For example, Google Play with gBeats IOS App works very well.  My use of Match is to synchronise across several computers and to drive Apple TV and an IOS device - other IOS devices still use sync for specific music and are complimented by gBeats for access to the full library when local mobile signal strength is high.
    The strong advice to always start with a secure backup remains but if your primary concern is iTunes Match interfering with physical disk content you can relax - it simply does not have this ability.  (Apology to Sherlock, further investigation required).

  • ITunes deleted my songs from my HARD DRIVE!

    iTunes not only has deleted a few files from my library, but it ALSO deleted songs off my hard drive!
    I thought, "Well, maybe they just got moved around somehow." But, I thought about how much I go into my iTunes folder and then it dawned on me that I hadn't done that in about a month or so. The deleting thing started happening about a week ago. It's a few songs a day. Seriously. *?
    I feel like if I'm spending several thousand dollars on Apple's products (computers, accessories, and music), Apple needs to be a little more appreciative.
    If it's a bug in the new iTunes, then Apple needs to be sensitive to the fact that music is LOST permanently! It's frustrating to think about all the music that I've lost and PAID for. If I'm using the iTunes store and iTunes to buy/play music, then Apple needs to come out and apologize and reimburse for what was lost.
    I can understand why some of you are frustrated that iTunes is deleting songs from your library, but is there anyone else who is having music deleted from their hard drive?
    <Edited by Moderator>

    I'm a bit upset, too. It's only deleted one song, but why did that random song go, and when will it happen to 100s of them?
    I have the song on CD and can re-rip it, but that's not the point - it shouldn't go missing from the hard drive.
    I've aleady resigned myself to backing up the ITL library file on a regular basis in case it gets mysteriously corrupted.
    I'm not sure iTunes deleted this song, but it sure is suspicious.

  • ITunes automatically importing songs once they hit my computer

    Wonder if you can help. iTunes is automatically importing any music file that hits my computer into iTunes when i dont want it to.
    I try to keep my iTunes collection "clean" with just the things i really want to keep but i have lots of other music files around my computer (demo files i am listening to, mp3's sent by friends). I store them in my Sony/Users/Music directory. my iTunes media folder is set below that at Sony/Users/Music/Itunes/iIunes Music so it should be quite simple to keep them separate.
    however, since i downloaded the latest version of iTunes last year, now for some reason it seems to look into the higher level "Music" directory (that includes all my other music files) and anytime anything appears in that directory, it automatically imports it and moves it into the iTunes permanent collection, which is making it a mightmare to try to keep my various files organised.
    Has anyone else had this problem and/or can suggest remedies?
    Much appreciated
    Ian

    Could you possibly have installed "itunes folder watch" or a similar program and forgotten about it?
    http://download.cnet.com/iTunes-Folder-Watch/3000-2141_4-10524730.html
    Because itunes doesn't do that (watch folders), hasn't done it since it was first released, and that's been one of the most asked-for feature over the years.

  • How to route iTunes to music folders on external hard drive?

    Here's my story: Three years ago, I successfully rerouted iTunes so that the program would find my music library on external hard drive. Two days ago, my Apple MacBook computer was updated to the Lion operating system. iTunes was also updated.
    Now I have to go back into iTunes and give the program new instruction to go find the music files on external hard drive.
    Details:
    My folder on external hard drive, called "iTunes Music," contains various music files and also, I notice, a folder called "iTunes."
    Within that "iTunes" folder, the following folders or files are located:
    FOLDER: Album Artwork
    FOLDER: Automatically Add to iTunes
    FILE: iTunes Library Extras.itdb
    FILE: iTunes Library Genius.itdb
    FILE: iTunes Library.itl
    FILE: iTunes Linrary.xml
    FOLDER: iTunes Media
    None of this makes any sense to me!
    Meanwhile, on the computer's hard drive, following this routing, in the folder called "iTunes," the following folders and files are located:
    Users -- Hard Drive -- Music -- iTunes
    FOLDER: Album Artwork
    FOLDER: Album Artwork 6.29.26 PM
    FOLDER: Automatically Add to iTunes
    FILE: iTunes Library 6.29.26 PM
    FILE: iTunes Library Extras.itdb
    FILE: iTunes Library Extras.itdb 6.29.26 PM
    FILE: iTunes Library Genius.itdb
    FILE: iTunes Library Genius.itdb 6.29.26 PM
    FILE: iTunes Library.itl
    FOLDER: iTunes Media
    FOLDER: iTunes Media 6.29.26 PM
    FILE: iTunes Music Library 6.29.26 PM.xml
    FILE: iTunes Music Library.xml
    I do not understand any of this. I do not understand WHICH FILE OR FOLDER I should instruct iTunes to go to in order to find the desired music files.
    Once the desired files are found, they should appear in the iTunes window on screen. This is not happening.
    I have tried holding down the Option key while starting iTunes, which yields a window that asks for me to CHOOSE LIBRARY. I choose the iTunes library file ( iTunes Library.itl) that is located on external hard drive. However, NOTHING HAPPENS. iTunes does not do anything. When the program opens, nothing is visible in the iTunes window, where normally songs are listed. No playlists on the lefthand side. NOTHING.
    Thanks for your attention and for any insight you might be able to share.

    Just so people know, there's already been several posts on this in this forum:  https://discussions.apple.com/message/18642460

  • How to make iTunes automatically add music to my library when its downloaded from the web?

    Before OS Yosemite, when I downloaded music off the web it would automatically be added to my iTunes library.  Now they just ends up in my downloads folder but once I click on them, they start playing in my iTunes.

    Hi Darg,
    I don't have Safari installed here to look at, but I'd imagine it has a similar way to open certain kinds of downloaded files in specified applications.
    In any case, the second method -- directing the download to your Automatically Add to iTunes folder -- is simple to do in any browser.
    Let me know how it works out!
    Ed

  • ITunes not delete songs from your hard drive while they're playing?

    So, if I delete a song, it says "would you like to keep this file or delete it?" And I always want to delete it; I can't even imagine why I would want to keep files I'm deleting.
    However, if you are playing a song at the time, or if you're listening to a podcast and it has finished playing, if you try to delete them, it will not delete the file even if you tell it to.
    Is there a setting around this or is iTunes just as stupid as I think?
    i.e. Is the only solution after you finish listening to a podcast to play some other random file and then delete it?
    This became infinitely more annoying after iTunes decided that videos should automatically be played in the window instead of a new window, since now I have to make sure I'm picking another random file that ISN'T a video so I can actually see the original file and delete it.

    I often want to remove files from my iTunes library, but keep them on my harddrive. That's why iTunes asks you if you want to delete it. Holding control down when you hit delete will at least get rid of the first dialogue box.
    If you are trying to delete a song that is playing, it won't delete it because it is in use.
    I assume the same is happening on your machine with podcasts. Your system thinks the files is still in use, so can not delete it.

  • How to make iTunes detect the new location of music files?

    Hi everyone. I moved all of my music to a different location on my hard drive, and I changed the location in iTunes preferences, but it doesn't seem to detect this, so my library is empty now. I saved an itl, xml, and temp file as well, but I don't know what to do from here.
    I also tried dragging the new music folder onto the "Library" entry in iTunes, and this added everything, but I no longer have my ratings, playlists or anything like that.
    Is there some other way to have iTunes detect the new location? And can I get back my ratings and playlists?
    Thanks.

    iTunes doesn't use file names to determine how music appears in your library,  Rather, it uses metadata that is split between:
    data elements that are embedded within the media files
    data elements that are included in the entries in the iTunes database
    No amount of reorganization, renaming or other manipulation at the file level will make any difference to how songs will appear in iTunes.  Using your example:
    the value of the track number element is 1
    the value of the artist element is "Elvis Presley"
    the value of the song name element is "Blue Suede Shoes"
    Depending on how you configure iTunes then the file name is either:
    completely independent of iTunes (i.,e., the file containing this song could be xyz.mp3)
    dependent on the metadata managed by iTunes, (i.e., when you have these two options set:
    then iTunes will set the file name to be 1-01 Blue Suede Shoes.mp3 where:
    the file is in a folder called "Elvis Presley" (the name of the album)
    that folder is in one called "Elvis Presley" (the name of the artist) which is in iTunes Media\Music
    Going back to your question "How to make iTunes read the song's name/singer from the file's name" the answer is simple - you can't, as this is not how iTunes works.  There are some third-party utilities that you can use to set some metadata element values based on parsing of file names which might be a useful first step.  However, to use iTunes effectively you should really forget about / ignore file names - manage your media using appropriate metadata and allow iTunes to look after file names behind the scenes.

  • How do I run a program automatically upon connecting a USB hard drive?

    Hello,
    I was wondering if it was possible, using Automator or something similar, to automatically have a program launch after a device, such as an external hard drive, has been mounted to the system?
    For example, I store my iTunes library on an external hard drive due to it's size (~200GB). I would like to be able to have iTunes automatically launch when the external hard drive, containing my iTunes library, has been mounted to my MacBook Pro.
    Is something like this possible and, if so, what is the best way to accomplish it?

    There used to be sn automator action that might have gotten the job done. It was on http://automatorworld.com/ but I can't seem to find it now.
    I haven't test this under Lion but there is a system preference pane called "Do Domething When" that should get the jeb done. http://www.azarhi.com/Projects/DSW/
    I have taken the opposite approach. My iTunes library and I have the same problem if it has not been mounted when iTunes launches. I created an Automator app that mounts the music then launches iTunes. Try mounting the drive the launch Automator to create the following workflow.
    1. Connect to server and select the external drive.
    2. Us the Launch Application step to launch iTunes.
    Unmount the external drive and test the workflow. If it works save the workflow as an app and use that to launch iTunes.

  • How do I stop iTunes from automatically importing songs I listen to from my external hard drive into the music library?

    How do I stop iTunes from automatically importing songs I listen to from my external hard drive into the music library?

    Mac OS X: Double-Clicking a File Opens the Wrong Application - http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2291
    -= Changing the application used to open all files of a certain kind (written with reference to OSX 10.4 but may not have changed) =-
    1) In a Finder window highlight a file of the kind you want to change the application to open that kind of file.
    2) While that file is highlighted, select File > Get Info or press command (apple or propeller icon) + i to get a file information window.
    3) In the lower part of the info window there is an "open with" menu with a list of applications.
    4) If your application is already in the box then it is the default application for opening that kind of file and you don't need to do anything more.  Close the get info window.
    5) If the application showing in the menu is not the one with which you wish to open the file then select a new application. If your application does not appear there then select the "other..." and track down the application (usually in the Applications folder at the main level of the computer).
    6) If you wish to change all files of this type to open with this application in future, make sure the "change all" button is selected.
    7) Close the get info window.

  • ITunes automatically putting songs in library

    Hello
    I just got a new laptop and my itunes on it is automatically adding files from certain folders into itunes. I don't want it to do this. I want to manually add all the songs to my itunes library. I'm looked through all the preferences and can't find where I can change this option. I am using iTunes with windows by the way.
    Also, I recall being able to delete a song from my hard drive within iTunes and it doesn't do that anymore either, can someone please also tell me where I might turn this option on? Thanks for any help.

    Hi,
    Well perhaps I am being a bit dense here, but using iTunes 6.1 I thought that you would do the following:
    Open iPod Options, select the 'Music' tab, make sure the two top options "Automatically Update..." are left unchecked
    Then select the "Manually Manage Songs and Playlists"
    You can also if you wish use the option below that:
    "Only Update Checked Songs".
    This is how I do it with my copy of iTunes and have no problems with it.
    Hope this helps, but as I say perhaps I am being a bit thick and misunderstand what you wish to do.
    Drusus

  • HT1349 Due to backing up my itunes on an external 1 terrabite hard drive, I now have duplicates of the same song in my library.  Anyone know how to run something to remove duplicates?  It's taking up too much space on my hard drive.

    Is there something I can run to remove duplicate songs from my itunes library.  This occurred when I backed my itunes library up on an external hard drive, now I have multiple duplicates of the same songs.  HELP!

    I cannot find this 300GB "Backup" in the Finder, only in the Storage info when I check "About This Mac".
    You are probably using Time Machine to backup your MacBook Pro, right? Then the additional 300 GB could be local Time Machine snapshots.  Time Machine will write the hourly backups to the free space on your hard disk, if the backup drive is temporarily not connected. You do not see these local backups in the Finder, and MacOS will delete them, when you make a regular backup to Time Machine, or when you need the space for other data.
    See Pondini's page for more explanation:   What are Local Snapshots?   http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html
    I have restarted my computer, but the information remains the same. How do I reclaim the use of the 300GB? Why is it showing up as "Backups" when it used to indicate "Photos"? Are my photos safe on the external drive?
    You have tested the library on the external drive, and so your photos are save there.  
    The local TimeMachine snapshot probably now contains a backup of the moved library.  Try, if connecting your Time Machine drive will reduce the size of your local Time Machine snapshots.

  • How to Make Itunes Recognize Foreign Characters in file names?

    How to Make Itunes Recognize Foreign Characters in file names?
    Any Body, please
    DELL Windows XP Pro

    That's not how it's supposed to work according to this: http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/italkpro/
    By default, a playlist will be created in iTunes called "Voice Memos" and those files will be transferred there automatically. The files themselves can be found on your computer in your iTunes Music folder in Unknown Artist > Unknown Album.
    It may be worth working through any trouble shooting articles on that site.
    Regards,
    Colin R.

  • ITunes Automatic import

    I frequently download audiobook files from internet sites . After downloading the file(s) iTunes automatically imports and starts playing them. I DO NOT want this to happen. I wish to control this manually. I've tried iTunes preferences but can't determin how to change this.
    Please let me know how to stop automatic import and playback.
    Thanks

    I have a couple of thoughts. Try this: select one of the files that you've downloaded, Get Info, then change Open with to Quicktime Player and underneath, Change all. I can't promise but it may help. Also, what browser are you using? You should be able to tell it not to open the file. In Firefox, for example, it's under Prefs>Content>File Types and then you can just have it safe the files rather than open them. I think, in Safari, Preferences>General and then uncheck Open safe files after downloading.

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