How to restore itunes playlists

My itunes library and playlists were intact one day and gone the next. I did not have any problems with my computer and the Music files are still on the hard drive of my computer. Is there any way of getting the library to recognize the songs again and restore my playlists.
Thanks

See Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash.
tt2

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How to restore iTunes playlist?

I just installed iTunes 10.5. All of my music shows up fine, but my playlists are all gone. These took ages to create.
I tried moving one of the backup files from /User/Music/iTunes/Previous iTunes Libraries but there isn't one more recent than 2 months.
Where did my iTunes backup go when I did this install a couple days ago??

Sorry, but your only option would be to use the previous iTunes library. I'm guessing you didn't read up on iTunes 10.5 before you downloaded it. It's not the final version so it basically wipes everything. I recommend that you create a library backup file and some playlist backups next time you get everything situated just incase your computer dies or something too. This website clearly explains how to not only backup playlists, but also restore them when or if you need to http://support.apple.com/kb/TA47831.

Help! restoring itunes playlists?

I just got back from a trip, and somehow while I was gone my roommate messed up my itunes library... I don't know exactly what happened. Basically, I opened itunes (7.0) and found nothing-- no music and no playlists!
I found the itunes folder that is usually in the Music folder in the applications folder. This had all my itunes music in it, thankfully. So I moved that folder back where it belongs, and now itunes has all of my music and folder art back.
BUT I don't know how to restore my playlists! And I had DOZENS of them I really want to get back. Is there any place on my computer that those playlists might have been? (other than my music folder?) everything in my music folder now is new-- all my music and artwork, but the itunes library file has today's date.
I also have the most important playlists on my ipod. Is there any way for me to get them off of there and onto my computer? I am worried about connecting my ipod b/c when I do, it automatically updates, so I don't want to wipe out the playlists on there.
Any advice?

Well go ahead and have the big bottle of wine anyway! It's good for you.
Ok, yes this works method will save your playlists, but not Smart Playlists. If you have any Smart Playlists, best thing to do is open the Edit Playlist window and take a screen shot of the rules so you can easily recreate them.
For normal playlists, all you have to do is right-click on the playlist you want to save. Change the Format pull down to XML. Then OK to save the XML file somewhere (to your external hard drive would be ideal). That's it.
When you get your computer back and put your library back on it, you can File -> Import... and pick those XML files to recreate the playlists.
This is a good way to back up you playlists anyway, so I typed all that out.
But the easiest way to preserve everything is to simply drag and drop the entire iTunes folder to your portable HD, which includes the database files found in that folder plus the iTunes Music folder (and sometimes other folders). This will save everything. So when you get the computer back, you only have to copy the entire folder back then open iTunes and everything should be there.
Patrick

How to restore iTunes Library from Time Machine on Mavericks?

Please, can someone give me the instructions on how to restore iTunes Library from Time Machine on Mavericks?

See Pondini's TM FAQs, for details.

How to restore iTunes library after operating system changed?

How to restore iTune library after operating system changed on the laptop? The syn is not working because it doesn't recognize the computer.

Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device: Apple Support Communities
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities
Sync Your iOS Device with a New Computer Without Losing Data - How-To Geek

How to restore deleted playlists

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Downloading (using iOS or computer) past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519 - enabled with iTunes 10.3 and newer; not all media formats are available in all countries (see: iTunes in the Cloud, iTunes Match, and iTunes Radio availability by country - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5085); apps, books (not audiobooks), music, t.v. shows, and movies (some - not all studios have permitted this). Downloading previously purchased movies and TV shows requires iTunes 10.6 or later. Discontinued items not available. For items not included in the iCloud list (e.g., ringtones, audiobooks), or locations or computer systems where iCloud is not (yet?) available, you only get one download per fee paid. Apple recommends, "You always back up your iTunes library in the event that a purchased item is no longer available on the iTunes Store," (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2519).
You may need to delete the entry completely from the library first before re-downloading or it will think the file is still on your computer.

How to restore itunes music and playlists but run from external HD?

Hi all,
I recently upgraded my macbook from Tiger to Snow Lepoard.
I backed up my entire HD onto my exteral harddrive and fromated my HD and rebooted with Snow Lepoard.
Is it possible to restore itunes to exactly how it used to be i.e. playlists etc, but, is it possible to do this but run all my music from my external harddrive rather than adding it back onto the computers HD?
Any help how to do this would be great.
Cheers

Start iTunes with the option key held down. Guide it to the library file on the external hard drive. This is all assuming it is on there in some sort of regular format and not in an image file or some such.

Anyone know how to Restore iTunes Library from External HD

My PC won't even turn on anymore. But luckily, I have most of the iTunes Library backed up in an External HD.
Now, I've searched and can't find instructions from Apple on how to Restore the Library while keeping all the Playlists, Ratings, and all that other good stuff. Anyone know to do that, or at least WHERE that info is?
Thanks.
Message was edited by: MasterSpade

I have most of the iTunes Library backed up in an External HD
What exactly do you have backed up on the external?

Reinstalled Windows - how to restore iTunes from backup?

OK, here's the short succinct and none-waffley version of my question:
Under OSX there's a whopping big (xml?) file stored in the iTunes Library folder, but where is that on Windows? I've read about a Library.itl file, is that the same thing? If so, where on earth is it please?!?
And now for those who don't mind reading a bit, I'd like to explain my problem (a blank looking iTunes library after reinstalling Windows / iTunes) in a bit more detail. A lot of hard work and many listening hours went into crafting those smart playlists and I'd rather like to get them back if that's at all possible?
Here's what I've got to go on:
- the "iTunes music folder" is on a disk partition that remained untouched during the reinstallion process, so all my music's still there (else I wouldn't be quite so relaxed about it!!!)
- my "My Documents" folder is also on another untouched partion, but I don't think iTunes saves anything there does it?
- before reinstalling Windows I backued up my "Documents and Settings" folder from C drive. I assumed everything I'd need for restoring iTunes would be stored in the "Application Data" subfolder (or whatever Windows calls this in english - it's Anwendungsdaten in german)
So after reinstalling iTunes and before starting it for the first time, I copied my backup of "Docs & Settings/Rich in Berlin/Anwendungsdaten/Apple Computer/iTunes" to the corresponding place on C drive (and also the same named folder from "Local Settings"). Then I started iTunes, remembered that this is a PC not a Mac and saw an empty library window. Which brought me here.
As I wrote at the beginning, I suspect Library.itl has something to do with it. Can anybody confirm this and/or tell me where to find it, please?
Cheers
a computer designed by the devil Windows XP Pro iTunes 4.8 and why do so many only use this to show-off irrelevant items they own???
BeigeG3 400/256/40 OS921, PismoG3 400/640/40 Windows XP iTunes 4.8 and why do so many only use this to show-off irrelevant items they own???

iTunes operates as a database of information for your music files. The actual music files are stored on your PC, not within iTunes. iTunes keeps absolute references of the music file location and other information in its database file. This allows iTunes to use music files from any location on the PC: different directories/folders on the main HD, another internal drive, an external drive, or a network drive (or any combination of the above). Each song reference has a specific and hardcoded path so iTunes can find and play (or sync) it. Move the file, change the path, re-map the drive it is on, and iTunes will lose the file (giving you the '!' of a ‘Broken Link’). Lose, move or corrupt the ‘iTunes Music.itl’ file and your complete Library will ‘vanish’.
If you delete, corrupt, or otherwise lose your ‘iTunes Library.itl’ file, you will end up with a ‘blank’ Library within iTunes. Nine time out of ten, your underlying music files are still on the PC. They can be ‘re-Added’ via the File==>Add Folder/File menu command, but you will lose some of the music meta-data. Recovering your Library via backup copies of the iTunes database file, or from importing the XML file is always preferable.
The iTunes music information (meta-data) is stored in two places: the actual individual song files themselves, and the iTunes Library database file (‘iTunes Library.itl’). There is a corresponding XML file that is created by iTunes, but not directly used. See: What are the iTunes Library files?.
Song attributes stored directly in each music file are as follows: Artist, Album, Song Title, Year, Comments, Compilation tag, Lyrics, Genre , Grouping, Composer, BPM, Album Artwork, Bit Rate & Kind (Both not tags - inherent to the file itself).
Song attributes stored in the iTunes Library database file only are: Playlists, Ratings, Play Count, Last Played, Date Added, Date Modified, Equalizer, Volume Adjustment.
While it appears that all of the music attributes (except for Album Art) are also written to the XML file, when ‘Importing’ the XML file back into iTunes, it will not capture the Ratings, Play Count, Last Played, and Date Added attributes. The XML file can be somewhat useful, but it is usually better to have legacy copies of the ITL file for restoring your complete Library.

How to access iTunes playlist for iPhoto slideshow?

In iPhoto 6 when I am setting up a slideshow and click the "Music" button, I am given the option of accessing my full library from iTunes, but my Playlists don't show up anywhere, just the artists' names and individual songs,so I am able to choose just one song for an entire slideshow. How can I access my playlists in the Music settings for iPhoto slideshows?

I have the same problem, I click the arrows and the list drops but I can only select first tune from , sample, garage band, or library. This happens every time I install an update. In the past deleting iTunes playlist has cured the problem but has not worked this time.

How to restore itunes

after i tried to update itunes on my computer it was unsuccessful, so i tried to open itunes however was un able to do say with an alert stating a particular file had gone missing and to restore itunes could solve this problem. how do i restore itunes?!

See Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash.
tt2

Hard drive crashed - how to restore iTunes

A bad sector hung up my hard drive. I have a new drive now, but need to restore iTunes and songs. I have almost all my songs backed up on an external drive. SO if I download iTunes and the add in the songs will I be good and can I synch between iTunes and teh iPod? I can't turn my iPod into a hard drive since I lost the drive in the computer with no warning.
Also, there were a coule songs that I had just bought from Apple, they were not backed up is there any way to get those back into iTunes? Thanks.

*there were a cou(p)le songs that I had just bought from Apple, they were not backed up is there any way to get those back into iTunes?*
The policy on lost purchases is that you have to pay to download them again:
"Once a Product is purchased and you receive the Product, it is your responsibility not to lose, destroy, or damage the Product, and Apple shall be without liability to you in the event of any loss, destruction, or damage." iTunes Store: Purchased content can be downloaded only once
You could try contacting the iTunes Music Store Customer Service and you might be able to persuade them to sanction a second free download. There have been occasional reports in the iTunes forum of this happening, however just be aware that they are not under any obligation to do so. If you click on any of the links on this page you'll find a space at the bottom to email your query: iTMS Customer Service

HT4623 how to restore itunes backup to a new iphone

how to restore to a new iphone your old iphone's backup to itunes

See if this support document helps you. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2109

How to restore deleted playlists to an itouch after syncing with wrong device. Tried to search for device to restore under devices and it completely removed it as a device on itunes. Is there anyway to get the information back?

To start we have several users and devices on our itunes account....Several weeks ago I was using my itouch to create playlists for a few aerobics classes that I teach. Right before I was about to unplug the itouch I got a notification that my itouch was full and didnt have any space left. Since I was done with what I was doing at the time, I unplug my itouch and figured I would delete unwanted songs later to create more room. A week later, I went to sync my itouch into itunes and over the devices it told me that it was named another device and wanted to know if i wanted to sync the information to my itouch I had just plug in. I had never seen this message before in all the other times I had used it, and at the time I didnt realize that it was giving my device the name of another user in my house. Without realizing it itunes started to sync the new information to my itouch. I immediately unplugged the usb cable stopping the process. I then replugged the usb cable in, hoping to get done what I needed to get done on my itouch thinking it might have just been a strange glitch. Also, since I hadn't notice any change on my itouch from the incorrect syncing, I continued to start itunes again. This time it asked me the same question as before "did I want to sync the information from another ipod?". Since I didnt notice any changes before I just let it do the syncing not realizing at the time that it was earsing all the info I had on my itouch and replacing it with info coming from the other users ipod.
I contacted Apple and they gave me infomation on how I could go look for my itouch under devices and get the information back. When I did this my itouch was no longer there under the devices and it was replaced with the new name that itunes had given my itouch. This device is one of the first generation itouches and has never been backed up that I know of... So my question to you all is...Is there any way of getting my playlists back???? I spend countless hours creating these playlists for my classes and have been completely out of my mind trying to figure out how I can possibly get the infomation back. Please let me know if you think there might be a way to do this!!!

The devices that are listed are: 2 under the name of the device that synced incorrectly with mine and then 3 others that are not associated with my itouch. The name of the ipod, before the incorrect sycning is no longer under devices. It has been replaced with the incorrect one because I can see the serial # of my ipod under the wrong name.
The playlists that are in my itunes library are from an ipod that I used a few times before I took this one over... Which happens to be the ipod that took on the ID of my itouch.
Both of these ipods used to be my kids.. I used my sons a few times and then switched to my daughters. They each had their names attachted to their particular devices and now it just says my sons, which is the ipod that itunes was connecting to when all this happened. The really strange thing is my son doesnt use his ipod any longer and now uses his phone for music...So, it had been a while since that particular device was even synced to itunes!
I hope this helps!

How to restore itunes playlists

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