Is it possible to restore playlists?

I recently had my macbook pro reimaged, and successfully imported my itunes library back onto the computer from external backup source. I'm not sure if this is possible, but is there a way to restore playlist organization as well?

It may be as simple as starting iTunes while holding down the option/alt key and selecting that file when iTunes asks for a library.  For most users iTunes works together with a bunch of files and folder to give you the presentation you see.  It is best to not split apart the iTunes folder and to copy it entirely.
What are the iTunes library files? - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
More on iTunes library files and what they do - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITunes#Media_management
What are all those iTunes files? - http://www.macworld.com/article/139974/2009/04/itunes_files.html
Where are my iTunes files located? - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1391
iTunes 9 [and later]: Understanding iTunes Media Organization - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3847 - plus supplemental information about organizing to new structure https://discussions.apple.com/message/26404702#26404702
Image of folder structure and explanation of different iTunes versions (turingtest2 post) - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7392 and making an iTunes library portable.

Similar Messages

  • How to restore playlists and ratings after hard drive format

    Several people have reported problems restoring paylists and ratings after reformating a hard drive. Here is what worked for me and what did not.
    I had to reformat my hard drive. Before doing that I exported my playlists from itunes to another hard drive as an xml file. I also copied the folder with all my songs to another drive. (Also of course had it backed up on DVDs.)Then I copied the itunes library files (see url http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93732) to anoher drive.
    After reformating my hard drive and installing the lastest verion of ITunes, I copied the actual songs back into a subfolder in my music folder. I then told iTunes to import the subfolder with the actual music. That resulted in a restored library that lacked playlists and ratings.
    Don't do this
    I purchased Anapod ($30.00) because its web page said (http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/):
    "Anapod CopyGear is an easy-to-use, compact utility for copying music tracks, playlists, podcasts, photos, and videos from your iPod back to your PC."
    Well, I did transfer 104 playlists back to my iTunes library through the Anapod backup function. However, the transfer also put more than 20 gigs of duplicate songs into the library. All of the songs listed in the playlists were duplicated in iTunes. I could find no way in Anapod to simply copy the ratings and the playlists. Anapod documentation was outdated. For example the online help pages said that playlists could not be backed up. This was confusing because I had just done that.
    "In a future release we will be adding the ability to backup your iPod playlists. This will allow you to generate backup files of your iPod playlists on the computer. These files will not be usable on your computer though. They can only be used to restore playlists at a later time on your iPod (assuming it still carries all the audio files referred to in that playlist)." This text is from url http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/support/tome/tx2pc.php#5.1.2
    I sent requests to Anapod for help today, but they have not been answered yet. Docs truly did not seem to help. Would have been good if there was a pdf file rather than just an online help html file that seemed outdated.
    This worked for me:
    I ended up having iTunes wipe out the entire library because of all the dups Anapod made. (Made sure that iTunes only wiped out library and did not delete actual songs from hard drive. Then I had iTunes import my subfolder with songs again. That brought me back to where I was before wasting money and much time on Anapod.
    After I had my iTunes library up (without ratings and playlists and after finding Anapod did not meet my needs.
    1. I imported the xml file to which I had exported playlists before reformating hard drive. That gave me the playlists back although an error message said some items not copied because the music tracks listed in playlists were not in my iTunes library. --Possibly I deleted songs after playlists were downloaded some time ago to iPod. Importing the xml file is probably not necessary because of what I did below.
    2. Quit iTunes
    3. Because my song ratings were still missing, I then moved the iTunes library files made by the new version of iTunes into a different folder.
    4. Then I put my old version 4 library files into the place where the library files should be.
    5. Then I crossed my fingers and restarted iTunes. It took awhile to start and said it was updating my library files. Now I have back most or all of my playlists and ratings.
    If problems develop, I will probably wipe out iTunes library and use Anapod to move everything from my iPod into a folder and tell iTunes to import that folder. That approach might avoid the dups that Anapod makes when restoring playlists to iTunes.
    So my message is keep your actual songs backed up somewhere (such as DVD's and anotehr hard drive) and keep a duplicate copy of your library files somewhere not on your hard drive. With these items you should be able to restore iTunes library to its former status.
    Sorry for the length of this message. Hope it helps someone.

    The simple version of above:
    iTunes Files to Backup (anytime you make additions or changes to the Music or Library that you want to retain)
    1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
    2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
    3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
    4) Any XML playlist files created for Playlist retention
    5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
    -- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
    -- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
    6) The XML file of Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attributes saved from the main Library and created by Otto’s SaveRatings script (also optional, but recommended):
    “Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”

  • Possibility of getting playlists back?

    Hello -
    I recently lost an external drive where my music was stored and iTunes library lived but fortunately I was able to move the files to my hard drive when it started acting hinky. I set it up on a new external and successfully re-established the library and all my music is there. Strangely, however, about 1/3 of my playlists are missing. not the music, just the playlist?
    Is there a way to pull that back from a iPhone backup or a music backup (I was backing up the iTunes folder to the second external I have so it was fairly up to date). I don't need the whole library - just looking for those playlists b/c it took a bunch of time to do them.
    Thanks for any help you can provide -
    Alexa
    p.s. while I've got you, any thoughts on music being stored locally vs on an external? I had only some client work (also backed up - whew!) and my iTunes on this external but I play music all the time, including from my iPhone with the Remote app. Is it just as fine to keep accessing it off the external or should I keep it on my internal iMac hard drive? I have the room. Thanks!

    Hi Alexa,
    There are ways to restore playlists with library backups, but the process can be complex and you also run the risk of losing your current playlists (If they do not exist in the backed up library)
    To my knowledge you can't restore playlists from an iPhone/iPod as those devices are set so that music may only be added, not removed (includes playlists to my knowledge.)
    With regard to storing music locally as opposed to and external hard drive, if possible I recommend local storage (mainly due to bad experiences with music on external HDs when they fail.) - As a rule of thumb I always recommend local storage of files as opposed to external storage (unless of course you've got a well established backup system.)
    Regards,
    Peter.

  • Is it possible to restore from a backup after initial setup on my iPad air?

    is it possible to restore from a backup after initial setup on my iPad air?

    You don't even have to do to an erase all content and settings.
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  • I recently updated my iPhone to the new iOS and it no longer works with my inbuilt car bluetooth. Is it possible to restore to my previous iOS system?

    I recently updated my iPhone to the new iOS and it no longer works with my inbuilt car bluetooth. Is it possible to restore to my previous iOS system?

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  • Long story short....I restored my computer to an earlier point using time machine and now all of the previous back-ups are gone. My question has to do with itunes...is it possible to restore my itunes library to the most recent backup because the restore

    Long story short....I restored my computer to an earlier point using time machine and now all of the previous back-ups are gone. My question has to do with itunes...is it possible to restore my itunes library to the most recent backup because the restore that I did was in march and the latest backup was in may....the reason being is that there were app that i had downloaded that are in my most recent back-up, that were not in the backup I restored to. Is it possible to just restore one application ie)itunes?

    See this post.
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  • Is it possible to burn playlists in MP3 format from i tunes to an external drive such as a USB stick.  I can only find options to burn to a CD

    hi there,
    New to these forums and communites and was just trying to get feedback on this question...is it possible to burn playlists in MP3 format from i tunes to an external drive such as a USB stick.  I can only find options to burn to a CD.
    If anyone can help[ that would be great.

    Melofthesea wrote:
    hi there,
    New to these forums and communites and was just trying to get feedback on this question...is it possible to burn playlists in MP3 format from i tunes to an external drive such as a USB stick.  I can only find options to burn to a CD.
    If anyone can help[ that would be great.
    Mel,  Sure, although that is "copying," not "burning."  It is easily done, as follows:
    Insert the USB stick into your computer, and open it up so it looks like a folder.  Highlight the songs you want in iTunes, and drag them into the folder.
    If you normally run iTunes in full screen mode, make it smaller so that you can do the drag.

  • Is it possible to restore Windows server 2012 backup to another physical hardware or virtual machine?

    Hi
    I have windows server 2012 which is my domain controller. It has 2 hyper visor virtual machine that they are 2012 too. I have an additional domain controller in another location too.
    I want to know, how can I restore a bare metal or system state backup to another machine, to have a domain controller same as old one whit all the properties, rules and features.
    Thanks

    Hi Mehdi,
    Yes, it is possible to restore Windows backup to a different machine with different hardware. This article, although written for Windows Server 2008 still applies in 2012:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/249694
    Best regards,
    Please remember to mark the replies as helpful if they help, or as answers if they answer your question. Please also unmark the answers if they provide no help.
    Zach Roberts
    Independent Microsoft Community Support Advisor
    Disclaimer: I don't work for Microsoft. Any advice given is my own and does not represent Microsoft.
    Follow me on Twitter:
    @WindowsZach

  • How do I restore playlist folders from iPod classic to iTunes? The library is intact, but the playlists are not and I don't want to rebuild them from scratch!

    After reformatting my HD and reimporting all songs back into iTunes succesfully, the playlist folders are gone and I don't want to rebuild them from scratch. How do I restore playlists from iPod classic to iTunes 11.1.3 without resorting to 3rd party options?

    I actually tried that in "my computer" by renaming the drive and then got this:
    g-raid (F:) (H:)
    then after reading your reply realized I should try renaming it in "disk management" and hey! it worked.
    Thanks a lot for the advice.
    Now I don't understand why my back-up drive isn't automatically adding the files when I import into the Ex-HD but I'll figuree it out.

  • I accidentally deleted all my music from iTunes I was able to recover the music.  How can I restore playlists?

    I accidentally deleted all my music from iTunes I was able to recover the music.  How can I restore playlists?

    If these playlists are still on your iPod, check out this older thread on how to export playlists from your iPod via iTunes.
    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12256388
    Otherwise, I'm afraid you are of luck and will need to rebuild them.
    B-rock

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    I had Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 on old computer & transferred to new computer - this file is now empty, so I must have deleted photos.   Is it possible to restore them?

    Photoshop Elements 4 is too old. It was written for PowerPC Macs and will not work on new Intel Macs. There is nothing you can do about it.

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    Hi there,
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    Lekha

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