"itunes library cannot be read; created by newer version of itunes" message

My son clicked a message when he was downloading something the other day (he can't remember exactly what it said), but since doing so, if we try to open itunes we get the message: "the file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes."
When he was using it at that time, he synced his iPod and lost everything he had purchased, both games and songs. He shut down the computer, and since that time, we are unable to even access iTunes at all. If you click on the icon you just get the message above. No one wants to risk plugging their iPod into it and losing thier songs since their is no back-up for the music.
There are 3 iPods working fron that computer and there were hundreds of purchased songs. We can't even open the library now, and my son lost a ton of stuff when he synced his trying to get his movie.
Any ideas?

These directions should fix you up. Don't pay attention to the title of the article, just see if opening a previous itunes library works.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967

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ITunes corrupted, must be reinstalled. Now 'the file iTunes Library itl. cannot be read, created by newer version of iTunes.'

My iTunes programme on Windows PC has suddenly become corrupted and must be reinstalled. After two attempts, I installed the requisite 64 bit version, but it won't open as "The file 'iTunes Library itl.' cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." Where do I go from here (bearing in mind very little technical knowhow!)?

There are two things you can try here:
If you updated fairly recently, you can recover a backup copy of the library file made when you updated.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1967?viewlocale=en_US
This gives you the library as it was when you updated.
Or you can recreate your library from the xml file, this will be more up to date, but not all the metadata is recovered.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1451
At the end of the article it tells you how to add files you your library if you don't have an xml file.
Anywhere it tells you to drag a file to the trash in either article, I would drag it to the desktop or another folder of your choice in case you need it later.
The second article also include links to general troubleshooting if iTunes will not start after recovering/recreating your library.

Library cannot be read created by a newer version of itunes

My itunes updates went haywire. So, I uninstalled itunes. Then read somewhere to also uninstall software update, mobile device support, bonjour, and application support. I did all, rebooted and reinstalled Itunes. Now I get a message that says Library cannot be read because a newer version of Itunes was installed. If I remember correctly, the version I deleted was 2011 or 2010 not sure which.

Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs (Win XP) or Programs and Features (later)
Remove all of these items in the following order:
iTunes
Apple Software Update
Apple Mobile Device Support (if this won't uninstall move on to the next item)
Bonjour
Apple Application Support
Reboot, download iTunes, then reinstall, either using an account with administrative rights, or right-clicking the downloaded installer and selecting Run as Administrator.
The uninstall and reinstall process will preserve your iTunes library and settings, but ideally you would back up the library and your other important personal documents and data on a regular basis. See this user tip for a suggested technique.
Please note:
Some users may need to follow all the steps in whichever of the following support documents applies to their system. These include some additional manual file and folder deletions not mentioned above.
HT1925: Removing and Reinstalling iTunes for Windows XP
HT1923: Removing and reinstalling iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
tt2

Just reinstalled itunes due to need to fix msvcr80.dll error; now itunes wont run because itunes library.itl cant be read created by newer version itunes. how do i resolve this ?

just reinstalled itunes due to need to fix msvcr80.dll error;
now itunes wont run because itunes library.itl cant be read created by newer version itunes.
how do i resolve this ?

By way of experiment, let's first try specifically choosing a library for iTunes to open.
Quit iTunes if that error message is showing. Now hold down your Shift key, and then open iTunes. (Keep holding down the shift key while iTunes is opening.)
You should see a dialog asking you if you want to choose or create a library, as per the following screenshot:
Click "Choose Library ..."
You should now see a screen like the following screenshot:
Select the "iTunes Library.itl" file (shown circled in the screenshot) and click "Open".
Does your iTunes library open without the error?

Itunes won't start. says "cannot be read be read. created by newer version of itunes"

I recently restored my iphone and also updated itunes. now, when i try to open itunes it says, "the file itunes library.itl cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes"

Check out the "More Like This" section to the right.
In the future, it's faster to find a resolution by searching the forums prior to posting.

"iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes

Hi,
I am using Leopard (OS 10.5.8) with itunes version 10.6.3 (the highest version that Leopard will run). I accessed my Leopard itunes library from another mac in my house that was running Mountain Lion and itunes 10.7. I did this so that I could use some itunes scripts that would only run in OS 10.6 or higher. Using the Mountain Lion mac and the scripts I deleted many titles in my Leopard itunes library, and deleted many duplicate files in from my itunes library.
Now, when I try to open itunes on my Leopard machine, I get this message:
The file “iTunes Library” cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Of course, I cannot run a more current version of itunes, since I am using Leopard. I realize that I could revert to a backup of my itunes library, but that would undo all of the changes I made to my itunes library. Is there a way to edit something that would allow me to open itunes with my current library? I am not planning to upgrade the Leopard machine at this point.
Thanks for any advice.
-Joe

I don't know if trying to import the .xml version of the library gets around version specificity but I doubt it.
Opening iTunes with a newer version irreversibly converts the library file to that version. You can, as you say, use the copy put in the "Previous iTunes libraries" folder when you first opened with the newer version.

When i try to open itunes on my mac a message comes up saying The file "iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?"

When i try to open itunes, a message pops up saying "The file “iTunes Library” cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?." I have tried downloading the newest version of itunes but it still won't open. What should i do?

Update your copy of itunes to the current version.

After years of using iTunes on my G4 suddenly it won't open. Error message says "The file "iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes". What do I do?s

After years of using iTunes on my G4 suddenly it won't open. Error message says "The file "iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes". What do I do? I have been attempting to move my Library to a newer MacBook Pro.

The file "iTunes Library.itl" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes".
Try the following user tip:
Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash

I recently transfered everything from my emac to another one but now when I try to open iTunes I get the window that states: The file "iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.

I recently transfered everything from my emac to another one but now when I try to open iTunes I get the window that states: The file "iTunes Library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. The computer I transfered to had a bunch of files on it and I got full ownership of what was already there, so, how do I get to my iTunes library, I do have access as an administrator to the iTunes library (that works just fine) already there and I guess I must have had a newer version ofiTunes on my defunt eMac....

Tell us some version numbers please, of your Mac OS versions and iTunes versions on both computers (two eMacs yes?).
dlrobinson49 wrote:
I guess I must have had a newer version ofiTunes on my defunt eMac....
That is a pretty good guess.Try updating the second eMac's iTunes to at least the version that was on the first.

My itunes cannot be update on my windows xp. so i delete my itunes and install new, but now i got new problems, it says "The file itune.library.itl cannot be read because it was created by newer version of itunes." so how can it be solved?

my itunes cannot be update on my windows xp. so i delete my itunes and install new, but now i got new problems, it says "The file itune.library.itl cannot be read because it was created by newer version of itunes." so how can it be solved?

Hello Bebyida,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
Best of luck,
Mario

Upgraded to 11.3.1 now can't open library. Won't read. I have an older iMac (2008). Message I get is: cannot be read because was created by newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?' ... so I do and it fixes nothing. OS 10.6.8

Upgraded to 11.3.1 now can't open library. Won't read. I have an older iMac (2008). Message I get is: cannot be read because was created by newer version of iTunes. Would you like to download iTunes now?' ... so I do and it fixes nothing. Same message again. OS is 10.6.8.

Thanks again. The option thing got me further than I've gotten thus far but when I went to choose a library I got that same message.
I do have options. I have 2 iMacs. I can still access my music through 'sharing' and download it onto my newer iMac. Trouble is it doesn't have a CD port and I like to burn. From what I've read about their new Mac portable CD/DVD drive, it's shaky at best. Incidentally, do you know of any drives that work well with Macs and cost less than $89.00?
I've figured out I can download a previous library from my old Mac then upload it from the new one which should put me back in business, but what do I do with the corrupt one that's there now, just trash it? Also, when I do the option key my other choice is Create A New Library. Should I do that and put the good previous library into it?
Thanks a million, I really appreciate your time. I'm an old fogey and computers often mystify me, especially when they lock me out of things for no apparent reason.

Itunes error message "itunes library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes"

I have an iBook G4 with OS 10.4.11 (Tiger operating system). I keep getting an error message in Itunes: "Itunes library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes". What do I do? I also cannot access the Itunes store. This is an older laptop (2006) which still works great except for this. Please help.

I know this is an old thread, but the information in it solved my current problem (Windows Vista, upgraded to iTunes 11.2 and resulted in this same .itl error message).
So, I'm here to thank turingtest2 for his excellent instructions to fix my problem. One of tt2's many detailed instructional tips). THANK YOU TURINGTEST2!
PS I'm generally reluctant to "mess with files and such, preferring to use Windows Restore, because it just doesn't seem right to me that end users of Apple devices should have to get into the guts of files and such. Sadly, I have finally just accepted that iOS updates never work right and I either have to deal with work-around fixes or never update. Eventually we do need to update or there will be other problems. All I can say is, I'm sure glad there are folks like turingtest2 here who spend so much time helping us.

Itunes library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes. How do I fix this?

I've been trying to open Itunes after upgrading it to 10.7 I think and this is what it says "itunes library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of itunes"

I don't know how you received an upgrade for iTunes. You make it sound like it was sent to you. At most your computer will tell you of a new version and you tell it to download it and install it. However, a computer will not do this for a version which is incompatible. iTunes 10.7 came out a few weeks ago but your computer would not notify you and even if it did, 10.7 would refuse to install on your computer. So this part isn't making a lot of sense.
Two ways to get the 'newer version' message. One is to open your library on a computer running a newer version, and then try to open it with an older version. Usually happens when the library is on an external and used with multiple computers. The second way is if you have multiple versions of itunes installed on your computer.
The newest (and likely the last) iTunes for OSX 10.5.8 is iTunes 10.6.3 which has been out for quite a while.
iTunes 10.6.3.25 - http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1575

ITunes Library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes. I have a G4 Mac on OS 10.5.8. Help?

I have the message "iTunes Library cannot be read because it was created in a newer version
of iTunes. I have an old G4 Mac and cannot upgrade beyond Leopard. (OS 10.5.8)
What can I do? How and where is help?

Somewhere in your process you ended up with an earlier version of iTunes than was used last with the library. iTunes 10.6.3 is the highest version that will run under OSX 10.5.8
iTunes 10.6.3.25 - http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1575
If you had an earlier version and still want that version I am not sure how to go about this. My iTunes library file does not say it was created with a particular version, although I admit I have not looked at the .xml copy to see if it is buried in the file itself. Apple only has a very limited number of iTunes versions openly posted, though you can still find just about any version if you look in the right places. You would have to kind of start low and work your way up to where you want to be since once you open a library with a version it cannot be reverted to an earlier version (make backups first).

My iTunes says library cannot be read because it was created by a newer version. Can any one help?

The file "iTunes library" cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes.

Are you trying to downgrade iTunes?
What happens if you download and install the latest version of iTunes from here -> http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
WTH.

"itunes library cannot be read; created by newer version of itunes" message

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