Lost iTunes preferences and playlists

A recurring issue (MacBook Pro shutting down unexpectedly with iTunes open) caused me to lose all my iTunes preferences and playlists. My iTunes library appears to be intact, but I also lost my album artwork.
any help? Thanks

Empty/corrupt library after upgrade/crash
Hopefully it's not been too long since you last upgraded iTunes, in fact if you get an empty/incomplete library immediately after upgrading then with the following steps you shouldn't lose a thing or need to do any further housekeeping. In the Previous iTunes Libraries folder should be a number of dated iTunes Library files. Take the most recent of these and copy it into the iTunes folder. Rename iTunes Library.itl as iTunes Library (Corrupt).itl and then rename the restored file as iTunes Library.itl. Start iTunes. Should all be good, bar any recent additions to or deletions from your library.
See iTunes Folder Watch for a tool to catch up with any changes since the backup file was created.
When you get it all working make a backup!
tt2

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Lost iTunes ratings and playlists

Used Migration Assistant after installing Leopard. It moved my tunes but not the ratings and the playlists. Tried recopying from backup, same result.
Any ideas?
BB

Hey I was searching for some information and I saw you had a partial answer to what I needed help for. I was wondering if you could help me as I've been looking for quite a few days now still needing help... I can get my xml and itl file but what do I do???
I recently purchased an 80gb Ipod because my old Ipod's (3g 40gb) battery was nearly dead. I don't store my songs on my computer but I still have them on my old ipod. What I want to do is I want to transfer EVERYTHING from my old to new ipod (playlist, playcount, date of last played, ratings). Basically have the same data from my old ipod on my newer one. But I mean when I transfer my songs through iTunes and all, the data that I want to transfer as well doesn't carry over, just the songs (play count, ratings, etc. goes blank). Can you help me please!?! How can I transfer play counts, ratings, dates, and playlist?
PLEASE HELP!

The same itunes Library and playlists on the same computer with two systems

I want to have the same itunes library and playlists on the same computer with the two different Os 10.3.9 and 10.4.9 each one on the different disk. without copy this in the itunes folder (because my library its 30Gb)
I have the same user name on the Os. I use the same version of itunes in both systems
I use my ipod to play the library but its not the best solution (i lost my library in ipod twice because I confused from what os was synchronized)

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Amalgamate the two iTunes libraries. Then load iTunes and hold down the Option/Alt ⌥ key and then choose "Choose Library" and then point both copies of iTunes to use the combined iTunes library.
regards
mrtotes

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.

I have tried and failed to copy my iTunes library and playlists from my Windows 8 desktop to my Windows 7 laptop using an external hard drive. Can it be done? Help would be appreciated.

I have tried and failed to copy my iTunes library and playlists from my Windows 8 desktop to my Windows 7 laptop using an external hard drive. Can it be done? Help would be appreciated. I have followed instructions found online but the library of music doesn't pull in. Thanks!
Nate

Migrate an iTunes library from one computer to another
These are two possible approaches that will normally work to move an existing library to a new computer.
Method 1
Backup the library with this User Tip.
Deauthorize the old computer if you no longer want to access protected content on it.
Restore the backup to your new computer using the same tool used to back it up.
Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
Method 2
Connect the two computers to the same network. Share your <User's Music> folder from the old computer and copy the entireiTunes library folder into the <User's Music> folder on the new one. Again, deauthorize the old computer if no longer required.
Both methods should give the new computer a working clone of the library that was on the old one, with ratings, play counts, playlists etc. preserved. As far as iTunes is concerned this is still the "home" library for your devices so you shouldn't have any issues with iTunes wanting to erase and reload.
I'd normally recommend method 1 since it establishes an ongoing backup for your library and unlike copying with Windows Explorer the process can be resumed if it is interrupted and it will continue to the next item if there are any read/access errors.
Note if you have iOS devices and haven't moved your contacts and calendar items across then you should create one dummy entry of each in your new profile and iTunes should merge the existing data from the device.
If your media folder has been split out from the main iTunes folder you may need to do some preparatory work to make it easier to move. See Make a split library portable.
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library or a backup then then seeRecover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device for advice on how to set up your devices with a new library with the maximum preservation of data.
tt2

HT201272 I have tried several ways to transfer my itunes library and Playlists to a new computer. I get the music library but not the playlists. Can you advise? 2nd I purchased 21 new tunes yesterday on the new computer worked great but when I made a disc

I have tried several ways to transfer my itunes library and Playlists to a new computer. I get the music library but not the playlists. Can you advise?
2nd > I purchased 21 new tunes yesterday on the new computer> worked great> but when I made a disc to transfer the playlist. I get the music but no album info just 1,2,3,etc. So I have signup both computers to share thinking that would work. But no to that also.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Bob

Copy the entire /Music/iTunes/ folder from old computer to new computer.
See this -> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527

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

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

IF I UNINSTALL & REINSTALL ITUNES WILL I LOSE ITUNES LIBRARY AND PLAYLIST

I GET THIS MESSAGE WHEN I START ITUNES. (THE REGISTRY SETTINGS USED BY ITUNES DRIVERS FOR IMPORTING AND BURNING CD'S AND DVD'S ARE MISSING. PLEASE REINSTALL ITUNES.) IF I UNINSTALL AND REINSTALL ITUNES 10 WILL I LOSE MY ITUNES LIBRARY AND PLAYLIST?

Hi dude,
I know it was over a year ago when you asked this, so I guess you've got it sorted now... Anyway, I had the same problem so I entered the registry data manually. Here's the guide if you or anyone else needs it:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3299

ITunes Match and Playlists on iPhone - not syncing in correct order

Is anyone having problems with iTunes Match and playlists on their iPhone? I normally have my playlists sorted by date, however, on my iPhone it is showing up in random order and not exactly like the playlist I have created on my computer. I wasn't sure if I need to change any settings or anything or if this was a glitch.

Please Please PLEASE DON'T reset your iPhone if you get this issue
As has been mentioned before try this first - connect your iPhone:
1) Right click the iPhone icon in the Device list on the left-hand side of your iTunes window
2) Click on the Reset Warnings entry
3) Click on your iPhone icon in the devices list and look at the main window, then select the Applications tab
4) Make sure you tick the Sync Applications box and select All Applications
5) Press Apply in the lower right hand corner of iTunes
6) Press the Sync button in the same position
You should get a warning that there are apps on your iPhone that should be backed up into iTunes. Select OK and your iPhone apps should be backed up with the rest of the Sync.
MAKE SURE NOT TO CHECK DON'T SHOW WARNING AGAIN!!!
I bet this is usually why people run into this problem, as we assume that it will do it automatically but it doesn't.

How can i back up and copy entire itunes library and playlists easily

Hi
Can someone please explain in layman's terms who to copy an entire (40gb) itunes library and playlists to my la cie external hard drive.
Many Thanks
Robs

In very simple terms, what would be the easiest way to run iTunes from an external hard drive? I have about 180GB of music and need to transfer it all to the external drive and run iTunes from the external drive. I'm not a technical, so please be quite specific. All help is greatly appreciated.

How do you purchase a ringtone? i have enabled 'ringtones' in the 'general' section of itunes preferences and i am connected to the internet but i just cant see where in the itunes store to click once i am at the song i want to turn into a ringtone. help!

how do you purchase a ringtone? i have enabled 'ringtones' in the 'general' section of itunes preferences and i am connected to the internet but i just cant see where in the itunes store to click once i am at the song i want to turn into a ringtone. help!

You don't
You have to create a ringtones. Google will find several ways to do this.
I use Garageband.
How to create custom ringtones in GarageBand 4.1.1
You can also use itunes:
Make free iPhone ringtones in iTunes 10

Lost ratings playcounts and playlists from itunes

Itunes would not open, is said, the path itunes had an invalid character and came up with an error, so I reinstalled itunes using the disk clean up utility for windows, and finally was able to get rid of the itunes itself, so reinstalled itunes from apple.com/itunes/download and all my music was there but greyed out, including playlists and playcounts and ratings, so I changed my preferences to make sure my itunes was reading from the correct itunes folder location, which I had on another hard drive. When I reinstalled itunes I had put the program files in the same hard drive as my music was stored on so that Itunes is being read from and playing from on the same hard drive. Now how would I go about getting my ratings back?

Hi Polydorus,
thanks for your help. But unfortunally it did not work. I will write down my setup, maybe you still could help me to solve the problem.
At home I am using a PC with the latest version of iTunes. All the music is not stored on that PC, but on a seperated server in my house. The path is //NAMEOFTHESERVER/music
On my PC I have a iTunes folder in MyDocuments with a folder artwork, iTunes libary, and iTunes Music libary.xml
Following you instructions; I copied those three files to the EHD. Then I started iTunes on my laptop (at this time not connected to the network) with the shift key and there was eveything there. But when I clicked on a mucis file in iTunes it would not start. Instead it asked me "could not be used because the original could not be found ... do you want to search for it ?"
Do you have any clue ?
Thank you very much for your help !
Best regards,
Olli

Itunes music and playlist does not sync correctly into iPod touch?

Ipod touch does not reflect itunes library. Y ipod touch is reflecting music I do not have and is doubling playlist. Anybody know what is going on and how do I resolve this mess?

- Reset the iOS device. Nothing will be lost
Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Unsync/delete all music and resync
- Reset all settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
All your preferences and settings are reset. Information (such as contacts and calendars) and media (such as songs and videos) aren’t affected.
- Restore from backup. See:
iOS: Back up and restore your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.

How do I backup - export my itunes settings and playlists?

I recently had to uninstall the latest itunes as it caused my computer to freeze.
I have gone back to an earlier version which is fine
However I lost all my settings and playlists as did not know how to back them up.
My songs are in a separate folder to the itunes one So its not those I wish to also back up

itl file.
So do I have to save a copy of this then? How do I do this?
Are all my playlists and settings there , album art also in it?

Lost iTunes preferences and playlists

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