My iTunes library has disappeared after updating, how do I get it back?

Upon opening iTunes it pops up with "The file 'iTunes Library.itl' does not appear to be a valid iTunes library file..."
I've saved my iTunes library on an external hard drive and have been accessing it fine until recently. Now when I open it it pops up with that and when I open itunes all my music is gone.
How do i fix this?

User turingtest2 help document: Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6561
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451

Similar Messages

  • Itunes library has disappeared after update.

    Hi all,
    I have just updated my itunes to the new 11.1.5 version and it has lost all my playlists and library bar a few albums I have purchased on the store! I'm distraught.
    My iTunes library is in a folder on my desktop. My last 'Previous itunes library' was from Oct last year so I'm really hoping someone has a better suggestion than just using that file.
    All my music is still within the itunes>music folder.
    Why? Why? Why?
    Could I delete itunes and download an older version hoping it just falls back in line?
    I run my library by 'date added' so it's imperrative I fix this and don't just re-upload all the music.
    Someone please help!!!!

    Putting on an older version of iTunes won't help and is a very involved process.
    I think "date added" is uniquely stored in the library.itl version of the library file.  If you don't have that file then date added is lost back to your most recent version of that file.
    I haven't updated iTunes since 2007 so I am not familir with what it does when updating but I thought it would create a new version of the library file and put the old version in your previous libraries folder.  It apparently hasn't so unless you have a backup copy somewhere you will have to go back to an earlier version of the file and add anything put into the library since then as brand new items.
    Tip: Always back up your computer before doing software updates.  This shouldn't have happened but each computer is unique and yours is one of the few on which it has.  With a backup you'd be able to restore the old version in minutes and ready to have another go.

  • All the music in my itunes library has disappeared any ideas how to get it back?

    All the music in my itunes library has disappeared any ideas how to get it back?

    Hi bjl1767,
    Thanks for visiting Apple Support Communities.
    The tips in this article can help with locating your music files:
    iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
    If the music is in the iTunes Media folder on your computer, but not in your library, the iTunes library might need to be re-created:
    iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
    Best Regards,
    Jeremy

  • HT1848 recently, when syncing my iPhone I transferred iPhone purchases to my library.  Apparently I hit the wrong button and wiped out my old iTunes library on my PC.  How do I get it back?

    recently, when syncing my iPhone I transferred iPhone purchases to my library.  Apparently I hit the wrong button and wiped out my old iTunes library on my PC.  How do I get it back?

    I cant find any of my recently bought songs or the apps i have purchased. When I was updating my ipod there was a button that asked about transfering purchases and I didnt read it, and I didnt update manually so i think thats why i lost everything. I clicked on the intrustions and clicked on apps and i coulnt find any of my old stuff.

  • My scene bar has disappeared...how can I get it back?

    My scene bar, which has the magnification, the scene bar, the edit scene symbols, has completely disappeared. LikAny thoughts on how I can get it back? I have tried resetting the workspace, I have looked for it in the window panel, but no luck. Any advice?

    Thank you Ned! That worked. Do you have any thoughts on my earlier question(1 hour ago) about how to retrieve a lost file?

  • The little google search bar thats usually on the right side of my window is now gone after updating. how do i get it back?

    i just updated my software and when i re-opened safari, the little google search bar thats usually on the right hand side of the window is now gone. how do i get it back?

    Sorry. That is Safari 6's "new look".
    Now they are copying Chrome and other browsers that combine them so that they don't take up so much space on your iPhone oops, I meant your screen.
    Tabs are as big as a house as well, but that just seems to be a bug.

  • My iphone is block with the itune wen i try to update .How do i get it back to work?

    wen i was trying to update my iphone i don't know how it got block but i can't receive call are make it .and it only in one plce wit itunes .how do make it work ?

    Restore it:
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPod_touch_iOS4_User_Guide.pdf

  • Updated my computer from vista to windows 7. all my itunes library has disappeared?

    My computer crashed and was changed from vista to windows 7. since then my itunes library has disappeared. How do I get it back.

    Photoshop Elements 10 Direct Download Links: Free Trials, Premiere | ProDesignTools
    This may help. Folks who have used this report that it is critical to follow the instructions precisely.

  • My iTunes Library has disappeared. Help!

    My entire iTunes library has disappeared. From reading other posts I see that this has been an issue. I'm not sure if it's related to AVG antivirus (but I deleted it anyway) or due to iTunes update. I noticed a week or 2 ago but haven't been back in the library since and was hoping that it would correct itself.
    I went into my iTunes library and see that all my music is still located there in iTunes Media and iTunes Music folders--neither folder has all music. The previous iTunes libraries are 4 months old and don't have about 70 new songs, apps, books etc. that were purchased. I know that my iPod Classic has all of the music library located on it but doesn't have the apps from iPad, iPods, and contacts from iPhone. What is the best way to restore this. Please help! I am not techy enough to figure it out.

    Uninstalling AVG won't repair the damage, though hopefully it should stop it happening again. See this post for repair steps.
    tt2

  • Battery percentage has disappeared after update to 4.3.3 on iPhone 4?

    I updated my iPhone 4 last night to 4.3.3 and I've noticed that the battery percentage has now disappeared, why has this happened and how do I get it back? I can't seem to find where I can change the settings.

    Thanks, just me being a bit dim that's all. To tell you the truth, I was a bit peed off with it after I'd managed to wipe the entire contents of my phone while updating, so couldn't see very well through all the red mist!

  • ITunes Library has Disappeared

    Turned on the Mac Mini this morning only to find my entire iTunes library has disappeared. The finder indicates space on the drive implying the music is gone.
    Further it appears that my account has been completely recreated - but empty.
    (Desktop back to default - no desktop icons etc..)
    I have backed up the library (80Gb) and can restore, but have lost the last two weeks of additions and ratings. Most annoying... Any suggestions?

    I moved my iTunes to an external drive, and my library disappeared, although both the library data base and all the files were on the external drive (but no longer on the internal drive). I then went to edit/preferences/advanced and changed the iTunes Music folder location. No result. I then selected files/library/consolidate library with no result. I held shift, started iTunes, and instructed the computer where the library data base file was, but this didn't help. I then read the iLounge artice on Transferring your iTunes library and figured out that this was all wrong and should transfer my files back to their original location on my computer. I did so and the library still doesn't load into iTunes. I've spent hours pouring through these discussion forums and nothing seems to apply or work. Any advice?

  • My iTunes library has been replaced with my husband's iTunes library on our iMac. How do I get my iTunes library from my iPhone back onto my iTunes library on the iMac?

    My iTunes library has been replaced with my husband's iTunes library on our iMac. How do I get my iTunes library from my iPhone back onto my iTunes library on the iMac?  Help!!!

    Well, this is a problem, because the only material you can transfer from your iPhone (using only Apple software) is material you purchased in the iTunes Store.
    To do that, plug your iPhone into iTunes, then choose File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from iTunes' menu.
    Generally speaking, you should restore your iTunes library from your computer's backup.

  • HT4113 Forgot my passcode and the answers to security questions and itunes information has been lost. How can i get back into my itouch?

    My son forgot his passcode and the answers to the security questios and itunes information has been lost. How can i get back into his itouch?

    Forgotten Screen-Lock Passcode
    Connect the iOS device to your computer and try to make a backup
    iOS: How to back up
    Then restore via iTunes. The iPod will be erased. Place the iOS device in Recovery Mode if necessary to allow the restore.
    If recovery mode does not work try DFU mode.
    How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
    For how to restore:
    iTunes: Restoring iOS software
    To restore from backup see:
    iOS: How to back up    
    If you restore from iCloud backup the apps will be automatically downloaded. If you restore from iTunes backup the apps and music have to be in the iTunes library since synced media like apps and music are not included in the backup of the iOS device that iTunes makes.
    You can redownload most iTunes purchases by:
    Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store    
    For security questions
    From a Kappy  post
    The Best Alternatives for Security Questions and Rescue Mail
    1.  Send Apple an email request at: Apple - Support - iTunes Store - Contact Us.
    2.  Call Apple Support in your country: Customer Service: Contact Apple support.
    3.  Rescue email address and how to reset Apple ID security questions.
    An alternative to using the security questions is to use 2-step verification:
    Two-step verification FAQ Get answers to frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID.

  • A update to iTunes deleted all my playlists. How do i get them back

    A update to iTunes deleted all my playlists. How do i get them back? I have a windows 7 operating system.

    No, they aren't sold anymore. If you have a backup you could restore them from it.

  • I just updated my iPhone 4s to iOS8 and the weather is missing from my notification center. Where has it gone and how do I get it back?

    I just updated my iPhone 4s to iOS8 and the weather is missing from my notification center. Where has it gone and how do I get it back?

    Scroll down on the Notification page and there is a button at the bottom
    labelled 'Edit'. Tap that button and you can add the weather back as well
    as choose other things to display.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Tutorial: The Players demo – Flex, PostgreSQL, PHP/AMF working together

    Digital Showcase LLC has developed this Tutorial and Demo on database entry and update taking advantage of the extended graphics that Flex/Flash  offers, to produce a rich, compelling user interface for presenting Database usage, leveraging PHP and A

  • Images missing, small horizontal blue lines

    Two things have happened but I'm not sure if they are related. I am working on a Pages document where I had inserted several photos. Now the photos are missing and I notice a small blue horizontal line on the left of each blank line and new paragraph

  • Can we declare trigger in package

    Hi Can we declare trigger in package specification and body of trigger in package body. If so just give me the syntax. Thanks

  • Acquiring database row lock in session bean

    I am getting a "ora-01002 fetch out of sequence" exception when trying to acquire a row lock by doing a select for update nowait sql command. The code that is trying to get the lock is running inside a session bean deployed in both weblogic 6.0 sp2 a

  • List Columns In A Table

    Is there any way to list the columns for a particular table using SQL? I see the tables SYS.TABLES and SYS.COLUMNS, but as far as I can tell there's no relationship between them. Forgive me if this is obvious, (it seems like it should be obvious) I'm