Playlists disappeared from iTunes after update. Can I get them back?

All my playlists disappered from iTunes. I'm running Windows7 Pro. I must have lost the playlists after an update. I haven't listen to iTunes for a couple months, mostly Pandora, but yesterday I went back and all my playlists were missing. --- I do remember an update some time back.
I tried to find an answer by Googleing my problem but nothing worked or was applicable. I found solutions that were older and that had tips like "Go under File in the menu bar and import...".
For some reason I neither have File nor a menu bar , nor an import option. I can't even find out what version I have - but you can assume it is the latest because I always click OK when Apple throws an update at me.
Do I have to start over or can I get my playlists back?  ---- I have used an assortment of  media players in the past. Mostly some smaller but brilliant ones and something like this never happened. I'm not sure how I feel about this happing with Apple's iTunes.  Usually I would have thrown it out but I need iTunes for my  iPod and iPad and I'm about to purchase an iPhone. So I can't let this one go.
If I can restore it - or even if not - , I will make sure I do a back-up for my playlists. I have never done a back-up for PLAYLISTs in the last 15 years (!?). But from what I read some people recommended it for iTunes. I would like to add this question to my original problem: how do I make a backup of my playlists? Do you do it too? Is it REALLY necessary - or can I plow on more or less safely for the next 15 years?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Mietz wrote:
Never mind - I figured it out and got my playlists back.
Good news, but for anyone else with the same issues this may help.
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.  Note that in iTunes 11 an "empty" library may show your past purchases with links to stream or download them.
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.
Alternatively, depending on exactly when and why the library went missing, there may be a more recent .tmp file in the main iTunes folder that can be copied & renamed as iTunes Library.itl to restore the library to an earlier state. Look for a recent .tmp file that is similar in size to the .itl files in the Previous iTunes Libraries folder. If it has happened repeatedly you may want the earliest such file generated since the last iTunes upgrade.
If applicable, 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!
Should you be in the unfortunate position where you are no longer able to access your original library, or a backup of it, then see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
I've noticed more of these missing library posts of late and a common factor to most since I started asking is AVG Anti-Virus. It seems in some cases it might be at least part of the reason why the library file disappears. Try excluding the iTunes folder from any AV scanning process.
tt2

Similar Messages

  • I had 21 songs i my album and after syncronising i only had 15 songs left! All of them from Itunes! How can i get them back without paying for them again???

    I had 21 songs i my album and after syncronising i only had 15 songs left! All of them from Itunes! How can i get them back without paying for them again???
    Hello!!!
    I had 21 songs i my album and after syncronising i only had 15 songs left! All of them from Itunes! How can i get them back without paying for them again???
    Hello!!!
    This realy works??

    Where is the backup of the media and other important files from the computer?  Ultimately, it is the users responsibility to ensure that backups exists. Waiting until there is a problem to decide to do a backup is not smart.  Would you wait until a fire started in your home to call the insurance company and inquire about homeowners/renters insurance????
    In the event that no backup exists (stop being lazy.... keep backups of YOUR data and other important files):
    If you are in the US and running iTunes 10.3 or later, it is possible to redownload music via iCloud from purchased history.
    If you are not in the US or for some reason cannot run iTunes 10.3 or later, contact iTunes customer support and ask very nicely for the opportunity to redownload the content.  They are not required to provide this opportunity.
    It is also possible to transfer content from an iDevice that was purchased via iTunes.  On the new computer, sign into the iTunes account, authorize the computer, connect the device then select File > Transfer Purchases.
    The simplest method of all is to transfer or copy the media (and other important files) from the old computer or the backup of the old computer.  Typing "move itunes library" into the search bar here or into google will reveal step by step instructions on how to do this.

  • My music has disappeared from my library, how can I get it back?

    The music I have purchased from the itunes store has disappeared from my library, how can I get it back?

    There is a way of getting your music back if you have purchased it - go to the itunes store, click "purchased" under the "quick links" on the right hand side of the page, near the top, and then it allows you to re-download anything that you have purchased under that apple id. Phew! Over 200 songs - I'm glad i found this out!

  • My iTunes Match automatically charged me for a second year when the first year finished.  In spite of that, I have lost all of my playlists on my iPhone.  How can I get them back?

    My iTunes Match automatically charged me for a second year when the first year finished.  In spite of that, I have lost all of my playlists on my iPhone.  How can I get them back?

    Hi,
    No need to post three times!
    Is iTunes Match still turned on on your iPhone? If not, you need to turn it back on.
    If it is still on, go to settings, music app and turn off match- sign out of iTunes Store. Reboot iPhone, sign back into iTunes and turn on match. Poem music app. Does this help?
    jim

  • HT5973 the map application disappeared from my laptop , how can i get it back

    the map application disappeared from my laptop , how can i get it back?

    Is it in your Applications folder?  If so, you can drag it from there to your dock.

  • I accidentally erased some songs from my iPhone? Can I get them back?

    I accidentally erased some songs from my iPhone, but can I get them back?

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
    If you made a Time Machine backup before deleting the applications, you can recover them from your backup. Just go to the Applications folder, and open the Time Machine app, so you will be able to recover the applications just navigating through your backups.
    However, there are some applications that won't work after doing this, because they require other system files. In this case, you will have to download the apps again from the Internet and install them using the installer

  • I have an iPhone 4s. Today I went on to my calendar app to find everything deleted from it. Then I went to make a phone call and every single one of my contacts has gone from my phone. Can I get them back and how?

    I have an iPhone 4s. Today I went on to my calendar app to find everything deleted from it. Then I went to make a phone call and every single one of my contacts has gone from my phone. Can I get them back and how?

    Whoa whoa no need to go restoring stuff yet, once you've done that check to verify you have done what Overlook2011  IF that doesn't work for calendars ensure your default account for calendars is set to iCloud and in calendars that it is told to "Show all calendars"

  • HT5610 I updated my iphone 4 to ios 7.0.6 and lost all my ringtones I purchased from itunes. How do I get them back?

    I updated my iPhone 4s with the ios 7.0.6 software and lost all my ringtones I purchased through Itunes. How do I get them back?

    Did you fail to save them to your computer before updating?
    If so, then you can try contacting itunes support and asking them to allow a redownload.

  • Sir I have lost my all contact from my iPhone 4s, can we get them back

    Dear Sir,
    I have lost my all contact from my iPhone, Can we get them back. If yes then HOW ?
    and second thing is that my email icon is not being open please help.
    Thanks
    Raghvendra Pandey

    There are two ways to have photos on the iPhone. First is the camera roll, these are the pictures you have taken with the iPhone camera. The second are pictures that are synced to the iPhone through iTunes from the computer you sync with.
    The pictures in the camera roll are designed to by imported to the computer just like photos taken with any digital camera. They are not designed to be only stored on the iPhone.
    If you imported the pictures to the computer or performed a backup of the iPhone prior to the attempt to upgrade software on the phone,all you need to do is restore from a backup. If you did not create a backup, you can look for the last backup you made if the pictures would have been included in that backup. Unfortunately, in that last case, you will also lose everything you have done since that backup.
    If you have been backing up or syncing with iCloud, the pictures should be there.  If you have not done any of the above, the pictures are lost.

  • I reinstalled Firefox and lost bookmarks from my computer, how can I get them back (sync ?)from my android phone ?

    My bookmarks are really gone from my computer but I have them in my android phone.
    I've tried to use this sync but it doesn't work. How can I get them back to the computer from my android phone ?
    I have checked also backup files but they are really gone.

    Hi penami,
    Thank you for your question, and I am sorry to hear that you lost your bookmarks. In order to check if they are still there you can look in the profile folder on the computer [[Use the Profile Manager to create and remove Firefox profiles]]
    As for syncing from the android, it is possible to add the account to the desktop and the two should merge.

  • The Personal Hotspot feature disappeared from my iPhone, how can I get it back?

    since I've updated my iphone 4s to IOS 5.1 is my personal hotspot disappeared :s how can I get it back?

    You will have to re-enter your " Internet Tethering APN ",
    from Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network
    and it will magiclly appear again.. heheh
    good luck

  • Lost my music and contacts after ios5 update, can I get them back?

    I lost my pictures (still on computer though), my music, and my contacts after I updated to ios5. I'd like to know if there is a way to get them back on my phone. I had a lot of music that I had purchased.

    All you should have to do is to make sure Music is synced (Music tab in iTunes).
    While yu are at it, if you have WiFi at home, check the Sync from Wifi box on the Summary iTunes page and then plug in your iPhone and sync.

  • All my emails just disappeared, deleted from iphone...can i get them back?

    I was opening an email and the application got stuck with a blank white screen. I turned it off and back on and all my saved mail was gone...everything I've received, everything i've sent...everything. All my accounts are still there and it is receiving new mail fine just like it should. It is just that all my old mail is gone.
    Does itunes backup mail when doing a sync backup? I've never had to restore before so i am afraid...will it restore to original phone (blank phone) or will it restore it to what was on the phone before i backed it up?
    Please help! I need my old emails back! Thanks so much!
    ~Karen

    No, I haven't been able to get them back. I have searched and searched and can't find any information on it. I guess they are gone forever...which really stinks because I use my iphone to send most of my emails so they were all on the phone instead of in my Outlook.
    Please let me know if you find out anything!

  • I just upgraded my iTunes to version 11 on Windows 7.  I lost all my Playlists.  They are still on my iPod touch 1st gen, but not in iTunes.  How can I get them back?

    I tried importing the iTunes Music Library.xml file, however it just duplicates the default playlists already in iTunes.  The playlists are still on my iPod Touch, just not in iTunes 11.  Therefore, I cannot manage and organize any songs into the existing playlists.  I do not want to have to go through and manually create the playlists again.  Any suggestions would really be appreciated!!  Thank you!!

    Hello.
    I found my playlists.  They were never removed.  It appears that iTunes 11 shows them in a different place.  Which is kind of annoying.  Even more annoying trying to add purchased songs to the playlists on your iPod.
    - Click on the iPod button on the top right of your screen (beside the iTunes Store button)
    - Click Playlists along the middle of the top of the iTunes window
    There are the playlists from your iPod
    Kind of frustrating to add the songs, but the way I did it is:
    - Click on the song you want to add to your iPod playlist from your iTunes library
    - Click the arrow beside the song and select "Add to Up Next"
    - Go to your iPod playlists as per the above instructions
    - Click on the list icon in the same bar as the Apple icon on the top of the window (it is to the right of the apple     icon)
    - Now drag that song to the playlist(s) on your iPod
    I am sure there is a much simpiler way....I just dont have time to figure it out right now.  If anyone has any simpiler way of doing this, please reply!!

  • Corrupted song files within itunes not playing - can I get them back?

    I'm having a few problems with upgrading from iphone3 to iphone5 - end result is only 85 out of 230 music files are now on the new iphone5. The rest exist on the old phone but only as a link/data file and cannot be played.
    Is there a way to claim these back from itunes?
    If they have been bought there, surely I must be able to re-download them?
    Any help would be great - cheers

    You can re download Music files purchased from itunes by
    Go to the iTunes Store
    Select Purchased from under the Quick links section on the right
    Navigate to the music you want and click on the Cloun button to re download at no extra cost

Maybe you are looking for

  • Jinitiator

    I have a problem executing my forms. When I run the form and the browser tries to open the applet, it says that i have to install Jinitiator. I install it succesfully but when i try to run the form again, it ask me to install it again and again. I do

  • I have Photoshop CS6 and I am having trouble opening the software.

    The software opens until the P CS6 opening page says "Reading Preferences..."  and then the Force Quit Applications area says "Not Responding"?  Any ideas as to why this might be happening?  I did an update for Adobe on Oct. 2 and ever since then I h

  • Scalability of the security realm / isUserInRole?

    When callling isUserInRole(), it seems that WLS6.1sp3 wants to load all the users in the role into memory and eventually call getUser() on each of them. Could someone verify or debunk that this is indeed what's happening? We have roles with thousands

  • R12 Restrict Parallel Concurrent Requests Per User to a Limit.

    Hi everyone, Is it possible to restrict parallel concurrent requests per user to a limit. e.g. UserA sending concurrent requests to submit 15 heavy reports one after another. After 2 minutes he feels free. Now 15 reports running in parallel are heavy

  • Bonjour services erratic or missing, mDNSResponder quitting on boot

    I've searched the forum, and found that several users have had trouble after the update to 10.5.5. I think my problems stem from mDNSResponder not launching correctly. What happens is that my MacBook and my PowerMac G4 no longer see any Bonjour relat