Playlists vanish from itunes library

Just discovered that most of my music library has vanished. All the playlists/albums etc are no longer there.
Eventually discovered the rest of the music is still on the mac by going into Users/username/Music/iTunes and then iTunes Music folder- everything is in there as icons, can play tracks from there but don't know how to shift it back to my Library.
Does anyone have any ideas. Thankyou
Relates to: Other

Christopher hello,
check here for info on iTunes 5: No music shows up in iTunes after upgrading
let;s know how you get on Chris .... TP

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Songs and playlists disappearing from iTunes library

I desperately need iTunes help. Anyone an expert out there? I have spent A LOT if time transferring songs from my computer into my itunes library, and creating Playlists. Then I sync my phone, and all seems fine. But when I go back into iTunes to put another song on my phone, all the songs are gone. Everything that I put into iTunes is gone, all playlists, and all the songs. It's as if I was never in there. This has happened twice now. I don't want to recreate my library and playlists every time I open iTunes!!!! But I can't just add one new song to my phone either, because as soon as a sync, everything that is already on my phone will be gone!!! Grrrr!! Anyone know what's going on?? The songs were not purchased through iTunes, if that makes a difference.

Apple's official advice on duplicates is here: Find and remove duplicate items in your iTunes library. It is a manual process and the article fails to explain some of the potential pitfalls such as lost ratings and playlist membership, or that sometimes the same file can be represented by multiple entries in the library and that deleting one and recycling the file will break the other.
Use Shift > View > Show Exact Duplicate Items to display duplicates as this is normally a more useful selection. You need to manually select all but one of each group to remove. Sorting the list by Date Added may make it easier to select the appropriate tracks, however this works best when performed immediately after the dupes have been created. If you have multiple entries in iTunes connected to the same file on the hard drive then don't send to the recycle bin.
Use my DeDuper script if you're not sure, don't want to do it by hand, or want to preserve ratings, play counts and playlist membership. See this thread for background, this post for detailed instructions, and please take note of the warning to backup your library before deduping.
(If you don't see the menu bar press ALT to show it temporarily or CTRL+B to keep it displayed.)
The most recent version of the script can tidy dead links as long as there is at least one live duplicate to merge stats and playlist membership to and should cope sensibly when the same file has been added via multiple paths.
See also Make a split library portable for some thoughts on best practice when it comes to organizing the library and media files.
tt2

I am unable to synch music from selected playlists in my iTunes library onto my new iPod Classic, despite meticulously following the User Guide.

I just purchased an iPod Classic, and after making sure I had the latest ver. of iTunes on my Intel MacMini, printed out the User Guide and carefully began learning how to operate the iPod. My first step was to ensure I had manual control (vs. auto synch) because I want only selected songs and playlists on the iPod, not my whole iTunes Library.
On pg. 24 of the Guide is the topic "Synching music from selected playlists onto iPod Classic." Just what I wanted. OK, I selected iPod "in the source list" (aside: Shouldn't it be "in the device list?" I dispair of imprecision). This brought up the iPod Summary page, showing I had selected Open iTunes when connected and Manually manage music and videos. Next I clicked on the Music tab.
This presented me with Synch Music next to an empty check box. Below it, and entirely grayed out was:
Entire music library (showing a checked box)
Selected Playlists, artists, albums and genres (next to an unchecked box).
There's also a third grayed out item: Include music videos that is checked.
When I selected Synch Music, I got the message: "Are you sure you want to removed existing mlusic, movies and TV shows from the iPod and synch with this iTunes LIbrary? I selected Cancel because:
1. The grayed option Entire Music Library is checked, not mly preferred option of Selected playlists, artists, albums and genres. .
2. I can't find anywhere in the User Guide how to "Select the Playlists" I want to synch to my iPod. At present all I have in iTunes is my list of playlists in the left hand side bar.
OK, my first thought was the checked box in the iPod's Summary window: Manually manage music and videos. So I went there and unchecked it, which immediately brought up an alert to the effect "Are you sure you want to automatically synch your entire iTunes library, etc. etc...? I quickly cancelled. Thus, I seem to be in a Catch-22 situation.
So the questions are:
How do I resolve the Synch Music issue so I am assured only selected playlists will be sent to my iPod?
How do I create a list of playlists in my iTunes library to be transferred to my iPod?
How do I manually move a playlist in my iTunes library to my iPod's lists of playlists?
Any help much appreciated. Thanks to all.
John in the Pacific Northwest

For the immediately problem, you can shut down the computer and disconnect the iPod.
There may be a process (program) running on your computer in the background that continuously monitors mounted volumes for things like maintenance, data corruption, and malware. The iPod's storage is a mounted volume. If you know of any such program, such as an "anti-virus" utility, and it has settings that allow you to exclude certain volumes, you can set it to ignore the iPod "disk" when connected.
Also, if you are using automatic syncing (not the manual method) to load the iPod, and you have Enable disk use turned ON, turn it OFF. With Enable disk use turned OFF, iTunes only mounts the iPods disk when syncing, then immediately unmounts the disk. Thus, other processes you have running on your PC (not iTunes) will have less of a chance to make the disk "in use" and cause this problem. You won't even have to eject the iPod before disconnecting.

HOW DO I CREATE A 30GB SHUFFLE PLAYLIST FROM ITUNES LIBRARY TO FILL MY IPOD

is it possible to generate a playlist lets call it, that is like a shuffle playlist but able to fill an ipod? where would i find the command like, " fill ipod randomly from itunes library"? wouldn't it be great !! just hook up the pod and have it filled with random songs from your library. every day you could have a new playlist, but a really big and different one.
g4 power mac Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Just create a new Smart playlist.
Limit it to 27.5GB at Random.
Also, set it to My rating is not One Star.
Rate songs you do not want on the iPod to One star.
Connect the iPod & select it as the Source.
Go to the Music tab and set to Sync only this playlist.
To change the music, select this playlist in iTunes.
Select all songs and press Delete. It will fill up again at random.

How do I delete movies from iTunes library? I have moved them to the iCloud and now only seem to have the option to hide the icon in iCloud. I am sure I chose poorly at the 'keep file' window. Please help. My Brain hurts- 18 movies need to go-.

How do I delete movies from iTunes library? I have moved them to the iCloud and now only seem to have the option to hide the icon in iCloud. I am sure I chose poorly at the 'keep file' window. Please help. My Brain hurts… 18 plus movies need to go…. Thank you.

Instead of removing the music from the cloud or the iTunes library why not shuffle your music using a Smart Playlist which excludes the holiday music, or tracks that are not checked. For example, use this very simple Smart Playlist:

How to transfer library with play count and top 25 playlist to another itunes library?

Hi,
I would like to transfer all my music, with the play count and top 25 most played and other playlists to another iTunes library on a Mac. How would I go about doing this?

What exactly are you trying to do? You already have another library on the computer and wish to add items from another library? This is not easily done and meeting all the requirements you have posted. While it is possible to transfer play count I think it is one of the things that requires Applescripting knowledge.
If you are just wanting to move a library from one place to another that is possible, though still tricky because you start encountering user permissions.

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

Hi after downloading WWDC videos through iTunes it will be vanishing from iTunes list as well as from downloaded location. where should these videos are gone?? please help me.

Hi after downloading WWDC videos through iTunes it will be vanishing from iTunes list as well as from downloaded location. where should these videos are gone?? please help me.

hi
i had checked movies library but videos are not present...

HT203167 Hi after downloading WWDC videos through iTunes it will be vanishing from iTunes list as well as from downloaded location. where should these videos are gone?? please help me.

Hi after downloading WWDC videos through iTunes it will be vanishing from iTunes list as well as from downloaded location. where should these videos are gone?? please help me.

Check under Movies library.

Cant sync songs from itunes library to 3G iphone :(

Ok i got my phone 15 hours ago and have read the guide, and set it all up properly but for the life of me i cant get music to sync from itunes library to my iphone ?
Im on windows xp pro, i have the songs in my library and i click on the sync music tab and nothing ? I can put pics on with ease but cant put my songs on ?
I tried to create a playlist of some songs to test it and clicked on sync music and select playlist of the songs i wanted and still nothing ?
Please where am i going wrong ?

Yes the music tab is checked and yer ive tried clicking on all music and that didnt work and then i tried just selecting the playlists i had created like a put all my dance songs in one playlist called dance and can listen to it on itunes on my pc but when i check that box and try to sync them still nothing ?
And im using itunes on my pc with my iphone connected via usb
Really driving me insane ive tired so hard to work it out myself without clogging up forums with silly questions but no nothing !And it looks so easy and so it should be but pfffffffft it just wont have it ?
Thnaks for reply Sboq hope u can help

HT1451 Music has completely disappeared from ITunes library! Please Help!!

Music has completely disappeared from ITunes library! Please Help!!
Hours and Hours of renaming, adding cover photos and so on have been for nothing. Itunes cannot find the files since they're not in the library at all!
I still have the music on my computer but don't want to add it as it is, as I have spent a lot of time "fixing" it! PLEASE HELP!

Did you use spotlight to search? (I'm assuming you have a Mac as given above despite this thread being in the Windows forum). How long have you used iTunes on this computer? Is there a backup to your library, perhaps an only copy of it on a machine you've "retired". Is the media present in the media folder? (Yes, you've answered that earlier.) If so then the media files should have absorbed all the tag changes that you made and reimporting the media into a new library might not be a complete disaster, though playlists, playcounts, ratings etc. would be irretrievably lost.
tt2

Deleting a song from iTunes library and hard drive on Itunes 11.0

how do i delete a song from iTunes library and hard drive on Itunes 11.0 at the same time.

Hello CleveCo, Inc
And welcome to Apple Discussions!
At some point in time, you may have selected the option to prevent that dialog from appearing again when trying to delete tracks from your library. To reset all of iTunes warning dialogs, click the Edit drop down menu and choose Preferences from the list (on a Mac it is *iTunes -> Preferences* ). When the window pops up, head over to the Advanced tab and click the *Reset Warnings* button. Then quit iTunes and relaunch it. That do the trick for you?
B-rock

Deleting apps from iTunes Library and IOS Devices at once.

Hi there,
I tend to delete all unneeded apps from iTunes library on my Mac, because when I delete them from there, it just take one syncing session to deleted them from all my other devices. But recently I noticed that this way is no longer helpful, now I have to delete each app on my iPhone, iPad and Mac manually. So if anyone can help me to make iTunes recur to the previous pehevior, please replay ASAP.
Thanks.

I have the same problem! I recently decided to clean up my devices. The first thing that came to my mind was to delete an App from iTunes, sync and get rid of it on all other devices. I was surprised that it stays on iDevices evem after you delete it from iTunes. I don't want it this way. DOes anyone know of a trick that can allow me delete an app just once?
Before if you delete an App from iTunes and try to Sync an iPhone or an iPad with it, you would see a window telling you that there are items on your iphone that are not present in iTunes - do you want to copy them? Now it just "syncs" and leaves the Apps untouched. What kind of synchronization is this?

Deleting Songs From iTunes Library...and Keeping Them On Your iPod

Will this process allow me to delete songs from my iTunes library, but keep them on my iPod?
1. When iPod is plugged in, check "Only Sync Checked Items" in iTunes
2. Delete items from iTunes library.
3. Add new items to iTunes library.
4. Sync iPod.
It should keep the songs I deleted from iTunes on my iPod, right?
If you need me to be any clearer, please ask.
EDIT: If this will not work, is there another way to do this? The songs I have are taking up a lot of room on my computer.

Any auto sync method you use will delete the songs from the iPod if you delete them from iTunes.
You can delete songs from your iTunes/computer hard drive after transferring them to the iPod, and for this you need to set your iPod to manage the songs manually.
However, this is an extremely risky option because when (and not if) there comes a time to restore your iPod, which is a very common fix for iPod problems, then all the music would be erased. If you no longer have the music in iTunes (or any other back up), then all that music would be lost.

How to delete video from iTunes library? del and shift+del are not working - no any reaction

how to delete video from iTunes library? del and shift+del are not working - no any reaction.

seb963 wrote:
Hi
Currently, iMatch is turned off on my computer, as I do not want to upload any more songs. If I turn it on, will it upload all songs that are currently in my library? Is there another way that deleting them one by one?
You must enable iTunes Match on the new computer. The best way to accomplish what you want to do is to create a new, empty library by launching iTunes while holding down the Option key (Shift on Windows) and choosing "new library." Do not let iTunes scan for new content, but do enable iTunes Match on the empty library. Once the scan is finished you may delete tracks from the cloud. When you are done switch back to the main iTunes library.

Playlists vanish from itunes library

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