"The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created..."

I'm getting this error upon opening iTunes:
When I try to open iTunes with the option key, it asks me to find a library. I can navigate to my library and see the file, but it is grayed out and can't be selected. Prior to this i had been getting an error about iTunes not being able to save the library, but I thought it was coming from my backup app.
Any ideas? I can no longer open iTunes or access my music or videos.
Thanks!

OK.. I finally found an answer buried among a million other posts.
To fix this, click to open the iTunes app and immediately hold down the "Option" key. This will allow you to either create a new iTunes library file, or point the app to where the library is. In my case, I repointed it to the Music>iTunes folder where my library file was and this worked.
This is the link that helped me figure it out:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589

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I just upgraded my mac book to 10.6.8 and downloaded the new version of itunes. When I try to open it and error message appears saying, "The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder.

I just upgraded my mac book to 10.6.8 and downloaded the new version of itunes. When I try to open it and error message appears saying, "The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder."
I have tried a few things but iTunes closes right after i click okay. Anyone know anything?

Look in your Home > Music folder. There should be an iTunes folder there and it should have a number of files and folders including one called library.itl You want to guide iTunes to that file. If you don't see that file or folder then in your next post you will have to be very specific as to what you do see or how you have your iTunes set up because that's where it should be according to default settings.

TS3494 my iTunes has stopped working on my mac book pro 13" when i try oping it it saysThe iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder.

my iTunes has stopped working on my mac book pro 13" when i try oping it it saysThe iTunes Library file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the “iTunes” folder in the “Music” folder. i dont know what to do i need my itunes back

Hi pgarard1,
If you are having issues with launching iTunes after an update, you may want to take a look at the troubleshooting in the following article:
iTunes for Windows: Doesn't open after upgrading in Windows Vista or Windows 7
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2363
Regards,
- Brenden

I need help every time my iTunes library updates i get this error messege: The iTunes.itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder. but the file should be there.

Every time I have to upgrade iTunes it gives me this messege:'The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder.' the file should be there but I don't understand why it does this every time Apple upgrades the Itunes library. Its on the computer somewhere but it only affects this login on my computer (meaning on this Windows Account). Why does my iTunes do this? Then I have to spend hours placing all my libraries back together and all my music back into the library. Which usually takes me a few days to sort all out. What is wrong with my iTunes? The iTunes folder is a folder in my Music folder where I store the iTunes music/files/libraries at on my computer so I can have all of the iTunes files in one place on my computer.

I have a Windows 7 operating system my computer runs from.

TS1717 When I try to open iTunes I get this message; The iTunes Library.itl cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the " iTunes" folder in the "My Music" folder. I have uninstalled and re-installed EVERYTHING apple related.

iTunes used to open with no issues, then suddenly did this upon launch. So I found every file associated with apple and whiped the computer clean; reinstalled then tried to open iTunes, with fingers crossed............no luck. I am stumped and frustrated. Don't know what to do next. Can anyone help me?

Look in your Home > Music folder. There should be an iTunes folder there and it should have a number of files and folders including one called library.itl You want to guide iTunes to that file. If you don't see that file or folder then in your next post you will have to be very specific as to what you do see or how you have your iTunes set up because that's where it should be according to default settings.

The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. The disk cannot be found.

Hi,
Just curious if anyone knows what this iTunes error message means:
+The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. The disk cannot be found.+
I am attempting to play music from my library located on the a Lacie 1TB NAS, which allows me to play our iTunes library from either the iMac or MacBook.
Let me know if there's any further info needed on my set up to help answer my query.
Cheers

I'm getting the same error on the Mini with SL. Also a similar setup with the library on an external drive.
Music plays okay, but the message keeps popping up.
Some artwork has gone missing as well, which is a bit random too.
Any ideas?

Error message -48: The itunes library file cannot be saved.

Hello,
When I open up my itunes i get an error message 48 - the itunes library file cannot be saved. All my data is there - music, podcasts etc. Just wondering if this error message means anything, if so what, and what I can do to fix it?
Thanks!

I just called Apple Support and I think they helped me, but I'm still waiting to see if the error message returns. I was experiencing the same problem. Whenever I started iTunes, I would get the -48 error message. Everything else was working fine. Apple Support instructed me to delete some files from a folder and restart my pc. I did this and it seems to have worked. The folder is on my C:/ drive. Using Windows Explorer, I went to my C:/ drive and then opened the following folders in this order: "Documents and Settings", "Administrator", "Application Data", "Apple Computer", "iTunes", "iPod Software Updates". Inside the iPod Software Updates folder, I found four files which I deleted. I then emptied my trash can and restarted my pc. After I restarted my pc and opened iTunes, the error message did not come up. So it looks like my problem has been solved. Just some minor glitch having to do with the last update. I should mention that I did just get an iPod Classic 80 gig which replaced my 30 gig iPod Photo which just died.

TS1717 I get the following error message after installing the latest version of itunes via auto update: "the itunes Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-54). Has anyone ever seen this message and anyone have a suggestion what to do?

I get the following error message after installing the latest version of itunes via auto update: "the itunes Library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-54). Has anyone ever seen this message and anyone have a suggestion what to do?

Hi pholewinski!
I have a couple of articles for you here that I believe will help you with this issue. The first is an article on advanced troubleshooting, and it can be found here:
iTunes: Advanced iTunes Store troubleshooting
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3297
If following that article's steps doesn't take care of the issue, you can try the things listed in this article, which is about permissions issues in iTunes:
iTunes: Missing folder or incorrect permissions may prevent authorization
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1277
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

The itunes library file cannot be saved (-48)

After migrating my library from an xp machine to a new vista machine, I get this error whenever I open iTunes.
The itunes library file cannot be saved (-48)
The most annoying result appears to be that my video iPod does a full sync every time now (as it can't save the library file, this isn't surprising).
Anybody know how to fix this?

I am getting this error on my Vista computer. I've tried rebuilding the library and that didn't help. Interestingly I had the same error on my old XP computer. When I migrated my music from the old to the new I copied the music files but I created a new libary files; so that indicates to me that the problem is not Vista specific.
I am starting to wonder if it's a software confict, ie some software that I had installed on both computers or a corrupt file among my music.
There is another discussion about this error here, but there's nothing conclusive http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1202649
BTW I have found that the error always occurs when I connect my 2nd generation Shuffle, but it also occurs randomly, particularly shortly after I have opened iTunes (even if I have not made changes that would require writing to the library file).
Message was edited by: Madam

The iTunes library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-50).

I launch iTunes, I get "Updating iTunes library" and then, "The iTunes library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occurred (-50)." This started happening after I upgraded to iTunes 7.3. Things seem to work OK, but my artwork was rearranged in coverflow, and it seems to take much longer to get music videos to come up in Frontrow. This is a problem because my 2 1/2 year old doesn't like to wait for his Chili Pepper videos. What do I need to fix?
iMac 2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Mac OS X (10.4.10) 500GB 2GB RAM

I am having the very same problem. Does anyone out
there have any ideas? Is this just a 7.3 thing that
needs to be fixed via apple ? Any ideas would be
great. Thanks
Same problem here,
I upgraded to 7.3 yesterday and have got problems since itunes taking ages to load beacuse of updaing library on start up,then the identical error message.The download that I bought last evening is nowhere to be found.I've only got the Ipod (and itunes) about 3wks and I have to say I WAS delighted up to this but this is really spoiling things,any getting the upodate now prompt might want to think twice. Somebody help please!
Many thanks.
Brendan.
Medion MD8822 Windows Vista Intel core2 duo 2.13 GHz
Medion MD8822 Windows Vista Intel core2 duo 2.13 GHz
Medion MD8822 Windows Vista

Receiving "The Itunes Library file cannot be saved. A duplicate file name was specified".

Itunes Version 10.5.3.3
Using Iphone 4 on Windows 7 Proffesional PC.
Keep getting "The Itunes Library file cannot be saved. A duplicate file name was specified" when trying to sync Itunes with Iphone.
Have tried the following steps;
first you have to locate your last library file, you can do this by clicking Edit-preferences-advanced. it will show you the itunes media folder location. then close Itunes
open your folder and locate the last library (libraries are saved with date names, find the most recent one or the one that was last modified).
change the name of the library to today´s date following the format it already has. you will have to change the name for libraries: .itl, .xml, genius and extras.
once you have changed the name to today´s date on the 4 libraries you will have to delete all other libraries existing on the same folder or on a folder named "previous itunes libraries". it is also recommended to delete the itunes "preferences file" .dat (usually 1kb) and the "sentinel" file.
so, you will have on your itunes media folder only 4 libraries: .itl .xml genius and extras.
the next step is to click the itunes icon holding the "shift" key . itunes will ask you to either "quit, choose library or create library" click on choose library. then locate the library you just renamed with today´s date and extension .itl
done, itunes will open with the last saved version of your library. keep in mind that some changes or songs will not be present if you added any while getting the error "itunes cannot save the library file. a duplicate name has been specified" just locate the songs and add them again, if you have the option "copy files to itunes media folder when adding to library" checked. then go to file-add folder or file-and locate the songs missing on the itunes media folder.itunes saves the files on the hard drive but does not save the changes on the library.
No luck.
Any help would be greatly appriciated.

I found the solution:
first you have to locate your last library file, you can do this by clicking Edit-preferences-advanced. it will show you the itunes media folder location. then close Itunes
open your folder and locate the last library (libraries are saved with date names, find the most recent one or the one that was last modified).
change the name of the library to today´s date following the format it already has. you will have to change the name for libraries: .itl, .xml, genius and extras.
once you have changed the name to today´s date on the 4 libraries you will have to delete all other libraries existing on the same folder or on a folder named "previous itunes libraries". it is also recommended to delete the itunes "preferences file" .dat (usually 1kb) and the "sentinel" file.
so, you will have on your itunes media folder only 4 libraries: .itl .xml genius and extras.
the next step is to click the itunes icon holding the "shift" key . itunes will ask you to either "quit, choose library or create library" click on choose library. then locate the library you just renamed with today´s date and extension .itl
done, itunes will open with the last saved version of your library. keep in mind that some changes or songs will not be present if you added any while getting the error "itunes cannot save the library file. a duplicate name has been specified" just locate the songs and add them again, if you have the option "copy files to itunes media folder when adding to library" checked. then go to file-add folder or file-and locate the songs missing on the itunes media folder.itunes saves the files on the hard drive but does not save the changes on the library.
hope this is clear enough.

ITunes comes up saying the iTunes library files cannot be saved. an unknown error occured

iTunes comes up saying the iTunes library files cannot be saved. an unknown error occured
what should i do

Note: Close iTunes completely before doing any of this.
After getting this error, I found a bunch of Temp files in the same folder as my iTunes library. The thing that stuck me as odd about this was that there were 4-5 of them labeled "Temp File.xml", "Temp File2.xml", etc. and when I tried to select any of them, the selected file(s) would mysteriously disappear. I ended up Selecting everything except the Temp File.xml files, and moving it elsewhere (I actually just put in a new folder in the parent folder).
I then deleted/"Move to Trash"ed the folder that used to contain my Library, and renamed the new folder to have the same name as the old folder.
Then I clicked on the iTunes icon (hold down option/alt from before you click, until the "choose library" dialog appears), and chose my old iTunes Library. This re-linked my old library and restored it to how it was before error (-48) started rearing its ugly head.
(Windows users, when you re-open iTunes to link your library back in... you double click the icon, then immediately press-and-hold "shift" until the dialog appears)

Help! I always get an error: "The iTunes library fil cannot be saved...."

The error is: "The iTunes library file cannot be saved. An unknown error occured (-1450)." What is wrong??? After the error no songs I add stay in the library, only files I added before the error. I tryed re-installing, but after a while I get the same error again. What is wrong? My new iPod is coming and I want to put all my CD's in iTunes but they wont stay!

O.K., OMG, found the problem, for some reason the folder in which the iTunes library file is stored is marked read-only for some reason, but when I turn read-only off, it comes on right after again, know how do I fix this?

.itl error message: The iTunes Library file cannot be saved...

Does anyone know what causes this error message: "The iTunes Library file cannot be saved. A folder was specified instead of a file."
Long story short, I am tranferring my library to a new computer. On the old computer (XP, iTunes 10) it referenced the library from an external hard drive. On the new computer (Windows 7, iTunes 10) it references the C drive (my choosing). I put the iTunes Library folder onto C/Libraries/Music/iTunes/I manually put the .itl file in C/Libraries/Music/iTunes, and it worked (all of the playlists and file data were retrieved successfully). But then iTunes starts giving me that error message, and the .itl dissapears from C/Libraries/Music/iTunes. Then when I try to reopen iTunes I get this message: "The iTunes library .itl file cannot be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder.
Why is iTunes having trobule saving the file? Or do I need to somehow mondify the .itl so that it is functional in this new location (on the old computer it was in a differen folder. THanks for any insight.

Hi,
I got to messing around in the iTunes folder and now NOTHing is visible in my iTunes Library. I had made a backup of the ~\My Music\iTunes folder before I messed with anything and so deleted the entire iTunes folder. Then I restored it from the backup. There is still NOTHing in my library.
I can import one item at a time but it's impractical to do it that way due to the volume of music. How can I import All of my music into the library? Is there a way to import an entire directory, consisting of sub-directories and their music - into the library?
Thanks very much.
Mike

I am trying to open iTunes on my Windows 7 PC and am getting the following message...the itunes library can not be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder. Any ideas?

I am trying to open iTunes on my Windows 7 PC and am getting the following message...the itunes library can not be found or created. The default location for this file is in the "iTunes" folder in the "Music" folder. Any ideas?

Let's try this first. Hold down the Shift key while you try to launch iTunes. You should eventually see the following dialog:
Click "Choose library". Browse to inside the following location (depending on what operating system you're running):
Operating System
Default location of iTunes library
Microsoft Windows XP
\Documents and Settings\[your username]\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\
Microsoft Windows Vista
\Users\[your username]\Music\iTunes\
Microsoft Windows 7
\Users\[your username]\My Music\iTunes\
... and open the iTunes library you find in there.

"The iTunes Library file cannot be found or created..."

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