The song could not be used

I keep getting the following message:
The song "-----" could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? When I click on locate a field for file name comes up but nothing is there.
Any hints?

When that message comes up, you have the option to "locate" the file, right ? You probably need to point Itunes to the exact location - usually --- my music/artist/album/song.
how did you import these songs - straight from the cd to itunes ? Or did you copy the files to the hard drive and use --- add folder under file ? If they are only on the cd, not the hard drive, I think that is the problem.
Copy them to my music,remove from itunes the songs that have that error, and copy them back in with FILE ---ADD FOLDER. GOOD LUCK AND LET ME KNOW...Connie
"husband built" PC   Windows 2000  

Similar Messages

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    The "missing file" error happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, one of its parent folders, or the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place. In the case of a library moved from one system to another there are also potential permissions issues. See Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows.
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    In some cases iTunes may be able to repair itself if you go through the same steps with Get Info but this time click Locate and browse to the lost track. It may then offer to attempt to automatically fix other broken links.
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  • After installing iTunes 10.5 update i get the following message when trying to play any song in my Library "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"  how do i fix this??

    I have an iPod Classic and work on Windows 7.
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  • Recently bought  a new computer and all my music appears in iTunes as well as on my computer in a saved folder. When I try to play the music in iTunes I get an error that reads"the song could not be used because the original file could not be found."

    Recently bought  a new computer and all my music appears in iTunes as well as on my computer in a saved folder. When I try to play the music in iTunes I get an error that reads"the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" Hope you can help me solve this issue.
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    This happens if the file is no longer where iTunes expects to find it. Possible causes are that you or some third party tool has moved, renamed or deleted the file, or that the drive it lives on has had a change of drive letter. It is also possible that iTunes has changed from expecting the files to be in the pre-iTunes 9 layout to post-iTunes 9 layout, or vice-versa, and so is looking in slightly the wrong place.
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  • What does it mean when a box pops up saying "The song could not be used because the origional file could not be found. Would you like ot locate it?"

    A  while ago, I was cleaning out some old pictures and music from my  computer. I noticed there were a lot of songs that I did not recognize,  and they had nothing to do with my itunes. I figured my step-dad or  sister might have put those songs on my computer or something. So I  deleted a few of them. The next day or so I realized all my music was  gone from my itunes. I still had the account but everything was wiped  clean, my music and playlists. I plugged in my ipod hoping it would  restore all my music but nothing happened, I still had my music on my  ipod and my cell phone. A friend of mine took my ipod, and put all of  the music on a hard drive, gave me the hard drive and I transferred all  of it in a folder onto my desktop. Then I drug that entire folder into  my itunes library. When I click to play a song through itunes a box pops  up and says "The song could not be used because the original file could  not be found. Would you like to locate it?" When I click on the song to  play it in the folder, it will go to itunes and then play it through  there. But I cant just go click on the song in my itunes and play it.

    It means the media is not where iTunes expects it to be.
    iOS devices are not and have never been backup devices.
    Are the files in question still on the computer?
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  • I have a new computer that downloaded all of my playlist. but i cannot play all songs. i get a error that say "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it? but it does not help to resolve.

    i installed itunes to my new computer and transfered all my playlist from the older computer. the software came with the new computer hp link up. the problem
    comes in where i want to play a certain song on a playlist and this error pops up "the song could not be used because the original file could not be found.
    would you like to locate it? which is of no help.
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    The file path for these songs IS NOT correct per your iTunes Library file. 
    See: http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=listmias  for an Applescript to locate these files for re-adding.

  • The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?

    Suddenly unable to access & play music in iTunes,  I have paid for. 
    Frustrating - *** apple?
    Attemps I have made to no avail...
    1)  Choose one specific broken file. Press CTRL+I to Get Info. Navigate song myself...
    This lead me through music>itunes>itunesd media to an Empty envelope with the song name.
    2)  Retrieve song from previous back ups. 
    I went to my external hard drive updated with Time Machine & was again lead to an empty folder with the song name that has an ! beside it in iTunes.
    3) 
    iTunes WILL NOT let me download it again.  It says "play" beside the song title instead of "purchase" (as it should) but even when i try to play it from iTunes says "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
    which of course leads no where.
    4)
    Checked iTunes for songs that needed to be downloaded - nothing.
    5)
    Not in trash bin
    I have not moved or renamed any songs.
    There are not multiple copies of the same song in my music library.
    songs are apparently missing & so not able to be put into a new folder.
    like most, i truly do not have time to take time out to find  multiple songs or  i purchased via itunes .
    so frustrating.
    Help very much appreciated.

    Previous purchases may be unavailable if refunded or if no longer on the iTunes store.
    •Downloading past purchases from the iTune Store, App Store, and iBooks Store:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
    •iTunes - Apple Support:
    http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/
    •iTunes: Apple Support Communities:
    https://discussions.apple.com/community/itunes
    Sorry that your missing purchases no longer appear available.
    Not sure what other recourse you have.
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • HT204406 I opened i Tunes on my mac and while i see the songs in some of my playlists they will not play. The computer says the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? When i do it won't play.

    I opened i Tunes on my mac and while i see the songs in some of my playlists they will not play. The computer says the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it? When i do it won't play.

    You will need to locate where you itunes library is and then relink one of the songs, itunes will do the rest. So if your itunes library is on an external hard drive or something like that. When you get the error message click yes you would like to locate it. then navigate to the external hard drive where the itunes libray is and locate that particular song. Once you have linked one, itunes will ask if you would like it to locate the rest, click yes and it will find the rest of the files if they are in the same location.

  • Got a new computer now I'm getting a new error "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?"

    So i got a new computer and before i did i backed up al my music onto an external hard drive. I downloaded itunes and went to put my music back on and when I unplug my hard drive i get this message "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found.  Would you like to locate it?". I have close to 3500 songs so its a little annoying that i cant update or sync my ipod/iphone. Are there any tips or tricks you could help me with in order to fix this problem

    Here is the folder hierarchy of my /Home/Music/folder:
    Music folder
    iTunes folder
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    Note that the contents of this last folder in the hierarchy will be different on your computer.

  • TS3694 Error: The Song "   "  could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?  Cannot find song.

    When I try to pay a song from my itunes page a message pops up that says, The Song "     " could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?  When I click of locate it cannot be found. This problem just started after I plugged in my new iPod Touch. After unplugging the ipod none of the songs in my iTunes library will plat.     HELP PLEASE.

    i've gotten that message after i delete a file so i think that is what is happening to you

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    If you know where all songs are located on the computer, I'd suggest just removing everything from iTunes and then adding it back in.
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  • After downloading itunes on my new computer all of my songs have an exclamation point in front of them and it says the song could not be used because the original file could not be found. How do I fix this?

    After downloading itunes on my new computer all of my songs have an exclamation point in front of them and it says the song could not be used because the orginal file could not be found. How do I fix this?

    Hey waltee911,
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    iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408
    Welcome to Apple Support Communities!
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