Transferring Play Count

So it seems as if the play count is not changed in the metadata of AAC files, at least from what I could see using the command line tool mdls.
So the question is: where is this playcount info kept? And if there is a file somewhere, I'd love to be able to transfer (actually sync) this file between two computers that I play music on. That way the play count will always be updated properly.
Not that this is really a huge deal but it's a great decision maker for a large library!
Apologies if this question has been answered; I was unable to find a solution posted.

I found the answer for anyone who might also be curious. Or at least the precursor to an answer. I believe it is housed in the XML file in the ~/Music/iTunes/ folder. That has all kinds of wonderful information. User beware - probably you should be careful of editing it - I don't know how finicky iTunes is when it is manually modified.

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Transfering Album Artwork and Play Counts

I'm about to buy a new computer but want to make sure that when I install iTunes that I can take the play counts and album art work from my old computer and transfer them to the new one. My music is on an external hard drive and isn't an issue.

OK, so your music files are on an EHD. Is folder where your music files are located on the EHD the designated "iTunes Music" folder?
The location of the "iTunes Music" folder is set in Edit>>Preferences>>advanced>>General.
You need to have all your music files in the designated iTunes Music folder if you want a trouble free transfer. If this is not the case, you need to sort it out before the transfer. Ask if you need help with this.
Next what is the location of your iTunes folder? By default it is in My Music on the c:drive, but some people with EHDs have it on the EHD.
Assuming you have the default loaction...
The iTunes folder contains the library database files and the album artwork folder, so it will need to be transferred. The best way to do this is to install iTunes on the new PC, then drag the iTunes folder that was created out to of Music the desk top and replace it with the one from the old PC.
You will probably have to adjust the permissions of the copied iTunes folder to give your account full control or Vista may not grant the new account write access.
Then with the EHD plugged in, start iTunes and set the location of the iTunes Music folder in preferences.
If you want to copy the music to the new computer after you have everything working on the new computer, you can set the loaction of the iTunes Music folder back to iTunes Music in the iTunes folder on the c: drive and then consolidate. This will copy the files across.
P.S. For info:
Here is the Apple help on migrating using an iPod:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329?viewlocale=en_US
They are using the iPod as an EHD but the difference from your situation is that they assume a default set up with the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes folder on the c: drive.
Message was edited by: polydorus

Play Counts from iPhone aren't transferring into iTunes?

I own an iPhone 3G and have the latest version of iTunes.
I am a person who is . . . proud of their play counts for certain songs and I am a bit upset that one certain song in my whole library (or, so it looks like it) does not seem to be getting the play counts transferred into iTunes. I know I'm not crazy and I honestly expected the song to jump 50-100 play counts up, but it stayed relatively low.
Just right now, I synced my phone and the play count for a new song (just added yesterday), which I absolutely adore, has a play count of over 50. (I have put it in repeat the whole day. :P)
So, I know something might be wrong; is this possible that certain songs don't transfer their play count onto iTunes after syncing? Is there a way to fix this?
Please feel free to ask questions and ask to clear up anything confusing I've said.
Thank you!
Message was edited by: Alyssa Song

Hello,
I'm French (and in France so) and I have same problem since 1 or 2 weeks ! It's very difficult for me because I've a lot of smart playlist based on playcount...
Each day, I have to change playcount manually on iTunes (with scripts) for good working next day.
Like you, I've tried reinstalling and restoring without success. I think this problem appears for me since iOS 8.02 but not sure.
The only difference with you is my iPhone is 6 not 5... so the problem is not the phone but iOS or iTunes...
I hope a correction soon : iOS 8.1 ?
Macbook Pro, iPhone 6, iOS 8.02, iTunes 11.4
PS : Because english is difficult, I posted on french forum but no answer since 3 days...

Transferring music to an external hard drive while keeping play counts

Hello all.
I received a 250 GB external hard drive for my birthday yesterday as my internal one was getting very full. I decided that I would transfer my 3000+ songs on to it in hopes of clearing some room. Now, I know that once you move a file from its original destination (I did not have the "Copy to iTunes Music Folder" setting enabled) but I have consolidated my library and now everything is in that folder.
I've been having a lot of trouble getting the songs to actually be recognized from my external hard drive even though the whole iTunes folder had been copied there (I was too afraid to delete the original incase it didn't work). I have also went into the iTunes preferences and changed the location of the folder to where it is on my external hard drive, and it updates the library but when it is done nothing is different. When I look at the "info" for songs, they are still shown as on my internal drive.
How do I make iTunes see that my music is on my external drive and for it to start looking there instead of internally while keeping my play counts and playlists?

Hi,
here is the correct procedure for moving your music to an external drive - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1364
Regards

Using home share, but play counts aren't transferring?

I'm using home share to try and transfer my iTunes library from my old computer to my new laptop. However the play counts don't transfer when I do this, despite the "Home Sharing computers and devices update play counts" box being ticked. Both of the PCs have the latest version of iTunes and they're both logged in to the same apple ID. How do I transfer the music, as well as the play counts?

You can export the library that has all the data as far as play counts and stuff. I did this on my last computer. I just put all of my music on an external hard drive, exported the library from the computer, moved the hard drive to the other computer and telling itunes where the music is stored then used the exported library to update play counts. Works like a charm.

Lost my play count transferring to new PC

I just got a new laptop today, and I used the Home Sharing option to transfer everything over. Everything went smoothly, but I lost all of my playlists and my play counts. I've already plugged in my iPhone 5 because I thought the play count could be recovered from my iPhone, but it wasn't. Is there any way I can fix this? I'd really like my play count back. My old computer has Windows 7, and my new computer has Windows 8 if that helps at all. Thank you!
-A Tiny Bit Upset

Mark:
One of the surefire signs that you've got corruption in your iTunes Library is when you've got a massive negative number in your playcount. There is an easy fix - you just need to rebuild the library file.
* Launch iTunes and go to the Library (first item in the Source menu)
* From the File menu, select Export Library
* Save as a .xml file on your Desktop.
* Quit iTunes.
* Go to the ~/Music/iTunes folder and remove but DO NOT DELETE the file iTunes Library.
* Relaunch iTunes.
* Your Source List will be empty except for the preset iTunes playlists - but don't worry.
* From the File Menu, select Import
* Choose the .xml file you exported earlier, and click OK
Your playlists will now be back, with all of their metadata in pristine condition. You can trash the iTunes Library (or the iTunes 4 Music Library for iTunes 4.8 and below) file that you earlier moved, or you can rename it and save it in your Documents folder as a backup.
Good luck and let us know if this works out and solves your problem.
Lita

Is there any way I can update my play count from my iPod to the same iTunes library on my computer that does not have any play counts?

I recently transferred my data (music, apps, etc.) to a new computer via transferring purchases and Home Sharing and only a few songs had play counts. On my older computer, all the songs had at least some documentation of a playcount. Thinking that I could figure it out, I reset the play count for the songs on the new computer. Is there any way I could get the play counts onto the computer w/out them via iPod or Home Sharing. I look forward to hearing a reply. Thank you.

HELPPP ME BEFORE CHRISTMASS MORNING!!

Got a new Mac, my iTunes is whack, (No Play Count or Date Added)

Hello, everybody. It's been a rough night.
I currently own a G4 iMac and I just got a brand new Macbook. The Macbook is very nice, it's extremely speedy and I am sure I will grow to love it. We've got just one hurdle to get through together: the organization of my music in iTunes. Now, I've had the iMac for five years, and not long after I got it adding music to it became something of an importance, it was my music player. Over the past five years I've not only added thousands of songs, but meticulously and very specifically organized them into playlists based on the number of spins they have and when they were added. To a lot of people I know this sort of thing isn't a huge deal, but for me this organization became, and I kid you not, a huge, huge part of my life.
So I get the new Macbook, fire it up and use Migration Assistant, (with the iMac in Target Disk Mode), to move my data over. When it's done I open the iTunes and am greeted with... nothing. Well, okay, all of my music is there, that's nice, (it's what iTunes is for, etc etc), but NONE of my play count or date added information remains. I weep inside.
Being that this is my first new computer in five years, (a long time!), you might be able to tell that I was hesitant about upgrading. Before getting my Macbook I asked experts at the Apple Store if this method would work, and even received assurance from several people online that everything would be preserved. So, I did my homework, but my Macs and I both apparently failed the test. Here's where we are now:
1. The iMac, (running Tiger), still has iTunes on it, with all the information, nothing seems to have changed on that end.
2. The Macbook has a hard drive full of music with no playlist, play count or date added data.
3. I do own an iPod where I backed up the music before the move. I know that the data information on playlists, play count and date added is on the iPod. I do not dare plug it in to the new machine for fear of the unknown.
Which brings me here, is there some way, any way of rectifying this? Here is what I would like:
1. For the Macbook iTunes to look EXACTLY like the iMac's does.
2. For it to work with both my old iPods without question.
This has been long, and I fear that some may pass it over as something too much of an banality to be needed help with. But like some collect shoes or hats, I collect music. It's a lovely collection and it's a large part of who I am. I could start all over, but that's sort of like saying the world could start over if it by chance happened to forget how to turn. It would take a lot of effort, and there would be some (more) tears, but I could move on. But I really, really don't want to. I just want things to be the way they were. I'd very much like to have this information present, and I thank you all for your time.

ADDED:
Now that I look at it, appears that nothing except for my applications transferred over. My old computer is listed in the Hard Drive, but I can't access any of the folders because I don't have that "level of privileges" or whatever, (odd, considering they're both my computers, do they need to be hooked up for this?). I don't really need for my old applications to be there, (Hello, iWork '06 Demo!), so can I just go and erase them, or am I better just starting all over again?

Why does the iPad Mini not have music play count?

I bought an iPad Mini and also have a macbook. I had listened to various music on my iPad Mini the other day, however when I connected the iPad Mini to the Macbook and iTunes via the lightning connector to sync, it synced the ratings I gave the songs I listened to on the mini, but no play count, as if I had not listened to anything. I hope there is something I can do about this as I often look at my play count!!

Katrina UK
It should work work but these kind of bugs pop up between updates, both hardware and software. Try closing all apps in the recently used list on the iPad. Double tap the Home button, tap and hold one of the icons at the bottom till they wiggle then tap the to close them. Tap the Home button to get back to the Home screen then hold the sleep button till you see the slide to power off message. Once it has powered down completely hold the Sleep button till the Apple icon appears.
tomyiiii
Re: Why does the iPad Mini not have music play count?
Nov 18, 2012 11:34 AM (in response to Katrina UK)
Does it even really matter...?
Many people including myself rely on playcounts to control smart playlist to manage large libraries. Smart playlists can be created to show your most or least played tracks and used more or less as your favorites or other uses. Along with playcounts the date is transferred so to keep a fresh list of music on my smaller iPods a smart playlist set to songs not played in the last month keeps some fresh tunes on it.
Playcounts are also used to manage Podcasts in iTunes to delete older episode. Bookmarks, which can also be effected by this, can mess up audiobooks, movies and podcast playback between different devices. So yes, it does matter.

IPhone loses play counts when syncing with iTunes

I would like to repeat the question from this thread, which has mistakenly been marked "answered".
When syncing with iTunes, not all play counts are transferred into iTunes. When I turn the iPhone off, it even forgets the complete list of played songs (it is even deleted from iTunes itself).

I have similar problem. Played podcasts becomes UNPLAYED after synch with iTune.

Play count and display

Since the latest upgrade of Itunes the play count of many of my tracks has automatically reset to 0 for some unknown reason. Also I display Track Name/Artist/Album on my Itunes and on a number of occasions they display incorrect information and when I click on Get Info for that track and click back out of it it shows the correct information (It's usually transfers over what's in the Sort Album/Title Name etc into the Album/Title Name field on the main display). So weird! Anyone else had this? Hope I've explained myself clearly!

I have the same issue with my Ipod Shuffle & Itunes.
Is there a resolution to this problem?
Thanks.

Play Count Zero for Songs Previously Played

Does Play Count reset to zero if a song is not played after a certain amount of time? I have Play Count = 0 for songs that I know I have played.
I am looking for ideas for why I have zero play count for songs that I have played.

That's the answer then. Syncing is a "procedure" which, among other things, does all the work for you of finding out how many times each song has been played on the iPod and transferring that information back to iTunes. When you Manual Manage, all you are doing is manually dragging songs on and off, nothing else.
Phil

Quick Question On Play Count

Why doesn't the play count thing show how many times I've played the song? I listened to my songs until they end and yet when I check it on itunes, it doesn't change. How can I make it to record how many times I've played a song?

Bill,
Interesting that yours doesn't work, but I just tested it and mine definitely keeps track of playcount on the iPod and transfers that with the sync.
I checked the playcount on a song, played it once on my iPod, then synced. Sure enough, the play count in iTunes was incremented by one.

Moving iTunes playlists, ratings and play counts to a new computer

Hi everyone,
I got a new MacBook and had set up and used iTunes on it for the last 6 months. I am just now getting around to moving my old (40GB) iTunes library over from my old computer. I figured out how to move the music files and I successfully imported copies of all of it onto my new computer using the consolidate feature in iTunes 9. What I didn't think about was that I would also like to have my playlists, play counts, import dates, and ratings from my old collection. I only transferred the songs. Is there a way I can merge this info into my new iTunes at this point, or is it too late? I'd be okay with losing the new playlists and information that I created on the new laptop (as long as I didn't lose the actual songs), but the old iTunes has several years of info on it.
Can anyone suggest a way that I can bring that data over without making a complete mess?
Thank you!!!
Rachel

Ah, this is the itunes windows forum so I thought a PC was involved somewhere.
On a Mac, you can do an option-start of itunes to choose a different library.
Just press the Option key while starting itunes.
It is different on a windows PC - you have to press AND HOLD the shift key instead.
This article has screen shots.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1589
+Do you think it would work if I delete the new computer's library first and then copy the old library into the new computer's music folder?+
It should, but that's up to you. If it were me, I'd rename them to something like itunes-old and itunes-new, and use the option-start to toggle between them until I was sure the old one was working OK.
I would definitely put itunes-old in the default folder instead of leaving it on the desktop. That would avoid having multiple folder structures of media scattered around.

I want to have my iTunes play lists and play counts on my new MacBook Air

I want to have my iTunes play lists and play counts on my new MacBook Air transferred over from my old (4 years and dying) MacBook Air.
Thanks for any and all help.

Copy the entire iTunes folder including the iTunes library file from your old Mac to the same Music folder on your new Mac. Then down the Option key while launching iTunes and select the copied iTunes folder. That should get you all your playlists, playcounts etc.; those are stored in that iTunes library file.
Regards.

Transferring Play Count

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