When i click to play song I get message that file can not be found, would I like to locate it? What do I do?

When I click on songs I purchased. I get message that "song could not be used because original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?"
I used to be able to play them, What do I do?

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?
If not, you should restore them from the backup of the computer. You do have a backup, correct?

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When I try to listen to a song I purchased last week, I get the message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?" What do I do to find it?

When I try to listen to the songs I purchased from iTunes last week, I get the error message, "could not be used because the original file could not be found. would you like to locate it?" What do I do to fix this problem or locate the song?
Thanks!

I am getting this same message. I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac. Perhaps they did not transfer something critical? I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle.
I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices. But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file.
Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

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.
is there a solution to this problem?

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.

My partner deleted my itunes (10) library. I use a WD external back-up and retrieved my itunes library, but when i try to play a song i get the message 'could not be used because the original file could not be found Would you like to locate it?'

My partner deleted, by accident my itunes library. I have an iMac 10.6.7, Itunes 10. I use an WD passport as an external back up and retrieved my itunes library but now get the message "could not be used because the original file could not be found. Would you like to locate it?" so itunes is not recognised the exclamation marked songs, how do i get the retrieved files recognised. At times I get fed-up with Apple blocking files being used, although I like the product its restrictions are so silly!

You not only have to retrieve the library file from the backup drive but the actual music files (usually stored within the "iTunes Media" folder) as well.

I recently restored my laptop and also iTunes from an external hard drive, but when I play songs, it says the original file could not be found. How do I locate and fix this?

I recently restored my laptop with Windows 7 and imported my iTunes library from my external hard drive. When I try to play songs, it says it cannot and that the original file could not be located. How do I fix this?

Put the files back where iTunes expects them to be.

When i try play a song i get this message " the song could not be used because your original file could not be found, would you like to locate. I tunes works on my iPad

OSX 10.9.5

I am getting this same message. I recently bought a new Macbook Pro and the geeks transferred my files from my mini-mac. Perhaps they did not transfer something critical? I follow the "locate" option when it asks to find my files and I get a file folder that has a red circle with a white bar in the middle.
I have the same issues with my downloaded movies but my apps all seem to be fine.
Even more confusing - it seems to allow random songs to play and download on my Macbook and other devices. But most of my music - whether downloaded from iTunes or my CD collection comes up with that message about the original file.
Should I get new geeks to locate these files on my old mini-mac?

Hi all, when i use itunes , to play a song this message comes up ,the song could not be used because the original file could not be found would you like to locate it?

help !

dwmwood,
Double click a song with ! mark on side, you will be given an option to locate the file where the song is held. If so select "locate" and direct it to the folder / file where the song is and open it.
iTunes then will give you the option to use this process to update all of your library. OK that as this will do it automatically instead of doing them one by one.
I hope this helps.

TS4062 i cannot sync all the songs/artists i want with i tunes I am getting the message "The song could not be used because the original file could not be found would you like to locate it" but it cant... most of my music on i tunes is now saying this I h

Help I cannot

Hello Imelda2
You would need to locate those songs on your computer. Check out the article below for tips on how to locate the files and relink them.
iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1408
Regards,
-Norm G.

I have tried to update my iphone 3gs and i need to get ios5 and when i click on check for updates it says that itunes can not be contacted and check my internet connection but i have internet? how else can i get ios5 on my phone?

i have tried to update my iphone 3gs and i need to get ios5 and when i click on check for updates it says that itunes can not be contacted and check my internet connection but i have internet? how else can i get ios5 on my phone?

edit the hosts file on your computer and remove any lines that contain gs.apple.com. Disable your antivirus and firewall.

I can not sync my Iphone 4s with Itunes. I get a "required file can not be found" error. I went the apple stroe yesterday and they said a file may be corrupt. I have uninstalled and re-installed Itunes so it is up to date. ANy thoughts?

I can not sync my Iphone 4s with Itunes. I get a "required file can not be found" error. I went the apple stroe yesterday and they said a file may be corrupt. I have uninstalled and re-installed Itunes so it is up to date. ANy thoughts?

Anybody?

Getting error message when trying to play songs from library saying original file could not be found

when trying to play songs from library, getting message saying original file could not be found .. my full library all says the same .. can anyone help ?

Hello Ceeclass,
I suggest this article named iTunes: Finding lost media and downloads found here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1408.
It should help you locate the media that is not playing in the iTunes library.
Take care,
Sterling

Since update, when I click on iTunes store I get message that iTunes has stopped working fault module StackHash_e8ad Problem event BEX

Since updating iTunes, I can open iTunes, view my apps, music, movies, etc. But when I click on iTunes store I get an error message that iTunes has stopped working. The fault module name: StackHash_e8ad Problem Event: BEX. Already tried reinstall several times and tried all the tips and advanced tips on the iTunes troubleshooting page. HELP!!!

Try gn_id's suggestion from the following post:
Re: iTunes 11 crashes when opening the store - no error message

"song could not be found would you like to locate it? "

I get this message alot i guess because i keep all my music on an external harddrive. When i got a new harddrive and put my songs on it alot of the "paths" suddenly did not work. if the computer cannot find the song all i have to did is say i would like to locate it and then type the name of the song in and it finds it every time. The problem comes when i have to do this say a hundred times because i have a ton of music. Can i make itunes or automater do that for me? If that doesn't make sense please leave a comment and i'll get back to you thanks again.

iTUnes isn't like other programs in windows that "Watch" folders and files for changes. What I mean buy this is players like WIndows Media Player (WMP for short) Winamp and others will "Watch" for changes you make. If you go into "My MUsic" folder and chage the name of a song file or move it from one folder to another, these players will catch that change usually and update there library.
Sadly iTUnes for windows does not do this. If you change ANYTHING, like the name of the file or the folder its in, or move it from one folder to another, iTUnes looses track of its location and puts a ! mark beside the songs.
The only way to fix it is either put the files and folders back to the way they were OR manually go thru the library and show iTUnes where each file is.

After o download the browser ,i get message that says can not open file what do i need to do to download the browser i have tried 5 times get same message

its the same shit i asked before after i download the browser i get message can not open file what do i do to dwonload the browser

That message is usually a sign that you tried to roll back to an earlier build of iTunes, but occasionally I've seen it connected to a new upgrade. This technique should fix things.
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. 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.
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!
tt2

Why am I getting message that google can not be trusted when I search?

When I try to google a question I am getting a box that says Google is not a trusted website and to the effect that there is no security certificate, I am only getting this on Firefox, when I use Internet Explorer I can Google without problems

When I returned home and switched on the computer "Spyhunter" which I have installed stuick up a message saying my settings appeared to have been changed to a proxy server and asked if I wanted Spyhunter to correct the changes, I gave permission and the problem sems to have been solved.
I think that confirms your diagnosis that the problem was I was using a proxy server, so thanks for your help and I will save all the answers in case it happens again
Boyd

When i click to play song I get message that file can not be found, would I like to locate it? What do I do?

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