Where's me Itunes library gone?

Ok ever since I installed Itunes 8 I've had awful problems accessing my library. Every time I turn my laptop on and access my itunes it keeps telling my that the library is damaged and then start to gone through all my artwork and restart genius.
How can I sort the problem out??

Nevermind, I found it anyway. It was in Previous Systems >> Previous System 2 (my most recent build) >> Users >> [my old username ] >> Music >> iTunes. I just copied all the files in this folder and replaced the files in my new iTunes folder with them and got my library back. Worked like a charm.
-Bill

Similar Messages

HT203167 Where is my itunes library?

Where is my itunes library? I'm new to itunes and I purchased a movie but I can not locate where it went to. I set it up through my desk top but had my ipad connected to my desk top at the same time. My fee for this has been taken from my account.

As above you've not given us much information to go on. This may or may not be the fix you need...
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

Where has my Itunes content gone?

I opened itunes today and many things were gone i.e. all apps and podcasts, and all of my playlists have gone. when I plugged in my iphone to itunes it also showed no apps ,podcasts music. what could be wrong?

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!
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.
tt2

Where is my iTunes Library?

For some reason -- an upgrade I suppose -- my iTunes library is now completely empty. Everything, gone. Where is my library file stored? Can I re-import it?
thanks
Scott

Thanks S.M., but I was asking where my Library files are, not my music files. It looks like the Library files got wiped out in the last upgrade. I have thousands of music files on my iPod, and dozens of playlists, and I usually remove the music files from my hard drive after synching up my iPod to save disk space. Just "re-adding" them is not really an option.
Is this standard behavior when upgrading to iTunes 6? If so I'll avoid future upgrades.
I do have a backup "iTunes Music Library.xml" file I made last summer. I was able to Import that file; however, it only imports songs that it can find on my hard drive. Is there any way to import that file and have it still list music files that have been removed?
I may have to use PodUtil to export all of my song files back to my hard disk, and then rebuild everything with those files; but that's a bit of an arduous task as well, and of course I'd have none of my playlists. None of this is improving my attitude toward iTunes as an application.
Scott
G4 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Itunes LIBRARY GONE! (5th Gen80GB)

Hi,
I have a 5th GEN 80GB iPod.
I would not say a proud apple owner, given all the problems I’ve had over the years with the device apparently overheating ,then shut itself off while playing in a JBL soundstage speaker thang, (could have been the JBL, (but they insisted it's not them, it's the ipod) as well as the music library in my itunes on the computer suddenly disappearing.
I have XP Home SP3. I installed the itunes software in my primary boot hard C: Drive, and kept all my music in my second internal F: drive. I’ve always had all my (mp3) music ripped from all my old tapes, CD’s and online purchased tunes on my computer, in a music folder.
When I bought this 5th GEN ipod, I installed iTunes on this computer, opened itunes, up and created about ten playlists, then methodically dragged each genre from my music list folder into the specific genre playlist into itunes…follow so far?
So the bad thing for me was, that every time I changed anything at all (date, mis-spelled word, wrong artist, etc.,) to one or more songs in my Music folder, when I opened itunes up, there would be a yellow exclamation next to any of those ‘corrected’ songs, then I would have to Double-Click on it, then LOCATE, to put it back into itunes again.
Last night, after buying four Mp3 songs from Amazon, which automatically opens up itunes to place them there, I noticed all my playlists ands songs were GONE! GONE! GONE!
For some reason, I thought by downloading Gizmo which restores itunes music back into itunes from my ipod would work, but it simply placed all the music into my itunes/itunes media/music folder on the C: drive which was filling up the 74GB drive, and ALL my music was close to that size.
So I uninstalled Gizmo, created another MY MUSIC>ITUNES MEDIA>MUSIC in my F:Drive (500GB) then changed the directory output in my itunes music in itunes Preferences to this location on nthe F Drive.
So is it crazy that I have two sets of music on my computer? About 38 GB of regular Mp3 songs, then another 37.2 GB in my itunes music directory?
I keep those regular songs in there for backup, in case this happens again. So now, I also see exclamation marks in hundreds of songs in the itunes library, which, SORRY, apple seems to think I have all kinds of EXTRA time going back and LOCATING each and everyone of those darkened checked songs! Crazy!
Does anyone with itunes have two sets of folders for music…main Music folder, and also itunes library folder? Or primarily, just the music in the itunes. I listen to my music in WINAMP, not itunes when I’m by the computer, preference I guess.
Thanks for any light on this subject.

Because my Primary drive is only 74GB, I got this pop up message telling me the C: Drive is out of space,that's where all these itune files were going. So I changed the path in preferences, to go to my second hard drive to a created new folder named 'MY Itune Music'. That added another 37 GB of music to my secondary HDD
Right. Because the music you had in iTunes is still in the first location and iTunes is using that.
Putting music into a folder then pointing iTunes to this new folder does not add it to iTunes.
Edit > Preferences > Advanced > 'Keep itunes media folder organized' is CHECKED.
....The second option, 'Copy Files to itunes media when adding to library' is UNCHECKED
This is fine.
When you add new music to iTunes, it will stay in the location you add it from. iTunes will not copy it anywhere.
The easiest way to manage music is to keep it inside the iTunes folder and iTunes manage it. Then everything is in one location. In addition, if you want to move your music, it's simply a matter of moving the entire iTunes folder and nothing will be changed or lost.
If you try to do things yourself, you must do a lot more work to make sure everything stays straight.
Quit iTunes.
Go to /Music/ and copy the iTunes folder to the F: drive.
Hold Shift and launch iTunes.
Select *Choose library* and select the iTunes folder you copied to the F: drive.
Now everything will be as it was except the library files in the iTunes folder are now on the F: drive and this is what will be used.
The iTunes folder in /Music/ on the C: drive is no longer needed.
To get everything inside the iTunes folder...
iTunes prefs Advanced and make sure iTunes media folder location is set to /iTunes/iTunes media folder not eh F:drive.
Tick *Copy files to iTunes media folder....* and tick *Keep iTunes media folder organized*.
This will keep everything inside the iTunes media folder you pointed to in prefs Advanced.
Now go to File > Library > Organize library > Consolidate.
This will copy everything in iTunes library into the iTunes media folder you pointed to in Advanced.
At this point you can delete everything outside of the iTunes media folder on F:
Then you will likely have a bunch of duplicates in iTunes (since it was messed up before.
iTunes menu File > Show duplicates will help to sort it out.
If you edit filenames or paths outside of iTunes with windows explorer, iTunes will lose them.

PLEASE HELP! Itunes library gone but music still on iPod

I recently have started organising my 'my music' files and deleting folders with more than 3 copies of songs, I have a lot of music 2500 songs and opened up itunes and all music I have imported (not bought) has gone, my music is still on my ipod though but I'm too scared to sync it in case all my music has gone, I still have my original music in 'my music' file but it's not shown up on library as usual PLEASE HELP!

See Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device.
tt2

ITunes library gone

My complete libary is no where to be found. I was able to pull it off the hard drive, but need to transfer them back to my iTunes library. The troubleshoot did not answer that. Also, my daughter has her own account, but hers is fine. Can anyone help?? Thanks!!!

Gino79,
Just a couple of thoughts from the "For What It's Worth" files:
Can you confirm that your external drive is always connected and powered on before you start iTunes?
And once your external drive is recognized by your computer, does it always have the same drive letter?

ITunes 11 - Where is the iTunes Library.itl file?

I used iTunes 11 to move my entire library to a new Western Digital Thunderbolt duo drive. In iTunes advanced settings, I specified an itunes library path of /Volumes/Media Library/iTunes Media. Then from the menu selected File -> Library -> Organize Library. This moved all my itunes media from my local hard drive to the external drive in the path specified above. As expected, there was still a /Users/bernie/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media folder, which contained my iTunes Library.itl and other files. So, I moved this folder somewhere else, yet iTunes continues to function normally.
The iTunes Library.itl file is NOT on the external drive. Can anyone tell me if this file is still necessary, and if so, how is my iTunes still working without it?
-Thanks

You did not in fact move your entire library, you moved just the media files. Your iTunes application is likely using the true "library" file (along with all the other supporting files it needs) normally in your Home > Music > iTunes folder. I have not tried what you have done but it seems iTunes is keeping track of where you have relocated that iTunes folder with the rest of the library in it. In some regards iTunes is good at keeping track of moving files, but is horribly unforgiving if you do that to media files.
Yes, that file is still necessary, though you could use Spotlight to see if you have other copies iTunes could be using instead.
To properly move your whole library to the external you should have copied the whole iTunes folder to the external drive, then start iTunes with the option (alt) key held down and guided it to the iTunes Library.itl file on the external drive.
As expected, there was still a /Users/bernie/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media folder, which contained my iTunes Library.itl and other files.
Is this accurate? Your iTunes Library.itl file should not have been in your media folder.

ITunes library gone from iTunes after re-launching Finder

Yesterday while attempting to force quit an application I by mistake re-launched the finder which consequently meant all my settings on the system were lost(I know,I can't believe how dumb I've been as well) and I was in effect starting again from scratch.When launching iTunes it was completely blank,no library,smart playlists or created playlists.The music however was still intact on my hard drive.I have about 16GB of music on my system and about 49GB free.I decided to drag the iTunes music folder to "Library" in the source list and it copied all roughly 4600 tracks.However after doing this there was only 33GB free space so I deleted the library in iTunes leaving it empty again.I haven't synched my iPod since this happened so everything on it is as before my act of stupidity.I read the post earlier where someone's music went from their hard drive and were recommended to download Senuti to transfer it back from their iPod which I have done,although haven't used yet.Sorry for rambling slightly but I've tried to be as concise as possible.I would massively appreciate any help! Thanks
eMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)
eMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Here's what I'd do. Note that this will delete any playlists you have and may clear track ratings, etc.
- confirm that at least one of the iTunes folders has all your tracks;
- drag the other iTunes folder to the Trash (but don't empty the trash yet; if you're worried about accidentally emptying the Trash, drag that iTunes folder to someplace out of the way, but where you won't get confused about which you're working with);
- in the folder you're keeping, drag the iTunes Library and iTunes.xml files to the Trash (again, don't empty the Trash yet)
- launch iTunes; it should be blank now.
- Open the iTunes preferences, go to the Advanced preference and make sure that the iTunes Music Folder location is the iTunes Music folder in the iTunes folder you're keeping
- uncheck the "copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to Library" item
- run the Add To Library command (under the File menu) and select your iTunes Music folder.
That should get all your tracks back into iTunes without duplications (unless duplicates exist in the individual album folders). If it works, then reset the "copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to Library" item for future imports.
Once you've confirmed that all your tracks are back and play correctly, then you can empty the Trash (or delete the extra iTunes folder).
Hope this helps.

Had to re download itunes, library gone?

itunes told me to redownload software, that mine was corrupted, but all my songs are gone, can i get them back?
carrie

Perchance you may still have the music files on your PC -- but not seen in iTunes or the PC.
Do a thorough search of your PC using the tips below:
First - Make sure that you enable your Windows Explorer to view 'Hidden' files:
- Open Windows Explorer
- Select 'My Computer'
- On the main Windows Explorer menu: Tools=>Folder Options=>'View' tab
- In 'Advanced Setting' --> Files and Folders --> Hidden files and folders:
-- Select 'Show hidden files and folders’
- Click 'Apply to All Folders'
- Click 'OK'
Then check using Windows Explorer in 'My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\...' for folders containing your music (or wherever you keep your music folders).
Also check in your Recycle Bin to see if you accidentally deleted it. If so, ‘Restore’ it back to it’s original spot.
Then try running a search using Windows Explorer (or similar) for files with the extensions of: m4a, m4p, MP3, OR with the partial names of the songs you are missing.
Do all the above before you decide that your music files have been completely erased from your hard drive.
IF you can locate the music files/folders, we can get iTunes to recognize it. Try one of these:
If you have a backup iTunes database file available....
1. --- Close iTunes. If you have a backup (or previous version) of the ‘iTunes Library’itl’ database file, then place a copy of that file in the ‘...\My Music\iTunes’ folder (or wherever the current, incomplete file resides).
1b. --- Open iTunes
If no backup ITL file exists….
2a. --- In iTunes choose: Edit==>Preferences==>Advanced tab. Select 'Change' and browse to the music folder in your PC drive (if it isn’t already). Click OK to save that setting.
Then....
2b. --- In iTunes choose: File==>’Add Folder to Library’ & browse to the music folder in your PC drive. Click OK.
Without the ITL file, re-‘Adding’ the music files to the Library will lose you the Ratings, Play Counts, Date Added and Last Played attributes, as well as your Playlists. No real way to recover them if you haven’t made prior backups. Something to consider for the future....
IF your music files are truly gone, and you have some or all of your music files on your iPod, these links will give you several methods of recovering whatever songs remain on your iPod; some free, some third-party software, some more comprehensive for restoring playlists, ratings, playcounts, etc. Read them and their associated links before deciding on a strategy that works for you. There are many various third-party software programs that will offer a more robust process, or an easier GUI. Do a Google search for them if the links below leave you wanting…
Don King Resurrected: Deleted files from hard drive (free user steps – music recovery only)
MacMuse: Computer Crashed (free user steps – music recovery only)
Copying music from iPod to computer (a primer on various methods and software)
Copying Songs from Your iPod to a Mac or PC (resource for 3rd party software)
Senuti (Mac OS X v10.3 or higher Recovery Utility)
iPodRip Software
PodUtil Software
XPlay (Software For Cross-Platform Functionality & Music Recovery)
XPlay Photo Browser (For recovering Photos)
Extremely Simple Method: (just to recover the song files – may not work on a Mac)
1 - Open iTunes
2 - Edit=>Preferences=>’Advanced/General’ tab
2a --- Select ‘Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library’: checked
2b --- Select ‘Keep iTunes Music folder organized’: checked
2c --- Click OK to store changes
3 - Attach your iPod to the PC and hold down the ‘Shift+Ctrl’ keys until the iPod is fully recognized (this will defeat the auto-sync process)
4 - If you get a dialog box to link the Library, decline this option
5 - Within iTunes: Edit=>Preferences=>’iPod’ tab: switch iPod to manual transfer – click ‘OK’
6 – Eject iPod
7 – Close iTunes, then reopen iTunes and attach the iPod (it’s in manual sync now)
8 – File=>Add Folder
9 - Browse to and open ‘My Computer’ (click on the ‘+’) and select the iPod
10 - Click OK
-- The music files should start to transfer back into iTunes with its correct information
–-- This will take some time depending on your PC’s speed and the amount of songs on the iPod
No Playlists, or Ratings, Last Played, & Play Count attributes will be transferred from the iPod to iTunes using this method.
If you have problems with seeing the iPod within 'My Computer', try again switching your update method to 'manual', detach the iPod, then reconnect the iPod to the PC.
AFTER recovering your Library, strongly consider developing a thorough backup strategy for just this type of situation.
You need at least two full sets of your music, not including what is on the iPod:
-- One full set on the PC within iTunes (on internal HD or ExHD)
-- One full set on an separate external backup medium (CD/DVD/ExHD/other)
-- One (full or partial) set on the iPod
Music files on just the iPod and only one other medium is not considered having any backup.
If you cannot store your complete music files on the computer’s internal HD, then create and maintain at least two external sets (any multiple combinations of ExHDs, DVDs, CDs).
Backup both the music files and the Library database file (iTunes Library.itl). What are the iTunes Library files?
Here is a post on developing a thorough backup strategy:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=1822938#1822938

Where has my itunes folder gone??

Hi there,
I recently opened a new itunes folder for my sister's music and now I don't know what has happened to my own folder and all my music. Can someone please tell how I am able to access my itunes folder/library?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Sam

Look in your user's My Documents -> My Music folder for the iTunes folder. If it's there, try launching iTunes with the Shift key held down. When you get the dialog box offering to create a new library or locate an existing one, choose the "locate" option, navigate to your copy of the iTunes library, and select it. Then see if things work properly.
If this does indeed work, you'll need to perform this procedure every time you want to switch between your iTunes library and your sister's. You may instead want to give your sister her own user account in Windows. That way she'll have access to her own iTunes library whenever she logs in and you'll get access to yours.
Hope this helps.

ITunes library gone crazy

My iTunes library on my PC is suddenly schizenophrenic. Artists, albums, songs, and artwork are no longer properly associated. I clicked on a Rev. Gary Davis song yesterday and N.W.A. started playing! The only possible cause I can think of is I recently compressed one of my hard drives to save space. However, my music library is stored on another drive. My PC is seven years old & runs WinXP. Does anyone have an idea what could cause this problem or how I might fix it?

Hi Jose,
Have you tried this?
How to recreate your iTunes Library
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93313
Regards,
Colin R.

Previous iTunes library gone when upgraded to 7.6

Can you help us find it? I just bought an iPod Nano, and I am trying to put some of our music on it that my husband has purchased through iTunes, and I cannot find it.
I see an icon (but it is iTunes Library 2008-05-17, so I don't even know if that is the old stuff or stuff from today) for Previous iTunes under My Documents>My Music>iTunes>Previous iTunes Libraries.
I should also mention I am a computer moron. Thank you for all of your help!

You should run Start -> Search ->Type song title
If your computer finds that song, you should be able to double-click on it. This will force it to load in iTunes.
My iTunes files would be in My Documents>My Music>iTunes
Another way: In iTunes -> File -> Add File to Library (or Folder if you are loading an album of songs). When this opens up, you will have to search for the location of the files or folders you want to bring into iTunes. If you did the Search and were able to find the file(s), you will know the location of your files.
Libraries are records of how iTunes loads your music. When you exit from iTunes it saves changes that you have made. If you open an older library than your current one, it will return to a previous version of your library. This would account for the non-appearance of your most recent songs. Your most current library doesn't sound like it would be stored in a folder called "Previous iTunes Libraries".
Good luck.

Where has the iTunes SDk gone?

I keep finding links to the iPhone SDK but none of them work once I login to the developer site.
Has this now been deprecated by the iPhone SDK>
I am looking for the windows COM itunes SDK. Essentially I need to write a touch screen interface for my iTunes and work and use the iTunes library to do so. I also want to build a web interface that I can control the system from say my iPhone as well or another computer in the house.
Anyway is the iTunes SDK still available anywhere or should I look at the iPhone SDK instead?
Dan

Can you use the iTunes Visual Plug-ins SDK instead? I was able to download it from this link: [https://connect.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MemberSite.woa/wa/getSoftware?bun dleID=19923].
The link to iTunes COM for Windows SDK seems to have been redirected to the ADC member front page. However I can't find any notice that it's been discontinued, not even one other forum message or blog from anyone else who can't find it. So could just be a temporary problem. I would contact ADC and/or file a bug against the link.
I don't understand how you might solve your problem with the iPhone SDK. Maybe if you explain exactly how you want to use an iPhone, someone here will be able to help.
\- Ray

Original Photo Size Lost....Why? Where has my original library gone?

I have had some problem with my iphoto library. Whilst I have deleted anything, or atleast, nothing appears to be in TRASH, my mac now only shows iphoto libraries that have been created recently.
These recent libraries though, do include thousands of my original photos, however, they all appear to be a fraction of their original size. Photos are appearing to be around 25KB in size when they were original 1-2MB. This has happened to all photos except the photos i uploaded today. The problem with the pics I uploaded today, is that iphoto is only enabling me to view these when the slider is at the far left - i.e. small thumbnails only. When I pull the slider to the right, hit slideshow, or double click to enlarge on of these new photos, I am simply presented with a large, but blurey, explanation ("!") point.
I am praying my originally sized photos are not lost? Where is my original library? I am lost and stressed - and desperately hoping someone can assist me.
Yours in need

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. First the size of the photos you mentioned, 25KB, appear to be the thumbnails that iPhoto creates when importing into iPhoto. The "!" occurs when iPhoto loses the link to the original file. If you don't see any of the older image files that are greater than 25KB they probably have been deleted. However you can try the following just in case: run the three fixes below in order as needed:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all options.
2 - rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos.
3 - start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
2. Open the library package like this.
3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
4. Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
If the above doesn't find and restore those missing older image files and you don't have a backup of your library your only recourse is to use a file recover application like SubrosaSoft FileSalvage. It will let you run it in demo mode to determine if it can recover the files you need before you have to purchase.
In the future you might want to invest in an external HD for backups.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Where's me Itunes library gone?

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