If you have accidentally deleted songs from your iTunes library, you may be wondering if there is any way to get them back. The short answer is yes, there are a few methods you can try to recover deleted iTunes music. However, the chances of recovery depend on when the songs were deleted and whether iTunes has overwritten the data.
Can You Recover Recently Deleted Songs from iTunes?
If you have just deleted songs from iTunes and realized your mistake shortly afterwards, you have a good chance of being able to recover them. This is because the files are still likely to be in the iTunes library folder on your computer.
When you delete music from iTunes, it does not automatically delete the song file from your computer. Instead, it removes the reference to the file from the iTunes library database. The actual song file remains in the iTunes media folder until that space is needed for new data.
So if you act quickly, you may be able to find the deleted song files and add them back into your iTunes library. Here are some ways to try recovering recently deleted songs:
- Check the iTunes Trash – Deleted songs get moved to a Trash folder within iTunes. You may be able to right click and Restore any files in there.
- Browse your iTunes Media folder – Open the folder where iTunes stores your music files and look for the missing songs.
- Use data recovery software – A deleted file recovery program may be able to find and restore recently removed songs.
- Restore from a backup – If you have an iTunes or full system backup from before the delete, you can retrieve the missing music.
If you locate the deleted song files, you can add them back to your library by dragging them into iTunes or using the Add to Library option.
Recovering Songs Deleted from iTunes Long Ago
If it’s been awhile since you deleted the iTunes music, recovering the songs becomes less likely. This is because at some point, iTunes will consider that storage space free and may overwrite it with new data.
For example, when you add new music to your iTunes library, it will save those song files in the empty space left by the deleted ones. Once file data has been overwritten, it is generally impossible to get back.
That said, you can still try searching for the deleted iTunes music using data recovery software. Recovery apps scan your drive and pull together file fragments that may still exist. However, there is no guarantee they can fully rebuild the deleted iTunes songs.
How to Prevent Losing Songs in iTunes
To avoid having to recover deleted iTunes songs, it’s smart to have backups of your important data. Here are some ways to make sure you don’t lose your iTunes library:
- Turn on the iTunes Recycle Bin – Enabling the Trash feature will send all deleted songs here first, giving you a chance to retrieve them.
- Back up your iTunes Library – Sync your iPhone/iPad regularly to create backups of songs purchased on those devices.
- Backup your computer – Use Time Machine on Mac or File History on Windows to create system-wide backups.
- Copy iTunes Media folder – Make manual copies of your iTunes media files as added protection.
Having redundant copies of your iTunes library greatly reduces the stress of accidental file deletion. Just make sure to verify your backups periodically to ensure they are working.
Can You Recover iTunes Music After a Hard Drive Failure?
One of the worst-case data loss scenarios is when your computer’s hard drive fails. This could be due to hardware failure, corruption, accidental formatting, or malware damage. In these cases, iTunes music and library data may seem totally unrecoverable.
Fortunately, as long as you have a current backup, you can restore your iTunes library even after complete hard drive failure. Simply get the hard drive replaced, reinstall iTunes, and reload your library backup. All your music and playlists should be intact.
Without a backup, hard drive failure recovery becomes difficult but not always impossible. You would need to send the failed drive to a data recovery service so they can attempt to repair it and extract the files. This process is expensive, takes time, and not guaranteed.
How to Recover Music from Your iPod or iOS Device
Losing music from your iPod or iOS device like an iPhone or iPad can also be upsetting. These devices sync and backup with iTunes to transfer music. So if you delete songs directly on the device, they could be gone for good.
However, you may be able to recover deleted music from an iPod, iPhone or iPad if:
- You have an iTunes backup stored on your computer
- You synced the device recently so iTunes still has the files
- You have an iCloud backup that contains the deleted songs
Restoring from an iTunes or iCloud backup should return any music lost from the portable device. Just be sure to choose a backup made prior to the deletions.
Recover iTunes Music with Commercial Software
If you’ve exhausted all built-in iTunes and iCloud recovery options, your last resort may be to try third party software. There are various apps available, both free and paid, that claim to find and restore deleted iTunes music.
Some examples to research include:
- iSkysoft Toolbox – Recover for Mac
- Disk Drill
- Recoverit
- Stellar Data Recovery
Be cautious with free data recovery utilities, as some are ad-supported or bundled with other programs. Vet any app thoroughly before installing to avoid inadvertently installing malware.
Recovery software works best when music was recently deleted and drive space has not been overwritten. The chances of success diminish over time.
Use Prevention Methods to Avoid Needing Recovery
Rather than counting on being able to recover deleted iTunes songs, it’s better to not lose your music library in the first place. Implementing some preventative measures can help stop accidental (or intentional) deletion.
Here are some tips to keep your iTunes music library intact:
- Turn on Copy Files to iTunes Media folder – This automatically backs up imported music into the iTunes folder.
- Disable automatic syncing – Avoid accidentally overwriting iPhone music by turning off auto-sync.
- Create a playlist for original copies – When editing metadata like song order, work on copies not original files.
- Back up religiously – Backup often to have multiple restore points in case of disaster.
The time invested regularly backing up your library and copying music files is small compared to the hassle and stress of trying to recover deleted iTunes songs. Relying solely on data recovery as a backup plan is risky.
What If I Deleted Music Purchased from iTunes Store?
If you delete music purchased directly from the iTunes Store, you can usually easily download it again. This is because your iTunes account keeps a record of all your purchase histories.
To redownload purchased music that you’ve deleted:
- Open iTunes and go to Account > Purchase History.
- Find the deleted items and click Download.
- The songs will be downloaded from iCloud and restored to your library.
Note that there is a limit on how many times you can download previous iTunes purchases. But for recently deleted songs, you should be able to retrieve them this way.
If you cannot find the purchase in your history, you can try these steps:
- Deauthorize then reauthorize your computer in iTunes.
- Search for the song on the iTunes Store and download it.
- Contact iTunes Support for help with missing purchases.
Having an active iTunes Match subscription also acts as a safety net. iTunes Match stores copies of your purchased songs in iCloud so you can redownload as needed.
What About Other iTunes Content Like Movies?
The above methods for recovering deleted songs also apply to other iTunes media like movies, TV shows, books, and mobile apps. As long as the files are still in the iTunes folder or you have a backup, you can restore missing content.
Again, turn on the iTunes Recycle Bin for deleted movies, TV shows and books. This will store deleted iTunes content for a limited time before permanent removal.
Check Purchase History for redownloading movies, TV shows, books, and iOS apps bought directly from Apple via iTunes. Content providers can set limits on how many times you can download, so redownload as soon as possible.
Could Undeleting iTunes Songs Get You in Trouble?
A final word of caution when trying to recover deleted iTunes music – make sure you own the rights to the content. Recovering purchased songs from your account via Purchase History is fine.
However, undeleting music you ripped from CDs or acquired from questionable sources could technically violate copyright. Most countries allow format shifting and backups for personal use, but redistributing content is illegal.
When recovering iTunes music, only share songs on devices you own for your own playback. Don’t upload undeleted music to cloud lockers or file sharing sites without permission. Respect copyright laws and creators’ rights.
Conclusion
It is possible to recover deleted songs from iTunes in many cases. Quick action, backups, and recovery software provide hope for restoring lost iTunes music libraries. Enable preventative measures like Recycle Bin and backups so you’ll never need undeleting tools.