Many users can encounter issues with their iTunes libraries after installing updates to the iTunes application. Common issues include missing songs and playlists, library corruption, and changed media file locations. This article will cover some of the most common problems people have with iTunes libraries after updates and provide troubleshooting tips to help restore missing items and get your library working again.
iTunes updates often include under-the-hood changes to the database file structure and organization of the iTunes library folders on your computer. While this is intended to improve performance and fix bugs, it can sometimes cause problems with accessing your existing music and playlists. However, with a few troubleshooting steps, you can usually get your iTunes media restored.
Back Up Library Before Updating
It is crucially important to back up your iTunes library before installing any iTunes updates. An iTunes update can potentially alter the underlying file structure and organization of your library. If you do not have a backup, you risk permanent data loss or issues accessing your music and playlists after updating.
To properly back up your iTunes library on Windows, first consolidate your library files using the “Consolidate Files” option in iTunes. This copies all of your media into the iTunes folder while preserving the original file locations as well [1]. Then, make a copy of the entire iTunes folder and store it on an external hard drive or cloud storage. You can also use the backup capabilities within iTunes to automatically back up your library to an external drive [2].
Following these steps prior to updating will ensure you have a redundant copy of your iTunes library. That way, if issues emerge after updating, you can securely restore your iTunes library and playlists from the backup copy.
Update May Change Library Structure
iTunes updates can sometimes reorganize the folder structure and file locations of your library without warning. For example, an update may move your music files into a new “Music” subfolder within your iTunes Media folder (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254638369). This change in organization can make it seem like files are missing when they have simply been relocated.
According to Apple Support, iTunes includes an option to “Consolidate files” which can help reorganize your library back to a standard layout after an update (https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/move-your-itunes-library-to-another-computer-itns3230/windows). However, this option may be grayed out and unavailable if the update has already modified the structure. In that case, your files likely still exist, just in a new location that iTunes is now using.
The main impact this reorganization can have is that iTunes may lose track of the files’ locations, causing songs and playlists to seem missing. You may need to reauthorize computers to access the new file paths in your library and update preferences so iTunes can find them again.
Missing Songs and Playlists
After an iTunes update, many users have reported issues with missing songs, playlists, play counts, ratings, and other music library data (Author, year from https://www.salvagedata.com/how-to-restore-apple-music-library/). This can occur because the update changes the iTunes library structure and organization. Thankfully, in most cases, the missing items are recoverable.
To restore missing songs, first check the Purchased section of the Music app. On an iPhone, go to More > Purchased > Music. On an iPad, select the Purchased icon at the bottom and then navigate to the Music tab (Author, year from https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204406). This area contains all the songs you’ve previously downloaded or added to your library. Any music purchases that are missing after an update should show up here.
For missing playlists, try searching your library for the playlist name. Playlists may have been renamed or moved into a different category after the update. You can also try rebuilding your iTunes library from scratch, which may restore corrupted playlists.
If these steps don’t recover your missing items, you can restore your iTunes library from a previous backup. Connect your device to your computer, launch iTunes, go to Preferences > Devices, and restore from the desired backup point. This will roll your library back to its earlier state.
To prevent issues with future updates, always back up your iTunes library before updating. You can enable automatic backups in iTunes preferences as well.
Authorize Computers to Access Library
If you have moved your iTunes library to an external hard drive that you access from multiple devices, you will need to authorize each computer to play your iTunes purchases. Here is the authorization process:
On each computer you want to access your iTunes library from the external drive:
– Open the Apple Music app or Apple TV app and go to Account > Authorizations.
– Choose Authorize This Computer. [1]
– Sign in with your Apple ID and password if prompted.
– Repeat this process on each device you want to authorize.
This allows all authorized computers to access and play purchases from your iTunes library on the external drive. You can deauthorize computers later if needed from Account > Authorizations.
Check and Update Preferences
After updating iTunes it is important to check your preferences and settings to make sure everything is configured correctly. Sometimes an iTunes update can alter or reset preferences, so verifying them can help prevent and troubleshoot issues.
To check your iTunes preferences on a Windows PC, go to Edit > Preferences in the iTunes menu bar (see Change preferences in iTunes on PC). In particular, look at settings under the Playback, Sharing, Store, and Advanced tabs. Settings like playback volume, library location, authorized computers, and more may need to be re-confirmed.
The Advanced preferences offer ways to manage your iTunes media folder location, library XML file, and more. These are important to verify so iTunes knows where to find your content. See Change Advanced preferences in iTunes on PC for details.
Updating these preferences ensures iTunes has your latest organizational preferences and settings. This can help surface missing items and prevent issues when interacting with your library.
Troubleshoot Issues
If you find that your iTunes library is missing album artwork after an update, there are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and restore the artwork.
First, make sure the “Keep iTunes Media folder organized” and “Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library” preferences are enabled in iTunes. This will ensure the artwork files are stored properly when new items are added. To check these settings, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences > General (Mac).
Next, try refreshing the artwork in your library. In iTunes, go to File > Library > Update Artwork. This will re-check and re-download any missing artwork files. You can also select individual albums or songs and choose File > Get Album Artwork to refresh the art for those selections.
If artwork is still missing after trying a refresh, you may need to re-add the files to your library to fully restore the art. First, consolidate your library – go to File > Library > Organize Library and check the box for “Consolidate files.” This gathers all media files used by iTunes into the iTunes Media folder. After consolidating, delete the affected albums/songs from your library, making sure to keep the files. Then simply drag the files back into your library to re-import them. iTunes will re-associate the artwork files.
As a last resort, you can try removing the entire iTunes Media folder (locate it via iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > iTunes Media folder location), which contains all your library data and will be recreated when you relaunch iTunes. Make sure you have a backup before deleting the folder. Then add your media files back into the empty library to fully rebuild your art.
Contact Apple Support
If you continue experiencing issues with your iTunes library after an update, Apple provides support options to help troubleshoot and restore access to your music and playlists. You can contact Apple support by:
- Calling 1-800-275-2273 in the United States
- Using the Apple Support app on iOS devices
- Going to the Contact Apple Support page on Apple’s website
- Visiting an Apple Retail Store for in-person support
When you contact Apple Support, be prepared to provide details about the issue you’re experiencing with your iTunes library. Details like when the problem started, what changed after the update, what troubleshooting steps you’ve tried, and error messages you’re seeing can help Apple Support agents diagnose the problem and provide steps to restore access to your iTunes content.
Contacting Apple as soon as possible after noticing issues is key, as the longer you wait, the more difficult it may become to recover lost or inaccessible content. Apple’s customer service team can walk you through potential solutions to update-related iTunes library problems.
Prevent Future Issues with iTunes Library
To avoid potential issues with your iTunes library after future updates to macOS or iTunes, it’s best to take some proactive steps:
First, consolidate and organize your iTunes library before updating. Make sure all of your music, movies, apps, etc. are properly filed and tagged in iTunes. Delete any duplicate tracks or albums. This will ensure your library structure is as clean and organized as possible before any major updates.
Second, always back up your iTunes library before updating software or iOS. You can back up your iTunes library by going to File > Library > Back Up to Folder. Store this backup on an external hard drive or cloud storage. That way if issues arise post-update, you can restore from your pre-update iTunes library backup.
Additionally, after updating, carefully check your iTunes library and preferences to make sure all settings and file locations reference the correct folders. Sometimes an update may reset preferences. Verify that the Music folder location and other settings are pointing to the right iTunes Media folders.
Following these best practices can help safeguard your iTunes library from being affected by software updates in the future. Keep your library organized, always back it up before updating, and double-check preferences after updating.
Conclusion
To summarize, there are some key steps you can take to protect your iTunes library when updating software:
- Before updating, back up your entire iTunes library to an external hard drive so you have a copy.
- Be aware that major software updates may change the file structure and organization of your library.
- After updating, check for any missing songs, playlists, play counts, ratings etc. and restore from your backup if needed.
- Authorize any new computers to your iTunes account so they can access your purchased content.
- Double check your iTunes preferences and settings after updating.
- Troubleshoot any issues, like deleting and re-adding problem files to your library.
- Contact Apple support if you can’t resolve problems on your own.
- Set reminders to regularly back up your iTunes library to prevent potential data loss.
Following this advice will help protect your iTunes library from being corrupted or altered after a major software update. Be proactive about backups, and act quickly if you notice any issues after upgrading iTunes.
