itunes media folder keeps resetting back to default

allanwg wrote:

I let them log in to two different PCs and demonstrated the issue. I learnt something new. In 'upgrading' iTunes to 12.10.6.150 (the latest) I found that it sticks on the last folder you gave it in 12.9.3.3.

That is an interesting detail.

tt2

To select a library on a different path click the icon that launches iTunes and immediately press and hold down the shift key (alt/option on a Mac) and keep holding until a dialog box appears asking you to choose or create a library. No dialog? Quit iTunes and try again.

See my post above for details of how to prevent the problem of the media folder changing.

tt2

Hi NPZwar - sorry for the looong reply

I have the same problem in having multiple libraries for various reasons.

It is a real bug and started at 12.10.x.x

I joined this thread a while back and although turingtest2 (thank you) has been really helpful, it isn't a practical solution for many. The simple answer is it just needs a fix. I have experimented with all the itunes files & folders and the last working version is 12.9.3.3.

The problem is that the file "iTunes Library.itl" is not being updated. It might be a permissions thing but either way Apple needs to fix it. I had the thought that we are all on here complaining assuming Apple are reading this. It looks like they are not.

I made a call into the Apple help desk and they have been superb so far. They were oblivious to the problem. That may be because they all work on Macs and most people are happy with using the C drive. Either way the developers should be aware.

I let them log in to two different PCs and demonstrated the issue. I learnt something new. In 'upgrading' iTunes to 12.10.6.150 (the latest) I found that it sticks on the last folder you gave it in 12.9.3.3. I also showed them this forum. They are now investigating.

Great news though - As a workaround until they fix it you can download an older version v12.4.3 from https://support.apple.com/downloads/itunes

It is still available under "Download iTunes 12.4.3 for Windows (64-bit - for older video cards"

You might have to completely uninstall everything Apple as well as itunes as the app from Microsoft seems to dislike being removed by an older version.

They are trying to arrange an actual engineer to call me. Let's see what happens.

I switch between libraries on a regular basis using the hold-down-shift-(option on a Mac)-and-launch-iTunes method. If you copy your active library files into the folder immediately above your desired media folder and shift-start-iTunes it should open correctly. If your media folder isn't called iTunes Media, but the active .itl file is in the parent folder then you should be able to close iTunes, rename the media folder to iTunes Media, and open iTunes once more. It should fix all the links in the library and be able to play everything, and your library will now be in the default layout so the problem is no longer an issue.

tt2

To choose a different library you should press and hold down shift (alt/option on a Mac) as you click the icon that launches iTunes and keep holding until prompted to choose or create a library.

tt2

See my earlier posts through the thread. You can manipulate the library such that the .itl library file is in the same folder as your iTunes Media folder as a workaround for this bug.

tt2

I have a similar but different issue that will not reset: Some time ago I had tried to move my iTunes folder to my Onedrive, due to the size of my iTunes library and the speed of my connection I eventually admitted defeat but now cannot get iTunes to accept the change.Every time I start iTunes and go into preferences/advanced it shows the media folder location as D:\onedrive\Music I have hit the change button and chosen the library location (D:\music) where my music, apps, videos etc. are all located. It accepts the change then on the next restart resets to the onedrive location. I have tried relocating the media, consolidating the library. On the next start it resets to the onedrive. I have held down SHIFT, started itunes and picked the library that isn't in the onedrive. On checking in preferences it had reset to the onedrive location again. I have even gone into the d:\music folder and opened the itunes folder, iTunes started automatically but it still sets the media location to the onedrive location. Everytime I add media it sticks it into the onedrive and not where I want it. Help!

Opening a folder shouldn't start iTunes. Opening any .itl file always opens the current library file, not necessarily the file that was double-clicked. With the current bug you shouldn't really be trying to set the media folder to anything other than <some path>\iTunes\iTunes Media. The .iTunes Preferences.plist file in a media folder determines whether the media folder uses the old layout, where all artist folder are in the media folder, or the new layout where they go into a Music subfolder.

tt2

Running as administrator did not help, I only ever log on as an admin so I didn't think that would make a difference. However, things are looking much better now (fingers crossed) I installed the iTunes from the Microsoft store, it seems to have accepted to media folder location d:\iTunes\iTunes Media. Now to see if it consolidates the media correctly, I think it is going to work, many thanks! (I hope!)

Yee har! New account, it accepted the change of folder, changed back to my normal account, folder stayed correct, now consolidating the files into the new folder, Many thanks for your time and assistance,

The question is good but the answers don't apply.

original question = "it reverts to the default media folder location" Talking about pointing to an alternate media location NOT the library location

submitted answer = "Choose Library option. Use that to point to the migrated library..." talking about the iTunes library files.

alternate submission = "To select a library on a different path..." also talking about the library files.

Anyone have anything to help with why iTunes preferences keeps going back to the default local "MEDIA" location?

I can select and change to point to the media fine (and the library) and iTunes will work - until I reboot then iTunes will point MEDIA back to default so no media will play (there is no medai in the default location)

FYI - I have changed the media location then it says updating the iTunes Library then asks if I want it to move and rename the files. I have tried yes and no to the second option about moving and renaming files (there is nothing to rename as iTunes has managed it all along)

IT does not help. Is ther ea preference location in macOS i can put the proper path in that iTUnes won;t change back to the default?

TX

Ed

You're not reading the link, which will explain how to copy the .itl file to the external drive and put it in the correct relationship to the media folder such that this bug no longer causes you a problem. Essentially you want the .itl file in the same folder as your media folder. Other steps may be required to get the library into the standard shape of an iTunes folder that contains iTunes Media. This has been an issue for the last few builds.

tt2

This is not the problem, and furthermore you can have your music (media) folder on a separate drive from your library files. I did it for years on a Mac successfully, and I've also done it on a Windows PC prior to the most recent versions of iTunes. This is a software bug. The location in the Preferences area resets after you close iTunes and open it back up again.

Calm down, junior. It's a forum discussion. I'm not here to argue (My opinion vs. Your opinion). Neither my personal experience or yours is the end all be all. It's great that you didn't ever have any issues, but some people still need answers regardless of your experience. I've had the same experience as you, but with this recent version after install, things changed.

turingtest2 wrote:

"You're not reading the link, which will explain how to copy the .itl file to the external drive and put it in the correct relationship to the media folder such that this bug no longer causes you a problem. Essentially you want the .itl file in the same folder as your media folder. Other steps may be required to get the library into the standard shape of an iTunes folder that contains iTunes Media. This has been an issue for the last few builds."

So, in relation to your dismissive reply, I'm absolutely correct and so are you.

Bye bye now...

Start here: iTunes installers. More recent builds are now listed at the very end of the page. Offhand I cannot recall which build this first popped up in but judging from this thread you'd have to go back to at least 12.9.3.3, which won't work if you're using iOS 13. I'd still recommend switching the library into the portable layout where there is an iTunes folder containing iTunes Media. In the long run this makes backing up and moving the library around in future much easier.

tt2