itunes media folder keeps resetting back to default

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.

This one at the bottom of the previous page?

PS, if you or anyone else is looking for older versions of iTunes many are catalogued here: Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates - Apple Community.

tt2

You're taking the wrong approach. iTunes won't currently save your preferred media folder name and this is a bug that Apple don't seem to be invested in fixing. Since this isn't a battle you can win see Make a split library portable - Apple Community and restructure the library such that the media folder is C:\BillTunes\iTunes Media where iTunes wants it to be, and all your media is inside it.

tt2

I am actually dealing with this on 2 different PCs. One old and one new where I am putting the library on a larger secondary drive. The new computer is the only reason I found out there was a problem, by the way. Anyway, the solutions in this thread have totally failed to work.

I had copied the old files from an second drive to the main drive on the old computer. But, nothing would allow me to permanently change the iTunes media folder. In desperation, I spent last night using the "Create New Library" option after doing the Shift+Click, and then downloaded just the movies to the new drive. That took all night, but it worked--mostly. Movies I obtained on iTunes via promotions are not recognized as being purchased. So, I no longer have them on that computer. I then deleted the old files.

HOWEVER! After hours Google searching last night and today, I pieced together a solution that worked on my new computer.

I had taken the hard drive with the iTunes Media files from the old computer and installed it on the new computer. However, iTunes would not let me change the default download location, or recognize the files were in the new location. So, here is what I did:

1. Launch iTunes by holding down the Shift button and double clicking on the icon.
2. Choose the option "Create New Library". This will create a new Library on whatever drive you choose. AND i Tunes will remember that as your default location.
3. In iTunes, go to File--> Add FOLDER to Library. Choose the pre-existing Library folder.
4. iTunes will link all the old files from whatever folder you have them in to the new iTunes Media location.

IMPORTANT: ITUNES DOES NOT MOVE THE FILES. It simply creates/remembers the pathway to the files. So, if you get rid of that drive, be sure to back up your files and tell iTunes to link the new folders.

IMPORTANT: I am working on PCs, not Macs. I have no idea if this will works for Mac systems, though I suspect it will.

I hope this works for y'all. And, I hope Apple gets off their lazy butts and fixes this bug.

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

Close iTunes. Press the Shift key and keep holding it down while you restart iTunes. (This may take a bit longer than you are expecting.) When iTunes finally opens, choose the library, as suggested by Becky.

OK, this mess will not co-operate at all, just to add to the detail- I managed to get my media out of the onedrive folder, what is left in there now is a file called .iTunes Preferences.plist, this and everything I try to add to iTunes gets stuck in this folder as well.

In the folder where I want everything to be (D:\music) there is all the existing media, also a sub-folder called iTunes which has the current library, every time I open this folder iTunes autostarts so it is the current library. ITunes still insists on adding all new media to the onedrive folder. I have copied the library files to D:\iTunes, gone into edit-preferences-advanced and reset the path from D:\onedrive\Music to D:\iTunes Media. Clicked OK and told it to move and rename files when it asked.

I then asked it to consolidate the files, nothing appeared in the iTunes Media folder, when I stopped it and checked in the edit preferences-advanced menu it had changed the Media folder location back to the D:\onedrive\Music folder again. I have tried the shift+click option and told it to use the correct library on D drive, it insists on using the onedrive folder no matter what I do. I do not want to create a new library and have all 23000 songs listed as unplayed but cannot get it to stop using the onedrive location.

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

Hi, whenever iTunes library files in a folder are visible iTunes starts, if I close it it just restarts again. I have also been in the edit/preferences/media file location thing and tried just resetting the location, it changes in that window but whenever I return to that window it just goes back to the onedrive location, it's doing my head in! Restarting, rebooting, reinstalling, nothing seems to help! I am running Windows 10 64 bit with 32 Gig of ram.

OH, forgot to mention, I am trying to get iTunes to use d:\iTunes\iTunes media as you said, this also shows when I hit the reset button, but everytime I change it to that iTunes changes it back to the onedrive path, I cannot get it to consolidate outside of the b*?/+* onedrive folder because it keeps resetting to the onedrive folder. Is there a registry setting that could be changing the media path?

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!)

Bum! it did not work, it got my hopes up by creating an empty library in a new folder, when I used shift+click and chose my existing library it went straight back to using the library in the d:\itunes folder but insists on the media folder being in the onedrive. Is there a way to copy all the media to another library where I want it including metadata such as number of plays? that would work for me if it can be done.

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,

Glad I checked tonight before copying a double CD to it, it reset to the onedrive location again. I changed it back yet again, so far it has stayed set to d:\iTunes\iTunes Media so I am going to see where it rips to.

Next step is going to be look for an alternative to iTunes, even if I have to pay for it.

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