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User profile for user: -g
-g Author
User level: Level 4
3,263 points

CAN'T UPGRADE RESTORE MY iTUNES from macOS 10.11 to 10.12 why?

Been moving my highly-organized User iTunes folder (30k songs, no Apple music) to Mac desktops, laptops, and higher OSes since before System 9


never been a problem until now - the moves have always updated and restored everything, including playlists and artwork for all 30K songs and albums just like it loaded on previous machines


THE PROBLEM:


I copied my 170GB iTunes folder from working 10.11x MacBook Pro (2011) over to 10.12 Mac Pro (2010) machine and opened iTunes - no joy - OSX 10.12 (iTunes 12.8.2.3) doesn't see or load the Library like it has always done in the past


what has changed

what might I be missing


or better how do I get 10.12 to load up and restore my hundreds of hours work in building my iTunes???

Mac Pro

Posted on Sep 6, 2019 2:53 PM

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
274,464 points

Posted on Sep 8, 2019 5:05 AM

See Move your iTunes library to a new computer - Apple Community and in particular the link to Empty/corrupt iTunes library after upgrade/crash - Apple Community if you think you've moved the library in a way that should have worked but find your content isn't listed.


tt2

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User profile for user: chris_g1
chris_g1
User level: Community Specialist

Sep 7, 2019 2:17 PM in response to -g

Hi -g,


Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you're having trouble restoring your iTunes library. I'd love to provide information to help.


This article offers the steps for restoring your iTunes library from a backup: Back up and restore your iTunes Library. Make sure you've followed the steps listed there.


If those steps don't help, reply with the steps you've taken to copy your library and move it.


Take care!

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User profile for user: -g
-g Author
User level: Level 4
3,263 points

Sep 7, 2019 3:34 PM in response to chris_g1

I'll give that review


the first issue with the process is CONSOLIDATE FILES (not sure how that will alter my iTunes folder, ie move songs around) and it's a huge 170gb folder to experiment with


second and third

Keep iTunes media folder organized (I recall that will drastically reorganize my folders; my folders are already organized the way I want them; I don't want to change anything)

Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library (I don't import my new songs that way because I like to control the process)


there is a chance my 170gb iTunes folder corrupted in coping it over to the new 10,12 install

I will try it again


meanwhile, I am wondering if something in iTunes has changed to break my long-trusted backup and restore process from a maxOS OS-X10.11 to 10.12 (2011-2010 Mac Pros)

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User profile for user: -g
-g Author
User level: Level 4
3,263 points

Sep 8, 2019 8:27 AM in response to turingtest2

>>In most cases you simply need to copy the entire iTunes folder from your old computer into the user's music folder of the new computer


thanks for the link - that's exactly what I'm doing and it has worked without issues for me dozens of times in the past


however, I've never restored it to macOS 10.12 or higher so I am wondering if 'progress' is a factor where that method is no longer reliable


still have solid backups of my iTunes folder to try again...

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CAN'T UPGRADE RESTORE MY iTUNES from macOS 10.11 to 10.12 why?

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