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User profile for user: popkulcher
popkulcher
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Question: iTunes Changes Tags When I Try To Play Certain Songs

This is a weird issue, wondering if anyone else has encountered it. I use iTunes (always updated to current version) on a Windows PC. Every now and then, when I double-click a song to play it, the program will pause a few seconds, and then it will change the track number in the tags, usually moving the song to the end of the album. Occasionally it will change the album title (i.e. to a title that had been tagged before the tags were updated). I will then have to manually fix the tags, and it will play just fine. This tends to happen for albums which have a larger number of songs, like a box set with multiple volumes within the same album title.


Any ideas what is causing this and how to prevent it?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on May 15, 2020 3:39 PM

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User profile for user: sterling r
sterling r
User level: Community Specialist

May 16, 2020 12:53 PM in response to popkulcher In response to popkulcher

Hello popkulcher,


I see that you're having an issue with iTune changing the tags for your songs periodically. I can understand your concern, and I'd be happy to look into this with you.


If you close iTunes and relaunch it, does the issue remain? Also, does this only happen with specific songs or albums? If not, and the issue is happening randomly with no real pattern or consistency, uninstall and reinstall iTunes and test to see if the issue remains.


Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows 7 and later


Let me know how this goes and if you notice any changes.

Have a great day!

May 16, 2020 12:53 PM

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User profile for user: popkulcher
popkulcher
User level: Level 1
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May 16, 2020 1:20 PM in response to sterling r In response to sterling r

Thanks. If I uninstall and reinstall iTunes, will it retain all my libraries and playlists? I have a few hundred thousand songs so obviously don't want to re-add my library.


I have found this problem occurs even when I shut down and relaunch iTunes, and has been an issue despite several updates to iTunes. As I noted, there is no pattern of when it happens, though it is generally albums which have a large number of songs (i.e. box sets with multiple volumes all within the same album title).

May 16, 2020 1:20 PM

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User profile for user: MoonJ.
MoonJ.
User level: Community Specialist

May 16, 2020 1:41 PM in response to popkulcher In response to popkulcher

Hello popkulcher,


Thanks for reaching back out and for the additional details. As stated in the article above, you shouldn't lose any of your library when uninstalling and reinstalling. However, you can create a backup just to be sure all your data is secure. Those steps are provided below, if needed.


Back up and restore your iTunes library on your PC


Hope this helps.

Have a great day!

May 16, 2020 1:41 PM

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
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Apple MusicSpeciality level out of ten: 10

May 17, 2020 7:30 AM in response to popkulcher In response to popkulcher

See also Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows - Apple Community. Store purchases may in some circumstances revert to their original metadata. A workaround can be to hide from your purchase history. MP3 files with multiple tags can also cause issues.


tt2

May 17, 2020 7:30 AM

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User profile for user: popkulcher

Question: iTunes Changes Tags When I Try To Play Certain Songs