Synced my library to the cloud with iTunes Match & lost all "loved" settings

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Synced my library to the cloud with iTunes Match & lost all "loved" settings

My iTunes library on my Mac is comprised of downloaded tracks and CD rips. Over the years I've marked tracks as "Loved" and curated playlists based on those.

Yesterday I decided to subscribe to iTunes Match and keep my previous library synced to the cloud and my iPhone. I left that running overnight.

This morning the process has completed and while all my music is present, all my "loved" settings have disappeared.

I have a back up of the Music Library.musiclibrary container, which I took before iTunes Match was enabled, and taken the following steps with no success:

1st Steps

Closed iTunes and copied Music Library.musiclibrary to the Music folder to replace the existing Music Library.musiclibrary
When I start iTunes again there is no change to the "Loved" settings

2nd Steps

Closed iTunes and copied Music Library.musiclibrary to the Music folder to replace the existing Music Library.musiclibrary
Start iTunes while holding the Option key so that it asks for a library file then browse to the new Music Library.musiclibrary
The following error message is displayed:

Please tell me there is a way I can restore my "loved" settings.

Posted on Jun 28, 2022 12:44 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

VicViper9 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jun 28, 2022 11:12 AM in response to VicViper9

Ok because I have a backup of the Music Library.musiclibrary I was able to resolve this.

Firstly the problem was caused because I had changed my Music Media file location to:

/macOS/Users/user/Music

Instead of the default:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music/Media

NOTE: The /macOS/Users/user/Music/Music folder did not exist for me.

This meant that prior to iTunes Match my library file was located here:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music Library.musiclibrary

Anyway to resolve it I created the /macOS/Users/user/Music/Music folder and added my backed up Music Library.musiclibrary file to that folder.

iTunes Match must look in the Music/Music folder by default. So now that I have the library file in the location below it restored my "loved" settings:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music/Music Library.musiclibrary

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Answer 2

VicViper9 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jun 28, 2022 1:33 AM in response to VicViper9

As I suspected the Music Library.musiclibrary is stored in the cloud because I deleted the local copy of Music Library.musiclibrary and reloaded iTunes and there was no change.

I've now tried File > Import and pointed to the Music Library.musiclibrary backup. Now waiting:

Will report back when complete...

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Answer 3

VicViper9 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jun 28, 2022 11:44 AM in response to VicViper9

VicViper9 wrote:

Ok because I have a backup of the Music Library.musiclibrary I was able to resolve this.

Firstly the problem was caused because I had changed my Music Media file location to:

/macOS/Users/user/Music

Instead of the default:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music/Media

NOTE: The /macOS/Users/user/Music/Music folder did not exist for me.

This meant that prior to iTunes Match my library file was located here:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music Library.musiclibrary

Anyway to resolve it I created the /macOS/Users/user/Music/Music folder and added my backed up Music Library.musiclibrary file to that folder.

iTunes Match must look in the Music/Music folder by default. So now that I have the library file in the location below it restored my "loved" settings:

/macOS/Users/user/Music/Music/Music Library.musiclibrary

Caveat: When iTunes picks up your Music Library file it will also disable Library Sync. It's likely that when you enable Library Sync it will wipe your Loved tracks again.

Solution: Create a playlist called Loved (or whatever) and add all your loved tracks. Then enable Library Sync and once that process is complete you can go to your Loved playlist and love them all again in bulk.

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Answer 4

VicViper9 Author

Level 1

28 points

Jun 28, 2022 5:56 AM in response to VicViper9

That didn't work.

Would be grateful for any assistance in restoring my "loved" tracks.

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Synced my library to the cloud with iTunes Match & lost all "loved" settings

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