Hi,
I bought an audiobook from libro.fm, but can't add its .m4b file to my iTunes installation. Previously, I was able to add .m4b files, though I didn't have any recently so I can't say exactly when this important functionality broke. I contacted their support, but from their end everything looks fine and they asked me to contact Apple regarding this issue.
OS: Windows 11 Home 23H2
iTunes: 12.13.0.9
Regards,
Alex
Put the file inside the Automatically Add to iTunes folder inside your media folder. Either the file gets added, or it is moved to a Not Added folder. If it ends up in Not Added you know there is a problem with that specific file. See libro.fm can fix it.
See also Audiobooks on iPods. You can convert any .m4a file into a .m4b simply by editing the file extension and iTunes should accept it, so you can test there is nothing in general wrong with iTunes accepting new .m4b files.
tt2
Put the file inside the Automatically Add to iTunes folder inside your media folder. Either the file gets added, or it is moved to a Not Added folder. If it ends up in Not Added you know there is a problem with that specific file. See libro.fm can fix it.
See also Audiobooks on iPods. You can convert any .m4a file into a .m4b simply by editing the file extension and iTunes should accept it, so you can test there is nothing in general wrong with iTunes accepting new .m4b files.
tt2
It may not be a valid .m4b/.m4a file but be in some other format. Other media players might ignore the discrepancy and play it anyway. Try changing the extension to say .mp3 and stick it back in the Automatically Add to iTunes folder to see what happens with it.
tt2
madalexander wrote:
I don't need to convert the files to mp3, libro.fm allows you to download the same audiobook as .mp3 as well. Those can be added to iTunes, but the issue I raised is that .m4b files can't be added to iTunes.
I have iTunes 12.13.0.9 running on Windows 10 here. I've just added an audiobook in .m4b format to this iTunes library by way of the Automatically Add to iTunes folder, then removed it without deleting it from Explorer and added it back using File > Add File to Library... I suspect your file is the issue in this case rather than it being a general bug in this build of iTunes. As I mentioned earlier, iTunes can be picky in what it deems acceptable.
tt2
Just an idea, but if you rename the file to m4a then have it converted to mp3 (with a free program like foobar) and then listen / import it again maybe that works?
madalexander wrote:
If it's not "acceptable" for iTunes, any kind of indication of why would be extremely helpful, either in a dialog or in the log files.
Indeed, but it seems to be a long standing behaviour so I assume Apple are happy with it. It sort of makes sense during bulk imports, less so with single items, but that's why I recommend using Automatically add... to check if there is an issue. You can use Feedback - iTunes - Apple to make suggestions.
tt2
It was added to the Not Added folder. Like I wrote, the file itself is fine. For example, VLC Player has no issue playing it. mediainfo reports no faults in the file. It's iTunes which is not working. As for having libro.fm fix it, I address that point already in my first post.
It's a valid .m4b file, see the mediainfo bit. I redid the test with .mp3 as the extension and it got move again to the Not Added under a new timestamp-named folder.
Libro.fm support clearly stated: "We've confirmed that there are no corruptions with the underlying audio files (in .m4b or .mp3 format) so we can at least rule out any issues there. I got access to a PC computer running iTunes and immediately ran into the same issue you described, despite the fact that the files will correctly open in every other media player I tried."
Regards,
Alex
I don't need to convert the files to mp3, libro.fm allows you to download the same audiobook as .mp3 as well. Those can be added to iTunes, but the issue I raised is that .m4b files can't be added to iTunes.
Well, according the help you get when you click on it in iTunes, the Add to iTunes folder is for other applications to add stuff to iTunes and a user is supposed to use the menu item Add File. In the end both don't work, both produce no entry in the log files and the help let's you choose between the version 12.9, 12.10,12.11 and 12.12 but no 12.13.
If it's not "acceptable" for iTunes, any kind of indication of why would be extremely helpful, either in a dialog or in the log files.
As a fellow user of iTunes for many years I can tell you that Apple's documentation often lags behind releases, and may well be incomplete.
tt2
iTunes: the logic puzzle that keeps on giving
Can't add a .m4b audiobook from libro.fm to iTunes
