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sajam Author

Level 1

56 points

Itunes Artwork Problems with Lion

I've noticed some problems lately with Lion and artwork from Mp3 files no longer being seen in the Finder. Im a new Mac user (only a few weeks) and had lots of issues with itunes from the data transfer but finally was able to get everything working (after 8 hours in the retail store)

Anyway when Lion was installed, there were some hiccups apparently in the 10.4 itunes download.

Now, since it has downloaded there seems to be a new problem with certain files' artwork no longer being recognized in the Finder. (I'm not even sure if that matters - the artwork is showing up in itunes and ipod but not in the finder). This is especially affecting new downloaded tracks (not from itunes)..I can add artwork but it will not appear in the Finder...and it also is affecting some older files and folders that did not have any problems. For certain artists with multiple albums, the artwork keeps disappearing...if you are able to add it for one album, it disappears for the second album...if you fix it for the second album, it disappears again for the first. So just wondering if anybody else is having these issues...or has any ideas to fix it. Id really like to have the artwork in the finder; it just makes me feel more comfortable after all the problems I've had. And so far everytime someone at Applecare or Retail Store tells me to do stuff on my computer, it has just screwed things up even more.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 22, 2011 5:08 AM

50 replies

godbout

Level 1

8 points

Jan 1, 2012 3:14 AM in response to C Nugent

Definitely an issue with iTunes. I think it comes from the library files that should be corrupt somehow. Just try to copy those songs where the artwork don't show up and paste them somewhere else (not where iTunes would put them by itself): the artwork is gonna appear. As soon as you put back the files in the correct folder, they will not show up anymore. It used to be just a little annoying for me but now using iTunes Match, all my artwork don't get sync anymore to my devices.

godbout

Level 1

8 points

Jan 1, 2012 3:30 AM in response to godbout

One way that seems to be working for me is to download the album cover from iTunes, paste it on the desktop, select all the songs, remove the artwork, and paste it back to all the songs. Then it shows up correctly in Finder, third party apps (Alfred) and iTunes Match.

Jun 3, 2012 11:30 AM in response to sajam

i'm on itunes 10.6.1 (7) and got the same problem, well, since lion, sometines it works sometines it won't... any `permanent solution yet?

Jun 3, 2012 3:04 PM in response to djhousito

Apple already addressed this with an OS update. I got my artwork back! Go to software update!!! :-)

AA101

Level 1

1 points

Oct 13, 2012 2:18 AM in response to breaksguy

Updates don't work it seems with me. I think I solved it if you are using a libary on an external drive.

I have the fix!!!!

I have had the same issue ever since Lion. Its been very painful not having album art preview in finder or the play button when rollover the file for so many versions of OSX. Today I worked hard in trying to solve the problem since Applecare support hasn't helped much, all they did was tell me to bring the computer in. The other main reason I got so motivated to try and fix this is because the DJ app for Mac only reads album art from the finder even if iTunes can display the album art. The other reason that got me curious is that my friends macbook pro album art worked fine, so I cross checked with his computer until I figured out a few things that helped and ultimately fixed the issue. FINALLY!

My set up:

- I have my full iTunes library folder on my external as I have over 700GB of music.

- It includes all my database files in there, which is very important as I have many playlist settings from over 7 years of iTunes activity.

SOLUTION:

1. With every new computer I have purchased, I use to just pressed option on Mac and press iTunes to locate my folder (which I have said is located on my external drive).

2. I tried today to press option again BUT locate and selected the default library in the user/music folder of my internal drive (standard setting from Apple).

3. Miraculously, all the album art appeared in both my external drive library and also today's downloaded songs on my Macbook pro. Ofcourse with the new default location I don't have any songs or data.

4. So I tried to find a way to keep this library data on my internal drive since it can help the finder display all my files properly, yes even have the play on rollover button but as well link it back to my external drive with all my 700GB songs.

5. I then went into iTunes Preferences/Advance tab and in iTunes Media folder locationredirected the location to my external drive iTunes/ iTunes Media folder. If it asks to collate data, press NO.

6. Then I quit iTunes.

7. Next I copied the 4 files to my desktop from my external drive as I want to keep the data I have made with all my playlists etc. The four files are iTunes Library Extras.itdb ,iTunes Library Genius.itdb , iTunes Library.itl , iTunes Library.xml

8. I then went to my internal drive User/Music/Itunes/ and dragged these 4 files I copied from my external drive into here and making sure to REPLACE the four existing files already there.

9. Next open iTunes and you will find all your presettings appear with all your music linked to your external. What this does is keep the important library files on your internal drive (that somehow makes your finder files album art appear), BUT to read also all the music mp3 files located in the external drive (action from step 5)

Presto!! All your music files whether on internal drive or external all the album art has appeared. 😀

Hope this helps!! Let me know if there are any other questions.

I am on 10.8.1 running retina macbook pro.

Itunes Artwork Problems with Lion