skinder17
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: itunes, downloads, unable to find music.

I recently bought a new iMac computer. I switched from a pc. I migrated my itunes to the new Mac. I purchased music on my iPad that evening and it automatically downloaded on to the new computer, but it could not find the files. After about an hour or so on the phone with apple I had to use the express lane and telll iTunes that it didn't download "properly". The regranted me the purchases, all good. But now after downloading songs on my iPhone it's doing the same thing. The songs show up in my iTunes music but it has the exclaimation point telling me it cannot find the file. This is a brand new computer, I've not moved my iTunes folder or music folder at all. I'm getting frustrated, it doesn't seem right that everytime I buy a song from my iPad or iPhone I have to ask iTunes if I can also have them for my computer. Could I have done something wrong with the migration? Do I need to sync my phone for it to find that I have purchased the music. I like Apple but this computer has been nothing but a headache when it comes to iTunes, and I had hoped it'd be easier. If someone has any idea or experienced this themselves and was able to resolve it, I'd be glad to hear it and thankful for any information.

Posted on May 18, 2012 11:47 AM

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skinder17

Q: itunes, downloads, unable to find music.

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  • by diesel vdub,

    diesel vdub diesel vdub May 18, 2012 1:42 PM in response to skinder17
    Level 7 (22,030 points)
    May 18, 2012 1:42 PM in response to skinder17

    Plug the device into the computer and transfer the purchases.

     

    No reason to spend time on the phone with Apple when there is a simple solution.

     

    Obviousyly, something is not quite right, but you should be syncing the device with the computer regularly so it should be a non-issue.

  • by skinder17,

    skinder17 skinder17 May 20, 2012 5:45 PM in response to diesel vdub
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2012 5:45 PM in response to diesel vdub

    I plug my devices in and make sure they are up to date weekly... is there need to do it more often. The last time I had tried to plug in the device (the iPad) it didn't tranfer the purchases. It kept telling me it couldn't find them still after trying to sync. Is there a trick to finding the music file? When I click on locate file it pulls up my music with itunes highlighted. If it's in there where exactly do I need to look for it? I click on the previous iTunes libraries and it doesn't do anything but take me back to the current iTunes I have open... I'm definately out of my element trying to figure this out. Thanks for any help.

  • by diesel vdub,

    diesel vdub diesel vdub May 20, 2012 6:31 PM in response to skinder17
    Level 7 (22,030 points)
    May 20, 2012 6:31 PM in response to skinder17

    Opening the old library files is not going to help in any way... that's not the issue.

    The issue is iTunes cannot locate the media or app file, so let's stop spending time trying to open old library files.

     

    When attempting to locate the file via iTunes, if iTunes simply opens Windows Explorer to the iTunes folder, that's telling us that iTunes does not actually find the file.  We need to point iTunes to where the file really is.

     

    Where are iTunes Files located

    Understanding iTunes Media Organization

     

    The two links above should help with understanding the layout of iTunes folders and where to look for the files.

  • by skinder17,

    skinder17 skinder17 May 22, 2012 9:21 AM in response to diesel vdub
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2012 9:21 AM in response to diesel vdub

    I looked at the links you provided and it helped a little. I found where the files say they are.... in my trash. I open my trash to try to restore them they are not in the trash bin... Also when I click on locate files it's set up differently than when I opend finder to look for files without iTunes asking me to locate them. When open finder I have one title in grey that says "favorites" with choices such as AirDrop, Applications, and so one down to Music and Media. Can't find the files in finder. When I click locate in iTunes it give me the same choices as finder but also a second grey title "Media" under this title I have Music, Photos and Movies. When I click on the "Music" under the grey "Media" I can find the songs that iTunes says it can not find. I click on open when I selcted one of the songs I'm missing it goes back to iTunes but still will not play the song. Again thank you for you time and knowledge, helping me with this issue.